Comments on: A Troubling Local Encounter https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-troubling-local-encounter/ Changing the Cultural Conversation Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:34:24 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 By: Ben Stansfield https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-troubling-local-encounter/#comment-410 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:34:24 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-troubling-local-encounter/#comment-410 i’ve had similar things (minus the kissing) happen to me over the years, for some of the same reasons. mainly, because my disability, like yours, is not apparent on first meeting. i appear “normal”, friendly (i am), abled and game for harassing or slagging someone strange or different in conversation. also like you, i have a similar reaction. when others expect me to join in the fun in conversation, i either say nothing and change the subject, or depending on context and severity, point out that that human being, the one with the audacity to be strange, different, weird and unconformist, isn’t hurting anybody.a

]]> By: R Scott https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-troubling-local-encounter/#comment-409 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:34:10 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-troubling-local-encounter/#comment-409 Yea your right!!!

]]> By: Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-troubling-local-encounter/#comment-408 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:34:03 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-troubling-local-encounter/#comment-408 In reply to R Scott.

Thanks, R. Scott.

Just to clarify, I don’t think that one man not wanting to kiss another is homophobic. My point was that the man would not have asked another man to do it because, given the amount of homophobia out there, he’d know that he’d be taking a risk; if the man he asked happened to be homophobic, the request might have been met with physical violence. I think he saw a 5’1″ woman as a much safer bet.

]]> By: R Scott https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism/a-troubling-local-encounter/#comment-407 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:33:56 +0000 https://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/a-troubling-local-encounter/#comment-407 I love your article!!! But I don’t think a straight man is homophobic if the don’t like the idea of kissing another man. I feel we over use the word homophobia.

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