3 ms·

You mention the clothing to fit in at university like that's the place where the story went all wrong, but 30 days in jail for shoplifting (which may or may not

You mention the clothing to fit in at university like that's the place where the story went all wrong, but 30 days in jail for shoplifting (which may or may not be an unreasonable sentence) is certainly not a life-ending affair, and definitely not something you should take a razor blade to your throat over. It seems like Tom was exhibiting some unstable behavior even before he got trapped in the system for 10 years; the clothes seem much more like a symptom than a cause here.

kelnos 9y ago
From Tom's perspective, that sentence may well have ended his life. The length of it was immaterial. I'm sure he would have lost his scholarship as a convicted felon, and his admissions offer might have been rescinded too. There goes college entirely. Most jobs would also become unavailable to him with a felony on his record. Likely he'd be hired by someone who'd exploit him because they'd know he was basically unemployable and couldn't get a job elsewhere. Meanwhile, he still has no money. Homelessness? Drugs? Petty (or worse) crime to feed and clothe himself? Back in the system at any rate, and unlikely to get back out.
- CocaKoala 9y ago
  > convicted felon You're probably correct that he would have lost the scholarship, but shoplifting is not a felony and if he's getting thirty days in jail, I don't think he's being convicted of a felony assault on the guard or something.
  - KGIII 9y ago
    Pushing the guard turned it into robbery, a felony. The DA was willing to be lenient and give him 30 days with a partially suspended sentence and probation.
KGIII 9y ago
The criminal conviction was going to mean a lost scholarship. At no point in the story is there not something that can't be criticized. From the cost of education, to feeling the need to dress in accordance to a certain style, to the razor having been used in an unobserved manner, and the rest. Not one part of that story can be free of criticism and seeing better solutions and preferable outcomes.
- CocaKoala 9y ago
  Ah, I hadn't considered how the scholarship would interact with the sentence. Thank you for pointing that out.

kelnos 9y ago

From Tom's perspective, that sentence may well have ended his life. The length of it was immaterial. I'm sure he would have lost his scholarship as a convicted felon, and his admissions offer might have been rescinded too. There goes college entirely. Most jobs would also become unavailable to him with a felony on his record. Likely he'd be hired by someone who'd exploit him because they'd know he was basically unemployable and couldn't get a job elsewhere. Meanwhile, he still has no money. Homelessness? Drugs? Petty (or worse) crime to feed and clothe himself? Back in the system at any rate, and unlikely to get back out.

CocaKoala 9y ago
> convicted felon You're probably correct that he would have lost the scholarship, but shoplifting is not a felony and if he's getting thirty days in jail, I don't think he's being convicted of a felony assault on the guard or something.
- KGIII 9y ago
  Pushing the guard turned it into robbery, a felony. The DA was willing to be lenient and give him 30 days with a partially suspended sentence and probation.

KGIII 9y ago

The criminal conviction was going to mean a lost scholarship. At no point in the story is there not something that can't be criticized. From the cost of education, to feeling the need to dress in accordance to a certain style, to the razor having been used in an unobserved manner, and the rest. Not one part of that story can be free of criticism and seeing better solutions and preferable outcomes.

CocaKoala 9y ago
Ah, I hadn't considered how the scholarship would interact with the sentence. Thank you for pointing that out.