2 Years In Prison - A Man's Story

[Rhinox]

wow geat read. definitely a life changing story.

Spoiler: show

I haven't actually read it just want to fit in.

[Tekki]

Don't know why people are feeling sympathy for this dude, he hasn't learned shit.


Btw the whole I'm not gay but I was so lonely that I fucked some men and traded blowjobs with another man while on drugs is hilarious.

b/c youve been in these situations?

No, im not an expert or have been in this situation. just dont troll up a pretty good read w/ "lol ya ryt"

humans are pretty capable of extra ordinary negative and or positive things when put under unimaginable stress

[Cadsuane]

You know, I really hate that glib "well don't break the law then stupid" chiding whenever there's a story about getting raked over the coals for breaking the law.

[BerenTebogo]

He committed armed robbery. I think it's appropriate here.

If this was a retrospect from one of the oppressed minorities who got 2 years for smoking a joint I think that'd change things a bit. If you are honestly unable to keep yourself from committing armed robbery then do you really get to complain about the consequences?

[Stee]

b/c youve been in these situations?

No, im not an expert or have been in this situation. just dont troll up a pretty good read w/ "lol ya ryt"

humans are pretty capable of extra ordinary negative and or positive things when put under unimaginable stress

Theres plenty of things to judge this guy but I didn't judge him for fucking a man.

However fucking men then calling it not gay isn't going to work.

[SephYuyX]

Complete opposite of every prison documetary ever on TV.

[wagon]

It's nice to see it confirmed by someone inside though what most academics have been saying. A large part of encarcelated blacks (and possible latinos) is due to non violent drug related crime. The US could really use some drug decriminalization.

How would blowjobs stop people from using drugs rather than using them.

Two straight guys giving each other blowjobs after using drugs? I think that's a pretty good deterrence.

[Xajii]

I FUCKING LOVE REESE'S PIECES!!!

on a serious note, that was a very interesting read and I disagree with above poster who says he hasn't changed. The guy says some really spot on things. And yeah that bit near the end about seeing the ATM cash was inclination that he still has those bad deisres but I doubt he'd ever do anything like it again. I don't believe you if you say you've never thought about shit like that before.

The stuff about hating violent videogames etc. was really interesting. His self awareness stands out to me most of all. Like when people say he should do talks and stuff and he just says "mine is not a unique case". Respectable, honest.

[Kuya]

Two straight guys giving each other blowjobs after using drugs? I think that's a pretty good deterrence.

Now why would that be a bad thing?

[Cleverness]

Doesn't sound like it'd get rid of the drug problem, unless you used blowjobs as a replacement or reward for not doing drugs.

[wagon]

Now why would that be a bad thing?

You know, it's Saturday night, part of me wants to indulge you and gay up this thread and then part of me is rather reluctant because I am not a heterophobic. I don't know, maybe a few more drinks.

[Stee]

Besides the ATM machine he was also talking about breaking his parole, the only thing stopping him was the US checking passports in Mexico. I don't believe he mentioned it but I have serious doubts this guy isn't still doing drugs, where even his parents won't let him live with them until he cleans up.

Sure he can write, but once you get past that it's just like he said, he isn't a unique case. He hasn't reformed in any way and the only thing keeping him from more armed robbery isn't because it's a shitty thing to do but because he thinks prison is scary.

[Cadsuane]

He committed armed robbery. I think it's appropriate here.

If this was a retrospect from one of the oppressed minorities who got 2 years for smoking a joint I think that'd change things a bit. If you are honestly unable to keep yourself from committing armed robbery then do you really get to complain about the consequences?

Y-... er... hm.

No not really I suppose, but you can hardly argue that the consequences such as they are serve as an effective disincentive for anti-social behaviour (people aren't so easily manipulable), nor can you argue that it's moral, and even as a measure to protect the public safety it leaves something to be desired when legal and penal institutions are responsible for protracting the social barriers that result in crime.

[BerenTebogo]

Y-... er... hm.

