My peer recovery group takes place every Friday night in room 9 of the East School Building. During the week, this room hosts “Thinking For A Change,” a parole-board mandated program.
Makeshift posters cover the walls. Written in Sharpie, and in all caps, these “Thinking Reports” are testaments of lower-class decision making.
Here’s an example:
“Situation:Cheated on GF with her cousin
Risk thought: she’s hot
New thoughts:
1. shouldn’t do this
2. could hurt my gf
3. could be setting me up
4. could get her pregnant
risk a/b : not my fault
New a/b: I can resist temptation’
I have no idea what a/b means. Other situations include: stole metal for $$$; dropped dirty for weed; carried concealed weapon; drove without insurance, etc.
It’s a litany of ways to come to prison or otherwise fuck up one’s life. I previously took Thinking for a Change (everyone has to), but forget what situation I wrote about. It probably wasn’t much better.
The class should be renamed “How Not to be a Loser.” A lot of inmates are raised in toxic environments and taught toxic values. I’ve walked away from many interactions, and thought, wow, you’re parents didn’t love you growing up. They go on to blame others for any uncomfortable feeling, which are drowned out with drugs and drink. Too many confuse being a man with being violent.
Case in point, another poster reads:
“Beliefs Which Support Violence
1. Survival & Safety
2. Respect
3. it works
4. Consequences arent that bad
5. It’s not bad”
Those answers are the responses from the inmates in the class. #2 and #3 encapsulate the moron mindset.
Easy Trouble 