To feel really bad for some prisoners?

[sharkirasharkira]

Just this basically!

When I was at uni I did my thesis on crime, criminals and recidivism (reoffending) across several different cultures. The numbers, especially in America, were shocking.

At the time and to this day I am struck by just how many youths, especially in USA, enter a life of crime just because they have terrible role models or because they literally don't know any other way of life other than gangs/drug dealing etc.

Its so sad that so many enter life basically without any hope of having a 'normal' productive life and get are so ostracised by society for being criminals wheras in reality they have little choice. Aibu to feel really sorry for them?

YABU. Plenty of people are raised in poverty around crime and violence etc. yet end up being really good people. Their crimes are a result of their bad decisions and bad character not their upbringing. I saw many things as a child that I shouldn't have. I could have chosen to follow suit but didn't. I chose to be a good person and so I am. Of course it is easier for some people because they don't face the same temptations and aren't exposed to ad many bad influences but that doesn't mean that a bad upbringing is any excuse or that a life if crime is inevitable.

Ifonlyitwasthateasy, my dear if you read my post properly, the first paragraph was me just regurgitating the situation from twitter. I actually agree with you, hence the second paragraph i posted. I don’t support the guy but he had overwhelming support on twitter, as i said previously

@claire90ftm no it doesn't look it up. It's the ability to understand and share how someone feels, you don't have to have had the same experience.

Sorry ihastings I see what you mean.

YABU. Plenty of people are raised in poverty around crime and violence etc. yet end up being really good people. Their crimes are a result of their bad decisions and bad character not their upbringing.

Gosh, if only life was that easy. Do you believe that mental illness is hereditary? (Studies say it is).
In which case the choice to have empathy or to not have empathy may not be a conscious one but inherited. So, like all things hereditary, some children will get it, others won't. I think the fact that abuse tends to permeate generations is pretty good proof that it's not a choice.

YANBU, I feel the same as you. The people I mostly feel sympathy for are the drug addicts who just get chucked in there for possession time and time again. I strongly believe that prison is not the right place for an addict.

To say it's not the result of their upbringing is nonsense really. Everyone handles situations differently, just because you handled something a certain way doesn't mean that everyone can.

FWIW my father is a convicted felon with multiple offences, many of which were committed during my childhood. I chose to go NC with him and I live a pretty straight lifestyle myself. Never been arrested or done anything bad. But it has affected me mentally into adulthood - I struggle to bond with people, I'm extremely closed off and shut down emotionally. Different things affect people in different ways.