S01.E10: Institutionalized

[Tara Ariano]

Quote

Isaiah hits a crossroads; Zac's cell is searched after his cellmate makes hooch; a new inmate triggers a fight that causes tension between Tami, Barbra and Maryum; Tami begins searching for details about her identity; and Robert meets with Sheriff Noel and Captain Maples.

[farmgal4]

Well, Robert, how does it feel to be not only the biggest pussy but also the most mentally-deranged loser in the history of reality TV?  The sheriff and deputy had Robert pegged, didn't they?  Both of them were chomping at the bit to call his crazy ass out and call it out they did!  They made him look like the psycho idiot that he is and because of that, they both redeemed themselves a little bit tonight IMO.  I don't think the nutjob needs to be anywhere near kids, much less teaching them.

[slasherboy]

The men's pod is boring but I love what's going on with the women.  That the 3 plants are causing the most drama is hilarious.  Tami and Barbra really do like to get into everyone's business.  Maryum is an idiot.  And did you know she's Cassius Clay's daughter?

So if the maybe-pregnant inmate took 2 trays, does that mean somebody else went without?  How come they didn't make an issue out of that?

If Robert actually is a teacher and he taught at my child's school, I'd make damn sure the school board saw this show.

Why does Isaiah always grin like a fool?  That irritates me.

All that said, I LOVE this show and can't wait until next Thursday!

[Toaster Strudel]

Babar is so righteous... she's always the most upset mascot!  Tami is so happy Babar is giving her an opportunity to come to blows!

"Maybe-pregnant" sounded deranged and potentially aggressive, I would have kept my distance and out of any drama she creates.  She may in fact be lying.  I agreed with Maryum's poorly disguised short-bus comment.  Blind people can see right away that there is something terribly wrong with this new girl.  Don't get caught up!

Isaiah looks really dumb... deer-in-headlights follower... desperate for approval... no independent ideas in his head.  But his teen mom is magnificent!

Robert is completely bonkers and I doubt he actually teaches, probably can't even be a lunch lady.  I loved the montage where they show him stating his intentions entering the program to teach his "pupils" to stay out of jail, and after all this medical fakery, make it as if 30 in the pokey was as relaxing as 10 days in Waikiki.  How is that supposed to teach kids not to go to jail?  Moron.  Even his handshakes were mentally unhinged.  Maybe jails should be financed by people like Robert that would pay to get in.

[ZoloftBlob]

Quote

Why does Isaiah always grin like a fool?

I'm beginning to suspect along with being immature, that he's just not that smart.

That said, for all the horrors of "the crack stick" - if you notice, for all the whining and horrified looks from Sheriff Idiot and Deputy Dumbass, having a crack stick is just... well, having contraband.

Sheriff Idiot and Deputy Dumbass very much have an agenda and it's painfully obvious they want to hear "I never will commit a crime because jail is so awful" from everyone. It's also painfully obvious that they are clearly playing a "my dick is bigger than yours" game with all the male inmates. They tag team humiliated Jeff previously, they clearly delighted in letting Isaiah's mom know how much Isaiah was just like an inmate, they adore noting how the women are like the scummy inmates, and as assholish and dicklicious Robert was, they clearly delighted in letting him know how they thought he was scared and pissing his pants.

The female pod drama is sadly pretty typical of a group of women isolated and with nothing else to do but get irritated with each other. I find it weird that Maryum has told people she is a social worker. I understood where she was going with the short bus comment but it was pretty rude. That said, Barbra and Tami are not healthy together. I also kind of adore that Tami couldn't resist giving herself away.

[Andromeda]

OK, did I hear Isaiah's mother say that she got pregnant with him at age 13? But his older brother is serving a 5-year sentence? My mind is boggled...

Glad the sheriff and his deputy called out Robert on being chicken shit.

Hilarious that the three female plants got in a ridiculously stupid argument... 

[placate]

1 hour ago, Toaster Strudel said:

Robert is completely bonkers and I doubt he actually teaches, probably can't even be a lunch lady.

I don't want to be the moral crusader and I don't have children but I think he's like Swirl Face aka Mr. Swirl. If anyone doesn't want to look him up, I'll summarize. This guy went to countries where enforcement of sexual laws wasn't child friendly. He went to third world countries and had sex with little boys and uploaded the pictures to the internet, He got away with it by "teaching" children English as a second language when he wasn't fiddling them.

