Most recent public comments by Neale Butler https://nowcomment.com/users/51155 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315310 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315310 the word "sympathized" stood out to me in this sentence. This entire reading made me more aware of how at risk these dealers are to become victims of addiction, and how the addiction can be such a burden in one's life as well as being nearly impossible to quit. I could imagine that it is very tempting for dealers who are around large amounts of these drugs, it becomes very tempting for them to steal or become users themselves. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 08:34:55 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315308 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315308 I think your comment raises an interesting point in overlapping sellers and users. I think it would have been an interesting (and realistic) story line if the show included more examples of situations like this one we see with Caesar. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 08:29:46 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315306 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315306 I agree that the creators missed an opportunity in not having women be as much of a part of the story line. From the women we of see, like D'Angelo's mother and Donette, they are very reliant on the men and also rely on they game for stability in their everyday lives. Just like the men, they are tied to the game and would have a hard time getting out. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 08:22:03 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1313881 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1313881 This comment made me think about the drug dealers on the wire. While we do see some of them do drugs on the show, most of them are not portrayed to be full on addicts to the point where doing drugs runs their lives. For them, its more about the money made and the business deals in the game. I find it to be an interesting point that the highest ranking dealers in the game on the show are not addicts, while it is also hard to imagine an addict character like Bubbles or his friend Johnny being successful drug dealers. Wed, 03 Apr 2019 21:44:17 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1313872 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1313872 This description reminded me of the contrast between Stringer and Avon throughout The Wire. Avon's character never develops to anything more than a street gangster during the series, while Stringer Bell attempts to act as more of a business man before her gets killed in season three. The quote mentions Felix reveled too much in street corner glory, similarly to Avon. When Stringer tried to advise him that the gang needed to be less violent in their argument over losing street corners, Avon disagrees and cannot seem to stray from what he knows as the ways of the street. Wed, 03 Apr 2019 20:42:55 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307766 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307766 I agree with your points and think that this paragraph also brings to light that many people have the luxury of only having to deal with this issue from a distance and do not experience it personally. With such a complex and deeply rooted problem, its difficult to answer the question of where to start in fixing it or what exactly needs to be done. Mon, 25 Mar 2019 20:43:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307763 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307763 Your comment on those in debt and the unfair targeting of poor communities made me think about how expensive it is for our country to run the prison system and keep people in jail for long periods of time. The poorest people most often wind up being the victims of the flaws in our prison system while the government spends so much money to support it. Mon, 25 Mar 2019 20:38:54 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307761 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307761 I thought your comment brings up an interesting point in questioning why the label of someone being a felon is permanent and continues to follow them and define them for the rest of their lives, even when they have done their time. I think using the word "dehumanizing" adequately captures the situation felons are thrown into in society once they leave prison. Mon, 25 Mar 2019 20:34:46 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307757 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307757 These facts on progress for African Americans during reconstruction and Alexander's contrasting points in the next paragraph on how this largely wound up being symbolic is strikingly similar to a point she made about the modern day issue of our prison system previously. She stated that while some might point out that large progress has been made because we've elected an African American President and have prominent figures in our society such as Oprah, the mass incarceration of black men remains a huge problem. This thought is similar to the fact that although blacks were elected to government positions and literacy rates went up during reconstruction, prominent whites still went out of their way to make it very hard for blacks to be allowed to vote. Mon, 25 Mar 2019 21:02:23 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307737 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307737 Because people continue to be punished after prison in the sense that they are given far fewer opportunities in society, it brings about the idea that prison does not succeed in preventing crime. Since people are not treated equally afterwards, they have fewer options for pursuits such as finding employment, and when they are unfairly discriminated against it sets them up for failure. This sentence caused me to think that influencing people to change their ways after being arrested or even preventing crime constructively in the future are not priorities in our prison system. Mon, 25 Mar 2019 23:47:16 -0400