andy said:
...In fact, the homeboys are a LOT more familiar to doing without goodies than your "rough and tough" neighbors are, cause they've done jail time.
"doing without" in jail, generally means doing without cigarettes, low-level medications (advil when you "want it", etc), booze, or other comfort/convenience items. Being in a modern jail actually guarantees
having the kinds of things that shtf likely would mean
not having; shelter, heat, food, reliable water supply, electricity, etc.
"familiar with hardships", and even toughened mentally by it, yes, but not familiar with the low-tech, "country"- or "woods"-oriented lifestyle that shtf would likely impose.
Aside from mental toughness, which is very important; there's a skill set that almost all city-dwellers [and even a large percentage of country-dwellers] just don't have.
Short-term, I agree they would be a huge 'problem'. But in the longer term, are these "homeboys" going to be able to survive more than a week or two
without the human contact (whether outright brigandage, sneak-thievery, attempts at trading, whatever) that is likely to be so dangerous in that situation..? Most won't.
If we're talking about nation-wide shtf, my personal opinion is that short-term, biggest problem for us in "the sticks" is displaced (read: "scared and hungry" or "desperate and armed") city people. Longer-term, problem is more likely to be more "official" in nature (blue helmets, martial law, local wannabe "feudal lords" etc).