in all seriousness... i'm not "prepared." i've got enough food and water to feed my family for a few days- because my wife buys in bulk, not because we make any concerted effort. our government isn't going to relinquish control of one square millimeter of American soil. we'd have widespread, long-term martial law LONG before any kind of societal collapse. and if society DOES completely "collapse," you think a few months, or even a few years worth of food is going to "save" you? you can't store a lifetime of food, and your odds of making it that long, food or no food, aren't with you. roving bands of mauraders will thank you for all your hard work, as they rape you inside out and shoot you.
i don't care if you guys want to be prepared for, and continue to hope and pray for, TEOTFWAWKI. i think you're all a bunch of silly-asses, if it brings you joy, i encourage you to. i mean it. people should pursue those things that give them joy/comfort/fun/peace of mind/whatever. but this high-horse attitude, elbow nudging, and snickering at all the "sheep" who don't share your unsubstantiated doom-n-gloom predictions is getting a little old. i'm sorry you're socially inept... but you'll never be wittier or better looking than me.
I haven't read enough posts here to know if this is facetious or meant as bait or whatever, but since it is "in all seriousness" I'll take your word for it, though I don't quite understand you. Are you saying there are no eventualities where having some sort of preparedness (more than a few days of food) would be beneficial? Even if most posters here would seem extreme to the "sheep" out there, I think most could be convinced having some stores on hand would not be detrimental. Couldn't we have events which are not TEOTWAWKI but still disastrous for our region? If somehow our food supply is cut off I'd rather have some on hand than stand in line at a FEMA camp. And if society collapses, wouldn't you rather have 3 mos. of food than not? I don't know if you have children or not, but whether the odds are with me or not, I'm going to do what I can to take care of mine. They can't do it themselves, so who's job is it? On the other hand, nobody says we have to try to survive, so if trying seems like too much hard work, screw it; we are all dying sooner or later anyways, right? As far as the snickering/attitudes, though, you are very much right--that can be annoying, but hardly unique to the prepper community. Any time a group is into something--motorcycles, guns, fitness, education, art, etc.--they will always look down on those who are not in their group, especially while amongst that group. It seems to be human nature, we very much like to think of ourselves as better. If you were in a group of those who did not think prepping needs to be taken seriously and discussing the issue, I'm guessing there might be a snicker or two directed at those who disagree. We are all quite alike that way. Oh, and I think your unsubstantiated roving bands raping/killing prediction is a bit doom and gloom for me, but I do like to look on the bright side of things. Wait, were you being facetious????