Robert is a jackass. However, after seeing his links to charities in India and his request that people Western Union donations to another guy who runs the place, I'd be really skeptical about him. Teachers are great, and those willing to travel to third world countries to educate others are selfless. However, I've watched Robert for a few weeks and he screams "predator" to me.

1 hour ago, Toaster Strudel said:

Babar is so righteous... she's always the most upset mascot!

Now she will always be an elephant in my mind!

2 hours ago, slasherboy said:

And did you know she's Cassius Clay's daughter?

lol! Cassius Clay isn't a muslim so his daughter can eat pork on accident and only looked a bit grossed out but was still a social worker. She can remind people about the short bus but apparently jails are so PC that you can't bring that stuff up.

Babar gets offended and Tami has to go to the rescue even though she's so low drama at home. Tami can't police out that she's Muhammed Ali's daughter and can draw better than most the inmates.

3 hours ago, slasherboy said:

Why does Isaiah always grin like a fool?  That irritates me.

His mother is the roughest 31 year old that I've seen. I praise her for not wanting to have a jailbird son, but he just straight up smoked the crack stick. I'm tempted to stick a coffee filter in my e-cig to see if there's anything worth it with this crack stick thing. Seems to me this might be like nutmeg, ya you can get high on it but it'll make you sick as hell.

[Stoned]

5 hours ago, Andromeda said:

OK, did I hear Isaiah's mother say that she got pregnant with him at age 13? But his older brother is serving a 5-year sentence? My mind is boggled...

Glad the sheriff and his deputy called out Robert on being chicken shit.

Hilarious that the three female plants got in a ridiculously stupid argument... 

Isaiah and His older Brother have the same Father,but different Mothers..

[Primetimer]

And other not-quite-burning questions about our remaining jailhouse rockers.

View the full article

[Whimsy]

8 hours ago, ZoloftBlob said:

Sheriff Idiot and Deputy Dumbass very much have an agenda and it's painfully obvious they want to hear "I never will commit a crime because jail is so awful" from everyone.

I know!  This is what drives me the most crazy.  This is not what the show is about!  Also, when Deputy Dumbass says he is worried about so-and-so because they "act just like an inmate".  That makes me want to bang my head on my desk.  That's the whole point, Deputy Dumbass!   This show stresses me out.  I should probably just stop watching it.

Maryum saying that she said "short bus" because she "didn't want to say the other word" also made my blood boil.  That girl is definitely slow and had some issues that may be related to drugs, or maybe not, but either way you do not say either thing, Maryum!  I also question her social worker skills after this.  In her line of business she would see all ranges of mental capacity and to just go right there with the comments with no tact is upsetting.

Robert is legit crazy.  That's all I can say about him.  He scares the beejezus out of me and I hope to never run into him because I would literally run away screaming.

Isaiah has me the most worried.  He is just a follower.  Hopefully he picks the right person to follow after he gets out, but it doesn't sound like he lives in the best environment to make that choice.  If he makes the wrong choice, he will definitely end up back in jail.  

[Chaos Theory]

I wonder why a lot of these people where chosen. This isn't Survivor and I would think if  The Sheriff was honest in his attempt to clean up his jail he would at least give each of the participants a mental screening.

You may not like all of them but I can see why Barbara, Tami, Zac and Mayum were chosen.  Tami may have unresolved issues with confinement,. Barbara may be naive about how the world really works,. Mayum may have no personality beyond being Ali's daughter and Zac may be a little too good at this but they all had and continue to have potential to make the program work.

 

The rest were and are walking red flags that should have been disqualified before the program began.

Edited May 6, 2016 by Chaos Theory

[Toaster Strudel]

Another fantastic recap by the witty PTV folks!  I loved the details of how much of an idiot Barbra is.  She's also really homely... can you indulge me and dwell on this next week?  Great screenshots of captain/sheriff reaction faces.

[Norasuke]

Aren't those aerobics risers the meal "trays"? Those things are so damn thick.

