An Excitable Boy, They All Said...

[said_scarlett]

If I hear the term 'differently abled' one more time, I am going to scream. No, really. We're disabled. It's not a bad word. It's not a dirty word. It's not an insulting word. 'Differently abled' is... man, I could spend hours dissecting all the things wrong with this term. But so many others have done such a better job of explaining why so many of us cringe and froth at the mouth over it. I tend to just descend into a fit of 'for fuck's sake, if you're so damn concerned with making it sound like we're the same as everyone else - WHICH WE AREN'T! - maybe you shouldn't put such an emphasis on different!'. Because we're not just like everyone else. We have limitations 'abled' people don't have. This isn't some awful, deep dark secret that shouldn't be addressed. It's just how we are and pussyfooting around it and making it out to be some awful thing is insulting. There's a large list of things I can't do. This is not because I'm 'differently abled'. 'Differently abled' implies that I have some sort of ability or ableness not possessed by abled people. I'm disabled. And damn proud of it.

Though I'll give 'differently abled' this: I guess it's a small bit better than the ever-loathsome 'handi-capable'.

(This rant brought to you by a post in one of my disability forums about Toys'R'Us's guide to 'Toys for Differently Abled Children'. Oh, the snark is beautiful.)

Anyway!

Oh, the harmonic stirrings of new love! Is there anything greater? The childlike glee with which you tear through fic archives, the wide-eyed joy as you comb fan art sites, the anticipation as you click through LJ comms... And then, that feverish, red lit fervor as new ideas pour forth from mind and fingers and you give birth to your own fannish contributions! Which of course you're too nervous to post, because there is also nothing more terrifying than a new fandom.

I've been PMSing since Sunday, and I want it over and done with. I'm going to be cleaning and sewing today.

Comments

[hiddenhibiscus.livejournal.com]

I just loved reading about your enthusiasm, it's like a new crush!

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what it is! I get that same excited, fluttery feeling when it comes to fandoms.

I'm such a dork. :D

[hiddenhibiscus.livejournal.com]

You and me both ;)