No not really I suppose, but you can hardly argue that the consequences such as they are serve as an effective disincentive for anti-social behaviour (people aren't so easily manipulable), nor can you argue that it's moral, and even as a measure to protect the public safety it leaves something to be desired when legal and penal institutions are responsible for protracting the social barriers that result in crime.

The criminal justice system in America, and the facilities for punishing offenders, are...well...atrocious is a good word. The entire system is flawed, skewed, fucked, and asinine. I don't agree with any of it.

That being said, I'm not going to go commit armed robbery partly because it is wrong and partly because of the above. It's a horrible system but it works as a disincentive. Although, pretty much anything works as a disincentive for people who aren't backwards to begin with. The thought of being removed from my life for 2 years is enough to keep me from doing stupid shit like armed robbery, and the thought of abusing drugs and hurting the people I love is enough to keep me from being that fucking stupid.

I really sympathize for the people who are nothing but victims of the system. Minorities on small drug charges, 14 year olds charged with child pornography and forced to register as sex offenders for taking pics of themselves nude, but violent offenders and drug dealers and the like? Call me a republican, but fuck, I feel nothing but disdain for them an all of their life choices.

[setzer]

i'm not judging this guy, i'm just amazed at how insightful his story is.

can you imagine walking into the cell block on your 1st trip to prison and the first thing you see and hear is some guy yelling "he's a child fucker, i know him!" for a half hour.

if i didn't piss myself already, i think that would do it.

[Kohan]

I really sympathize for the people who are nothing but victims of the system. Minorities on small drug charges, 14 year olds charged with child pornography and forced to register as sex offenders for taking pics of themselves nude, but violent offenders and drug dealers and the like? Call me a republican, but fuck, I feel nothing but disdain for them an all of their life choices.

Of course, if a reasonably educated individual like this one wasn't incarcerated once in a while, we wouldn't have such evocative descriptions of the inside. Not to say that it's an admirable or wise life choice, but I appreciate his experience and willingness to share it simply because of what it spreads. Those many true victims whom he occasionally taught writing and reading skills to will, most likely, never tell their tales to an audience; this person is perfectly capable of doing so on the internet, and that is valuable.

I wouldn't dare say I've seen anything as awful as life within a prison, but I have lived among the people who've been in and out of one within a ghetto, and I know one of the main reasons I'm now living on the west side of Southern California far away from all of them is because I'm white. The piss-poor beginnings, the temptations to commit crimes, the understanding that you'll never be better than garbage; I've seen all that and I've felt that myself, and I still do.

It's that, surely, which has led to my regretting sending someone to prison for holding me up at gunpoint. Considering what you've said earlier, Sath, you may think that's nonsense, and it's fine if you do. I understand that. Yet because of what I grew up with, I was able to handle the situation calmly (and my supervisors at the time were amazed that I acted entirely normal toward the person robbing me); the robber stopped cussing at me and trying to scare me after a while, and it would have almost been friendly if I wasn't on the other side of his gun's barrel.

Some armed robbers are hardened, maddened fucks, and some are victims as well, ones who feel peddling drugs isn't enough and that there's no other option besides threatening someone else's life. That person could have killed me, but I have never hated them and I never will. I used to be friends with people just like them.

I would also love to meet the person who wrote all of this and talk to them, if only I could.

[BerenTebogo]

Of course, if a reasonably educated individual like this one wasn't incarcerated once in a while, we wouldn't have such evocative descriptions of the inside. Not to say that it's an admirable or wise life choice, but I appreciate his experience and willingness to share it simply because of what it spreads. Those many true victims whom he occasionally taught writing and reading skills to will, most likely, never tell their tales to an audience; this person is perfectly capable of doing so on the internet, and that is valuable.

I wouldn't dare say I've seen anything as awful as life within a prison, but I have lived among the people who've been in and out of one within a ghetto, and I know one of the main reasons I'm now living on the west side of Southern California far away from all of them is because I'm white. The piss-poor beginnings, the temptations to commit crimes, the understanding that you'll never be better than garbage; I've seen all that and I've felt that myself, and I still do.