Edited May 6, 2016 by Norasuke

[Princess Sparkle]

45 minutes ago, GenL said:

Maryum saying that she said "short bus" because she "didn't want to say the other word" also made my blood boil.  That girl is definitely slow and had some issues that may be related to drugs, or maybe not, but either way you do not say either thing, Maryum!  I also question her social worker skills after this.  In her line of business she would see all ranges of mental capacity and to just go right there with the comments with no tact is upsetting.

 

I love that she thought "Short bus" was somehow better/less offensive.  Maryum is someone I go back and forth on every week; some weeks I like her (like when she was eating popcorn while watching a fight go down), but other weeks, I can't stand her (like when she thought admitting that she was a Muslim would make people realize she's Ali's daughter).

Edited May 6, 2016 by Princess Sparkle

[Toaster Strudel]

I believe Maryum actually said "small yellow bus" avoiding "short" on purpose.

Edited May 6, 2016 by Toaster Strudel

[farmgal4]

8 hours ago, Andromeda said:

OK, did I hear Isaiah's mother say that she got pregnant with him at age 13? But his older brother is serving a 5-year sentence? My mind is boggled...

Glad the sheriff and his deputy called out Robert on being chicken shit.

Hilarious that the three female plants got in a ridiculously stupid argument... 

I thought Isaiah's mom said she was 15 when she had him, but I could be wrong.  Isaiah has a different mom than his older brother.  They are actually half-brothers and have the same dad.

[farmgal4]

IMO all of these volunteers, with the exception of Zac, are psychosocial misfits and are a sandwich or two short of a picnic, emotionally, mentally and intellectually, and obviously they are all attention-seekers, as well.

[TeapotWakeen]

I loved how Tami was all "I'm so calm and cool and collected when I'm at home" but yet her wife was on the phone in an earlier episode saying "oh, honey, you know how you get... take deep breaths... calm down...you always go off the rails"

[kassa]

4 hours ago, Stoned said:

Isaiah and His older Brother have the same Father,but different Mothers..

So many questions about his father -- I like to think if 13 year olds are having sex, it's with fellow 13 year olds. Already having a child that was 5 when Isaiah was conceived makes this much worse, as he must have been significantly older.  I'm glad he's out of the picture (assuming he is).

I will say I laughed at Isaiah's "Come on, aren't I adorable?" look he tried on Mom until he saw she wasn't falling for it.  

1 hour ago, Princess Sparkle said:

I love that she thought "Short bus" was somehow better/less offensive.   

The only excuse I can make is that she was trying too hard to fit in with the crowd she sees herself in in that jail, trying to get her message across to a variety of women who probably aren’t that well educated, and who are spoiling for a fight that she wants to diffuse ASAP.  And by thinking of her fellow inmates as the lowest common denominator, suddenly found herself looked down on by them. 

As for the crack stick, I know they made a huge deal out of it, but come on.  I mean, it’s more an administrative thing – yeah, contraband, I get it.  But it’s not an illegal substance in and of itself.  A stupid, toxic thing to do, likely, and against the rules, but not exactly something that they would arrest you for on the outside.   

I would actually like to see a reunion for this show, but it's unlikely to happen.  We'll probably get an OMG reveal from Tami and Barbra when they see that Maryum's in the program, but that's about it.  It would have been cool if they went home, watched the show, and THEN filmed a reunion. 

[morriss]

Just finished watching episode.  Isiah told his mom he had been in 3 pods.  I only recall 2 and I can't remember the argument over food he said he had.    If the poor guy doesn't start thinking for himself, he will be joining his brother.

As for Robert, he is just a  "waste of skin".

And I hope someone punches Tami's and Barbra's  lights out before the show ends.

As usual, can't wait until next week....lol

[brini]

Agree with all that have mentioned that Robert is bat shit crazy and whoever is employing him as a teacher seriously needs to reconsider having this man anywhere near teaching children.

Also Tami ... all I recall hearing is that she is in law enforcement.  Does she work for a police dept,  sheriffs office, etc?   Hard to believe she has passed what are usually quite extensive psych evaluations before being hired by any law enforcement agency.   She seems so unstable - not suited at all for that profession.

 

I hope we get a "where are they now" episode after this series ends.   Hard to reconcile how Roberts employer continues his teaching position or any LE agency thinks Tami is mentally fit to be a LEO.

[holly4755]

I try to take into account that there are a lot of different cultures in this country and not all are PC. I don't listen in on this show for PC. 

Barbara - no idea why she is on the show as a stay at home mom who didn't like women. She is just an unlikable woman. 

Tami sometimes does the job she was sent in for, seems to think she will get a promotion from doing this show or some advantage, so it is not just curiosity being there. But then the stress gets to her and she goes off the rails, that is not a good thing. Stress usually means Barbara does something.

Maryum - never heard of her, I know Ali, he is not as well known as he used to be because his illness sidelined him, but really, we are supposed to know all his children? I barely know all the Bush children that are running for office.

Robert a coward in denial.People saw you, you can't hide it, admit it and move on. He is also a conservative who thinks prisoners have it too easy and should work 12 hours a day - like you could have survived that, go back to voting for someone from the 700 club. 

Jeff wanted to be a correction officer, but is an incompetent prisoner, and probably woi\ill not make it, go back to casino security and arrest people, do not try to talk to them or you lose. 

Isaiah - good luck, so clueless. so easily led. he batter follow the straight and narrow, once arrested I doubt he could recover. I doubt he could help open eyes but let's see.

Zac seems to be going OK. Don;'t know if this will give him compassion or not. 

I really think that even the hardened criminals here are pretty light weight they seem more like misbehaving children that real criminals - whooo smoking in jail  real drugs would be different, but seriously cigarettes maybe contraband but that is what bad kids do.  Now the guy that just attacks seems to have mental problems and would be better off in a hospital than in jail. Hey Sheriff - the problem wiith your jail is boredom and not treating people with mental illness (you know, like Robert).

[hatchetgirl]

15 hours ago, placate said:

Seems to me this might be like nutmeg, ya you can get high on it but it'll make you sick as hell.

Funny story - my boyfriend at UC Irvine showed up at my house sick as a dog.  He was breathing funny, his coloring was off, so I took him to our med center where he told the doctor he ATE A TIN OF NUTMEG TO STAY UP AND FINISH HIS ART PROJECT!  Now, I'm definitely one gullible goof ball, but even I know that eating a tin of nutmeg is crazy!  So they made him drink activated charcoal and water and the next time I saw him, he was looking pathetic, with this sort of oily Oreo grin that makes me still shudder!  Blech - he had it around his mouth, in his teeth.  SHUDDER.  Suffice it to say, we parted shortly afterwards and I still laugh over it.  I could hear the doctor laughing and saying "I've heard of smoking banana leaves, but never taking a tin of nutmeg?"  I thought to myself "people smoke banana leaves?  Take nutmeg?"  You are the first person I've heard mention nutmeg as any type of drug.  lol

[Quilt Fairy]

7 hours ago, farmgal4 said:

IMO all of these volunteers, with the exception of Zac, are psychosocial misfits and are a sandwich or two short of a picnic, emotionally, mentally and intellectually, and obviously they are all attention-seekers, as well.

I don't think Isaiah is an attention seeker, I think he's a follower like GenL said. And he may not want to go back to jail, but seeing how easily he's been led by the other inmates I honestly think it's only a matter of time before he's back in. He doesn't seem bright enough to go to college, and I haven't heard any kind of job mentioned since he just graduated from high school. If him hanging around on the streets with his friends is what got his Mom to get him in this program, I don't know what she's going to do differently once he's out.

I agree about Zak, Tami and Maryum being selected for the program. I see nothing that Barbra adds to the mix.  She, like Isaiah, is just there "doing time". I sometimes wonder how they collected this disparate group of people. Did they just answer a newspaper ad, and if so, what the hell did it say?

[raiderred1]

9 hours ago, farmgal4 said:

I thought Isaiah's mom said she was 15 when she had him, but I could be wrong.  Isaiah has a different mom than his older brother.  They are actually half-brothers and have the same dad.

She said she was 13 when she had him which means it is very possible she was 12 when she conceived him!  She was just a baby!

[Andromeda]

2 hours ago, Quilt Fairy said:

I don't think Isaiah is an attention seeker, I think he's a follower like GenL said. And he may not want to go back to jail, but seeing how easily he's been led by the other inmates I honestly think it's only a matter of time before he's back in. He doesn't seem bright enough to go to college, and I haven't heard any kind of job mentioned since he just graduated from high school. If him hanging around on the streets with his friends is what got his Mom to get him in this program, I don't know what she's going to do differently once he's out.

Also, didn't his mom say something like Isaiah agreed to do this instead of the alternative? I could swear I heard his mother put it that way, like it was a choice he made because his other choice was worse. It makes me wonder if it was this or real jail, or some other program he would have liked less (hard to fathom what that might be). Clearly his participation is nearly 100% being pushed by Mom to scare him straight, but it's just making him think of himself as one of the inmates. Well done, Mom.

[lasandi]

I gotta say I agreed with all of you above.  I just want to add that, to me, every week at the end of each episode they portray like something is going to happen the next episode but nothing ever does really happen. 

Edited May 7, 2016 by lasandi

[Brooklynista]

Whenever they flash "Recent high school grad" under Isaiah's name I can't help but think social promotion. 

I find it hard to believe that even in jail being PC is really a thing. Didn't another inmate call Jessica "slow" way before Maryam tried to diffuse shouting match?  I think Barbra and her pit bull Tami would have had beef with anything Maryam said.

[Lion18]

20 hours ago, Andromeda said:

OK, did I hear Isaiah's mother say that she got pregnant with him at age 13? But his older brother is serving a 5-year sentence? My mind is boggled...

Glad the sheriff and his deputy called out Robert on being chicken shit.

Hilarious that the three female plants got in a ridiculously stupid argument... 

I believe it was said that Isaiah's brother is from a different mom

[hatchetgirl]

I feel for Isaiah in that he's just out of high school.  He may be in some type of "we can work this out rather than a far worse alternative" scared straight sort of program.  Again, he's just out of high school!  He seems to be a sweet kid, who has seen a different world than others.  I live in a pretty tough neighborhood in LA with a gang presence.  I know a neighbor, who is a good young dude, has done prison time but has been very open and honest about it, he does any of our electric work as he tries to stay straight and narrow.  He a family man now, but although he might not be a fully jumped in member of the local gang, he's definitely very close.  Close enough to say "you have any trouble, you let me know, don't bother with the police."  That's close.  I also know that as he tries to stay straight, he's stopped 1-3 times weekly in the neighborhood and his work truck fully searched and he's frustrated as hell.  He seems to have aged into a self awareness, but he's still young.  I don't consider him a kid, but he's not fully a man yet, trying to living a life.  I think Isaiah is a bit like this. Of course, it's got to be frustrating as hell to be stopped that often, have your work truck completely dismantled and then they just drive off leaving you to put your truck back together.  I'd never think twice about having him over to my house.  If I was frightened and my husband wasn't home, I wouldn't think twice about stopping in to his family's house.  

I think his mom - goodness she was just a baby when she had him, but when she spoke straight, Isaiah sat up straight.  That comes from some respect for your mom.  His mom had to do something to earn that.  At that same time, I don't think she's had a life of cherry sundaes everyday.  

I think the most "normal" of them all is Zac.  I do think his military experiences have made him what he is and given him the ability to fit in.  

All the others are a freaking mess! And when someone above mentioned they'd googled Robert and he'd posted pictures of underaged children in other countries... that's beyond...  Did the production crew not do a simple google search on this guy?  WTF?  I'd think the Sheriff would end up in a pile of mess if that's true...

Edited to add...

And then I just finished this episode with the craziest person around!!!!  I've not doubt the sheriff wanted to punch him in the face.  I sure did.  I do think, though, that they realized he'd been on TV before and it was a last chance to save face over that one.  

Also edited to add...

My goodness are Tami and Barbra the "crew" now or what? Granted Miriam is a bit of a PITA when it comes to "well you know my dad was" and such, I find it interesting that Barbra considered her condescending and such.  It's almost as if she could, she would call Yaz "uppity."  I'm fully bothered by that.  Tami is such a loon.  She's not Robert level, but she's got issues.  I sure wouldn't want to spend the next 60 days only with females at all.  I wouldn't fair well as I'm "too sensitive" and moody.  

