Monday, April 13, 2009
Thirty-Six Days Until My Release From Taft Federal Prison Camp
A bit of a blow-up almost occurred with a new prisoner here at Taft Camp yesterday. I thought it might be a good idea to write about what I observed.
We have six televisions that are available for inmate viewing. Three of the televisions require headphones and a radio set to pick up the audio, and the other three televisions broadcast the audio. Each of the six televisions have a protocol for viewing, with seating arrangements and channel selections established by either inmate seniority or force of personality.
The new inmate, Tom, did not understand the protocol. He mistakenly believed that because he was sitting alone in the room, he ought to be free to watch the show that he wanted. He turned the channel to watch the golf tournament that was being played in Augusta known as the Masters. Tom sat quietly in one of the plastic chairs as he watched the PGA tournament. Then, another inmate walked into the TV room and accosted him.
"Yo honkie! Don't be coming in here changing no channels. We watch basketball on Sundays."
"But no one was in here," Tom protested without much force. "I wanted to watch golf."
"Don't matter. This TV is for basketball. Don't touch the channel."
"You mean even if no one is in here the channel has to stay on basketball?"
"Yo get the f--k out of here with all that bulls--t. I ain't got to splain nothing to you." The man changed the channel back to basketball.
New prisoners who want to serve their time ought to avoid the television. If they cannot resist, it's best to refer back to the rules of successful prisoners that I described last week. Namely, seek first to understand. That way a prisoner can spare himself the humiliating reprimand of a gang-banger who fancies himself the telephone authority.
In 36 days, I'll be much closer to watching my own television. I've lived without much of any television during my successful journey through prison.
Justin Paperny
