Post by Pony on Jul 11, 2006 14:53:32 GMT -5
Our Reputation Matters
There’s not many of us that would argue that our lives have become magnified since our SCI-life began. What is good looks huge, and what is bad can almost seem like the Titanic going down.
Just like the events in our lives can, sometimes, be as supersized as McDonald’s giving you a dump truck full of fries, I also believe that we carry around with us a reputation that’s bigger than most able-body people ever have to deal with. I don’t believe we are singled out because of our DISability. Celebrities have the same problem with being under the microscope, and any flaw in personality could result in the general public thinking they are angry, snobs or WORSE.
Well, unfortunately, it’s human nature to classify, or label, people to a degree. Obviously, some take it way too far, and I think we should all do our best to fight this part of our own mortality, however, I’m afraid being bias is here to stay.
As some of you know, I’ve worked for Nielsen Media Research for the past 13 years, and I can tell you from personal experience how important your reputation is. It may very-well mean the difference between being chosen for better jobs, and not. I can also tell you from my own experience of being part of the gossip gang, at times, that a bad reputation is a hard thing to shed.
I’ve learned over the past 24 years of my conversion to quadism that how people think of me carries over to other disABLED people whether I like it, or not. It may not be right, but we live in an imperfect society. It’s an extra responsibility that we must take on for being different. We must try harder. We must be "nicer."
If we continue to set examples with our personalities, break barriers with our demeanors and build bridges with our actions, we will develop a reputation that will precede us, and others—paving the way to more acceptance and less fear.
-Anthony Rain Starez
There’s not many of us that would argue that our lives have become magnified since our SCI-life began. What is good looks huge, and what is bad can almost seem like the Titanic going down.
Just like the events in our lives can, sometimes, be as supersized as McDonald’s giving you a dump truck full of fries, I also believe that we carry around with us a reputation that’s bigger than most able-body people ever have to deal with. I don’t believe we are singled out because of our DISability. Celebrities have the same problem with being under the microscope, and any flaw in personality could result in the general public thinking they are angry, snobs or WORSE.
Well, unfortunately, it’s human nature to classify, or label, people to a degree. Obviously, some take it way too far, and I think we should all do our best to fight this part of our own mortality, however, I’m afraid being bias is here to stay.
As some of you know, I’ve worked for Nielsen Media Research for the past 13 years, and I can tell you from personal experience how important your reputation is. It may very-well mean the difference between being chosen for better jobs, and not. I can also tell you from my own experience of being part of the gossip gang, at times, that a bad reputation is a hard thing to shed.
I’ve learned over the past 24 years of my conversion to quadism that how people think of me carries over to other disABLED people whether I like it, or not. It may not be right, but we live in an imperfect society. It’s an extra responsibility that we must take on for being different. We must try harder. We must be "nicer."
If we continue to set examples with our personalities, break barriers with our demeanors and build bridges with our actions, we will develop a reputation that will precede us, and others—paving the way to more acceptance and less fear.
-Anthony Rain Starez
