DannyBoyinExile

The greatest asset you can have in prison is your reputation. (Assuming, that is, that you have a GOOD reputation!) More than anything else, a good reputation is what places you higher or lower than the next guy, on the social ladder. We all have a reputation in here, especially when it comes to doing business, paying our debts, or whether we keep our word when we promise to do something.
Some people only care about how “hard” they seem to other people. That may make them consider you a tough dude – but it won’t make them call you a GOOD dude.
There are people who NOBODY would have any dealings with, no matter how much money they offered for something, because they didn’t come through when someone trusted them before. Being looked at as a tough guy, or getting into lots of fights, won’t make them any more trustworthy! As time goes by, people will reveal themselves – including any dishonesty or “sheistiness” within their character.
I can’t remember how many times someone has asked me, “Don’t you trust me?” Perish the thought! Of course not. They say that we can’t trust ANYBODY in prison, and that’s not a bad policy to have, but we can’t help but trust some people, some times. In fact, I’ve never done any sort of transaction with a person I DIDN’T feel that I could trust – but that’s not the same as saying I’ve never been messed over before. Unfortunately, the only way you can find out if someone is trustworthy or not, is to trust them.
Whether you realize it or not, every day you have an opportunity to add to your reputation – for better or worse. Every deal you make, every promise you make, every person you help – and every person you refuse to help – will be remembered, and commented upon. Every word you say will be scrutinized, fact-checked, verified or debunked, because anything you say can and will be used against you! So I’ve learned to watch what I say, and to say what I mean. I try to never lie or make promises I can’t keep.
Being a good dude takes effort. You have to work towards it, like being a good husband, a good father, a good friend, or a good neighbor. I TRY to be a good dude, every single day. I try to do people the way I want to be done – and generally much better than I’m done in return. I go out of my way to be “right” with everybody – and people notice. Once you have a reputation for that, people will know that you aren’t in the wrong – whatever dispute or misunderstanding may arise.
I try to be an asset to the community. If someone charges a dollar to cut hair with a comb and a razor, I may give him $1.50, because he took his time and did it right. The same with a guy who gets paid to wash clothes, or sells sandwiches, or any other hustle he’s come up with to get what he needs. Sometimes I’ll even buy things I don’t particularly need, such as cards or pieces of cake, just to look out for the guy who’s trying to support himself, and refuses to ask anyone for anything. I respect that, so I’ll support his hustle.
If someone needs to borrow something, or just needs something – he can get it, if I’ve got it to spare. Things like that make our wing a better place to live, especially when more people start doing the same thing.
It’s not always easy to be a good dude when there are so many people around who AREN’T good dudes. But you have to be a good dude to them too. (That’s all a good dude CAN do!) I’ve learned that the biggest part of being a “real” dude is to be a good dude first. And if I can be a good dude here, I’ll be one anywhere. So says DannyBoy.