How do I know that's shitty advice?
Let's see, there was this:
While I was there I was in the trustee dormitory for the most part. This was also the place where felons convicted of non-violent crimes (mainly drug related) on their way to State or Federal Prison were housed for the 3-7 days after sentencing before they were transferred into the prison system. During my 20-some odd days I had a lot of time to talk to a variety of people who had previously done a stretch of hard time, both inmates who were in the process of transfer and inmates who were at county for other crimes after they had already served prison stretches. This was a common topic of discussion, because what the hell else do you have to talk about. In fact, what they said is that it works pretty much the same way in a long-term County Jail, which is where I was.
You don't walk in starting shit, but you also don't take shit, which I clearly said here:
The hierarchy inside isn't about 1 man being the baddest. It's about which group of men have the control. One man walking in there starting shit on his own is going to get beat down by a group of men who are more than likely more hardened than he is. Unless you have prior respect from current inmates in a position of power, you're walking in at the bottom of that hierarchy. Unless you join in with another group of inmates you're going to be one of two things. A target or a fly on the wall. Walking in and starting shit for no reason turns you into a target unless you happen to put an entire group of inmates in the infirmary. Taking a beating and not fighting back makes you a target. So of course you fight back if needed, but you don't go in and start shit for no reason.
The hierarchy isn't necessarily built on who can whoop who's ass. It's built on respect and usefulness. If you aren't useful to a group and you show that you won't just take a beating like a bitch you'll probably be left alone after your initiation. It's about showing that you aren't submissive. That doesn't mean you provoke anything or attempt to assert dominance. It means you fight back if needed, aren't a prison snitch, and mind your own business. Unless you join a group and show you are useful to them in some way or you start a group of your own you aren't moving on that hierarchy. And as long as you show that you aren't there to get in anyone's shit and that you aren't going take random beatings lying down then you can pretty much go through without having to worry about it after awhile.
How do I know that?
Because of conversations over a three week period with various individuals who had been through it while I was confined with them. Also during my undergrad (years before I had the "joy" of spending nearly a month locked up) I did an internship at Jackson State Prison and saw this hierarchy first hand.
This is exactly correct from both my understanding and my observations, except the part about coming in fighting. But the key with your friend is that he was approached, he didn't just go in and start shit for no reason. Of course you fight back and don't just take it. The key is to show that you aren't a bitch. Going in and starting shit isn't how you do that, all that does is put a target on your back. You show you aren't a bitch by minding your fucking business unless you have to defend yourself.
So yeah assuming the guy that made that statement I was originally responding too hasn't done hard time at prison, I feel like I'm probably more qualified to comment on it than someone who gets all his prison knowledge from OZ, The Wire, or some other television show.
Now it's time for a smoke........:rasta:
