SuperTopo Editor Goes to Prison

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Messages 1 - 55 of total 55 in this topic
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 20, 2017 - 09:07am PT
Well, the secret’s out: my dad, who edits the SuperTopo books, spent much of the last decade in prison.

To be clear, it was voluntary.

Check out this great piece about his work with the San Quentin News: https://paw.princeton.edu/article/altruist

I'll admit, I was a little surprised when my dad went to prison. Why put your energy there?

Two reasons: Prisons currently make criminals better criminals. So when they get out, as 90% of criminals do, almost the same percentage commits another crime and goes back in. It’s an endless cycle.

The San Quentin News, and the Forums between DA’s and prisoners, are significant steps to break that cycle.

The second reason: my dad can’t help being an editor. Without his guidance, I would have never published the 20 SuperTopo books or the 1000’s of reviews on OutdoorGearLab and TechGearLab. As this article confirms, he can’t help but share his passion for writing and publishing. He gives people confidence and skills they never had.

I couldn’t be more proud, Dad.

BLUEBLOCR

Social climber
joshua tree
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:15am PT
Man, that's super cool!
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:17am PT
Kudos, dad!
Nick Danger

Ice climber
Arvada, CO
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:20am PT
Walking the talk, that is super cool! You come from fine stock, Chris. Kudos to your dad.
-Nick
Ricky D

Trad climber
Sierra Westside
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:22am PT
At first I thought they had caught Fattrad.

Good to hear it's something equally inspiring.
Norton

Social climber
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:26am PT
what a truly great father, Chris !!!
Cragar

climber
MSLA - MT
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:31am PT
Just plain awesome, like 5.15d awesome!!

We NEED more people like him.

Thanks for the proudness post, makes my day!
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:32am PT
Thumbs up for that.

And regarding the jacket he's wearing, I guess if he chooses to wear it, then it gets the "Editor's Choice" award, right?
brotherbbock

climber
Alta Loma, CA
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:44am PT
San Quentin may you rot and burn in hell!.....May your walls fall and may I live to tell!
Tobia

Social climber
Denial
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:52am PT
I applaud your dad's writing love and more so because of where he chooses to to work.
BruceHildenbrand

Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:59am PT
Totally cool!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Mar 20, 2017 - 10:00am PT
Three cheers for your father!!!

Lots of good work and lasting results can come from influencing often young people with a lot of time on their hands to think about doing things differently. Bravo for not giving up on them and meeting that challenge in a personal and direct way.
Tom Bruskotter

Trad climber
Seattle
Mar 20, 2017 - 10:04am PT
To this point:
"Prisons currently make criminals better criminals"

Back in the day, my brothers had a friend who was a drug dealer. He went to prison for 2 years on a weapons charge. When he got out, he said he "learned so much". He called prison a "crime college"
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Mar 20, 2017 - 10:05am PT
Very cool Chris. Hat's off to your father.

My wife's first cousin is a great attorney, and worked for prison reform for many years.

My youngest daughter has also taken a serious interest in prison reform. Pretty amazing for 19 years old.
Gilroy

Social climber
Bolderado
Mar 20, 2017 - 10:15am PT
Fighting recidivism at every turn of phrase. Good stuff! Really good stuff!!!

TFPU
Friend

climber
Mar 20, 2017 - 10:15am PT
Excellent. And great thread title. Sucked me right in - good editing :)
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Mar 20, 2017 - 10:34am PT
Nice title!
Wade Icey

Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
Mar 20, 2017 - 10:43am PT
Thank You for your service Steve.
Lollie

Social climber
I'm Lolli.
Mar 20, 2017 - 11:18am PT
Very good of him! Much kudos to your father.
phylp

Trad climber
Upland, CA
Mar 20, 2017 - 11:21am PT
Thank you for sharing his story. What good work. You are rightfully proud of your Dad.
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Mar 20, 2017 - 11:54am PT
Never a better proof of the truth of the phrase "Like father, like son."

A timely and inspiring piece of writing about a very much-needed tool for communication and education.
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 20, 2017 - 12:03pm PT
PaMac. love that one
capseeboy

Social climber
portland, oregon
Mar 20, 2017 - 12:08pm PT
Hey, thanks for such a great place to hang out. Like a lot of things in life, people just look at the symptoms of a problem and never get to the roots of the problem. Best wishes.
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Mar 20, 2017 - 12:24pm PT
Great story, your father is a good man.

