Four Misconceptions About Preppers

I'm occasionally chastised by friends when I do something they think isn't very "prepper."  Non-preppers have this mental profile of those in the movement, and so when we color outside of their preconceived lines, they often seemed surprised that we would do such a thing.

I can think of four misconceptions I regularly encounter as a prepper:

1. Preppers are risk averse.  Many in the preparedness movement serve as volunteer firefighters and on search and rescue teams - activities that are not for the faint of heart.  Preparing for risk doesn't necessarily mean we avoid all risks.  Rather, we equip ourselves oftentimes to allow us to take additional risks safely.
   
   
2. Preppers are all in a certain socioeconomic group.  I have no data to back this up, but one thing I've noticed about preppers is that it seems a disproportionate number of them come from the extremes of the socioeconomic spectrum.  I've met far more preppers in the lower middle class and the upper five percent of society than I've met in the middle class.  My hypothesis is that many in the lower middle class are more susceptible to crises (and thus are more attuned to the possibility of such a risk), while the upper five percent have access to information and data not generally available to the typical American.
   
   
3. Preppers are planning for a race war against inner city gangs.  I don't come across this one that often, but it's out there.  Suffice it to say I know a lot of preppers....and I've yet to meet one that talks about race wars or combat with gangs.  Most people in the movement are more concerned about the risk of severe weather and economic problems than racial strife.
   
   
4. Preppers are solely focused on a worst case scenario.  The misconception is generally couched in terms of preppers being ready for the apocalypse or the Second Coming.  While we often focus on worst case scenarios to help us identify weaknesses in our planning, it would be incorrect to state that preppers are ONLY focused on that.