Allow Me to Clarify

*The following is in response to comments made by “Anonymous” on the post entitled, “The Guard is Always Right.”


In equating myself, a prisoner, with the status of a client, I was using the context of the latter term’s primary denotation – one for whom professional services are rendered.

Perhaps an element of your surprisingly emotional diatribe of a response was due to the fact that I (mistakenly) did not make note of the other client of the prison system, that is, society. A distinct service is rendered to both collectives (prisoners and society) and the latter (unjustly, in my opinion) subsidizes the services to the former.

You stated that I’m a burden to society because of my past actions, and thus have no individual rights; am little more than a “stored item”, and deserve to be treated poorly.

Realize that the premise of this (still flawed) argument presupposes my guilt, and that I’ve either learned nothing from my past mistakes or that any subsequent learning was worthless. Of course, such begs the question of how you could possibly know these things. If your answer is that it’s because I’m in prison—which is a distinct possibility, given that you paint with such broad strokes—then I’ll point out the logical fallacy of such circuitous reasoning.

Lastly, Anonymous, please understand my motive for writing: I simply want to unearth distinctions and create new knowledge. (The distinction of the post in question being the conceptually distinguishing element that a correctional officer’s job entails relative to all other jobs). If I can succeed at this goal, according to the standards that I have, I’ll no longer be a burden to society, whether I’m still in prison or not.

PS – Anonymous #2 and Sally, thanks for defending what’s right and proper.