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gravitasgamer OP t1_j5nran8 wrote

Reply to comment by hecticscribe in TIL Prison Rodeo is a real thing - inmates play poker in the middle of a rodeo with a raging bull and have to sit and resist the urge to run from it in order to win money by gravitasgamer

Are you a Louisiana resident/native? To me this sounds barbaric. They treated gladiators better than this.

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RandoCalrissian11 t1_j5o9msn wrote

It’s actually extremely common in rodeos and it’s not prisoners, it’s just other cowboys.

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keano97 t1_j5owmyp wrote

Well the problem is that sometimes they are prisoners, and how this doesn't qualify as cruel and unusual punishment, I get it's voluntary but how voluntary is something that you use prisoners for?

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RandoCalrissian11 t1_j5p2a3i wrote

Voluntary is voluntary. They sign up for it. It’s not punishment, it’s an opportunity.

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keano97 t1_j5q51py wrote

Yes prison, a famously voluntary place

Where no coercion from prion authorities or worse other prisoners ever takes place.

It's totally infeasible that another prisoner wouldn't threaten to kill another I'd they didn't do it and give them the money.

Where authorities wouldn't offer unwritten perks to those that take part in what I imagine is profitable for the prison.

/s just in case that wasn't obvious

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Halvus_I t1_j5ppewx wrote

Prisoners cannot consent.

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turkey_sandwiches t1_j5pvnrx wrote

They aren't dragged to the rodeo against their will. They sign up if they want to participate.

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keano97 t1_j5q5m4f wrote

They could be threatened by other prisoners to do it and hand over the money.

They could be offered perks from authorities

A prisoner is not free, and therefore is not in a position to freely make a choice, especially one so consequential to their well-being.

Also they are literally chained up and caged to, from, and during all but the times they are seated with a live bull rampaging around, so you could say they are dragged there.

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turkey_sandwiches t1_j5q8d7x wrote

Anything COULD happen. What actually happens is they sign up if they want to do it.

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keano97 t1_j5so011 wrote

What?

So you admitted I could be right, and then just sweep it under the rug and say no it doesn't.

Go enjoy your uncivilized gladiator matches, should we swing by the dog fighting Pitt on the way home, maybe watch a public hanging with the kids in Sunday?

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turkey_sandwiches t1_j5thhtm wrote

You could be right, but you aren't. There's a difference.

The entire prisoner rodeo thing is done by prisoners who sign up for it. Of course they're chained when they leave the prison, they're still prisoners.

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keano97 t1_j5xllvs wrote

So you just going to ignore coercion.

You are taking a very simplistic view of this.

Your making making claims that I am wrong but don't say why. "It's voluntary" that's your argument, I am saying there are way to many other factors at paly to make it that simple.

If you are not free, then your not free to volunteer.

Admit it, you like the rodeo, and so your willing to sweep it under the rug

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turkey_sandwiches t1_j5ygyq0 wrote

You can claim anything you want , but that doesn't make it true. People sign up to play Cowboy Poker on their own, regardless o lf whether they're in prison or not. Show some proof that people are being coerced and then we can take it seriously.

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keano97 t1_j5ztg02 wrote

It's prison, where coercion famously happens all the damn time, ever watch a documentary on prisons?

Ye people can sign up for cowboy poker all the live long day, they are free people able to make a free choice. Prisoners do not fit this category

So you'd support gladatorial combat if all the prisoners "consent"

Very civilized.

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turkey_sandwiches t1_j60103n wrote

Again, show some proof of your assertion. Otherwise you're just screaming into the wind.

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Translator-Odd t1_j5s49wc wrote

The American prison system is absolutely fucked. Prisoners are exploited along every step along their 'rehabilitation'. It is absurd how most Americans don't understand how predatory our current prison-industrial complex is.

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hecticscribe t1_j5nxou9 wrote

Lol, no. I live in western Washington. And the guy was the son of the CEO of a small company I worked for. Having prison inmates do this is pretty awful, but if people want to sign up and do this on their own...it's dumb, but so are a lot of things people do.

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SlimTrim509 t1_j5r6owl wrote

I was going to say the Northwest. My roots are deep in montana farm/ranch/rodeo country and I've lived most of my life in Eastern Washington. I've seen this live numerous times over numerous state.

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Hurricane_Camille t1_j5sm770 wrote

So I’m a resident of Louisiana and have actually gone to the rodeo a few times. You may think it’s barbaric but for the prisoners it’s actually an honor to be able to participate. It creates behavioral incentives to reward them for good behavior to be able to compete in the competitions for prize money they get to keep (no one is forcing a prisoner to participate because they want to take their money)

There is also a craft fair where inmates are able to sell art, furniture and jewelry they made. They are able to set their own prices, interact with the customers and keep their profit. Many of the inmates see the rodeo as a rare opportunity to feel a part of society outside of the gates and take pride in showcasing their talents.

What is also great, is that some of the clubs/organizations in the prison have food tents setup during the rodeo, so any food items you purchase go back to help the prisoners extracurricular activities/quality of life.

The biggest thing to remember is that it is completely voluntary. Only those who have been on good behavior are allowed to compete. The prisoners love it and have great pride in being selected. If a prisoner didn’t want to participate, they wouldn’t sign up.

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[deleted] t1_j5setcc wrote

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gravitasgamer OP t1_j5st32i wrote

Of course it's barbaric! What are you on about? Whataboutism?

I haven't lived in Canada for almost 2 decades and don't particularly like much about it. Systemic slavery/dehumanization of one country doesn't cancel out the others.

I'm 3rd generation Canadian so...? TIL is about 'I recently found out' This horror against Native Canadians has been known to most well-educated Canadians for at least a decade.

Seriously what's your point? Moral relativism? You think I don't criticize my home country? Or I'm not allowed to criticize others because I personally sterilized native peoples?

Get a grip. We can be both be right about barbarism in a variety of cultures.

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[deleted] t1_j5t6vi8 wrote

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gravitasgamer OP t1_j5ta2e2 wrote

I never blamed the US for any of my problems. I didn't mention my problems. In fact, I praise the US for their defense of Europe!

Don't you claim to be an American with German ancestry? You should be ashamed of slavery and the Holocaust, no? Whatever generation of German you are is irrelevant.

The prison system in the US is by far one of the worst in the developed world. I'm not sure if you're a pro-American bot or a middle schooler with too much access to the wrong corners of the internet.

Both sides in history can be bad. You can call out all of the horrible shit that Canada has done but it's not an argument against the US' inhumane prison system. Nobody is arguing with you but yourself.

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