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Original poster

After restrictions for a year do you feel more sympathy towards prisoners now?

162 replies

Gobacktothe90s · 16/02/2021 08:00

After having restrictions on our lives for a year like when we can go out and see people, whether we can work or go to school etc I'm wondering had this changed anyone's views on prisoners and that they maybe don't have it that easy in prison being locked up 23 hours a day and only allowed out for meals and sometimes exercise?

I have to admit going through this past year I have thought without being able to do what I wanted in my own house like reading, Netflix, gaming etc after being restricted outside I would have found very hard and couldn't imagine being in prison with having nothing to do and can understand the high mental health problems in prisons.

Do you feel more sympathetic towards prisoners now?
Yes I know they have committed crimes but through this pandemic I read that they haven't even been allowed to mix at all and have meals in their cell to avoid the spread. I cannot imagine being in a cell eating,drinking and sleeping and that's it.

OP posts:
wewillmeetagain · 16/02/2021 08:14

Nope! Id say a prisoner with a tv in the cell and sometimes even a PlayStation/xbox, having all meals prepared for them is having a far easier time of it than a single parent who is homeschooling, working and running a house!

rawalpindithelabrador · 16/02/2021 08:14

WTF? No. Why should anyone?

BikeRunSki · 16/02/2021 08:15

No. Most prisoners are being punished for a crime of some sort! Most people living with Covid restrictions haven’t done anything to “deserve” it.

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/02/2021 08:15

@KeyboardWorriers

It has never crossed my mind to compare our experience to that of prisoners.

We can go for long walks, we can go to the shops, we can care for a relative or go to work. We can eat and drink whatever we like and whenever we like.

This. It's nothing like being in prison.
FossilisedFanny · 16/02/2021 08:15

No, not at all . Why would I sympathise with someone who chose to break the law?

OliveTree75 · 16/02/2021 08:17

No, because they are criminals....

Bilgepumper · 16/02/2021 08:18

NO

JorisBonson · 16/02/2021 08:20

Yeah those poor murderers.

Mycatismadeofstringcheese · 16/02/2021 08:20

I know where your coming from.

It’s occurred to me as I’ve gone on a walk that even though I’m feeling really hemmed in and at one point got really depressed, I still have the option to go for a walk, watch what I want on TV, eat food that I’ve chosen and cooked, but what I want on amazon. And how much worse it would be for someone in prison who didn’t have access to those things.

During lockdown I was confined to my bedroom for two weeks and that was really tough, even though it is much more comfortable than a prison cell.

It did make me think about how much confinement affects your mental health and how we seem surprised that prison doesn’t reform people.

For those saying that they feel no sympathy, perhaps think about political prisoners for example women in Saudi who are in prison because they showed their hair in public. Or journalist who have criticised their government and face life in prison.

Original poster
Gobacktothe90s · 16/02/2021 08:24

@Mycatismadeofstringcheese

I know where your coming from.

It’s occurred to me as I’ve gone on a walk that even though I’m feeling really hemmed in and at one point got really depressed, I still have the option to go for a walk, watch what I want on TV, eat food that I’ve chosen and cooked, but what I want on amazon. And how much worse it would be for someone in prison who didn’t have access to those things.

During lockdown I was confined to my bedroom for two weeks and that was really tough, even though it is much more comfortable than a prison cell.

It did make me think about how much confinement affects your mental health and how we seem surprised that prison doesn’t reform people.

For those saying that they feel no sympathy, perhaps think about political prisoners for example women in Saudi who are in prison because they showed their hair in public. Or journalist who have criticised their government and face life in prison.

Thank you this is what I meant but haven't put it across well.
OP posts:
Ivysaurusrex · 16/02/2021 08:25

@gettingusedtothelimelight

Simple.

If you can't do the time - don't do the crime!

This!
HexWitch · 16/02/2021 08:26

What a bizarre question! No, of course I don't!

RedskyBynight · 16/02/2021 08:26

Things I hope that people do feel more sympathy for this last year:

  • parents who don't have family help to look after their children
  • parents who don't know any local parents and can't afford baby groups, so spend their baby/toddler days playing at home and going to the local park
  • those who live in cramped conditions with no outside space
  • people with hidden disabilities
  • those with mental health illnesses

Prisoners ... not so much.

110APiccadilly · 16/02/2021 08:27

I don't have a problem with prison in principle (though I'd be open to other ideas about how to deal with criminals, and I think in particular that minor offences are probably better dealt with by fines, community service, etc.) I don't think people should be locked in their cells for 23 hours a day though.

Jackie2022 · 16/02/2021 08:27

The thought never crossed my mind, no

Frankly prisoners deserve prison, it’s a much kinder alternative to the death penalty which many actually deserve! I couldn’t care less that a rapist or murderer feels lonely - think about how their poor victims feel.

Besom · 16/02/2021 08:27

I've been inside prisons so I already had thoughts about how bad it would be to be incarcerated. They are not pleasant places. Some people's lives on the outside are so shit and chaotic however that they end up preferring the prison life - at least they might get some amount of care and attention in there I suppose. The mental health issues in prison are probably usually pre existing. Some in the criminal justice system have never stood a chance really. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be there and obviously some people just need to be well away from the rest of us.

Fembot123 · 16/02/2021 08:28

Zoo animals yes

chatw00 · 16/02/2021 08:29

Grin no - not the same thing.

TinyTear · 16/02/2021 08:30

No, they don't have to work and homeschool at the same time

Original poster
Gobacktothe90s · 16/02/2021 08:35

@RedskyBynight

Things I hope that people do feel more sympathy for this last year:
  • parents who don't have family help to look after their children
  • parents who don't know any local parents and can't afford baby groups, so spend their baby/toddler days playing at home and going to the local park
  • those who live in cramped conditions with no outside space
  • people with hidden disabilities
  • those with mental health illnesses

Prisoners ... not so much.

This goes without saying obviously people have more sympathy towards these people and there is no argument whatsoever no one would disagree on this at all. My discussion is whether your views on prisoners have changed . Nowhere did I say I had most sympathy for them or I didn't care about others
OP posts:
DBML · 16/02/2021 08:36

Sorry, but what a daft question.

Of course not.

SciFiScream · 16/02/2021 08:37

No.

Itsjustricemichael · 16/02/2021 08:38

Sorry if it's a different angle but my DH and I both went to boarding schools (A long time ago, before the Children's Act) and we both said from the first lockdown it was easier / nicer than school was because you can have a drink, watch telly anytime, call people, and no one was shouting at you and giving you random punishments.
So for us, lockdown is easier if you are a bit institutionalized.
(Boarding schools now seem to be a million miles away from this before anyone freaks out)

FelicityPike · 16/02/2021 08:38

Wow....no!

dividedwefall · 16/02/2021 08:40

I think the restrictions have been heavy handed and mostly unnecessary, but definitely nothing compared to being in prison Grin

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