Also, he's a hugger
January 17, 2024 2:50 AM Subscribe
Either the wildest success story ever or an elaborate scam: One man’s wild journey from prison and gangs to high finance.
> prison and gangs
> high finance.
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posted by Mayor West at 4:53 AM on January 17 [34 favorites]
> high finance.
pam-the-office-its-the-same-picture.gif
posted by Mayor West at 4:53 AM on January 17 [34 favorites]
Wow! Wild ride! White people sure do get a lot of second chances. If it were thus for everyone.
(I know there's more to this story than that but hard for me to feel much interest in the world of finance he's immersed himself in. The straight line from charity and international aid to the finance industry is also a telling indictment of those worlds)
posted by latkes at 5:25 AM on January 17 [24 favorites]
(I know there's more to this story than that but hard for me to feel much interest in the world of finance he's immersed himself in. The straight line from charity and international aid to the finance industry is also a telling indictment of those worlds)
posted by latkes at 5:25 AM on January 17 [24 favorites]
... confirms all my antipathies about what I assume to be the majority of people in 'Finance.'
posted by From Bklyn at 5:51 AM on January 17 [3 favorites]
posted by From Bklyn at 5:51 AM on January 17 [3 favorites]
White people sure do get a lot of second chances.
Well, his parents had the money to send him to a private military school and then to a scared-straight program, he didn't grow up poor and homeless. It sounds more like he had all kinds of opportunities but untreated behavior disorders, fucked up over and over, but when he got things figured out he still had all the opportunities at his disposal. So, yeah, plenty of second chances but after already starting way ahead of the rest of the people he was in prison with for stealing cars. Most of his up-and-coming story was "Dart knew a guy, who handed him a sweet deal on a silver platter, and Dart didn't fuck it up this time!"
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:04 AM on January 17 [11 favorites]
Well, his parents had the money to send him to a private military school and then to a scared-straight program, he didn't grow up poor and homeless. It sounds more like he had all kinds of opportunities but untreated behavior disorders, fucked up over and over, but when he got things figured out he still had all the opportunities at his disposal. So, yeah, plenty of second chances but after already starting way ahead of the rest of the people he was in prison with for stealing cars. Most of his up-and-coming story was "Dart knew a guy, who handed him a sweet deal on a silver platter, and Dart didn't fuck it up this time!"
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:04 AM on January 17 [11 favorites]
Certainly similar skill sets.
posted by MonsieurPEB at 7:11 AM on January 17 [1 favorite]
posted by MonsieurPEB at 7:11 AM on January 17 [1 favorite]
Never yet been physically assaulted by someone announcing, "I'm a hugger," but I'm ready with my response, "I'm a stabber."
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:27 AM on January 17 [8 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:27 AM on January 17 [8 favorites]
Finance = gang life stripped of all that irritating and inhibiting loyalty to other members of the gang.
posted by jamjam at 7:37 AM on January 17 [8 favorites]
posted by jamjam at 7:37 AM on January 17 [8 favorites]
This guy must be one charming motherfucker to get this many second chances. Power to him if he's serious about the social justice stuff, but it's impossible to tell, given the den of snakes he keeps company with.
Interesting that the author got quotes from the finance wraiths who back him, but not from the victims of the crimes that landed him in jail. Listening to his spin, the reader might get the impression that all of his crimes were misunderstandings or youthful hijinks - particularly the "my crazy ex-girlfriend" story surrounding the kidnapping and carjacking charge. Wonder what she would say about that.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:34 AM on January 17 [7 favorites]
Interesting that the author got quotes from the finance wraiths who back him, but not from the victims of the crimes that landed him in jail. Listening to his spin, the reader might get the impression that all of his crimes were misunderstandings or youthful hijinks - particularly the "my crazy ex-girlfriend" story surrounding the kidnapping and carjacking charge. Wonder what she would say about that.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:34 AM on January 17 [7 favorites]
Wait he's a venture capitalist? Good for this guy but it's not like he's suddenly leading trading at a big investment bank, much less surprising to see him make the path to vc which is largely about networking both raising money and getting companies to take investments.
posted by ch1x0r at 10:56 AM on January 17 [1 favorite]
posted by ch1x0r at 10:56 AM on January 17 [1 favorite]
The degrees open doors that would not otherwise open to him. But it's his determination and insistence and his knocking on doors that everyone told him would never open to him, that is all him. Hell, knocking on doors to get into the schools which he was told he'd never get into, even that takes a lot of jam. Persistence. "Hmmm, that door didn't open, I wonder about the next one?" and on he goes.
It's a hell of a climb even to get out of prison and into construction jobs, or working on cars. One kid I know was fresh out of prison, walked into an oil change place, they insisted upon getting a resume. A resume. In an oil change shop. It's total bullshit. Working with your hands used to be the ticket but no more. Or, rather, not without a *lot* of knocking on doors.
Tattoos -- I don't have any. Never wanted one. Only very few -- like, less than 10 -- very few have I seen that are true art, one was a prison tatt on a mans shoulder and back, truly gorgeous, a three masted ship under sail. To pull that off using just prison ink was and is just amazing to me. 50 years later I still see it in my minds eye.
But this guy is so far beyond his tattoos. And he's learned to use his past to best effect.
An amazing man. I wish him well, at whatever it is that he decides to turn his hand to.
posted by dancestoblue at 12:09 PM on January 17 [5 favorites]
It's a hell of a climb even to get out of prison and into construction jobs, or working on cars. One kid I know was fresh out of prison, walked into an oil change place, they insisted upon getting a resume. A resume. In an oil change shop. It's total bullshit. Working with your hands used to be the ticket but no more. Or, rather, not without a *lot* of knocking on doors.
Tattoos -- I don't have any. Never wanted one. Only very few -- like, less than 10 -- very few have I seen that are true art, one was a prison tatt on a mans shoulder and back, truly gorgeous, a three masted ship under sail. To pull that off using just prison ink was and is just amazing to me. 50 years later I still see it in my minds eye.
But this guy is so far beyond his tattoos. And he's learned to use his past to best effect.
An amazing man. I wish him well, at whatever it is that he decides to turn his hand to.
posted by dancestoblue at 12:09 PM on January 17 [5 favorites]
Well, his parents had the money to send him to a private military school and then to a scared-straight program, he didn't grow up poor and homeless.
Reading between the lines, the section about his childhood reads to me as his parents being abusive. When his poor performance at school led to questions about his home life, his parents sent him away (which in at least one case turned out to be outsourcing the abuse) to avoid scrutiny.
posted by Uncle Ira at 12:30 PM on January 17 [3 favorites]
Reading between the lines, the section about his childhood reads to me as his parents being abusive. When his poor performance at school led to questions about his home life, his parents sent him away (which in at least one case turned out to be outsourcing the abuse) to avoid scrutiny.
posted by Uncle Ira at 12:30 PM on January 17 [3 favorites]
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posted by BWA at 4:49 AM on January 17 [1 favorite]