There's nothing funny about prison rape (by Ezra Klein)

[MarkInLA]

To all of the a**holes at DU who think that prison rape is funny, I'm posting this for you.

Excerpt: "I have no more feelings physically. I have been raped by up to five black men and two white men at a time. I've had knifes at my head and throat. I had fought and been beat so hard that I didn't ever think I'd see straight again."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-klein30mar30,0,2695376.story?track=mostviewed-storylevel

[YOY]

1. Actually, who said it was funny?

Seriously? I don't remember a huge string of posts pointing out just how hilarious prison rape is?

[MarkInLA]

2. It comes up nearly every time someone is reported to have been sent to prison

It almost doesn't matter what the crime is, someone will chime in with something like, "Hope he enjoys his new boyfriends, Rufus and Tyrone."

[Anexio]

3. I agree with the OP

It's the stereotypes that bother me the most.

Why is it always the black man doing the raping. And is being raped by a "big black man" any worse than being raped by anyone else?

The OP has a good point.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MarkInLA]

5. I think it's a combination of things

Not only is it still acceptable to tell gay jokes, it's also acceptable to think of legal punishments as revenge. Put the two together, and for many - including many right here on DU - the idea of a man being raped while incarcerated is hilarious.

I wonder how many people would think it's funny if a female inmate were being raped by another inmate or prison guard.

[Anexio]

6. stereotypes

The poster before you mentioned that there is a stereotype that mostly blacks are in prison. That's not a stereotype, it's a fact. It's an unfortunate fact that my brothers are imprisoned at disproportionate rate than richer white people.

Not to get off topic but I believe that the prison system has a responsibility to keep their wards safe and free from harm. Prisoners should be able to do their time and come out rehabilitated, not criminally insane.

But back to topic, it's disgusting to me that men in the American prison system are preyed upon by their fellow inmates. There is nothing funny about it.

And by the way you people that are tittering about prison rape, not everyone in prison is a big scary black man that raped a seven year old white girl. There's plenty of white accountants and white lawyers in there too. Be careful what you're laughing at because it could be you.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tomreedtoon]

10. I usually hear it was "Bubba." Not a black name.

No, it's the big hick WWE wrestling fan who is usually the one to grind the valves of the new prisoner. At least in stories.

Sorry, but I think it's funnier for a man to be raped in prison than killed in prison. The Lone Ranger (as interpreted by Lenny Bruce) thought it was interested that people convicted of homosexuality "get stuck in jail with a lot of other men."

Besides, there is no real punishment for being put in prison. Lose their right to vote? Who cares. Nobody votes any more anyway. Separated from friends and family? They were never really cared about anyway, not among the white-collar embezzlers, corporate liars and (perhaps) impeached Chief Executives these stories talk about.

[MarkInLA]

15. What a bizarre comment

The fact that you think that rape is funny at all speaks volumes about your character.

[Skittles]

8. there's been times on DU where it is alluded that said subject is HAR HAR

I've seen it myself and it is always disturbing

[pauldg0]

7. My 17-year old autistic step-son was imprisoned in the Wayne County jail....

...in Detroit because he tried stabbing me....he couldn't get any psychiatric help at all in this God forbidden state and was over drugged, under drugged by a psychiatrist who only wanted to warehouse him due to his own greed. Anyway to make a long story short....

. the system could not get him proper mental health.
. he was committed to the county jail at seventeen years old despite my petition not to.
. we were promised he would be removed by the Judaical system because he would get a quick psychiatric evaluation.
. he never got those evaluations because he was sexually assaulted twice, and the second time was rape by a thirty-five year old man after my son went back to his cell to take a nap.
. while he was incarcerated, he called hour after hour crying...he called on the pay phone (quick call method as he had no money)..it took many calls to get a couple of thoughts to us.
. I called our congressional office and they did nothing but tell us how much work they were doing to prevent things like that.
. He is high functioning autistic (asperger's syndrome).
. Because the system did not understand him, they ignored his pleas.
. He is smart as a whip but is scarred for the rest of his life.
. He lives in a men's foster home in Detroit.
. He has documented flashbacks from this experience.
. We've been to lawyer after lawyer who will not take the case because it's to difficult to win.
. can't beat city hall they said.
. said for some reason the county lost it's records.

Yes, rape is not fun....it effects everyone in our family. So much for our Civil Rights!!!! We tried and tried and tried to get him hospitalized.....SO MUCH FOR CIVIL RIGHTS !!!!!! SO MUCH FOR RAPE!!!!!

[latisha]

12. I'm so sorry for you

That's absolutely horrible. Why don't you contact all the shows like Nancy Grace, Greta, etc.? This is an absolute disgrace. That poor kid - my heart goes out to him and you.

I once saw a program about prison rapes. One story was particularly disturbing. A young man was protesting, (can't remember what), and the judge ordered him to pay a $5.00 fine which he refused to do on principle. The judge practically begged him to pay the fine and even told him about the dangers of going to prison, but the young man wanted to stick to his principles. Unfortunately, what happened to that young man by other prisoners was horrendous. He says he was passed from cell to cell and the prison guards didn't do anything to stop it, only laughed. He said that experience destroyed him and all he thought about was killing himself. At the time he was seeing a psychiatrist to try and deal with the trauma of that experience. I've often thought of that young man, and all the other young men who go to prison for minor offences and are brutalized by the the system. I hope that young man finally found some solace. I hope the same for your son.

[YOY]

13. Makes me want to commit vigilante justice...

n/t

[rch35]

11. It's not like these people are looking at statistics of prison rape, and crossing their fingers

saying "man, only a few more percentage points, it will be that much more hilarious." Just because somebody jokes about something doesn't mean they think it is ok. Take the Daily show, for instance, it jokes about all kinds of things that they seriously dont think are ok. So, people joke because if we took everything seriously all the time, we'd probably kill ourselves.

And if anybody was offended by that last sentence,

Then fuck you.

[MarkInLA]

16. Please start making jokes about raping women and children so you can prove your point (n/t)

[rch35]

17. sorry, cant think of any off hte top of my head nt

[Doctor_J]

14. One overlooked problem with this is that we're turning people into rapists

Recreational pot users, thieves, burglars, and other non-violent criminals are coming out as hard-core criminals because of the prison rituals like this.

[MISSDem]

18. Some seem to, maybe, be mis-informed. Sex between men in

prison does not mean that the men are gay.

[wingedearth]

19. I try to behave so I don't have to go to jail

As a 150 lb. weakling, and handsome (or so says my mom), I am terrified of going to jail. The stories I hear do not sound pretty.

[bronxiteforever]

20. so what is your point?