# It is wise to scoff at preppers? Are their fears really so outlandish?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-wise-to-scoff-at-preppers-are-their-fears-really-so-outlandish/710769>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 24, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-wise-to-scoff-at-preppers-are-their-fears-really-so-outlandish/710769 "2015-01-24T17:24:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 164

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-wise-to-scoff-at-preppers-are-their-fears-really-so-outlandish/710769/164 "2015-01-29T21:54:46Z")

</div>

> [@Scumpup](#):
>
> [Do you have a "bail out bag" or "bug out bag"? What's in it? - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743853)

Well, that thread is about _bugout bags,_ not “pre-packed overnight bags,” and specifically (per the OP) one “designed to get you out of an emergency situation and allow you to survive self-contained for up to 3 days.” And even _still_ most people in that thread seem to have some sort of disaster prep covered, and many do indeed have a bag with some supplies.

I mean, I’m not opposed to the idea of bugout bags in theory, but I think people take the idea\* way too far\* in terms of actual survival gear because they want an excuse to buy cool gadgets. And, what’s this? Someone agrees with me!

> [@Do you have a "bail out bag" or "bug out bag"? What's in it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-bail-out-bag-or-bug-out-bag-whats-in-it/707550/20):
>
> Be wary of what websites that are associated with vendors of survival gear tell you that you must have in your bag. They want to sell you stuff. Including the bag itself.

Anyway, we’re all talking about “collapse of society” folks and you’re saying that we’re anti-overnight bags. I’m not sure how we resolve this disparity of perception.

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-wise-to-scoff-at-preppers-are-their-fears-really-so-outlandish/710769)._