It's that, surely, which has led to my regretting sending someone to prison for holding me up at gunpoint. Considering what you've said earlier, Sath, you may think that's nonsense, and it's fine if you do. I understand that. Yet because of what I grew up with, I was able to handle the situation calmly (and my supervisors at the time were amazed that I acted entirely normal toward the person robbing me); the robber stopped cussing at me and trying to scare me after a while, and it would have almost been friendly if I wasn't on the other side of his gun's barrel.

Some armed robbers are hardened, maddened fucks, and some are victims as well, ones who feel peddling drugs isn't enough and that there's no other option besides threatening someone else's life. That person could have killed me, but I have never hated them and I never will. I used to be friends with people just like them.

I would also love to meet the person who wrote all of this and talk to them, if only I could.

It's entirely subjective and one of the few truly opinion-driven topics of discussions out there. I completely disagree with your way of looking at things, but I can't say it's wrong, it just is wrong for me.

In my opinion, knowing how hard life can be out there and knowing that maybe one out of 100,000 climbs up and over themselves to make it out successfully, I still just can't sympathize. The minute you pull a gun on another person you're making a judgment that your life is worth more than theirs, and honestly, that's enough for me to draw the line at it being universally wrong.

Starving? Need to feed your family in a life and death situation? Break into a store overnight (no I'm not advocating this) and steal shit, don't threaten the life of another human being because of a misplaced sense of self-worth. Items, at least, are insured and can be replaced. Try telling some kids father that you just "really" needed the money for those drugs, or for food, pick your poison.

It's all opinion, but fuck if I don't bat one eye at this. We all have to make choices, most of us will never have to make these irrevocably hard decisions, but if we did - I'd like to think that most of us would exhaust all other options before stepping right up to pulling a gun on someone for $30 in cash.

[BerenTebogo]

Also, none of this applies to shit like rape. If you rape someone, enjoy being fisted anally by neo-nazis and beaten by corrupt guards for the next 20 years. No sympathy whatsoever (assuming due process, actual guilt, not bastardized rulings of statutory rape against 18 year olds with 16 year old girlfriends, etc, talking forcible violent rape).

[Kohan]

It's entirely subjective and one of the few truly opinion-driven topics of discussions out there. I completely disagree with your way of looking at things, but I can't say it's wrong, it just is wrong for me.

In my opinion, knowing how hard life can be out there and knowing that maybe one out of 100,000 climbs up and over themselves to make it out successfully, I still just can't sympathize. The minute you pull a gun on another person you're making a judgment that your life is worth more than theirs, and honestly, that's enough for me to draw the line at it being universally wrong.

From here, we could break this civilized discussion into a bunch of useless parts, talking about how not everyone holding a gun intends to kill, or -- on the other hand -- how holding one at all and taking the risk is just as terrible as true intent; there would be no real point in that. It's as you've said: they're two very opinionated mindsets.

I am very firm about my own because of the neighborhood I grew up in, and the people I was around till my late teen years. I will not lie: I've done exactly what you mentioned (stolen food). I stole other things, too. I had things stolen from me. C'est la vie in the ghetto and all that.

Did I ever threaten anyone at gunpoint, however? No; my own petty little crimes were "victimless." Nonetheless, I've had quite a few weapons pointed at me; a handgun, a sawed-off shotgun, and the lesser (yet surprisingly scarier from my perspective) knives. I've had friends stabbed by attackers, or they attacked others, and skipped town with little to no notice, never to be seen or heard from ever again.

It has to do with one's own sense of normalcy. As I saw these people as humans, my childhood friends, I cannot demonize them even as they threaten the lives of others. I suppose that can be seen as ridiculous, but personally, I believe there must be someone to believe in them -- even if it's a deadly fool's errand.

[Kohan]

I agree with no mercy for rape, for the record. That doesn't help someone survive.