Common Myths About Preppers.

Television shows like doomsday peppers, have created a persona for Preppers and survivalists that isn’t entirely true. Obviously there are crazy people who horde everything, and hope for a disaster so they can use all their cool stuff, because someone decided to make a reality television show about them.  The problem is that is not even close to what most of us are about.

 These are some common myths about Preppers.

1.  They are all preparing for the end of the world- This is not even close to true.  Most of us realize that our society is fragile, and it takes much less than the end of the world to turn life into a survival situation.  Just ask anyone who has lived through any major natural disaster.  It doesn’t take much to knock out your power, shutting off your heat or air conditioning, or to close roadways, effectively cutting off food supplies.  So if you have a generator, or like to have some extra food for an emergency, you are a Prepper. 

2.  Preppers are all stocking up on guns and ammo-  Although having a gun can be an appropriate way to defend your family in an emergency situation, most Preppers know that protection is only one facet of properly preparing. All the guns in the world won’t help you if you are starving.  

3.  They all wear camouflage and military gear- those of us don’t dress like this call these people Tatic-cool.  Pronounced the same as tactical, but the emphasis is that these people dress this way because they think it makes them look cool, or more intimidating. These people are usually the same people that perpetrate myth 2 as well. They stock up on everything military, and then forget that they don’t know how to garden. Also camouflage doesn’t help you blend in a city or suburbia very much.

4.  Survivalists are all anti government-  I don’t know why so many people are obsessed with anti government stuff. I will admit that Americans are naturally distrustful of the government, but that doesn’t drive me to prepare for the worst. I am much more worried about flooding, than the people in Washington and if it ever comes down to us vs. them, God help us. 

 5.  Preppers all have bunkers set up with years’ worth of food-  I’m sure there are people that have prepared like this out there, but most, if not all of us cannot afford to do anything close.  We all prepare differently compared to where we live, and what we need.  Learning how to properly store food that you yourself have grown is a much more effective skill than buying boxes of MRE’s. Who would want to spend any kind of extended period cramped up in a concrete tube eating food out of a pouch anyways? Now don’t get me wrong, if me or my family were starving. I would happily eat them. The just shouldn’t be your primary source of stored food.

6.  If a Disaster occurs, Preppers plan on going out to survive in the wilderness- I have touched upon this on earlier posts, but the truth about this one is that wilderness is not a fun place to try to survive. This is even a myth that a lot of Preppers themselves believe, causing them to think that going out there is the best plan.  Even if you have some experience being in the woods, very few of us are prepared to live there for long periods of times.  Especially if your plan is to go out there and set up camp with what you have carried in. Proper planning includes a lot of stuff, and not even close to all of it can be carried in easily.

The truth is is that most people who choose to prepare, don’t even call themselves preppers, or survivalists. It’s just common sense to want to make sure your family is safe in any situation. It’s like buying insurance, or a car with a high safety rating.  For most of us, preparing comes down to being more self sufficient and learning useful skills.  It means being a good neighbor so you have someone you can rely on in an emergency, and being the best parent you can so your children know what the best of times were like, during the worst of times.