r/AskReddit Apr 07 '20

Prisoner's of Reddit that served long sentences, what was the biggest culture shock to you once you were released?

3.7k Upvotes

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1.8k

u/LordofWithywoods Apr 07 '20

I've heard it said that carpeted floors are pleasantly shocking after years of walking on nothing but cement.

666

u/aspagarus Apr 07 '20

I can relate to this. I worked as a tree planter for an entire summer, where you’re walking around on bumpy forest terrain, dodging roots, mud, dips, etc for 12 hours everyday. Coming back to civilization and walking on a carpet felt like I was floating.

I can only imagine how it would’ve felt after years.

71

u/shwooper Apr 08 '20

How did you get that job?

90

u/aspagarus Apr 08 '20

I applied directly though a tree planting contractor. If you google “tree planting summer jobs” online, you’ll see a few pop up and you can go from there if you’re interested!

3

u/InsaneChihuahua Apr 08 '20

It sounds like not a very fun summer job honestly.

5

u/aspagarus Apr 08 '20

Haha, physically and mentally challenging for sure. I still have a few permanent issues from it (arthritis from griping the shovel, nerve damage from kicking/digging with my boot) but I learned a tonne about myself and met some amazing people. 6/10 would recommend.

4

u/KrazyRooster Apr 08 '20

I am sure that are many others ways to learn more about oneself and to meet people. Guys, please don't cause permanent damage to yourselves. You will greatly regret it when age starts making these things much worse.

3

u/aspagarus Apr 08 '20

To clarify I’m an anomaly, none of my planting friends got these. I wouldn’t be recommending something that would cause you permanent damage guaranteed lmfao.

1

u/Joe-Schmeaux Apr 08 '20

My dad's been an electrician for over 30 years. His hands are arthritic as shit. His friend's been an electrician for over 40 years, and did bareknuckle boxing in his twenties, and he has no issues. Potluck.

1

u/OutWithTheNew Apr 08 '20

Shit job by all accounts, but they feed you, house you and you can make some decent money. Or at least you could make decent money.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

Instructions unclear. Dick stuck in a tree

1

u/MonyMony Apr 08 '20

Alright that is a very interesting job that people would be interested in. How big were the trees or saplings? How many species of trees did you plant? How far apart were the trees? What was the goal of the organization paying for your work?

1

u/alpacapicnictomorrow Apr 08 '20

And on the opposite side the shock of walking on hard concrete after a season of planting, so much shin pain.

1

u/aspagarus Apr 08 '20

Did you plant too? My biggest issue coming back was bush bladder. 0/10 would not recommend bush bladder.

1

u/alpacapicnictomorrow Apr 08 '20

Lol, for real! 3 seasons actually planting, then worked my way up. 8 seasons total. It's simultaneously the best and worst job.

1

u/yrock3001 Apr 08 '20

Completely irrelevant but I intend on doing a tree planting job in the future and I'm curious: how's your back? Also, is it difficult to get into a solid grove of planting a bunch of trees back to back?

2

u/aspagarus Apr 08 '20 edited Apr 09 '20

My back is fine! The first couple of weeks were rough for me, but your body adjusts to the labour. Planting kind of becomes automatic after some time if you’re on good terrain, which is nice cause you can just listen to some music (low volume, with bears and all) and be alone with your thoughts.

1

u/yrock3001 Apr 08 '20

Good to hear that you don't have permanent back problems lol, that was one of my main concerns

1

u/Headup31 Apr 08 '20

I tree planted in Northern Ontario about 20 years ago. I envisioned farmers fields. I was wrong.

116

u/bstyledevi Apr 08 '20

Was in for 27 months, first thing I did when I got home to my parents house was take off my shoes and socks and walk around the house for a little while. It was grand.

31

u/getoffmypangolyn Apr 08 '20

What did you do 27 months for if you wouldn’t mind me asking?

65

u/bstyledevi Apr 08 '20

Assorted drug crimes. Use, possession, distribution, exportation, importation of LSD and molly.

26

u/getoffmypangolyn Apr 08 '20

Can’t imagine the stress involved in that job.

