12 replies to this topic

[AmScray]

(preemption: "I read the thread title and thought it would about something else. Ya know. Joint/Marijuana. This thread does not deliver for me because I enjoy reading about weed. Because I smoke it. And I rock.")

So as I've mentioned before, I spent a little time locked up.
Unfortunately, we didn't have an Andy Dufresne so the library absolutely sucked rotten ass. Basically, whatever didn't sell at the "Friends Of The Library Booksale" back in the 1980's was donated. It hadn't been updated much since then and the waiting list for the few periodicals was too long. If you weren't into romance novels or books on Catholicism, you were totally fucked.

One thing they did have, however, was a complete, bound, 30'some-odd volume ancient set of the Chicago School of Watchmakings trade course, which was meant to teach a random man off the street how to perform most all repair functions and basic maintenance of a mechanical wristwatch. It was left over from when they used to run life skills trade courses back in the 1950's and 60's (which they don't do anymore) I read and comprehended every damn one of them- it got to the point where I could disassemble and reassemble a wrist watch movement in my mind, piece by piece, and understand what every part did. Couldn't wait to get out and try it "in real life".

Anyway, I did and I've been doing it for a while now. I'm pretty good at it.
I did some pricing on ebay and found that one can buy lower grade but still extremely serviceable basic watchmakers tools (made in India) for pretty cheap. They're no where near Bergeons or the imported Swiss stuff, but they do work. I figured WTF, maybe I could buy a few sets and teach a little course- give some of the guys a hobby, or at least something constructive to do with their time that could possibly eventually lead to a viable trade skill. Watchmaking is one of those things that requires a mind clear from external thoughts and lots of time- something you could find in there.

Contacted them and proposed the idea- got clearance from level 1.
Talked to the guy who we'll call "Level 2". Yeah, great idea. OK. We know how to do tool counts, none of the tools in question would pose some grave danger to the institution should one go missing- sounds good.
Level 3- Sorry, we can't do it since you've been an inmate before. If you can find someone else to teach it, OK, but we have a standing policy regarding inmates contact with "known felons".

View 1: "YEAH THAT MAKES SENSE THOSE FELONS SHOULDN'T BE LEARNING ABOUT ANYTHING BUT MAKING BIG ROCKS INTO SMALLER ONES. GWB/AMERICA RULES!!!!! REMEMBER 9/11!!!!!!! SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!!!!!!"

View 2: Well, it's kinda understandable. You may be well meaning, but allowing past inmates to communicate with current inmates could foreseeably cause potential problems. Plus, you have the whole issue of introducing small, sharp instruments into a prison. Good intentions, but maybe not such a good idea.

View 3: Presuming that you served your time without trouble and have led a demonstrably good and productive life since release, there really isn't any reason why someone who can stand as a good example of post release success and who is willing to invest not only their time but their money to help other guys succeed similarly should be prohibited from helping. This would benefit not only the institution, but the inmates as well and at 0 cost to the taxpayer. Bad decision.

I wonder who the first retard to quote the first line of this post will be, thinking that they're clever.

[Balloon guy]

My father worked on clocks and watches his whole life as a hobby. He had a really nice bench filled with tools.

Pretty sure you can kill someone with about 60% of them.

But I like where you are going, teaching a meaningful trade to anyone is always of value.

[AmScray]

Serious post: If you still have any of those tools and are considering selling them, contact me first. My bench is comprehensive but it still has gaps. Even if I don't buy them, I can at least tell you what they are so you can ebay them (watch/clockmakers tools are pretty esoteric)

[BigDMcGee]

This is an interesting quandary. On one hand, I should think they'd want reformed felons to come back, and be examples to the prisoners, as role models On the other hand, I can see why prison officials would be suspicious of the intentions of ex-cons coming into the Prison for any reason. Sure, you have good intentions, but I can certainly understand why they'd be suspicious of ex-cons as sources of contra-band. I wouldn't see a problem with it, if they monitored you the whole time you were in prison,. but I'm not sure what kind of staffing they have, to accommodate manual watch repair classes taught by ex-cons.

[AmScray]

I was a Custody Level 1 my entire time, zero incidents during that time and zero incidents since.

It isn't like I'm some gang banger who is trying to reunite with the homeboys- and they totally know this.
As far as the class taxing on institutional resources, it would highly selective, drawing only from inmates without behavioral/mental issues who express a genuine interest and who are of otherwise high intelligence. We wouldn't need any guards, but one would be more than enough to satisfy whatever liability issues they might be worried about. I'd even pay the ****ers $12.00 hourly salary for the two hours I was there, if that was an issue.

