I have repeated on a number of occasions that, for me, the disabled community is one of the last minorities to truly have its moment in the public consensus spotlight. I often sit at home and read article after article, detailing the fantastic strides being taken to try and eradicate sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and more. Activism which includes amazing protest movements, and legions of supporters online, urging others to take action. Legions who argue so courageously with anyone choosing to hold bigoted and socially unacceptable beliefs.
Yet I ask myself, once again, where is the public outcry when deeply hurtful comments are made at the expense of disabled people? Do we matter? Do people care enough?
If you need an example, you only have to look as far as Harvey Price, son of Katie Price, and vile comments that are routinely made about him and his disabilities, masked under the falsity that it’s ‘just a joke’, or ‘just banter’. It’s not just a joke. It’s not just banter. It never has been, and it never will be. There’s a person on the other end of your ‘joke’. A person who could quite possibly be going through things on a personal level, which you’ll (hopefully) never have to even comprehend. A person who you are hurting, in ways you may not even be aware of, and potentially making them feel lower than low.
As mentioned in one of my previous blog posts, you also only have to do a simple search on Twitter, using keywords such as “retard”, “cripple”, “mong”, or “spastic” to see the horrible way that these words are used so casually as insults. Will Twitter do anything about it? Hardly. Again I pull back to my question; do people care enough?
I get asked all the time: “Anthony, why don’t you start your own YouTube channel? Document your travels and show everyone via film where you’re visiting and what you’re doing?” – I’ve toyed with the idea numerous times. The answer is always the same; I’m scared. I’m scared of the comments, and the opinions. I’m scared of people hiding behind a screen, getting their cheap twisted thrills out of posting something extremely derogatory.
“Ah but Anthony, you should just ignore them…they mean nothing to you and you shouldn’t waste energy caring!” – so true, yet so hard. It’s absolutely correct, that these trolls shouldn’t even get the slightest of rises out of their victims. But unfortunately, life isn’t quite so simple as that. We’re human, and we’re flawed. Of course we have certain aspirations and social appearances we want to maintain. You can ignore 999 nasty comments, and then the 1,000th comment catches you on a bad day, leaving you feeling crushed.
It can take just one comment to send you deep into a pit of depression. And it can also be the slow methodical chip, chip, chipping away at your psyche by trolls, which tips you over the edge.
I could grin and bear it, but then again, why should I? Making videos isn’t my passion, so I’m happy to just stick with writing. At least that way, footage of me can’t be duplicated, passed around, and turned into a horrible meme (something which I’ve seen happen on several occasions within the online disabled community).
Why am I writing this now?
I was compelled to write this impromptu post after seeing a lady on TikTok receive some deeply traumatising comments on a video she made about having children, as a disabled person. Comments such “I wish they’d bring back natural selection” – which doesn’t even make complete sense, but it’s easily understood what the commenter was trying to suggest. You can see for yourself by checking out @Shelbykinso’s tweet, though I must warn you, it’s really not very nice at all.
My own beliefs align with Shelby’s, and I see the only way of successfully combating the hatred, is through educating the youth of today. At least then we can hopefully have a brighter and more tolerant tomorrow. If you agree, please consider signing Shelby’s petition; calling on Government to encourage increased teaching of disability subjects in schools across the UK.
Thanks for reading, and if you’re one of those who sometimes hides behind a screen and says things which can ultimately damage a person’s mental health – please think twice, next time. #BeKind – remember? Be kind always, not just when it suits your agenda.