General Internet Recommendations. Or: What, in Cyberspace, is making me happy right now.

[capriuni]

So: my rant against awareness ribbons started getting comments right away, and giving me all sorts of ideas (and social permission) for Anti-Pity designs for my Zazzle store.

But.

Those ribbons are surprisingly tricky to draw, and thinking about them, and what they represent (mostly, what they represent), is making me cranky.

So I am now taking a deliberate break and posting about things that make me un-cranky.

If I recall correctly, I think I have jesse_the_k to thank for this, but if not, I hope you know who you are:

Rolling around in my head
The author of this blog has worked as a counselor for folks with disabilities for 30 years; four years ago, he became disabled, and writes about the new insights that has given him. Currently, he's working around the Canada giving workshops on how to defend yourself against bullying. He updates daily, and his posts are a usually happy blend of Deep, Srs Bznz. and Silly bznz. And he writes well.

Ill Doctrine A video blog by New York City rapper, Jay Smooth. No, he doesn't do transcripts (Boo!), and I keep telling myself that I'll type them up. But even after a sixth or seventh viewing in a row, I keep getting so swept up in what he's saying that I actually forget to type.

So that's a bit of fail on my part. But it does make me happy, and that's what this post is about...

So, um, forgive my fail? and have this video on how to tell people they sound racist (a strategy that would also work for other ____-isms, too), from the height of the most recent Presidential campaign:

Comments

[chasingrainbows]

Oh, of course it is. It's very personal. And very upsetting as a result.

[capriuni]

I think I'll write up a post, soon, about all the good awareness ribbons did, back in the day, and how, a generation or so, ago, they were a subtle, powerful way to actually raise awareness.

But how they've morphed into something very different, now: as an implement of patronizing, pitying attitudes, and social shaming.

Sort of like how the immune system is a very good thing, but if the body's checks and balances fail, it can lead to very, very bad things -- like juvenile diabetes and fibromialgia and all that.

[chasingrainbows]

There's also this sense of "LOOK AT ME I'M TOTALLY AN ALLY, LOOK HOW AWESOME I AM FOR DISPLAYING THIS MASS PRODUCED PIECE OF CHINESE MANUFACTURED CRAP, GIVE ME ALLY COOKIES NOW" going on.

[capriuni]

LOL! This. Totally.

Some of the slogans I'm thinking of doing for my store:

"You want to show your support? Put down the Ribbon, and listen to me!

"Wear an Invisible Ribbon -- Find the Cure for Pityitus!"

"My Life =/= Your Fashion Accessory!"

[chasingrainbows]

How about, "You want to support me? STOP TALKING and LISTEN."

I like the last one a lot.

[capriuni]

I like the last one a lot

Thanks. Thanks to a post trouble put up yesterday, pointing out the ugliness over in TV Tropes where people are complaining in comments about how people with disabilities are like robots in Uncanny Valley -- "It's like they're almost human and I'm disgusted by them!" -- I've put aside the ribbon design for now, and working on a trucker hat design (mesh hat with a foam front) that reads: "Yes, I can understand you (even your subtext!)"

Because, Damn! you would not believe the insulting, dehumanizing, things people say about folks with disabilities when the disabled people are sitting right there in front of them, because obviously they're too retarded to understand, anyway.

[chasingrainbows]

I wish I could say I'm surprised, but honestly, given the way at least one of my partner's own family members behaved towards him and his TG status over the phone with him, telling him he should be on Jerry fucking Springer because he was a freak? Nope, not surprised in the least. People are by and large selfish assholes.

[capriuni]

Yeah, I don't really mind when random assholes are spewing s#*t. It's when "Special Ed" teachers are spewing this about their students that I want to start throwing things..