I'm bothered by the fact that Isaiah wasn't given his special pin code for almost a week and yet Zac received his right away.  I'm not liking the way he's been talked about by the Sheriff when Zac is put in a very similar situation and spoken about differently.  

Finally from this week's story"

"How old do you have to be to be a correctional officer in Indiana?

Because whatever age it is, the kid in the middle isn't it. Not even close. I have sports bras older than this guy."

Indeed!

Edited May 7, 2016 by hatchetgirl

[Pandora]

21 hours ago, ZoloftBlob said:

Sheriff Idiot and Deputy Dumbass very much have an agenda and it's painfully obvious they want to hear "I never will commit a crime because jail is so awful" from everyone. It's also painfully obvious that they are clearly playing a "my dick is bigger than yours" game with all the male inmates[...] and as assholish and dicklicious Robert was, they clearly delighted in letting him know how they thought he was scared and pissing his pants.

I know there's only so much control any sheriff has over inmates. But making sure the world knows you have some inmates bullying and beating others doesn't strike me as an advertisement you're doing a great job of running your jail. It sounds more like you're proud of the savagery going on in your concrete jungle while you stand by. Maybe I'm naive but it seems like you'd want fewer assaults, though with an asshole like Robert anyone should be willing to make an exception.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Pandora

[Toaster Strudel]

Robert said at the beginning that he wanted to teach something to his students with this experience.  He taught them to mock authority, to lie to their faces, malingering, indulgence, arrogance, condescension, to waste hospital time, to disobey important rules, binge on junk food and let people down with responsibilities that are willingly taken like help the captain & sheriff improve their jail.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Toaster Strudel

[Vicky8675309]

11 hours ago, Brooklynista said:

Whenever they flash "Recent high school grad" under Isaiah's name I can't help but think social promotion. 

I find it hard to believe that even in jail being PC is really a thing. Didn't another inmate call Jessica "slow" way before Maryam tried to diffuse shouting match?  I think Barbra and her pit bull Tami would have had beef with anything Maryam said.

excellent point

"she is slow" is different than "little yellow bus" which could have been directed at either person (the "slow" person or the person stupid enough to be arguing with a potentially mentally unstable "slow" person).

Also didn't Tami say something about Maryam being a bully. WTF? I haven't seen her be a bully. Also some of the other people seemed to agree that Tami sticks her nose into other people's business and gets angry easily. I thought Maryam explained herself well and even apologized but that apparently wasn't good enough for Tami and Barbra. I'm not even a Maryam fan but Tami & Barbra annoyed me more this episode.

Being pregnant does not mean one should eat for two. She should have received a pregnancy test and if positive then put on folic acid and a multiple vitamin. Maybe give her a tray of healthy food. No way does she need 6 full meals a day!!!!! I wonder if she is going to start withdrawing from cocaine (I would guess crack or meth but she said cocaine so I will give her the benefit of the doubt, lol).

Edited May 7, 2016 by Vicky8675309
extra exclamation points added

[candall]

22 hours ago, Quilt Fairy said:

I don't think Isaiah is an attention seeker, I think he's a follower like GenL said. And he may not want to go back to jail, but seeing how easily he's been led by the other inmates I honestly think it's only a matter of time before he's back in.

 

Sadly, I came to the same conclusion about Isaiah.  When he was so pleased about having made all these new friends he could trust, I thought, "Doomed."  And his mother just seems to be using all her strength to will her little boy to grow up, be safe, make good choices.  Gives me a heartache.

Babar gives me more like a migraine.  I'm dying to have to have a camera on those three when they first meet at the end of the show.  It would be extremely entertaining to watch Babar's little pea brain trying to re-boot and process.

I'm not as anti-Tami as most of you.  I'd probably get along fine with her "on the outside."  I'm really shocked she's cracking, with so few days left to go.

I imagine even an attitude as smug and unassailable as Robert's must be wilting under the blast from social media.  Someone please do us all a solid and confirm.

So, umm, Sheriff?  Any word on the investigation into drugs entering the pods on meal trays?

***************

The very BEST part of this episode was not having to see the fruit fermenting in the toilet.  I always thought that was a mandatory step in the classic Jailhouse Hooch recipe.

[ZoloftBlob]

Quote

Also didn't Tami say something about Maryam being a bully. WTF? I haven't seen her be a bully.

