How do you deal with it? Although if someone asks my opinion about it, I tell them, usually I just keep my mouth shut. The reason may be chicken-shit, I don’t know: arguing could lead to a confrontation, possibly a physical one. I’m not willing to risk what I have for that. Nor do I feel obligated to risk trouble over every loud-mouthed jerk in prison (there are a lot of them). But sometimes I feel like keeping quiet is almost the same as giving assent to the person spewing the hate. They always want listeners, after all. I never laugh at their “jokes” or even give a polite smile, because I don’t want to convey ANY impression that it is acceptable. And sometimes, even a guy with terrible, hateful beliefs is willing to at least listen to a dissenting view, which I will give them if I can. It’s rare, but it does happen.

Dan Turner
DOC# 767569