Continuing its habit of publishing articles related to this week's topic, the NY Times Magazine had a special article on virtual communities, in this case, for friends and family of prisoners. One of the arugments I found interesting in this article is that niche communities thrive where general ones do not. (One must admit that this is a pretty niche group!) At the end of the article, you can also see an animal role playing community; it's not my cat group, but it sure sounds interesting!! :-)
What do you think of this, particularly the potential for the prisoner virtual community members to become exploited? Do you think this is one of the reasons that while facebook is so popular, it's not necessarily a community because it is so broadly appealing?
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This article was a little hard for me to follw, especially the question on the group being "niche". I would like to comment though on the prison world online. I actually think that this is an okay idea with certian paremeters. These poeple have families and friends and significant others and some of them are in prison for unjust reasons. They most certainly should be allowed to communicate online. I think the the more maximum security prisoners should not have to chance to engage in online communication activities. They are human beings just like us, make mistakes, and some got caught...I really hope this comment is somewhere along the right lines!!
This website seems to be helping these people. It appears to be giving advise on the legal system and support for those friends and family members of inmates. I guess it could be called a community but I think I would call it a group instead. It has one specific topic, inmates, and goes off that. This website gets a lot of hits and posts and seems to be helping people.
Im think this is a good idea to a certain extent. I dont believe prisoners in maximum security prison should have access to this online community. Just for the fact that they obviously did wrong and are serving hard time for it, what kind of message would we be sending if we allowed them to get on a computer? Also, it would have to be monitored closely because they could be making plans to escape. Now I think smaller crimes, it should be ok...because like molly said, they may be in there on a first, or minor offense and this community could help prisoners get more insight into legal assistance and gain more knowledge about the legal system.
I believe that this site is good for both the family and prisoners. Yes, prisoners did do bad things and got caught and that is why they are locked up. But on the other hand, what are they to do when they get out. The US believes in locking someone up but doing nothin while they are in there to make better lives for them when they grow up. I believe for some people they do what they have to do when all else fails. I believe a lot of us in this class would do what we had to in certain situations to feed our families, etc. For the families, there is really no one that can relate to them except other members of this community. How can you give advice when you don't have someone locked up? It gives them a safe place to bash, get help for unanswered questions and so forth. I think this forum is a great idea for all.
I understand the concerns over exploiting these members, but I also understand the need for support. I can imagine the emotional cycles these members go through, and I believe they should have a place where they can connect-- just like everyone else.
However, I'm not so sure about the solicitation for donations. A lot of people donate to causes they see worthy, but it all depends on the pressure placed on them. If they are in a highly emotional state, of course they are probably more susceptible to exploitation. It could go either way I guess.
Niche groups are probably so much more popular, because of the bond it creates. It all goes back to finding similar interests--the more you feel you have in common, the more you connect. You have a chance to choose the groups you join based on the mere fact that you feel a fit. Personally, I wouldn't spend my time in general groups when I can get specific support and answers from others in the niche groups. I guess it may depend on what you're looking for.
I view Facebook as a way to connect with friends for mere social reasons and to keep up with their lives in general. Others may use it differently as context may play a large part in defining these communities and how they are used.
"It could be said that Prison Talk is steadily documenting and even galvanizing a subculture, if it weren’t for the February report from the Pew Center on the States that one in 99 people in America is now in prison. Let’s call it a culture, then."
This really caught my attention. Wow, 1 in 99 Americans. This is an interesting group, but as everyone else, we need communication. If not for the prisioners, for their families. This is just like any other supprt group/ blog. Yes, there are probably things going wrong in it, and people who exploit wrong things... but there are also people who use it for communication, support, and just to have someone to relate to. This is another way for prisoner's to communicate and speak out about their wrong doings. We can not just cut someone off from eveything, first off...their families don't deserve that. Secondly, how will one ever learn or grow. This group/ "culture" is just like any other... there will be wrong doings and right doings. We just have to decide what is more important and beneficial in the long run....
I'm a little torn on this one...
One side of me agrees that it is a good thing since as humans we all have certain needs. And this is something that could really lessen the burden on the loved ones of prison inmates. The other side of me believes that part of the punishment of being in prison is to deprive people of what they need. So I would not advocate inmates being able to communicate online. For some of these people, freedom cannot be appreciated until they realize how bad life is without it. If we allow them access to the internet, are we really taking any freedom away?
On a related note, I have always wanted to speak with Charles Manson. He would be such an excellent case study.
Just to note....few prisoners participate on this site. Very few have access to computers.
People tend to go on guard when they hear words like “prison.” Well, so and so must have done something horrible to be imprisoned. As a member of Amnesty International I’m constantly learning about the injustice and inhumane treatment that people are going through especially [women] in other countries that are put in prison. I definitely support sites like this.
I received a letter from a woman in Malaysia that was put in prison for trying to defend an underage girl that was raped. The girl’s rapists were never jailed because of the Malaysian government’s attempt to cover up the scandal as the rapists allegedly included a senior government Minister. In her letter she said, “It is an unfortunate fact of life that one gets abandoned by friends when in prison even for a just cause. Even though I have lost almost everything, I am thankful for the love of my family and moral support you have shown. I will continue my struggle to bring justice, freedom, and human dignity to my people. Prison bars may break our backs but they can never break our spirit to demand nothing less than equality for women.”
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