Anarcho-primitivism, is a fringe political or social movement that seeks to take our species back more towards the Stone Age. Like most people, I used to think that all there was to it- were a bunch of nut jobs that are neolithic wannabes. But as it turns out, it would seem that the primitive technologies and methods of our ancestors really did have a ton of merit. Our more modern lifestyles are absolutely no good for us in some respects. We're now too dependent on everything continuing to work as how we want it, such that if it were to stop- the vast majority of us wouldn't stand any chance.
It is a long lost art that if we can only recover or recreate it, any one of us can endure the loss of our current civilization and survive in the wilds of this world with relative comfort or ease.
There is this Youtube channel called Primitive Technology which gives demonstration videos of how to do all the things expected of hunter gatherers that enables survival. It has become one of the most popular channels on Youtube. His videos seem to get many millions of views because people want to know this stuff. It really inspires me to go into my backyard and try to recreate one of his tools or structures using only what I find outside.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/15/youtube ... e-age.html
To date, you could learn the following from his 35+ videos (with more to come) if you're able to get sufficient time and practice for it.
With only your bare hands, you can build the following structures: Waddle and Daub Hut, Thatched Dome Hut, Wood shed and bee domestication (produces honey), Palm Thatched Mud Hut, Tiled Roof Hut, Grass Hut, Barrel Tiled Shed, Bed Shed, and A-Frame Hut, and more.
It is also plausible for someone to manufacture the following tools with only natural materials: Fire sticks, Celtic style stone axe, Stone Adze, Clay Chimney and Pots, Sling, Baskets and Stone Hatchet, Cord drill and pump drill, Bow and Arrow, Woven Bark Fiber, Forge Blower, Freshwater Prawn Trap, Termite clay Kiln and Pottery, Water powered Hammer (Monjolo), Reusable Charcoal Mound, Sandals, Simplified Blower and Furnace, Mud Bricks, Natural Draft Furnace, Clay Pottery and Stove, etc.
People could learn the following methods using only their surroundings: How to produce Lime, Producing Charcoal, Growing Sweet potatoes, Cassava, and yams; the finer points of spear throwing, making certain beans or nuts safe to eat, etc.
My honest opinion is that he is a legend, he makes Bear Grylls look like a child; he is that skilled in the ways of bending nature to his dominion. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he would be alive, but me along with most of the rest of us- would starve or die of exposure to the elements or any number of things.
My theory is that people primarily object to primitivism not out of any love or dedication to our newer technology or way of life, but simply because most people can't figure out how to survive off the grid if put into that situation and don't have the means or ability to sufficiently learn those crucial skills. If it really was viable for people to just up and live off the land and quit civilization, do you think more people would do this?
Our modern life is obviously far superior in terms of amenities, it can be said to be more soulless because we've lost our connection with nature. I think I would jump at the chance to go back to our ancestral roots and try that sort of life for myself.
If you had to choose- would you pick the relative safety of civilization knowing full well that you won't be able to survive going outside of it, OR would you sacrifice living a modern lifestyle if you got the opportunity to learn the lost art of living off the land and had everything you needed to live primitively?
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