en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2478202 Comments by Abad1523 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/11/lifer/#IDComment143184460 I never really gave much thought to how ones self image changes while incarcerated. Any regular person passing by thropughout your day draws no attention, they are just normal people. But coming in contact with an “inmate” or detainee conjures up an uneasy emotion in some. I never really noticed it but now that its been addressed i find it fascinating. It makes me have questions such as; how does being labeled make those with the label feel? What kind of frustration builds up inside one self having to deal with being seen as the waste of society? I think it must take a huge toll on their emoptional state of mind completely. As previously mentioned in other posts in this forum my friend going through the stages to reach where this author is at just had a slip up on his bail statutes and is now in county awaiting trial. Having this hit home for me doesnt make me lable him as convict or felon so im a little in between on why this makes me think otherwise. Getting to another point i dont know how id feel having a trip designated to come speak to me about the poor fecisions i made in my life. That seems like a bit of a downer. Freshman year of high school it was a mandatory assembly held where female inmates cames to speak to us from a local prison. They explained their stories in a delicate way to the point where she wasnt scaring 15 year olds horrendously but their stories were very serious. What kind of revelation does one go through while confined to only their thoughts for years on end to come to terms with they messed up and have to be inprisoned for the rest of their life. BUt thats okay to them? Regardless of whether they may nbe socially acceptable those lables are strong enough weapons to drive people to do good. I know i never want any thing linked to a criminal act any where near my name to slander it in any way shape or form. I wouldnt know how to deal with it. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:43:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/11/lifer/#IDComment143184460 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/23/managing-crowds/#IDComment141105035 I cannot imagine the immense frustration an individual may feel when trying to have a massive amount of people follow a specific order. Only having had an authoritative position over groups of maybe 60 people at most at some time or another, ive experienced that kind of frustration but nothing nearly comparable to moving an entire city. The same issue arises just on a different scale. Of course there are going ot be the stubborn ones, and the know it alls, and the then the obedient ones. But never a unified group all forming under the same category by free will. The ultimate tool one can use to get all those people on the same page is use of words usually ending up in the use of scare tactics or fear. Nothing is worse than being afraid and that sudden impulse is strong enough to change anything, literally anything about an individual. Whether it be to move from one place to another or change a personally mentally. Trial and error seems like an awful idea when it comes to crown management, clear cut ways need to be put in place along with the appropriate propaganda guaranteeing the idea presented is correct even though it may not be. People as a whole are only privy to what they see, they do not attain the resources to double check everything. So i feel my idea would work. Why something related wasnt in place before baffles me, but the mishap that happened with the three mile island ordeal is ridiculous and even more absurd is the ordeal with hurricane rita. We are supposed to have the smartest of the smart taking control of the superpower of a nation we call America. Mistakes such as the ones presented are not okay. It just shows that any and everything is flawed in this world and that some priorities come before the more important ones. Serious revision is in need to our governing system. We need more competent well intentioned people looking over us. Or at least thats what i would have in my Utopian world. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 22:32:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/23/managing-crowds/#IDComment141105035 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment137593362 I dont think it is surprising at all to see that now in these times of fast paced living that religion is becoming more and more obsolete to the rest of the world. Times have changed drastically, and technological advances are starting to become the thing that is slowly taking over our lives. The all mighty and powerful iphone can be considered a deity to many people. What i am getting at is that people are ultimately worshippiing the “wrong” things. Who has time for church when they are responding to 9000 email and tweeting every four and a half minutes. The prediction that it will become extinct is a little risky, something thats been around for thousands of year just suddenly disappearing. Yes its happened to life forms but i really can not see the greatest story ever told just becoming obsolete. Millions and millions of people eat sleep and drink religion. People die for it everyday, wars are fought over it, there is even a city considered to be the holy land. And all this is just supposed to dissipate over time. I can not fathom it. I would say freely that i am apart of that fifteen percent of americans that does not associate myself with religion. i do not do it to join the majority i just find no reason to worship something u can not prove exists, to believe something dictated to you from a book and live my life by it. Everything about religion is unappealing to me from its logic to its practice. I make my decisions based on my own thought processes and not whether or not i think some dude sitting on a golden throne stroking his white beard is judging my every move. I would love to be around when religion does die out eventually. I mean the severity of the situation may escalate to complete hopelessness and chaos throughout the world. but if by some miracle society is still able to function with out religion molding each and every persons life then i would love to sit along and see where the world progresses to. