4 ms·

I've never understood how escapees are smart enough to put together an elaborate escape plan, but then don't have the sense to lay low. Sometimes I think there

• ThrustVectoring 9y ago
  If you're smart enough and patient enough to lay low, you tend to realize that you're better rewarded by working within the system. Like, the fundamental character flaw that leads to criminality is believing that you're entitled to significantly more than society says you are based on the skills you've developed and the effort you've put in.
  • kesselvon 9y ago
    That's kind of implying a meritocracy actually exists.
    • GauntletWizard 9y ago
      Thank you for outing yourself as a criminal. Regardless of whether or not meritocracy exists, and particularly of the morality of the law, taking more than the system allows you to is pretty much the definition of criminality. Whether that be through plain old theft, fraud, illegal substance dealing, or violent crime.
      • dragonwriter 9y ago
        > Regardless of whether or not meritocracy exists, and particularly of the morality of the law, taking more than the system allows you to is pretty much the definition of criminality. No, it's not. Unless by “the system” you mean only and exactly criminal law. And, in any case, that's different than your original description, which did include the proviso that the amount the system determined was based on meritocratic considerations (“based on the skills you've developed and the effort you've put in.”) The grandparent post was correct to point out that this characterization assumed the existence of meritocracy. Finally, asserting that disagreeing with your description is outing the grandparent poster as a criminal is is just simply uncalled for.
    • ThrustVectoring 9y ago
      Whoops, forgot to mention the parents you were born to. If they're higher class or just plain old spend more resources on you, society winds up letting you get more stuff.
• pmoriarty 9y ago
  It's not just about intelligence, but also about impulse control, mental illness, desperation, etc. Someone could be reasonably or even very intelligent and still have issues in these other areas.
  • gxs 9y ago
    That's kind of the point I was trying to make though. Isn't planning an escape a display of those traits? Planning an elaborate escape, securing cash, biding your time, roping others in - isn't that a display of controlling your impulses, clear enough thinking to plan something out long term? Seems like it's a display of more than just intelligence. It's almost like these people just lack focus and if they had something productive to devote their time to they may have avoided this life.
• woliveirajr 9y ago
  If you are smart enough to now where the line is draw and patient enough to play the moves in the right order and time, you might as well be given a high job in some companies. /s