I don't think Maryum is a bully. I think she is a bit condescending about her education (and I kinda wonder why no one is questioning why someone with a reasonable job like being a social worker is not getting bailed out) and I think in a quiet way, Maryum has established her own status in the pod as the one you go to for help. And Tami doesn't like anyone who has a smidge of power over her.

I also don't normally go there but I do wonder if there's a tinge of racism and resentment in Babar (which btw is us nicknaming Barbra with a racist cartoon - I love Babar the Elephant but I realize as a grown up that there's a fairly ugly message in those picture books) and Tami in that forgive me, but Maryum is black and clearly well educated and well... I think that makes her a target with these two.

[candall]

1 hour ago, ZoloftBlob said:

I think that makes her a target with these two.

Well, hmm. Tami's had her hackles up about two other women in the pod as well and they were both white, although Yaz/Mar, Amber and Boston (names?) are all kind of chunky.  Is Tami a size-ist?

[farmgal4]

What is Robert's full name?  I want to Google the lunatic.

[outtahere]

Robert Holcomb.

[Toaster Strudel]

Is it my imagination, or does Babar always takes offense for other people, even when they don't?

[Brooklynista]

8 minutes ago, Toaster Strudel said:

Is it my imagination, or does Babar always takes offense for other people, even when they don't?

Even better is when Babar gets upset, it's Tami that goes Hulk Smash!

[Andromeda]

Thanks for the clarification on Isaiah and his brother by another mother!

ZoloftBob said:

Quote

I also don't normally go there but I do wonder if there's a tinge of racism and resentment in Babar (which btw is us nicknaming Barbra with a racist cartoon - I love Babar the Elephant but I realize as a grown up that there's a fairly ugly message in those picture books) and Tami in that forgive me, but Maryum is black and clearly well educated and well... I think that makes her a target with these two.

I am wondering that, too... I had no idea Babar was considered racist. I know it was never one of my favorites, nor my children's favorites. 

Edited May 9, 2016 by Andromeda

[ShanShan]

On ‎5‎/‎6‎/‎2016 at 2:34 AM, Andromeda said:

OK, did I hear Isaiah's mother say that she got pregnant with him at age 13? But his older brother is serving a 5-year sentence? My mind is boggled...

Glad the sheriff and his deputy called out Robert on being chicken shit.

Hilarious that the three female plants got in a ridiculously stupid argument... 

Isaiah and his brother have different mothers

[ZoloftBlob]

• Quote

  I am wondering that, too... I had no idea Babar was considered racist. I know it was never one of my favorites, nor my children's favorites. 

  It's not terrible subtle once you look at it.

So Babar is an African Elephant aka a savage, who is taken in as a child to France where he is taught to wear clothes, and appreciate French culture. He then goes back to the French African colony that no longer exists (but did when the books were originally done) and proceeds to teach all the other elephants how to not be savages and how to emulate the French in being civilized. Essentially Babar was all about teaching black people to be white.in a paternalistic colonial manner.

[sunsheyen]

Isaiah is a simpleton. That's about the nicest way I can put it. He will probably end up taking the rap for someone else's crime in the future.

Barbar is miserable and is not happy unless others are too. She definitely pings my racist radar. I agree with the poster upthread that she is one slip of the tongue away from calling Maryum uppity. If her husband is not supremely long suffering, I can't see that marriage lasting long. Based on her mom's comments, she thinks she's too good for the life she's chosen.

Tami seems like a punk who hides behind her badge. Quick to throw out her words and attitude but then run back and pout in the corner since she can't actually do anything about it. She did it with the going away cake and she did it to Maryum after getting Babar's inflammatory report. She is the type to put her knee in someone's back just because she can, all the while screaming "Stop resisting!" even if they weren't doing anything. I can't stand her. And her great intel about the contraband coming in on trays??? Bitch, please, the chick made an ANNOUNCEMENT at lunch. You didn't do any super sleuthing.

I get what Maryum was doing with the short bus comment. Not justifying it, but she seemed to be trying to convey a message, simply, to people arguing and milling about at different volumes and levels in the pod. "Leave the wacko alone, not worth it." I can't say it makes me doubt her social work ability or detracts from the ways she has been shown interacting positively (GED studies, drawings, etc) with the other inmates. 