[Balloon guy]

Serious post: If you still have any of those tools and are considering selling them, contact me first. My bench is comprehensive but it still has gaps. Even if I don't buy them, I can at least tell you what they are so you can ebay them (watch/clockmakers tools are pretty esoteric)

They are with my dad in Cody now, he still tinkers but he's getting on in age.

[AmScray]

Ah, I kinda figured the past tense was suggesting he'd passed on.

This is the case with most of these guys; watchmaking and clockmaking used to be not only a profession, but a hobby for a lot of people as well. These guys are all ancient now and no one is taking up the trade/hobby. Kinda sad, especially for men who like high end watches and have to pay the four figure service bills on them, since "watchmaker" is now considered to be a very narrow specialty trade.

[BigDMcGee]

I was a Custody Level 1 my entire time, zero incidents during that time and zero incidents since.

It isn't like I'm some gang banger who is trying to reunite with the homeboys- and they totally know this.
As far as the class taxing on institutional resources, it would highly selective, drawing only from inmates without behavioral/mental issues who express a genuine interest and who are of otherwise high intelligence. We wouldn't need any guards, but one would be more than enough to satisfy whatever liability issues they might be worried about. I'd even pay the ****ers $12.00 hourly salary for the two hours I was there, if that was an issue.

I know you're not a gangbanger or a "criminal" but there's just no way, from an administrative point of view, they could make an exception for you, and let you teach an unmonitored class. You, of all people, should know that you merely being an ex-con makes you fit the profile of someone who is high risk to smuggle shit into the prison. I think this would be their primary concern, in leaving you unsupervised, is that you'd be smuggling drugs into the facility. Granted, they could and probably should make an exception for you, but if they do, then other people will want exceptions, and then the warden has to start explaining to special interest groups why it's okay for ex-con Whitey McHebrew to teach unsupervised classes, but not okay for Tito McThug to do it.


It's cheaper, easier, and more effective to just profile ex-cons than to have a staff person review and background check every ex-con who wants to be part of some outreach program in the prison.

[speedz99]

I was a Custody Level 1 my entire time, zero incidents during that time and zero incidents since.

It isn't like I'm some gang banger who is trying to reunite with the homeboys- and they totally know this.

I don't know much about the prison system, but I'm guessing that they (maybe out of necessity) don't leave much room for subjective decisions.

[AmScray]

I don't know much about the prison system, but I'm guessing that they (maybe out of necessity) don't leave much room for subjective decisions.

On the guard level, yes. If you could find an IQ above 100 amongst those monkeys, you'd be at the very top end of their curve. Of course, when you're dealing with "people" that retarded, you have to supplant something for their inability to make real time decisions- "procedures" fill that role. Seriously. I defy you to find a profession populated by bigger morons than prison guard. I'll lay huge odds.

The "Level 3" guy, however, can make exceptions for pretty much anything, but he isn't in this case because:

A) He's a Negro and he knows that the likelihood of any of the bruthas being able to complete the course is 0%. I'm sure if I were teaching a "How To Find An Apartment With A Felony Conviction" class, he would jump at the chance. Exceptions on this exact issue have been made in the past.

B) He's used to really looking down on 'the boys" and like anyone else who pursues a job like that, he gets off on it. 'Being superior' is pretty much in his job description and for the most part, he can legitimately act thusly, since most of them will be back there in due time.... He definitely isn't in a position to look down on me, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't cotton to that.

[navybuttons]

On the guard level, yes. If you could find an IQ above 100 amongst those monkeys, you'd be at the very top end of their curve. Of course, when you're dealing with "people" that retarded, you have to supplant something for their inability to make real time decisions- "procedures" fill that role. Seriously. I defy you to find a profession populated by bigger morons than prison guard. I'll lay huge odds.

The "Level 3" guy, however, can make exceptions for pretty much anything, but he isn't in this case because:

A) He's a Negro and he knows that the likelihood of any of the bruthas being able to complete the course is 0%. I'm sure if I were teaching a "How To Find An Apartment With A Felony Conviction" class, he would jump at the chance. Exceptions on this exact issue have been made in the past.

B) He's used to really looking down on 'the boys" and like anyone else who pursues a job like that, he gets off on it. 'Being superior' is pretty much in his job description and for the most part, he can legitimately act thusly, since most of them will be back there in due time.... He definitely isn't in a position to look down on me, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't cotton to that.

you're either only slightly sub-genius or a weirder person than hollywoodafd. either way you are quickly rising my favorite poster ladder.

big black ups to "B)"

edit: the use of "B)" so that it's not a happy face with sunglasses, not that i wholly agree with what follows it.

[speedz99]

Maybe you could be Andy Dufresne in this situation. Fuck "Level 3" guy, start writing some letters.

[chrozzo]

i like clocks