A friends sister was in San Quentin for many years, not visiting but living. She was an employee living within the walls of the ultimate gated community.

http://redwoodbark.org/2015/01/sanquentin/
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Mar 20, 2017 - 04:10pm PT

Really AMAZING, Chris.
I hope you're proud.
You definitely are part of an unbelievable family.
Kudos.
feralfae

Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
Mar 20, 2017 - 04:22pm PT
Thank you Chris, so wonderful to know about your Dad's work.
Bravo!
What a great person with a beautiful spirit!
ff
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 20, 2017 - 04:28pm PT
Thank you all for the kind words. Really cool for both me and my dad.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Mar 20, 2017 - 05:24pm PT
Super....quite the guy!
madbolter1

Big Wall climber
Denver, CO
Mar 20, 2017 - 05:26pm PT
Shameless click-bait!

LOL

Good on him. And you.
Gregory Crouch

Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
Mar 20, 2017 - 06:57pm PT
Marvelous story, Chris.

I tip my hat to your dad. That is good work.
Bob Harrington

climber
Bishop, California
Mar 20, 2017 - 07:21pm PT
Wow, Chris, your Dad is a true hero. Let's see, Princeton '55, he's in his 80s doing this fine work. I'm inspired.
WBraun

climber
Mar 20, 2017 - 07:27pm PT
The positive influences onto the world "like father like son" ......
ryankelly

Trad climber
Bhumi
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:09pm PT
thanks for the reminder to give back
Majid_S

Mountain climber
Karkoekstan, Former USSR
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:39pm PT
Your dad will have the best connections to the underground world that money can't buy.That is priceless
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Mar 20, 2017 - 09:56pm PT
hey there, say, chris... wow,
i saw this at facebook...

wonderful of you to share this, from your life,
as to your dad...


love this so much:
The second reason: my dad can’t help being an editor. Without his guidance, I would have never published the 20 SuperTopo books or the 1000’s of reviews on OutdoorGearLab and TechGearLab. As this article confirms, he can’t help but share his passion for writing and publishing. He gives people confidence and skills they never had.

I couldn’t be more proud, Dad.


thank you so very much!!
MikeL

Social climber
Southern Arizona
Mar 21, 2017 - 08:53am PT
There is a lot one can learn from criminals.
yanqui

climber
Balcarce, Argentina
Mar 21, 2017 - 09:22am PT
Cool and inspiring
Vlad Pricker

Mountain climber
Alaska West
Mar 21, 2017 - 09:32am PT
The best post/thread in a long run.

Cheers Mister Steven McNamara.

And BASE104 is not LEB nitwits. BASE is a fine geologist and Lois a fine nurse practitioner. They are professionals like CMac's dad is, I would rather listen to their advice than some of the clowns on StuporTopo. Whoever propagated (dirtbag?) that BASE is LEB is certainly misguided, if not a jerk.

SuperTopo does not need jerks, yet they seem to climb to the top of threads and posts.

Chris, kudos to your father.
nita

Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
Mar 21, 2017 - 10:21am PT
*

Inspirational story!.. 5 star trip report.*
Wonderful food for thought from the linked article...I wanted to highlight everything..(-;

“I kept my distance at first,” Richardson says. “I’d see Steve in meetings, discussing stories.” Richardson noticed how McNamara communicated with Michael Harris, a drug kingpin and founder of the gangsta rap label Death Row Records — and one of the newspaper’s early reporters. “They used to argue like cats and dogs,” Richardson says. “I could hear it over my machines. But they never stayed mad at each other. I said to myself, ‘Y’all can disagree but ya’ll can still sit and have a laugh together?’ I liked that magic.

“I was very resistant to Steve’s editing, to his tampering with my work of art,” Stiner adds, chuckling. “Steve does not throw his weight, or say how much experience he has, or argue with you and try to change your opinion. He invites you in. He finds out where you are and he moves to you. He finds a way — maybe with humor — to pose an alternative to you, and then you come up with the solution. It’s kind of hard not to like him.”

