How to talk to “Preppers” about ham radio without being an asshole?

For context: I’m a volunteer firefighter and volunteer municipal emergency management coordinator and licensed ham since 1994 (I think, I’ve lost track, but 1994 or so seems right).

My focus in Ham radio was emergency communications for many years, and after some really bad experiences with fellow ham radio people in an actual “we really could use ham radio to help the local emergency services” situation, I’ve shifted to a more, “fun hobby” stance and dropped ham radio from emergency management plans. It’s OK. And ham radio (and GMRS) is fun for me when it comes to radio-to-radio 100% over-the-air stuff. I have a strong antipathy for anything with internet-in-the-middle because (insert long list list here). Some people like that sort of thing. You do you, it’s all good.

In the last year, I have been approached by people who want advice on “emergency radios” - stuff they see advertised on Instagram and TikTok claiming to work when cell phones don’t - you know the ones. I talk them out of it by reading the fine print to them. Or shortwave radios (who is talking? what use is what they are saying?). And increasingly, ham radios, which seem to have an almost mystical/magical property to them.

They want to talk to their brother who lives 500 miles away. They want to “coordinate supply runs” between unspecified locations and distances. They want to “get information” via ham radio. They think radio is magic.

You know the types. I’m getting more and more frustrated and admit that I’ve even gotten a bit nasty to some people about it, the most recent being a guy who showed me a pair of 5 watt HT’s, and he asked me how to set them up to be able to talk to his son…who lives in Florida. We’re outside Philadelphia. Now, yes, I know with the right set of linked repeaters at the right time, etc etc this is possible, but instead, I said, “If you had done even the smallest amount of research on how radio works, you’d know that these radios can’t possibly reach Florida.” That was nasty and uncalled for.

So I’m looking for some communication/language tips to perhaps get people into the hobby with realistic expectations for what they will be able to do.