MovieChat Forums > Beyond Scared Straight (2011) Discussion > why dont they actually let the inmates b...

why dont they actually let the inmates beat them up!!

posted 14 years ago by Queen_BC
10 replies | jump to latest

Last week on the guys episode the one guy said he really wasnt scared because he knew the producers wouldnt let anything happen to him, so thats not really "scaring them straight" if they know they still have security. i think they should make them stay the night or week and really see what its like because them staying for 4 hours aint nothing especially with a bunch of people protecting them.

[–] zap644 14 years ago

I was going to start a new thread, but your post is the perfect setup for me to ask my questions and possibly make a point.

Why don't they just beat the crap out of these kids in public and put them in the stocks like we did to criminals a couple of centuries ago?

My guess is that we as a society decided that it isn't right to do that.

And yet somehow we seem to accept that in prison people get beat up, stabbed, raped and even killed. Nobody is willing to say they want that, but it's obvious that we as a society do want that. We want prison to be bad. We bemoan the fact that they get cable TV and at the same time revel in the fact that some despicable criminal is going to spend his life in PMITA prison.

I get the point of the show. Much of what they're doing seems like a decent way to teach kids that if they don't change their ways they'll end up in prison and it isn't pleasant. And I don't think it shouldn't be pleasant either.

But look at the convicted prisoners on this show. They're loving the opportunity to bully these kids. They aren't just telling them how much prison sucks. They're actually enjoying the hell out of intimidating these kids and telling them how they're gonna get raped.

This is probably the most fun some of these convicts have had in years.

What they did here crosses the line too often.

[–] chito1977 14 years ago

But look at the convicted prisoners on this show. They're loving the opportunity to bully these kids. They aren't just telling them how much prison sucks. They're actually enjoying the hell out of intimidating these kids and telling them how they're gonna get raped.

This is probably the most fun some of these convicts have had in years.

What they did here crosses the line too often.

Let's remember though, that for the most part, these are not nice people. It's not like they're taking them to a county jail where most of the inmates are there for something like theft, or one to many DUIs. These are rapists, pedophiles, serial killers, that kind of thing.

I imagine some of them genuinely want to help these kids, they made their mistakes and want to try to steer someone else in the right direction, but I'm sure there are the others who figure this will go towards helping them get out sooner, and that's the main reason they're doing it. They don't really care that much about them, and get a kick out of trying to scare them.

The problem is, with a lot of kids nowadays, just taking them there, and letting them observe the inmates, that isn't going to do much for them. They need to actually get in there and mingle with them, to see what life is really like in there to do much good.

I'm not trying to justify what the inmates are doing or anything like that, I'm just offering my opinion on why they're doing it.

[–] Queen_BC 14 years ago

These kids arent "scared straight" because they know they have protection they really need to go to jail and have a REAL experience, maybe they should make the show a hidden camera show and have the kids "fake" arrested and really see what its like since they think they tough.

[–] zap644 14 years ago

There is just way too much wrong with your post to even begin to address the issues.

I'll just throw out one. Why don't we "fake-arrest" you to teach you a lesson?

[–] Queen_BC 14 years ago

zap you can kiss my as$ if you don't like my OPINION.

[–] zap644 14 years ago

Okay, let me break it down.

Let me first address the idea of "fake arrest". You think some kid is a spoiled brat? You don't have any crime you can charge them with? It's probably in their best interest to stage a "fake arrest". You do know that's a crime even if cops do it, right?

Now the (slightly) more complicated issue with your post:

"they know they have protection they really need to go to jail and have a REAL experience"

That sounds like a threat. Maybe I'm wrong, but there are far too many assaults in prison and that should NOT be a part of the curriculum if you are sentenced for a crime.

Prison assaults should be the exception rather than the rule. If you're in the custody of the state they have a responsibility to protect you.

[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

I agree, chito ... What got me was this past episode where the kid told the prisoners that he'd just "sit back & chill" in prison and "work out." WTH??? This kid needs a dose of reality if he thinks life in prison is like that (& it should be rough IMO).

I'm an automatic steeple for depressed and lonely people ~ Blue October

[–] theclarkone68 14 years ago

There would be lawsuits.

Are judges trying to ruin MMA?

[–] Queen_BC 14 years ago

I dont get why they think 1 day or should i say half a day is gonna scare them into being sweet angels. let them stay for a week and see what it really is to be a "thug".

[–] DACHokie 14 years ago

I'm pretty sure some of the more "salty" stuff doesn't make it to the show. The reason I say this is because there seems to be a gap between the defiance displayed by the delinquents in the beginning of the show and the contrition they show at the end. Nothing in between the beginning and end seem to warrant the sudden attitude change and that makes me think there is a lot of stuff we don't get to see.

I wouldn't be surprised if A&E releases an "uncut" DVD of this series.