We are presenting an opportunity to work in a certain environment,” he says, “an active, mixed-race environment, with deadlines, with decision-making power, and with individual and collective responsibility.”

That is not small stuff. But, for the prisoners, the newsroom experience cuts even deeper, and McNamara has much to do with it. McNamara, Lindsey noticed, was nonjudgmental, didn’t brag, “dressed as a regular Joe,” and took the time necessary to earn their respect.

“Most of us, early on in the newsroom, were lifers,” Lindsey continues. “You are a castoff, just a prisoner, you have no meaning. To Steve, each one of us had great value, and he demonstrated concern for us.”



Chris, You have a Lovely Father... Thank you for sharing his story with us.. loved it!
Volunteering rules!

Saludos.
Nita..


Vlad Pricker

Mountain climber
Alaska West
Mar 21, 2017 - 10:33am PT
Nita, great highlights.

Chris, your dad is awesome.
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Mar 21, 2017 - 11:40am PT
Congrats for the recognition of fighting the good fight.
Jim Herson

climber
Emerald Hills, CA
Mar 21, 2017 - 03:17pm PT
Chris,

Your dad rocks! That's so inspiring. A life very well lived. And you seem to be following in his rather large footsteps.

But for all his achievements, none come close to having the mental fortitude to watch his 16 year old son take his 13 year son up Zodiac! You owe your parents a cold beer for that one.

-Jim
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Mar 21, 2017 - 05:23pm PT
Very inspiring, Chris. Thanks for the share!
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 22, 2017 - 07:49am PT
Yeah, Jim. I owe my parents a lot for putting them through that. At the time, I'm thinking "of course it's fine to take my 13-year-old brother (who doesn't climb) up El Cap. Stop worrying mom and dad." Now, with a little more perspective, I see how it's probably hard to imagine a more stressful (voluntary) 48 hours to put a parent through.

Beers for them soon.
cornel

climber
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Mar 29, 2017 - 12:43pm PT
Awesome Chris, your dad is a Real difference maker...
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Mar 29, 2017 - 03:36pm PT
Awesome work. Respect to your dad!
splitter

Trad climber
HighwayToHell
Mar 29, 2017 - 04:43pm PT
Most of us, early on in the newsroom, were lifers," Lindsey continues. "You are a castoff, just a prisoner, you have no meaning. To Steve, each one of us had great value. And he demonstrated concern for us."
The Golden Rule in action. Respect, indeed!
labrat

Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
Mar 29, 2017 - 06:29pm PT
Wow! Your dad is doing great things. Thank you for posting up!
Fathead 235

Trad climber
Petaluma
Mar 29, 2017 - 11:48pm PT
Wow! Great story Chris! San Quentin is a prominent feature in the landscape of my daily commute. It sits ominously out there on the point as if it were shiprock or the leaning tower, or sentinel. Tomorrow i'll think about your dad and the people he's working with. I wonder what peak will come to mind.
TWP

Trad climber
Mancos, CO & Bend, OR
May 10, 2017 - 02:04pm PT
Chris:

Please tell you Dad about a serious, non-sensational book I wrote: a true crime story about an Aryan Brotherhood murder inside Arizona State Prison.

I think he and his clientele might find my book worth reading.

And I would really appreciate receiving reviews of my book by knowledgeable observers.

"Murder Unpunished: How the Aryan Brotherhood Murdered Waymond Small and Got Away With It," by Thornton W. Price III, University of Arizona Press 2005

Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Unpunished-Brotherhood-Murdered-Waymond/dp/0816524637/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494450158&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=murder+unpunsihed

Thanks.

TWP - Terry Price

Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Denver CO
May 10, 2017 - 03:12pm PT
In Colorado we have the ADX 'supermax' prison with 500 cells, each with one inmate locked down 23 hours a day. Most have long sentences and many of them crack up after a few years in solitary. Plus every prisoner I have met so far (about 5-6 in the ADX) has been on one or more psychiatric drugs, from sedatives to anti depressants to haldol (a mental straight jacket for schizophrenics), so it's a really sad place with everyone locked down by themselves all the time and tranquilized into a stupor. This summer I will go to trial with a somewhat new legal theory, that solitary confinement violates the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and association. (I also tried to undo the $3.7 million class action settlement but as you can see that part wasn't successful)

I've had clients in prisons across the US and once in a while I will meet people like your dad, who feel so sorry for the prisoners they start their own charities. I had a client in prison in Bolivia, a woman went there every week to deliver food. Also knew more than one person who was pen pals with many inmates. It's very fulfilling, in small doses.
TWP

Trad climber
Mancos, CO & Bend, OR
May 12, 2017 - 11:46am PT
Don Paul:

Send me your PO address and I will send you a complimentary copy of my book, "Murder Unpunished."

