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No, you shouldn't. Not unless provoked, anyway. Prison is inhabited by a lot of bullies that will take advantage of any weakness shown, but starting off with a fight is a good way to make unnecessary enemies and possibly lose good time and extend your prison stay. If someone directly threatens you or crosses the line with disrespect, you should most certain do what you need to do, but do not do anything unprovoked.

This is technically true. If you do your sentence with only government supplied material, you will have a much harder time than necessary. There are a few decent paying jobs in the Feds and inmates with those jobs can definitely get by without help from any additional funds. Everyone else will rely on outside sources of income or prison hustles to generate the needed funds.

Maybe, but probably not. The vast majority of inmates are in Medium, Low, and Minimum-Security prisons. The threat of violence is always present in prison; it is rarely a random act. People that fight or get assaulted normally put themselves in that situation. There are exceptions for those with bad paperwork, but even then, those inmates are typically given notice to check-in before actual violence occurs.

Maybe, but probably not. If you are sentenced to a penitentiary or a few active Medium-Security prisons, you actually might have to join a gang or "car." Since most offenders are sentenced to non-active Medium, Low, or Minimum-Security prisons, most do not have to join a gang if they are only looking to do their time and go home. You might be a part of a "car," whether you like it or not, but at lower security levels, it only determines where you might sit in the Chow Hall, for example.

A few are, but the majority of people you will meet in prison are fairly intelligent, even if they are not educated, especially in the federal system. Many survived--and thrived--in a very hostile and competitive environment on the street, so do not sell them short. The federal system offers a wider range of backgrounds than most state systems, so underestimating the mental acumen of someone just because they are locked up would be a mistake.

Actually, you will find an incredible amount of kindness in prison. Inmates commonly help new arrivals out with basic hygiene and snacks. Other inmates will help others that are new acclimate to the new environment or get through tough times. Sharing is commonplace in prison when someone is going without.

True, but that reason stopped being valid many years ago. There are prisons that are "softer" and easier to do time at than others, especially if you do not have experience being incarcerated. But the "country club" feel is no longer there, by any means thanks to changes in the law and BOP policy over the years. Even facilities with tennis courts, movies being shown, and such, you are constantly reminded that you are locked up and not a free person.

Some prisons are older and dirtier than others. You can only clean up a 100-year-old building so much. On the whole, staff and inmates do not want to work and live in a nasty environment and work to keep it as clean as possible. Inmates also do not want to live around other inmates that are dirty. Often referred to as Vikings, inmates that don't maintain a basic level of hygiene are placed together and mocked.

Not true, at all. Federal prosecutors will go after anyone that falls under their jurisdiction. To fall under their jurisdiction, your case must have some kind of interstate commerce connection or happen on federal property. All drug charges have this. All internet crimes have this. All banking, tax crimes and money laundering charges have this. All crimes in Washington, D.C. are federal. The same is true for crimes committed in Nation Parks, Post Offices. Most federal inmates are small-time.

It isn't that bad unless you make it that bad. Prison is not fun. It can be violent, scary, and humiliating, but it mostly boring. You find ways to cope and occupy your time and develop a routine to pass the time. Inmates have moments of joy and happiness while inside, too. Birthdays are celebrated; inmates have to console each other when they get bad news. It isn't fun and it isn't something a person should choose, but humans can and do adapt to any living conditions.