> wouldn't a former prisoner make a good guard? But they are not eligible. Seems weird.

I wonder about that. A mixed bag I suppose. Sort of like an abused child. He can become an abuser himself, or he can vow to never let that happen at all costs. I think a lot of prisoners turned guards would abuse the position. Not at first. Maybe not even intentionally. But over time as they relax into their new legitimate position in society they will become more and more confident of doing anything they want, holding forced fights between inmates every Friday night, and bringing in confederates to act as new inmates. These new inmates have been around, or so it seems from what their superiors taught them. They know how to escape. Their job is to entice prisoners on the verge of parole to want to escape. The escape plans are revealed to the guards who are ready and waiting with high caliber weapons to blast the would be escapists into wall meat.

On 8/28/2021 5:39 PM, Thomas Joseph wrote:
>
>> wouldn't a former prisoner make a good guard? But they are not eligible. Seems weird.
>
> I wonder about that. A mixed bag I suppose. Sort of like an abused child. He can become an abuser himself, or he can vow to never let that happen at all costs. I think a lot of prisoners turned guards would abuse the position. Not at first. Maybe not even intentionally. But over time as they relax into their new legitimate position in society they will become more and more confident of doing anything they want, holding forced fights between inmates every Friday night, and bringing in confederates to act as new inmates. These new inmates have been around, or so it seems from what their superiors taught them. They know how to escape. Their job is to entice prisoners on the verge of parole to want to escape. The escape plans are revealed to the guards who are ready and waiting with high caliber weapons to blast the would be escapists into wall meat.
>

One need look no further than Hitler's camps to give a shining example.
The position of 'kapo' was held by Jews who had formerly been inmates
and they knew exactly how to keep the other Jews in line. A bullet to
the head here, and a pipe across the head there, and it's amazing how
well everyone behaved afterwards. Yes, former inmates can and do make
the best guards.

> One need look no further than Hitler's camps to give a shining example.
> The position of 'kapo' was held by Jews who had formerly been inmates
> and they knew exactly how to keep the other Jews in line. A bullet to
> the head here, and a pipe across the head there, and it's amazing how
> well everyone behaved afterwards. Yes, former inmates can and do make
> the best guards.

The most intelligent 3 words in a row that anyone can mutter are "I don't know", which is what I have to say about who makes the best guards. I really don't know. And neither do you. Not really. There is no argument because I have no position other than I have no position - and that's the way it's going to stay. I like the way you dig out old posts that attract you for whatever reason and then respond and post them back. I enjoy it. I got to read my own post again. I forgot about. I enjoyed reading my own post - thanks to you - and even slid it off the window onto the screen to edit up a bit later and send to people I really like. I only pretend to like the people in newsgroups, I just use them for inspiration of sorts. Then if I write something I think is good I will work on it and send it to the people I really like. You understand, don't you? Good, I thought so.

Oh, about the Kapo thing - see, once again you had to drag Jews into it. Everyone is the same under the skin. I don't mean everybody to a tee. There are exceptions and I am usually one of them. I hope. Anyway, I think I would make a good guard. I am the type who is good at pretty much everything he does. But I would not allow myself to become a guard. On the other hand, if I were an inmate, to make life easier for my fellow inmates I might become a guard to give them better treatment. That tactic could backfire.. I know the street type. Some are nice guys. But they were not raised in environments that build trust. They don't live for tomorrow because they can't see that far. They live for now. So if you were a guard and tried to treat those types in a nice way it could result in them trying to take advantage of you, pleading for this and that, moaning, "Oh come on man, you can do it - just this once" - not just one guy either, a whole line of them.. It would be like working the midnight shift at a 7-11 in your own neighborhood where you know everybody and they know you and guys are coming in after the 2am deadline begging for booze. You either give in or spent the rest if night saying no. I turned down a job at a newly opened 7-11 in Hollywood for that very reason. The guy was asking me question after question and I was answering as I always do, honestly. I was saying "yes" everything.. "Do you live nearby?" - "Yes." And so forth. Then the guy said, "Ok, you'll be working the graveyard shift. No booze after 2am. If people come in asking for alcohol are you going to be able to turn them down?" I almost said yes because I had just said it so many times in a row. But I paused in time and shook my head with a laugh and said, "Uh, no - I don't think I could do that?", explaining that I knew everyone in the neighborhood and the pressure would be too much on me. The guy understood.

Thanks for reading. Your Kapo - TJ