Anonymous #1 14w

People like to argue that a lot of criminals are just products of their environments, but I don’t believe that one bit, purely because of the countless COUNTLESS examples of people coming from the same if not very similar circumstances who have made something productive of themselves.

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Anonymous cheese_of_the_world_unite 14w

I see where they’re coming from but also I feel like alot of culture seems to glorify crime nowadays, and likes to excuse certain groups from accountability purely based off of where they grew up.

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Anonymous OP 14w

I mean media and pop culture have always had a fascination with crime, and crime is sort of like war in that the old saying “it’s impossible to make an anti-war film” also applies to making anti-crime media. Like The Wire is very much negative about the destitution caused by drug crime and the cycle of it all, but Omar Little is a criminal that still looks cool as shit.

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Anonymous #3 14w

I don’t believe in that take at all. You’re taking the accountability away from criminals and placing it onto other people. Just think of all of the thousands and thousands of people who have come from destitute places who have made things of themselves. Crime is a choice.

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Anonymous OP 14w

And I don’t think where you grew up can justify it, but kids that get groomed into gangs at ages 9-13 where they like to recruit are more akin to cult members in need of deprogramming than agents of pure malice. Obviously that doesn’t apply to all criminals, but it does apply to a lot of inner city gang crime. They recruit kids whose parents can’t provide for them or whose parents abuse them, etc. and give them a role model that seems better, just an awful one.

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Anonymous #3 14w

Also with the poverty take, think of all the third world/ rural communities around the world that we would typically consider to be “impoverished” they don’t commit crimes onto each other or sell dope to each other. (Mind you I haven’t been there) but even look at San Fran, one of the “richest” communities in the world, their crime rate is ridiculous.

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Anonymous cheese_of_the_world_unite 14w

Role models play a massive role in this, and I’m glad you brought it up. It feels like a lot of communities celebrate the criminal getting out of jail, way more than the student graduating and becoming a lawyer. Look at rap culture, prime example of that.

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Anonymous OP 14w

That’s actually an interesting point you bring up, studies show that poverty alone is not the main driver of crime, but disparity. If you’re in a country where EVERYONE is poor, there’s nobody to take from, which is why poverty is directly correlated with crime in rich societies with a large class divide, but much less correlated with countries in relatively uniform poverty.

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Anonymous OP 14w

When you’re a kid in the hood who’s got no dad and mom’s not able to provide, here comes OG to become a father figure and pay your way a little bit. The gang leader lets you work for him at 12 years old and gives you enough money to stop your family from getting evicted, and then your in, and the only ways to get out are often death or prison. That’s why people get caught in the trap. And pop culture absolutely plays a role with glorification, but I think that role often goes overstated.

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Anonymous OP 14w

We’re one of the richest countries in the world. Do you think you’d be okay if you suddenly had a severe medical condition that needed consistent treatment for the next few years? Being in a “rich community” doesn’t mean shit when all the wealth is held by 1% of the population.

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Anonymous cheese_of_the_world_unite 14w

I think that we could even keep that structure. But put emphasis on lifting your community instead of harming it. What if OG came along and rather than teaching you how to move dope and commit robberies, instead he teaches you how to get a job, how to care for your family, how to treat a woman, just how to be a man and a productive member of society. (I’ve actually seen stories of these programs in the inner cities before so they do exist, and I sincerely hope that more of them pop up)

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Anonymous #3 14w

Interesting take. But let me counter you with this. How many criminals do you ACTUALLY believe are stealing because their family or they themselves are deathly ill? More often, it’s people who wanna fit in with a gang, or someone who wants the hot new shoes or clothes, but they don’t wanna work for it, outside of committing crime.

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Anonymous OP 14w

There are lots of programs like that, and many of them are run by former bangers themselves who know firsthand how awful it is to get sucked into the life and wanna keep kids out of it. But what organized crime has that these guys don’t is quick money. Even the church can’t help a destitute family like a drug dealing son can, and that’s why everyone knows it’s poverty-driven. That’s obviously not a free pass but it is the explanatory factor here.

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Anonymous OP 14w

I think people who are ill are a part of it, I think a lot more are just people trying to keep a roof over the heads, and keep themselves or their families fed. And once you’re in, it’s hard to get out. Sometimes you CAN’T get out. For example if you got thrown in jail for weed or some shit you didn’t do, now you’re a convict, so basically nobody will hire you. So what do you do? You keep trying, but eventually those bills pile up, you get evicted, now you can’t even get a decent night a rest

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Anonymous #3 14w

Decent night of rest for an interview. Let alone get hired. Suddenly robbery is starting to look really appealing. They have a house, so they’ll be fine without a few extra bucks. Maybe you find a drug source looking for dealers, oh well if they’re selling it anyway then you might as well take some of the profit, you’ll do better things with that money than they would, right?

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Anonymous OP 14w

Nobody WANTS to be a criminal. Most people just want a comfortable life.

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Anonymous #3 14w

Another interesting point you’ve made, I actually think things like weed should be decriminalized and those with prior convictions should have their slates wiped. I also believe in recovery and rehabilitation for those who were previously criminals and who have decided to look to go the right way in life. People make mistakes. But an intentional and repeated action, is not a mistake.

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Anonymous #3 14w

By the way, I appreciate you and the other commenters actually taking time to exchange thoughts and opinions with me, in a civil matter, even though we may disagree with each other. This is what the world needs more of.

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