venting

  So last night I was talking to one of my e-pal inmates and really let him vent! As from the messages I was getting from him were not all that positive. It was funny though because he had said "well another penpal had blocked me today:)" so I had to ask why he had put a smiley face at the end of it, why was he happy that another one blocked him...in the end he was saying how hes been talking to women and they been asking what he wants and needs so he tells them, he started ranting on how he had spent his last $5 on calling this woman because she said that if he had called her she would help him....She lives in the u.k so each minute cost him $1.
 
 Anyway he was going on saying that people seem to think that people in prison still have it good that they can just get whatever they want, how if you're going to write an inmate that you should only just write one and stop to think that you will be there for them and help them with whatever they need..

my thoughts on that conversation are a bit mixed up, I believe that Yes you should be there for your penpal (s) but to an extent, I went on telling him how Jack had spent $75 on phone calls to me for 5 calls! and thought it was ridiculous that he was willing to spend that much on 5 15 minute calls, so I went and got a skype number to make life a bit easier on him. Yes people need to know that it is very expensive in prisons! and they only have commissary once a week I believe where they can order certain things, that they get paid pennies for jobs, as my friend said he only makes $26 a month, yet hes trying to get money together so he can go for his appeal.  As a penpal I do expect myself to be there for my friends someone to vent to let a load off and all that but also to be there when they need a smile. I think he was trying not to direct all this at me but in the end he was because I am writing several others, not only through www.writeaprisoner.com but also through www.prisonvoice.com as well. I wanted to expand my options for finding other inmates to write to instead of just going through www.writeaprisoner.com.  I know I can't understand what they go through on a daily basis, but my heart does go out to them because they're going through something I will never go through. but its when they ask for your help financially to help them get out and you have to say no to them, thats the hard part.

It's gotta suck when the penpals block the inmates theyve deiced to be there for know what I mean? like They chose to be that person to give them that support. I shouldnt really talk lol because I have blocked a few for my own reasons though and yes i do feel bad about it because well I've told them I will be their friend for life (that is if they choose to write to me still after they've been released lol) if they do then they will continue to have that positive influence in their life, which I believe is apart of their rehabilitation.

In the end it helps them when they're able to vent to someone and in return they let me vent back lol.
I just wanted to share my thoughts on my previous conversation and wanted to say that if you decide to write anyone then don't think they've still got it easy because they haven't and if they ask for money just say you cant help them with that but you can help be there to support them.

I don't know if this post made any sense but I hope it did lol, my thoughts are jumpy like this all the time. In my next post I plan on sharing somethings that Jarrell has told me as I find them to be very inspirational and and true:)

Thanks for reading