This is the 2nd in the series of Fluck Tuesdays.
Inspired by Oliver Fluck’s Prison Chess Portrait.
When I wrote this, I had not read or seen Oliver Fluck’s other photos on this subject. Worth checking out.
I am twenty-three years old and I am in prison. For life. Three strikes and you are out. Or should I say three strikes and you are “in”? I know. Not funny. I like to crack jokes even when I know they are probably not funny. In my experience there is bound to be that one person that finds humor in something not funny. I like one-in-a-given-number statistics. Isn’t that what life is? Chances. Choice is two letters away from Chance. Don’t worry, I am not about to go all deep on you. I don’t read that much in here like they always portray us doing.
I spend my time playing basketball and watching Court T.V. (didn’t have cable growing up) and yes, sometimes I indulge in a little reading–mostly books on the law–it is some baffling shit. Beyond a reasonable doubt is subjective and you only tell yourself it is not so you can go to sleep better at night.
I like playing a lot of basketball when the sun is out and we can step out in the court during yard time. Then I watch Court T.V. during dayroom time. Every 90 days I–we all–have to follow up with a psychiatrist and a psychologist. But I can request a follow up at any time. How much does your therapist cost? I am just playin’ with you. Relax. I know I am afforded my many wonderful amenities here on your tax dollars. Wish my high school spent as much money on me as this prison does.
I don’t play chess. But I like to watch others play when I am not playing basketball even when the sun is out or there is nothing new on Court T.V.
My psychologist likes me because I told her this quote I had read, “One cannot play chess if one becomes aware of the pieces as living souls and of the fact that the Whites and the Blacks have more in common with each other than with the players. Suddenly one loses all interest in who will be champion.” Anatol Rapoport said that. Among many other well-known books on fights, games, violence and peace, Rapoport analyzed contests in which there are more than two sets of conflicting interests, such as war, diplomacy, poker or bargaining.
My psychologist doesn’t understand why I continued to make the choices I did which lead me here–for good–for being a “fairly intelligent guy.”
Do you understand why you are where you are?
I am twenty-three years old and I am in prison. You are not. Right?
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Very nice Annie! Quite intriguing. Keep up the great work!!
Anatol Rapoport ~ tit-for-tat/ prisoner’s dilemma; the safest evolutionary survival strategy. I read about it many moons ago in Richard Dawkin’s The Selfish Gene….but that’s another story.
I am with the character on the economic back-story. If a fraction of the money spent on the prison system was pumped into deprived areas, there’d be much less crime and far fewer criminals…but crime does pay, for those who build prisons at least.
A great insight. I’m enjoying Fluck Tuesdays!
Oh, great title too.
“Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” Jean Jacques Rousseau…we all have more in common with each other (inside or out) than we (dare) realise!
And that’s the last comment, I promise
Awesome, Annie!
Love it!!
Absolutely insightful piece. I did laugh at the “three strikes and you are in.”
And here is something else to add to the path that you and I walk on. Until several months ago, my sister worked at Court T.V. as an editor.