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How I got here

pthorpe92.github.io

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Re: How I got here

#91

Post by macintux »

gavinray wrote: post #87
next_xibalba wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He was not born a drug wholesaler. He made that choice…twice! Rehabilitation is not the sole or even primary goal of incarceration. Nor should it be. But I do agree. People who’ve done their time shouldn’t have to wear a permanent scarlet letter. I just have little sympathy for repeat offenders of very serious felonies. This guy wasn’t a small time street dealer. He is probably partly responsible for many fentanyl ov…

This is a nuanced topic. I think I probably have more firsthand experience with this subject than most. All I can do is share my own viewpoints: 1. It's not uncommon for hard-opiate users to willingly ingest or even seek out fentanyl. I have multiple dead friends whom I asked repeatedly not to even stop using heroin/fent, but just to consider smoking it instead of shooting it. Opiate addicts live on the razor's edge…

> There's a very solid chance, given his background and history, that the author was also using himself.

The author chimed in here and acknowledged that.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38231933

Re: How I got here

#92

Post by thefaux »

edgyquant wrote: post #11
macintux wrote: post #2

I hate to quote so much of the post—it's well worth a read—but I think it's bookended by two very different experiences that convey so much about the U.S. prison system. > A few years later, I left prison with $0 in my pocket (lawyers and commissary are expensive, and nobody pays you what they owe you when you come in), to a rooming house with hallways that smelled like crack-smoke and were filled with parole officer…

So he chose to go back to a life of crime and we’re supposed to feel bad for him? There’s a reason he was able to make 20k in a weekend, it’s a high risk high reward business and I have no sympathy for someone who skirts societal norms and makes a shit ton of money in the process while plenty of people suck it up and earn the 10.50 until they can get back out in their own. This guy and his entire post reeks of entitl…

I agree with you that just on the basis of this piece, he does not sound accountable and can appreciate given what you've shared about your own history why it might be particularly frustrating. At the same time, there are factual elements of the story that deeply bother me about the way we treat those who have previously transgressed. I believe that we do need systems of accountability, but I also believe that our current system is broken beyond repair and is not ultimately effective. Or rather it can only be effective if we collectively agree to condemn a certain class of people as criminals and therefore deserving of treatment we would never accept of non criminals. We would all do well to remember our own incredible good fortune in life.

Of course there are people in prison who are a menace to public safety and must be dealt with. And there must be consequences for harmful behavior even when it is "nonviolent" (which is a word that diminishes non-physical harm). But I truly struggle to understand how it is a good idea to segregate all the people who have previously transgressed, deny them opportunities for betterment and fully initiate them into criminal life.

Re: How I got here

#93

Post by fabianhjr »

admissionsguy wrote: post #12

> particularly those affected by the war on drugs, like myself, who has spent 1/3 of his life imprisoned for non-violent drug crimes Still not quite ready to take responsibility for his actions... You weren't magically "affected" by the war on drugs. You went into crime for the easy money, but found out you weren't very good at avoiding getting caught.

Meanwhile working class people have lesser and lesser purchasing power to the point were renting and homeownership are out of their reach; subemployment / "gig" employment ("innovating" by removing without workers rights) is rampant.

Nothing like a system that produces a high amount of marginalized / vulnerable people and then blames them for going for "easy" money like drugs or prostitution.

I would expect the tech crowd here to be more inclined towards blameless postmortems / systemic safety.

Re: How I got here

#94

Post by JessicaHicklin »

Whatever people are incarcerated for, the fact of the matter is that 95% of the people currently incarcerated in the US will one day live next door to one or more of us. Isn't it better to prepare them to live there, self-sufficent and contributing to society? (Disclosure: I am the Cofounder of Unlocked Labs, Preston's current employer and formerly incarcerated myself). I can say without hesitation, Preston is an incredible employee whom I am happy we provided this opportunity for.

Re: How I got here

#95

Post by ocdtrekkie »

lynx23 wrote: post #88
wavemode wrote: post #86

I guess I read this blog post very differently from many other commenters. I don't see this as being entitled or avoiding responsibility for his actions. He's just telling his story. He knows he fucked up. But he also knows the system is fucked. If you can't possibly understand how growing up without positive influences can lead someone to a life of crime, you're probably too privileged to be the target audience of t…

[flagged]

Dude was already in crime at 17. He didn't really have any time with the luxuries of adulthood to figure out his own life.

Re: How I got here

#96

Post by laurent_du »

closewith wrote: post #90
modeless wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's unfair to say it "makes" them that way. They were incarcerated because they already proved willing to commit a crime. It failed to change them back into an average citizen, sure. Understandably a very difficult problem. It's quite possible that it makes them worse instead of better but we'd need different evidence to show that.

The average citizen in every country is already willing to commit a crime. The difference between the average criminal and you is a couple of meals.

No amount of missed meals will make me commit a rape, a murder, or other heinous crimes.

Re: How I got here

#97

Post by ThrowAway1922A »

lynx23 wrote: post #88
wavemode wrote: post #86

I guess I read this blog post very differently from many other commenters. I don't see this as being entitled or avoiding responsibility for his actions. He's just telling his story. He knows he fucked up. But he also knows the system is fucked. If you can't possibly understand how growing up without positive influences can lead someone to a life of crime, you're probably too privileged to be the target audience of t…

[flagged]

> it is not an excuse.

Things can be a reason without being an excuse.

Sure I'm not in jail and on the surface I have my act together, but my entire life has been fucked up by what are now called "ACEs" and it's a miracle I'm as stable as I am.

I'm not going to let people off the hook, but I am able to sympathize...especially knowing the wrong person or event at the wrong time would have quickly sent me down the same path.

Re: How I got here

#98

Post by tux3 »

freedomben wrote: post #77
RecycledEle wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

That's genuinely horrifying, and I don't find many opinions horrifying. Are you being serious or trolling? If serious, I hope people don't kill your comment because this is one I think should be discussed.

I'm not sure you can discuss someone out of a position like this through a screen. Or if you can, I'd very much like to see that.

Some people want to solve problems with violence. And if that didn't work, you simply need more violence.

It's as old as humanity. Sadly not a difference of values easily solved by discussion.

Re: How I got here

#99

Post by gavinray »

JessicaHicklin wrote: post #94

Whatever people are incarcerated for, the fact of the matter is that 95% of the people currently incarcerated in the US will one day live next door to one or more of us. Isn't it better to prepare them to live there, self-sufficent and contributing to society? (Disclosure: I am the Cofounder of Unlocked Labs, Preston's current employer and formerly incarcerated myself). I can say without hesitation, Preston is an inc…

Great to see you here Jessica =)

I didn't realize Unlocked was your organization.

Re: How I got here

#100

Post by JessicaHicklin »

Whether you feel sympathy for Preston or not, the fact of the matter is that 95% of the incarcerated individuals in the US will one day love next to you and me. Wouldn't you rather they be prepared to live there, to have a job and resources? To be self-sufficient (Preston will not need welfare resources when he returns because of this opportunity)? (Disclosure, I am Preston's employer and formerly incarcerated myself)
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