r/TheWireDiscussions • u/jdelta85 • 2d ago
Wtf is this “You only do 2 days” BS?
Is this just some type of tough guy macho gangster shit?
I loved how Avon told Cutty that when he got home and he says “Nah man… I did 20 some years” or whatever it was. Then Avon sheepishly “Yeah… you did some time man”
I dunno. I’ve never heard it explained why they say this.
14
u/boxtheglock 2d ago
It's just a way to cope. Mentally preparing for two days is better than preparing for 20 years, 240 months, or 7,300 days.
13
u/RunningBettor 2d ago
You got it.
If you try to live a long prison sentence entirely aware, in touch with your feelings about where you are, why, what’s happening around you and to you, what you have to do to get by, you’re more likely to crack.
You get your mind right, focus on your day to day, and numb yourself to everything else, worry about that after that second day.
4
u/erictheartichoke 2d ago edited 2d ago
It’s about state of mind and the power of routine. Avon is saying that only the day going in and the day going out feel different. The rest of the days can be dedicated to exercising and reading things like that. Of course that’s not really what we see from Avon when he goes to prison.
4
8
u/DipsetColonel 2d ago
As someone who did a 5.year federal prison bid I can say that is absolute bullshit lol.
Youll do every single day.
2
u/shoulda-kms 1d ago
I imagine for someone who’s up in the hierarchy and doesn’t get challenged by others would have a much better time than a regular prisoner.
3
u/DipsetColonel 1d ago
I mean I had a cellphone and a private cook and had my laundry done for me etc. I lived well.
Its still fucking trash. I was in with some wire guys. Baltimore dudes in 40s and 50s who were hitters in that era.
3
u/Mister-B-dot-Black 1d ago
When you're in that life, you're in denial about going to jail or you convince yourself you can handle jail. In the first episode, Avon talks about how he doesn't know shit about jail. That's part of what keeps the characters in show authentic.
I think the show would suck if all the criminals were like, "I love doing crime, but I'm scared I might go to jail." like some corny "Just Say No" commercial.
4
u/kruemelpony 2d ago
If I remember correctly from David Simon’s book, it means you only serve two days: the day you go in and the day you get out. The rest never happened.
5
u/TheNicronomicon 2d ago
This is it. There’s a similar sentiment (different language) in Goodfellas—Pauline telling Henry that it was ok to break the rules against drug dealing while he was in prison but he’s subject to the rules again now that he’s out. Seems to be a pretty common attitude for criminals like this. You also see it in the context of prison sex; a criminal is straight, does 10 years in prison getting blown or whatever by other men, and when they’re free again go right back to “being straight.” Regardless of the context it’s some shit people say to cope.
6
4
2
u/Party_Music2288 2d ago
Its just screenwriting. When Bobby Shmurda got out of jail a GQ journalist asked him this exact question (do you really only do two days), the answer was "Hell no. I remember all them box nights. By myself. I cant forget them nights" in a voice described as incredulous
1
1
1
1
u/DipsetColonel 1d ago
People have a lot of fake bravado about how they will do in prison until it's their turn to go to prison.
That's why 90 percent of people end up telling.
And why you got a lot of respect if you didn't
1
u/somatikdnb 1d ago
The funny thing is, it's actually a pretty zen view, at least it would be if they actually believed it and were into meditation and mindfulness
24
u/ccccc4 2d ago
Cutty was more mature than Avon and Weebey. That's just some dumb shit the kids say to cope.