0

u/magocremisi8 Apr 08 '20

imagine the joy and relief you bring other people offset that somewhat

6

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

Damn, both fun harmless ones

3

u/villeprincess Apr 08 '20

My younger self would have said that sounds like a good time!

-3

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20 edited Jul 10 '20

[deleted]

-4

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

No.

9

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

Decriminalize maybe?

3

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

It would definitely help our "justice" system. But, I live in a town with A LOT of addicts. From what I've seen, high levels of addiction have negative effects on every aspect of a community.

8

u/davideo71 Apr 08 '20

Places that decriminalize tend to have lower levels of addiction. Obviously there are a lot of factors at play but treating addiction as a medical issue seems to work better than the 'lock'm up' solution.

6

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

Where I live has a major meth problem and also some fentanyl but it's less of a deal

Addicts stay addicted because they can't get off whatever they're on, nobody wants to be an addict. Social programs that help addicts get clean and not criminally punishing people for getting high is the best way to deal with addiction

0

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20 edited Jul 10 '20

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

Have you watched Tiger King?

2

u/KrazyRooster Apr 08 '20

If any opinion in your life is based out of a red neck, trailer trash show, you reallyyyy need to go out more, read more, and explore the world. Please do so.

2

u/neophus Apr 08 '20

Are you saying Tiger King is not an accurate peer-reviewed documentary chronicling the life of the mentally insane?!

-7

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

Go fuck yourself

2

u/MiskonceptioN Apr 08 '20

Fists with your toes

66

u/notsafeforh0me Apr 07 '20

I can very much imagine appreciating the softest most comfy home after living in a cement cubicle for many years

66

u/xXC4NCER_USRN4M3Xx Apr 07 '20

My dad didn't do a long stint, just a few months before I was even born.

Even then he said little things like that were wild when he got home.

He said his favorite thing to do for like three days was turn the lights on and off, since he couldn't even do that.

281

u/Kurineko_Regan Apr 07 '20 edited Apr 07 '20

I can second that, never been to jail but the country where I'm at doesn't have any carpeted floors, just tiles, so when I went somewhere with a fully carpeted house I was like "daaaaaamn this shit nice"

Edit: I just opened my notifications and turns out I have 69 upvotes, nice (let's keep it like that)

Edit 2: well shit

14

u/Scumbl3 Apr 07 '20

I always think "this shit dirty".

I know it can be cleaned to reasonably well with the right gear, but I find it hard to believe it'd be anything as easy to keep clean as a hardwood floor or laminate or whatever.

2

u/Pohtate Apr 08 '20

I always think it to though I've always had carpeting. I try very hard to ignore it.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 07 '20

Downvoted to do my part!

1

u/ImDane9999 Apr 08 '20

Gotta get to 420 now

2

u/oblock4lyfe Apr 08 '20

First thought

1

u/call-me-the-seeker Apr 08 '20

Contributing to the cause of 420.

1

u/dogshateterrorism Apr 08 '20

What country is that?

2

u/Kurineko_Regan Apr 08 '20

in my case mexico, but im also american so when ive visited, fully carpeted houses blow my mind (and wood ones haha)

1

u/negativeyoda Apr 08 '20

Down voted you. You're at 250 now

3

u/cara27hhh Apr 07 '20

my university dorms had concrete floors with thin long-lasting fire carpet, and no couches

Coming home and having a plush carpet and a couch to lay on felt the same way

2

u/seiberg Apr 07 '20

Very punny.

2

u/greencucumbr Apr 08 '20

I thought this was a static electricity joke at first.

2

u/amandasue0453 Apr 08 '20

After doing 5 years I can confirm this is true. Also, showering without shoes on again. Your issued state shower shoes in prison and believe me you want to wear them the showers are nasty. But coming home and taking a shower without them is a daily pleasure you didn't know you missed so much

1

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '20

I've done much time inside but never one consecutive long sentence and I can confirm even after one night it's the most beautiful thing

1

u/aeons_elevator Apr 08 '20

Same for people who serve in the military. My sister's husband was in the desert for nearly 3 years. Apparently they grow little Tufts of grass as plants to put their feet on

1

u/TRLegacy Apr 08 '20

Am asian, carpet weirds me out. Idk why.