What do first-timers need to know about prison life?

Question

I’ve always been curious—how much of what we see in movies about prison life is true? For someone stepping into that world for the first time, is it as brutal and dramatic as films like The Shawshank Redemption or Shot Caller make it out to be? Do you really need to fight on day one, or is that just a Hollywood exaggeration?

And let’s talk about the jokes. The whole “dropped soap” thing—does that actually come from real prison experiences, or is it just a myth that got popularized in pop culture? I’d love to hear from people who’ve been there: what’s reality, what’s myth, and what’s just a joke taken way too seriously?

Answer 1

Movies exaggerate a lot. First-timers don’t always have to fight, but respect is key—don’t act weak or too aggressive. Most inmates just want to do their time in peace.

As for the “dropped soap” joke, it’s more of a myth and pop culture humor than reality. Yes, there’s tension and sometimes bad situations, but it’s not like the movies make it seem. Most of those jokes are just that—jokes, not the day-to-day reality of prison life