After 28 yrs in prison, man can't handle world of cellphones & computers

[Lencho01]

http://io9.com/5843993/after-28-yea...to-an-alien-world-of-cellphones-and-computers

After 28 years in prison, man emerges into a terrifying alien world of cellphones and computers
By Charlie Jane Anders Sep 26, 2011 1:09 PM

Randall Lee Church didn't believe his fellow inmates when they warned him about culture shock after he got out of prison — he thought they were just jealous. But then Church, who'd been locked up since 1983, emerged into a world that made no sense.

When Church got out of prison, he tells the Houston Chronicle, "I didn't know how to use computers or cell phones or the Internet... It was so overwhelming. I was constantly embarrassed by simple things I didn't know."

As the Chronicle says, "Prices were higher and scanned with bar codes. Video games were more realistic. People were always on their cell phones. Cars had childproof locks."

If you want to understand just how much the world has changed in the past few decades, imagine being Randall Lee Church, who went to prison at age 18, at a time when almost nobody had a mobile phone and the internet was in its infancy. Of course, it wasn't just culture shock that faced Church — like most newly released prisoners, he also had few job skills and no support system to help him find a job and affordable housing. It's hard to reenter society in any case, but it's much harder during an apocalyptically bad economy.

In the end, faced with a world that made no sense to him, Church burned down an abandoned house, in order to get sent back to prison. [Chron]

 

[Ultra Lantern]

Home Sweet Home.

 

[Darthphere]

Am I suppose to feel sorry for the guy?

 

[Lencho01]

I don't know. If you want to.

Just thought it was an interesting story in the sense that it's a real "man out of his time" type of story.

 

[Rocketman]

Things could've ended up a lot worse for him.

 

[SuperFerret]

Am I suppose to feel sorry for the guy?

I can relate to what he's feeling. The sheer amount of technology we use and the rate that it becomes obsolete is dizzying.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

I kinda do.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Things could've ended up a lot worse for him.

I could have swore that was where the story was going.

 

[Mace Dolex]

He must've known the existence of computers at least, don't prison inmates have recreational hours like watching TV?

 

[The Question]

He must've known the existence of computers at least, don't prison inmates have recreational hours like watching TV?

Depends on the prison and the prisoner. The US is a lot more strict about that kind of thing, high security prisons only allow prisoners a few hours a week of that sort of thing, and I doubt you'd get any of it in solitary, and if you want to avoid prison violence then getting yourself put in solitary as quickly and possible is a pretty tactical move.

 

[Rocketman]

I went to a prison in Virginia in 2002 (a tourist event with my family - for the hell of it), and the prisoners had PS2s, big screen TVs, and a library so expansive, that lawyers would come there to find books not found in the city library. In some prisons, the prisoners live better than we ever will.

 

[Lasirius]

In the state we are in, economical and whatnot -- prison seems to be the easy way out now. Reminds me of that episode of The Office where everyone said prison was better than real life.

 

[The Question]

I went to a prison in Virginia in 2002 (a tourist event with my family - for the hell of it), and the prisoners had PS2s, big screen TVs, and a library so expansive, that lawyers would come there to find books not found in the city library. In some prisons, the prisoners live better than we ever will.

Again, depends on the prison.

Also, I wouldn't call being locked up with no personal freedoms "living better."

 

[Rocketman]

As long as you were in a safe environment without potential abuse/rape, you'd get free meals, free clothing/shelter, access to books, access to gym equipment outside, access to paper and pens (to write), and you would never have to pay taxes, you'd never have to work at a job. And some places, you can watch movies/TV, listen to music, etc.

 

[Wolfwood]

Things could've ended up a lot worse for him.

That's exactly what I thought was going to happen too.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

from a humanitarian standpoint.... this just shows how sad and flawed our prison system is on rehabilitation. For those who are up for parole, or there sentence is about up, they really should all be forced to go into an education program to get them accustomed to the modern world. Yes it probably would be more tax payer money.. but it'd also create a hell of alot of jobs too.

 

[Darthphere]

from a humanitarian standpoint.... this just shows how sad and flawed our prison system is on rehabilitation. For those who are up for parole, or there sentence is about up, they really should all be forced to go into an education program to get them accustomed to the modern world. Yes it probably would be more tax payer money.. but it'd also create a hell of alot of jobs too.

Tough ****. Wouldn't be an issue in the first place if they didn't go and get themselves thrown in prison.

 

[Anubis]

I went to a prison in Virginia in 2002 (a tourist event with my family - for the hell of it), and the prisoners had PS2s, big screen TVs, and a library so expansive, that lawyers would come there to find books not found in the city library. In some prisons, the prisoners live better than we ever will.

well, except for the rape.

 

[Brain Damage]

Tough ****. Wouldn't be an issue in the first place if they didn't go and get themselves thrown in prison.

That's not the issue though. Their punishment is their time in prison, and they serve it. What you're suggesting is basically that it's okay for every criminal who winds up in jail to be punished for far, far longer than their sentence entails. To me, that's just not fair.

 

[Anubis]

Not really. There are programs that will teach them all this stuff. You can get a college education in prison. It's your own fault if you don't get off your ass and take advantage of it.

No sympathy here. Guys a dumb ass.

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

I don't feel bad for the guy.

 

[Franklin Richards]

I pity him. It's ok to feel that and not agree with him people. It's like watching an episode of Batman : TAS and feeling sorry for the bad guy of the week.


Come on, you big tough men. Feel some **** for pity's sake. I mean feel some pity for ****'s sake.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

Damn...Captain America should've just killed himself when he woke up at Times Square.

 

[Erzengel]

I'll go even more obscure than Shawshank and say Allegory of the Cave.

Tough ****. Wouldn't be an issue in the first place if they didn't go and get themselves thrown in prison.

I like the prison in Arizona where the Warden, fed them baloney sandwiches, made them wear pink underwear and didn't give them hot lunches, TV, etc.

Why should we coddle them, they are in jail for a reason. Eff them.

 

[Franklin Richards]

I bet no one ever got there unjustly. Or was being punished long after he had paid for his crimes. Or became a number for a criminal justice corporate state sponsored juggernaut. Mandatory Minimums. Or was a bastille to lock up the poor. Or a solution to the colored problem.

No. Eff them indeed.