Robert is crazed and was scared shitless. I wonder if after watching the episodes he sees how transparent his behavior was?

[rainsmom]

21 minutes ago, sunsheyen said:

Based on her mom's comments, she thinks she's too good for the life she's chosen.

I'm not a Barbar fan, but this isn't the vibe I got. I don't think she thinks she's too good for it. I think she feels trapped by it. It was mentioned that she got pregnant as a teen. That locked her into a lifestyle she probably wouldn't have chosen if she hadn't gotten pregnant. She just dreams of a BIGGER life than being solely a wife and mom. (There's nothing wrong with being a wife and mom if that's the life you want. She's just demonstrating that it's not all she wants.)

She's still very young. I expect she has a lot of friends from school who are still having grand adventures. She wants grand adventures too. I have no doubt that she adores her family. She just looks for opportunities to do more.

[morriss]

What is the deal with Robert's handshake???   I have never known anyone to shake hands like that.

[Chewy101]

19 hours ago, Toaster Strudel said:

 

Is it my imagination, or does Babar always takes offense for other people, even when they don't?

 

Yes! And worse, she changes her mind on a dime about who her best friends and enemies are. She must have been a total nightmare in highschool.

I honestly find her as "off the rails" as Tami. And I don't excuse Tami's bad behaviour, but it IS easier for me to understand, based on her past. Barbra just seems like a clueless little brat. And I cannot believe how upset everyone got over the short bus comment. Yes, it wasn't nice, but this is jail, dummies. Is that really the worst you people heard even that day?? And since there is definitely something off with the girl, and she herself did not even seem to get the comment, I found it hilarious that everyone was ready to riot over it. Don't poke an unstable bear is rule number one in there. I think Tami just wanted to impress Barbra with more confrontations, when that worked sooo fabulously last time. Barbra only stirs up drama behind people's backs. She will never be Tami's wingman.

Maryum was wrong to say Tami was butting in, however. The girl actually approached Tami and complained about being threatened. It was Maryum who could have just gone to her bunk and butted out. They are all ridiculous.

I am wondering if any of their "character" pasts are true.... None of this can be true.

If the guards want to find Hooch, why not watch the freaking camera footage, because all of the dim bulbs in that box show everything to the cameras. And when Isaiah admitted to the producers that he smoked a crack stick, were they not obligated to turn in the footage? Nothing makes sense.

I am not the slightest bit worried about any of them, because I seriously doubt if this program is real, and if anyone would get real consequences for what they see or do in here (aside from violence that is not self defense). Any lawyer could get them off for trying to protect themselves by not ratting and looking the other way while undercover. Agents do it all the time.

 

I wish they would just let Robert GO. I don't want him on my screen anymore. And the fact that he isn't even disappointed in himself or for missing out on the program, and that stupid LAUGH, ugh. Go away, nutwit. How can he possibly think he can convince them it was a treat and that it was fun, when he was in camp for a month. The man has zero respect for authority.

I would not have taken him out of the program. I would have just dropped his butt in a different pod and let him get devoured.

Edited May 9, 2016 by Chewy101

[Quilt Fairy]

I found it amusing that one new inmate could have the entire pod in an uproar within a few hours of her arrival.

What did Jessica say when they first brought her in? That she was having an imaginary miscarriage or something? It didn't make any sense to me.

Edited May 10, 2016 by Quilt Fairy

[Whimsy]

9 hours ago, Quilt Fairy said:

I found it amusing that one new inmate could have the entire pod in an uproar within a few hours of her arrival.

What did Jessica say when they first brought her in? That she was having an imaginary miscarriage or something? It didn't make any sense to me.

She said she was having a "false miscarriage".  No less confusing.

[ZoloftBlob]

To bring this around to the general idiocy of Sheriff Idiot's staff - I seem to recall one of the guards pointedly telling the inmates that Jessica was pregnant and needed a bottom bunk. And considering how loud the brouhaha was over Jessica taking two trays because she is pregnant and the pod doubting her pregnancy openly and loudly.... I don't see why Fat CO couldn't waddle in and confirm the diagnosis. In order to provide peace....