I haven't mentioned it yet to my parents, I'll wait until I've gotten a few letters and at that point there will be nothing they can do but possibly grumble. I think they will initially react protectively as well, but get used to it at least somewhat.

LOL i brought this up in a jokingly way, my mom was like yeah right like they are gonna reply your boring letter..so yeah a month later I got my letter back and hv been writing back and forth for about 9 months now and everytime I got a letter my mom'll be curious too. She'll ask about what we write about since the letters are sooo long but I won't discuss it with her..LOL.There was once she asked me, would you move away if an ex-con moved in next to you, I told her no, and she started giving me long lectures about how we shouldn't judge people based on what they have done since many of them were brought up in broken families..so I guess she's fine with it.

I have a feeling my family would have an aneurism.

They don't even understand what I do with the money they entrust to me. I run our Philanthropic outreach efforts and donate to charities involving kids and helping the poor and to them I'm already wasting my time...

But hey, I just tell them that it will come around and it boosts our sales like crazy, so they pretty much let me do whatever I want and they just don't ask questions.

My family means well it's just they're from a generation that worked nonstop just to put bread on the table, and now that we have a successful family business they really don't get the whole giving back part which I've always been a proponent of.

If my family knew I am writing to people in prison it wouldn't be a pretty sight.... I have 30% equity in our businesses but I would still be jeopardizing everything trying to explain to them that I'm not in cahoots with criminals...

Sometimes it's just easier to leave things unsaid, even if it's nothing to be ashamed of.

When i told my mom i wanted to write an inmate she was apprehensive, but im almost thirty. she said "oh whatever you never listen to me anyway." is it normal to have reservations at first? i read some things on yahoo answer where people are like "yeah its dangerous, soon they'll want money, soon you'll be smuggling drugs." im thinking to myself "i wouldn't do that and no one can convince me to do it" my goal is to make someone happier with my letters. i researched the crimes they committed and i hold my judgement. we all make mistakes...hell ive made plenty so who am i to really judge. i remember watching a few documentaries on aileen wournos and i remember actually feeling bad for her. i felt she was a victim of circumstance. she was actually adopted by a woman while on death row....i thought that was pretty amazing. if i was in jail i would want people to communicate with me.

do i have reservations, yes. anyone knows situations can go from bad to worse in a flash. i hope what im saying makes sense, cause a few people asked me why i want to do this, and my answer is really...i dont know why i just do...obviously theres a reason im drawn to this idea...ill figure it out lol.

Originally Posted by thekev1042

is it normal to have reservations at first? i read some things on yahoo answer where people are like "yeah its dangerous, soon they'll want money, soon you'll be smuggling drugs
l.

Thats sure what ignorant people think..honestly iv never heard so much rubbish in my life. They can ask for money a lot do but you say No! simple as that and if you are going to send them money to help them with mail costs and such then only send what you can afford. As for smuggling drugs for them? ok then!!! NOT!! Some people will say a load of rubbish when they dont know something.

if you knew my past you would understand my moms reservations. when i lived in florida i got involved with a few people who i worked with and was duped pretty badly. my ex boss and roommate (same person) really manipulated me the worst. he's currently facing a max sentence of 30 years if convicted of the aggrevated assault on a disabled person along with one of my friends who i just wrote a letter to today. if i had stayed in florida i would have been involved in this crime. if you google the name shefights st petersburg florida, you can find the details. if you have any questions for me about it you can private message me, i dont know if im allowed to discuss this here. my ex boss...he wont be getting any letters from me! LOL

Originally Posted by thekev1042

When i told my mom i wanted to write an inmate she was apprehensive, but im almost thirty. she said "oh whatever you never listen to me anyway." is it normal to have reservations at first? i read some things on yahoo answer where people are like "yeah its dangerous, soon they'll want money, soon you'll be smuggling drugs." im thinking to myself "i wouldn't do that and no one can convince me to do it" my goal is to make someone happier with my letters. i researched the crimes they committed and i hold my judgement. we all make mistakes...hell ive made plenty so who am i to really judge. i remember watching a few documentaries on aileen wournos and i remember actually feeling bad for her. i felt she was a victim of circumstance. she was actually adopted by a woman while on death row....i thought that was pretty amazing. if i was in jail i would want people to communicate with me.

do i have reservations, yes. anyone knows situations can go from bad to worse in a flash. i hope what im saying makes sense, cause a few people asked me why i want to do this, and my answer is really...i dont know why i just do...obviously theres a reason im drawn to this idea...ill figure it out lol.

First, Yahoo answers are given by a bunch of Yahoo's

Second, I wouldn't feel to sorry for the wournos (or however you spell it) woman. I've researched what her crimes were and have seen documentaries. She was a psychopath and a very dangerous and sick woman. There are plenty of people in prison that don't have crimes to that extent. Not sure why you felt bad for her. I certainly don't.

Third, never underestimate what a person can talk you into doing. Keep that in mind while you are writing.

Thank you mountanddo for the advice. With Aileen i thought what if she had a different upbringing would she still have been that psychopath? Maybe not. i can see if she had a good upbringing and what not and then still did what she did, then i wouldn't feel for her. i just couldn't help but wonder what her life would have been had she not gone through the trauma she endured as a child. my feeling bad for her isn't the proper wording. as far as writing in my initial letter which hasn't been mailed yet i write nothing about "is there anything i can do for you" i believe i make it clear that i am writing to lift this persons spirits and help ease some of the loneliness she may be feeling.

Originally Posted by thekev1042

With Aileen i thought what if she had a different upbringing would she still have been that psychopath? Maybe not. i can see if she had a good upbringing and what not and then still did what she did, then i wouldn't feel for her. i just couldn't help but wonder what her life would have been had she not gone through the trauma she endured as a child. my feeling bad for her isn't the proper wording.

No, it's okay to say you felt bad for her. I did too. She had a horrible childhood and there was really no other route her life was going to take. I think her case is a perfect case study for the whole nature vs. nurture argument. Of course we don't know if she would have turned out that way had she had a loving home.

And am I the only one who felt bad for the barefoot bandit? He's actually a super smart kid. Anyway I looked up on yahoo answer abt writing to prisoners too, and yes, i do feel like an idiot after that..but i still worte anyway..and it lasts until today..