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:31:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment137593362 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/14/kids-getting-life-how-is-this-serving-us-really/#IDComment135880850 This article to me is a more serious version on the gun control issue with the 5 year old. Having such an overwhelming number as four hundred plus children incarcerated for life is outstanding. But it is not that shocking to hear that it is pennsylvania to have all these youngin’s locked up. this state is ridiculous when it comes to their laws. They enforce a lot more harshly then other states i have resided in. As i have mentioned in other articles with similar topics i have friends currently on trial for a crime they committed and had they lived in this state they would be lifers no doubt. Getting into a more economic view how is it beneficial to keep these lifers in when it comes to using the tax payers dollars. supporting a 60 year old man till life is alot less expensive then the 400 teens needed to be cared for for the next 70 years. I beleive in giving the benefit of the doubt and do feel sympathy for the kids who did have lapses in judgement and made the mistakes they did. Everyone did their fair share of stupid things in their childhood, these individuals just so happen to have taken it a little too far. But thats it for them. Have we come to this point in society where reform is no longer an option and its a one and done deal. I don't like that and if things continue on this track we will have the most strict judicial system in no time. steps need to be taken to reform the sentencing of minors. It may be too late for the individuals already locked up but they will be martyrs for the next to step in their shoes. They are inadvertently setting precedents. how can such harsh punishment for these kids be allowed with the scientific evidence that their brains aren't fully developed until the twenties and are not completely aware of their actions. Of course there are the demonic exceptions who whole heartedly know what they are doing and genuinely like hurting things. BUt thats a rarity. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:26:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/14/kids-getting-life-how-is-this-serving-us-really/#IDComment135880850 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/09/what-would-make-this-guy-less-white/#IDComment134316081 The gentleman in the video is portraying white attributes deemed normal by today’s youth. Such characteristics include proper english, good mannerisms, fit clothing, and anything else thought to be bougie by others. When people take a step back and actually examine what they are labeling they see how ridiculous and wrong it actually is. Why is it that presenting yourself in a respectable manner and speaking with proper grammar and never getting out of line is related to acting like a white person. That being said it is only safe to assume that the opposite of white people would be the colored and then acting black or brown would imply tjhat they are barbaric uncivilized human beings. Depending on an ignorant individuals views they may substitute human for a wretched animal. Why has it come to this that the color white brings so much weight to a word. My guess would have to be because of the fact that for longer than anyone can argue, the majority of the wealthy in America have been white individuals and the etiquette that comes along with having money is very very rigid and proper. Over time as society grew more and more there seemed to be a shift in the distribution of wealth and the less money a family earned starting from the top the less rigid their lifestyle became ( with exceptions of course). So this well mannered and well spoken individual in the video is essentially “very white” because of the fact that he is speaking properly and very carefully. The way he is presenting himself he comes off as very awkward and nervous. The carefree outgoing personality type is not considered the norm for “white” culture. Joking and carefree living get more associated with the brown and black people of today because some think being carefree is coupled with not being successful , another wrong stereotype associated with colored america. That is the only way i can explain the issue with labels today. It is a very touchy subject that has no definitive answer. Arguments will always arise but nothing will ever be settled. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:52:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/09/what-would-make-this-guy-less-white/#IDComment134316081 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/the-lottery-as-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#IDComment132234577 On my many very lengthy conversations with the greater majority of my friends at some point or another we have had the what if we won the lottery conversation. Most of the time being in a different state of mind we ramble on and on about the extravagant things we would buy and do most being completely superficial and materialistic. But then there are the conversations that take place with my family about the what if scenario and they are more logical sit downs. Of course first starters i would hire a financial advisor. Settle any debt issues help out family but ultimately make sure my family is on a good track to a happy life. I truly believe money would not change the me or i of anyone in my immediate family or even my extended family. We a re a close knit unit built upon love trust and understanding and are all self reliant individuals. But i do see how when managed irresponsibly the winning of the lottery can be a curse. Frivolous spending and a weak back bone can make any winner crumble. An extremely dependent individual will succumb to requests of blowing the dough without thought. Someone who will fall to threats or even respond to them will become paranoid. Their life will be ruined. At this time in my life my family is topping off and the sibling generation are turning into the adults. My parents are retiring my siblings are all well on their way into their careers each sustaining an individual life in their own. The money would only benefit us. not draw us apart. It is sad to hear about the selfish and greedy individuals with such shoddy values as to burden another person in their time of good fortune. Its disgusting. I for sure believe the lottery is a hoax and the majority of the winners are located in regions where tax money is needed so i don't buy into the lotto craze as i have seen many others have. It is addicting to constantly play these numbers day after day year after year. It becomes an