Discussion Do you think prisoners feel better than we do?

[Anxieyote]

I was listening to a podcast about an ex-convict describing his time in prison. He said the biggest downside was the "fake machismo" he had to put on around the other inmates, because there's definitely a pecking order in terms of who seems the weakest, and people will pick fights against the weak ones to demonstrate their strength. Openly-gay inmates were singled out and segregated from the others.

But he also talked about making friends in there too, and being able to keep up with sports and current television shows like Breaking Bad while he was there. He also had access to books, and was able to keep himself educated and entertained.

Do you think it's possible that prisoners are living more rich and fulfilling lives than we are? Do you think a mental prison is worse than an actual prison?

 

[sharky]

Huh, no. There's some fun stuff to do in the free world, in a prison you have 23 hours just to yourself and your thoughts and nothing to steer you away from them. Life is Suffering, but it's even worse in prison.

 

[dustyfurcollector]

There's absolutely no way a former convict will tell you he'd rather be in prison than out. I don't think he'd rather be in

 

[rationalis]

Prison systems vary widely. America has the hardest prison system in the "civilized" world. There are comfortable prisons.

 

[Chinaski]

Do you think a mental prison is worse than an actual prison?

The two things are not mutually exclusive if the prison suicide and self-harm stats are anything to go by.

On one hand, there's a lot of noise in public about how soft prison is, and even ex-inmates who are given public voice are given that voice to parrot back the cosy liberal sensibilities of prison being fundamentally useful. From people l know who have been there, and especially from a relative who works as a prison screw, I'd say it's a fucking horrible place and not somewhere conducive to personal or mental growth.

On the other hand, a short prison sentence (say, a few months) is finite. The fact that one in that situation can reassure themselves that they will, one day, return to "normal" is a huge coping mechanism which people who are chronically ill etc do not have, in fact a lot of suicidal thought is propelled by the very opposite prospect.

 

[FuneralCry]

It is impossible to know how others feel as we cannot read minds. This society tries to imprison us by denying us the option of a peaceful exit/euthanasia. I see existence itself as being prison like as we are forced here without choice and it is difficult to leave. For me, death is the only way to be free.

 

[Chinaski]

This society tries to imprison us by denying us the option of a peaceful exit/euthanasia.

The notion that in not killing you, society is in fact imprisoning you is one which would not get much traction or sympathy from those who are literally imprisoned imho.

 

[Death is beautiful]

Once in prison, I would have become desperate enough to finally hang myself, but like some here, I think the conditions in prison are worse than being free

 

[Sky66]

Yes prisoners feel better than us. There is nothing worse than being a prisoner in your own body.

 

[Bleak]

As others pointed out there's nothing stopping you from being in a mental prison while you are in a literal prison. I find it kind of insensitive too to describe people who are being treated as animals as living "rich and fulfilling lives". Some may make the best of it but no I don't see any upside to losing all of your freedom and privacy.

 

[Snake of Eden]

prolonged prison sentences are preposterous. Death penalty should really be re-examined. It is not palatable in modern day thinking to consider it as a good tool for society and individuals. The ancients were right that an eye for an eye and life for life even if it seen is outdated and barbaric medieval practices

 

[Insomniac]

no. prisons are filthy places with no access to green spaces. beds are hard like concrete, you make a friend and then they leave, you have to hang out with murderers, cowshit tastes better than prison food, etc.

maybe prisons in Norway are the closest thing to what a lot of us on here are experiencing, but I'd still rather not be in prison, even if it's Norway.

I'd also rather be homeless than in prison. at the risk of sounding slightly single-minded, prison, to me, is the lowest of the lowest hole a human being can fall into.

 

[SolomonKado]

I was listening to a podcast about an ex-convict describing his time in prison. He said the biggest downside was the "fake machismo" he had to put on around the other inmates, because there's definitely a pecking order in terms of who seems the weakest, and people will pick fights against the weak ones to demonstrate their strength. Openly-gay inmates were singled out and segregated from the others.

But he also talked about making friends in there too, and being able to keep up with sports and current television shows like Breaking Bad while he was there. He also had access to books, and was able to keep himself educated and entertained.

Do you think it's possible that prisoners are living more rich and fulfilling lives than we are? Do you think a mental prison is worse than an actual prison?

I worked in a large one in the states and the inmates we had could order kfc, dominoes, etc. the ones who stayed out of trouble for a long time were put into a special housing where they could order large tv's, iPods, etc. they also have college available to them so they can earn a degree before they get out. Some have multiple degrees.

The ones who worked outside the prison at a chicken farm were able to go to Walmart after their work day.

The bad ones though don't really get crap and can be locked up 23 out of 24 hours a day for long periods of time. The one hour they get is to spend time outside in a cage with a pull up bar. Things get smuggled in there also. People in that area have been known to get high on drugs. If they acted better then they could get out, but some just don't want to get out of solitary. It's become their home.