Only caveat: you must promise to at least read Chapter 1 - 3 pages long - and can then decide if it's worth your while to continue reading.

Sending this message on forum since the PM email at ST has a poor track record.

Same offer to any other ST member.

TWP

P.S.

Send your requests to my P. email:

t w p r i c e 3 at googlemail
Splater

climber
Grey Matter
May 12, 2017 - 01:29pm PT
There was just lately a really well done Frontline episode on PBS about solitary.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/solitary-nation/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/after-solitary/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/what-does-solitary-confinement-do-to-your-mind/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/questioning-solitary-confinement-adolescents-rikers-island/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/investigation/locked-up-in-america/

and somewhat related
http://www.valuesandcapitalism.com/profit-policing-means-ferguson-basically-debtors-prison/

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/opinion/sunday/policing-for-profit-in-st-louis-county.html?_r=0

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/how-baltimores-police-policy-led-to-freddie-gray/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/michelle-alexander-a-system-of-racial-and-social-control/

https://theintercept.com/2016/10/12/do-not-resist-the-police-militarization-documentary-everyone-should-see/

Civil Forfeiture: why doesn't it often apply to White Collar Crime?
Answer: white collar people write the laws.

mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Jun 30, 2017 - 04:51pm PT
Chris, here's a story that might appeal to you.

[Click to View YouTube Video]

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/they-call-us-monsters/

Don Paul

Big Wall climber
Denver CO
Jun 30, 2017 - 07:39pm PT
TW Price I'm sorry I did not get back to you, I'd be glad to take a look at your book. My address is PO Box 46213, Denver CO 80201.

My solitary confinement case is supposed to go to trial in 2 weeks. My client has been in solitary confinement for 8 years already. Here are some of the legal arguments in the case, which could apply to any "supermax" prisoner:

Isolation in the ADX differs from disciplinary segregation in the totality of the isolation, the duration, the reasons for which its imposed, and the technological sophistication.

Supermax prisons such as the ADX house prisoners in virtual isolation, eating all their meals in their cells, with typically only one hour per day allowed outside of the cell, and typically no group or social activity of any kind is permitted.

When prisoners in the ADX are escorted outside of their cells, they are typically placed in hand and leg restraints and are not allowed to be in the presence of other people without being in restraints.

Prisoners in the ADX are under constant surveillance and have few opportunities to have normal conversations with other people. Conversations with prison staff are scripted and controlled by the prison staff, and do not substitute for normal human interaction.

Prisoners are placed in the ADX not for what they have done, but on the basis of what someone in authority has judged them to be. (ie. dangerous, or a threat of some kind).

Unlike disciplinary segregation, the ADX houses prisoners as part of a long term strategy of correctional management and control, rather than punishment for specific disciplinary infractions.

The environment of the ADX is not therapeutic. Group therapy is conducted on caged inmates, with each inmate in a separate, but nearby cage. In his deposition, Dr. Wachtel described the group therapy he witnessed on his ADX tour as “horrifying.”

The harmful psychological consequences of solitary and supermax confinement are well documented. Case studies have found a range of psychological symptoms occurring in prisoners in supermax units, including appetite and sleep disturbances, anxiety, panic, rage, loss of control, paranoia, hallucinations, and self-mutilations.

Solitary confinement subjects prisoners to unparalleled levels of enforced idleness, and social and material deprivation.

The deprivation of social contact can undermine social identity and destabilize a person’s sense of self.

Depriving people of social contact for long periods of time denies them the opportunity to “affiliate” with others. The importance of affiliation in reducing anxiety in the face of uncertain or fear-arousing stimuli is long established in social psychological literature.

The use of extreme forms of solitary confinement in so-called brainwashing and torture underscores its painful, damag
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