unfulfilled obsession and sometimes that obsession leads to worse things. Fri, 4 Mar 2011 00:23:38 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/the-lottery-as-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#IDComment132234577 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment130642159 If i were approached by a child in need i would definitely help out. As a hopefully future parent i would be strongly advise my children to seek help when in need. I myself have never been lost but i was always advised by my parents not to speak to strangers as has most of america. at the time it seemed like great advise, only because i was naive and very young but now that i’m old enough to look in on the outside of this situation its a little ridiculous. I can not really speak for the majority of the american population but my advise was based on paranoia. I have old fashioned spanish parents so their up bringing was a little more strict than the average american is used to. So a lot of the things that i was told as a child seem absolutely ridiculous now. Especially to “never ever speak to strangers” But i guess it was the right rationale at the time. The only argument i can really make as to how this advise would be deemed right is depending on where an individual lives. The early years of my up bringing were spent in East New York in one of the more dangerous areas of the neighborhood. so i guess being paranoid was a logical way to approach the issue on conversing with strangers . But as for suburban families in nicer areas of the country. Why not tell your child to seek help? It is an early start to kids being introverted human beings. I would encourage socializing among strangers. In the future it will be a good quality to possess being able to approach a random individual and strike up conversation. But times will probably never change. Kids will always be encouraged to avoid contact with anyone when they are in danger only putting them in deeper trouble then they were in to begin with. The rarity of the captured video is an oddity among these times. The statistic presented to us was that 100 americans are/ attempted to be abducted per year. That is a minuscule number compared to the number of citizens we have. Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:31:01 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment130642159 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/23/how-free-are-these-90-students/#IDComment128988746 This article is very shocking. Coming from what I thought to be a sexually active community I could not fathom having nearly one hundred females/ class mates being pregnant or having had a kid already. Ive witnessed a few girls who were those unlucky ones to have been pregnant at an early age, the youngest being fifteen and the cousin of a recent ex girlfriend and I just could not understand how or why they ended up in the position they are in. As for the Memphis teens, how come no one took notice to the crisis going on in their community. Condoms are the cheapest form of safe sex, some places even distribute them for free why does no one take the initiative to stop this trend? The way I see it now people see it as socially acceptable in this community to be in this specific condition. Is this another way girls “fit in” better in their school and amongst their friends. Where do these parents stand on this issue? How do they react to all their teens and friends that they share be expecting parents? Are they accepting? Do they resent them for the foolish mistakes? Is this the first year this problem is occurring? Was their graduating class sharing the same issue? Answers to All these questions would leave my inquireies assuaged. Serious revision is in need for their sexual education programs. Too many of these poor girls are prematurely throwing aweay their lives and nothing is being done to help them. A lot of promising minds are no longer contributing to society and now are cooped up and preoccupied with issues they should not have to deal with for another ten years at least. I feel for these individuals. Not the ones naïve enough to believe that this baby will benefit any meaningless relationship they may be stuck in at this point. But for the ones who know they messed up. This problem is something I am personally dealing with in my family. My cousin mothered an illigitamite child at the age of 18 as well and there is no worse situation then to have to deal with this one. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:55:53 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/23/how-free-are-these-90-students/#IDComment128988746 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment127451537 When I think about it it bothers me that my actions are molded and influenced by my peers. Why has nothing been done to move away from being one of the group to just being one on your own. Obviously people know it is an issue or else there would be no need for this experiment. The invisible strings are always in play obviously and continuously pulling us in ways we cant control. But humor is humor and this video is very entertaining. The first guy had me giggling, I find nothing more entertaining than an awkward situation that lingers and that is exactly how he made it happen. His indecisiveness just kept me smiling and laughing. To me he is so used to being one of the group it is literally borderline impossible for him to do the simple task of turning around. Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:45:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment127451537 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment127451522 I have seen many videos like this, more or less labeling such experiments as pranks, all yielding the same results. We are humans, yes, but our mind is programmed just like a computer or a robot. We learn to do things a certain way and to abide by the group since the day we are born. It is funny when it is played down into a funny way how we act, but there is nothing we can do. I find it a little bothersome that we are conditioned to follow the group and not to act as an individual. Mulling over that thought brought me to the realization that we as students are being taught day by day to be conformists. The entire education process is one huge tunnel leading us into the real world as workers. Workers! No not leaders, workers as in drones trained to do monotonous tasks that will better aid an organization industry or corporation. I guess it is an easier world to live in where everyone abides by the rules and acts as one. Imagine if there were millions of free minded people acting on their own for the benefit of themselves. The world would better for one. So much potential is hindered by conforming its sickening. Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:45:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment127451522 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment125804727 As much sense as it makes to give this kid a slap on the wrist and send him back to class, we as americans can never do that. We are such a rigid society minor infractions get the “required” attention. I have always been one to give the benefit of the doubt so i will assume in this situation the boy was clueless to his actions, but having seen shows like “Too Young To Kill” on the history channel, no one can ever be too sure this day and age what is going to happen next. In this show an innocent under appreciated seven to eight year old boy was ridiculed so badly by his family and friends that he had a break down and took his anger out a a three to four year old boy. He pummeled the child's head with a rock untill he was no longer breathing. But the little 7 year old boy, being scared he would still get caught if this beaten child tells on him, decides to sodomize the lifeless body with a near by stick to see if the kid was really not alive anymore. So at what age are you responsible for your actions? I would say the second you are able to decipher emotions and act on them you take responsibility into your own hands. So what if the child was voted best cub scout or cutest in kindergarten. Kids will be cute as long as we as a society keep pumping them out that way. Its the minds behind the twinkling eyes that are gradually getting worse and worse. So to say a child is clueless as to what a thirty eight or a twenty two is is quite off base. Guns are prominent in our society today people are desensitized to violence and the dangers of their actions. But the What If’s will never go away. As long as there is an issue there will be two sides. And as long as there are two sides there will be those who can not side either way and that is where i will stand. Fri, 4 Feb 2011 01:35:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment125804727 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/21/letter-from-an-inmate/#IDComment124439598 Correct Post***** Having just had a friend been charged with murder ,thoughts provoking this letter to be written have come to cross my mind. Potentially facing thirty five or more years i wonder to myself how horrible his life is going to be being caged up with, media portrayed, animals. It was reassuring to me to read that not everyone he will come in contact with is a monster. And that the world he will be spending his future in is not completely dark and cold. I like to see that there is hope for rehabilitation for my friend who desperately needs to look over his life. And that there will be others in there to look guide him back into good graces. Getting back on track it is remarkable how people in literally in the lowest of situations can still see light in the world. That even though they have no future find something to live for, care for and hold onto. How they realize they have wronged and try to right themselves in an environment where no one is there to care for them. I cant imagine having hope when the rest of my days are going to spent behind bars. Ive always been fascinated with shows, movies and documentaries on spending your life in prison. They are portrayed as a free for all environment. Survival of the fittest. But what i know is what i see not what i am told by someone who knows. It was not until it hit close to home that i realized a place like that is no joke. Its another world. Different rules to live by under complete lock down at all times. How does that change a person. Me, always enjoying the more adventurous movies, pictured it as a life in the wrong til the end. I did not think people had revelations. Becoming at peace with the world and their past lives and just abide by the holy bible. I wish there were more i knew to obtain a better grip on the reality that prison inmates live through every day. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:20:28 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/21/letter-from-an-inmate/#IDComment124439598 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/blog-1-freedom-and-toddlers-in-tiaras/#IDComment124438112 I completely agree with the thought that parents try to shape their kids lives to be what their childhood wasn't. But i dont agree with the level of freedom taken away from the children at such early ages. By no choice of their own do i feel these little girls compete in the competitions. They are thrown in at an early age where they know nothing else then to compete so succeeding will obviously bring them joy. The one male reporter commented that by the looks of it shes smiling so she must enjoy it. He commented on a pageant photo taken by a professional. What are the odds she smiling behind the curtain with makeup caked on her face for hours on end. These moms go overboard a bit. Tinas counter argument that dads do the same thing with boys and sports in by no means comparable. My father was one of my main influences growing up in a basketball dominated life. I never once felt it was because of him i had to stick with it. When times got hard and i contemplated to stop playing, i had the free will to do so. My main advocate supported whatever decision i made. The scene where the little girl screams from having her eyebrows waxed has no correlation to ow my father went about supporting me. I really dont understand how pageants like that exist. Its cruel. I feel sorry for the airheads who go through the Ms. America pageant. These kids are falling into a bad profession early. Mothers dont see the potential risk they are running because it brings them satisfaction to win. I couldnt help but laugh at the not so attractive woman pantomiming the routine so her daughter stayed on cue. For the enjoyment of competing let the gilr do it on her own. Can u imagine the drilling she went through to be deemed ready by her psychotic mother ? Hard to imagine howshe must still have enough energy to muster up that smile. I just dont agree with these mothers and how they treat their children. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:09:50 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/blog-1-freedom-and-toddlers-in-tiaras/#IDComment124438112