Would you rather die than be locked up forever in prison?

Oh my god the typos.

I'll try again...

You'd be surprised how many actually quite nice people with incredibly interesting lives there are in prison.

Of course, there are many people you wouldn't want to meet. But there are also people in prison who you can kind of see how they got there and although they may have committed a crime, some very serious, they do actually have some kind, human, interesting, loyal, empathic etc.. aspects to their personality. It isn't 'dregs' in prison. It's mainly traumatised people (often traumatised young men) with few life chances who have taught me many things over the last twenty years....

You'd be surprised how many actually quite nice people with I credibly interesting lives there are in prison.

Of course, there are many people you wouldn't want to meet. But there are also people in prison who you can kind of see how they got there and although they may have committed a crime, some very serious, they do actually have some kind, human, i tweeting, loyal, empathic etc.. aspects to their personality. It isn't 'dregs' in prison. It's mainly traumatised people (often traumatised young men) with few life changes who have taught me many things over the last twenty years....

No having been in many prisons through work, I couldn't do it. Though that's because I lead a privileged and comfortable life outside. Not everyone has that so it's all relative

Yes, in fact I’d probably top myself.

The thought of being locked up surrounded by the dregs of society for the rest of my life would be enough to push me over the edge and that’s without even taking the rest of the loss of freedom in to consideration.

Sounds like a lot of understandable anger you have.

I was wondering why you asked the question in your OP @girlfriend44

Is this a personal thing for you? Do you seek revenge against someone ?

It'll be warmer than my house and I'll get 3 square meals per day. Sounds great!

Most people would rather be alive than dead, this applies to most circumstances. Yes, even prison lifers. Yes, even people in totalitarian dictatorships. Yes, even slaves. Yes, even those who are poorer than you can imagine. Yes, even people with severe, life-limiting disabilities. Yes, even very old people who you imagine should be OK with dying. Et cetera.

Disingenuous theoretical conversations are always possible ("I'd rather be dead than live with X circumstance!") but the reality is that if you actually were in that circumstance, you'd prefer to stay alive. Which is why it's a bad idea to have theoretical discussions about the worthiness of another person's existence.

Sorry to say but a lot of the ideas about prison life here are quite distorted. Yes you can "work" (although in many prisons there's not many options except cleaning, working in the kitchen or gardening) and the facilities can be modern and new etc. But the opportunities and activities are not as readily available as a lot of people seem to think. The loss of liberty, the loss of decision making over even the most simple things in your daily life, being torn away from loved ones, the isolation, the chronic boredom, the crushing effect on mental health and wellbeing etc are not balanced out by sporadic "education" classes, the occasional trip to the gym hall and having a TV in your room.

I say this as someone who has unfortunately spent time in prison and in answer to your question OP, I would rather die.

I'd give it a go. If i knew I absolutely wasn't getting out, I think id like to try life without the outside stress of adult life - money, jobs, etc. If at any point I found the inside stressors too much (bullying, sexual harassment, public nudity) then I could just end it anyway.

In the UK? Definitely live. Thailand/Mexico/Iran etc? Not sure.

@girlfriend44 you don't seem to want a genuine conversation about this issue. Your responses seem very angry about prison 'luxuries' but you haven't responded to the other posts about the social inequalities and trauma that many in the prison have experienced.

Is there an agenda for this post?

Who is going to bring your children to visit you in prison if you have committed so heinous a crime that you got a whole life sentence?

A British female prison I think I could make a life that was ok enough to keep living. It certainly wouldn’t be easy but good enough. A whole life tariff will mean a quite secluded life I think. But there would be access to education and work.

Some of the male prisons I’ve heard about sound terrifying. Not sure I’d last there.

No. I have a family member who has been in prison and made friends with lifers. They were still able to live a meaningful life in prison, they got therapy and helped other offenders. I still visit one of the people from prison and she’s happy.

It's a known phenomenon in Japan elderly committing crimes to go to prison and get looked after.

On the topic of thise who prefer prison life perhaps society needs to provide a way of living for these people that has the level of support they need without committing the crimes beforehand.

I've worked in many prisons and always thought how much I would struggle with a life sentence.

However, you can make a meaningful life in prison and I think I would rather live in prison than die. (Though living with the crime id committed to warrant that sentence is something I might not be able to do - but putting that aside ...)

I have known life prisoners to completely fall apart and some have chosen to end their life. But if you can manage it, people I have seen have also managed to.lead very fulfilling lives - lots wrote books or study for a degree, help mother prisoners with education, develop physical fitness goals (marathon on a treadmill, weights in the gym goals etc..)

Some keep fighting for their freedom and a minority get it.

You just need to find meaning like you do in any context. Finding a purpose and a meaning is a human need.

Yes, I value my freedom. It's telling that lifers are so desperate to get out, even though there is a threat on the outside.

I'd rather die. I'm autistic and already feel like my middle class life is unbearable, so being surrounded by other humans would be enough to make me suicidal.

You’d want to have done something particularly heinous to have a whole life sentence and if I did something truly disgusting I would struggle to live with myself but say I was done for a murder I didn’t commit I’d figure out a way to live pretty happily in prison. So long as I can live with myself and my conscience as a person I can make myself happy because I am a very adaptable person with a pretty flexible personality.

I dont think I would cope with any violence. But I could cope with the small life, perhaps, if I had books and podcasts.

No, I love being alive. It would be worth it for the few hours a month I got to see my DC.

Yes, 100%.

Is this a precursor to suggesting the death penalty by any chance.

If you think that death is preferable to a prison sentence then you'd better behave 🙄