tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post1231679862666471855..comments2024-01-26T10:20:37.836+00:00Comments on Diary of a Goldfish: Blogging Against Disablism Day 2014 - Against "Awareness"The Goldfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-48469586573007378222014-05-04T21:00:39.471+01:002014-05-04T21:00:39.471+01:00This has rung so many bells, most of them muffled,...This has rung so many bells, most of them muffled, but will pass on this blog and then re-read and hope it has the same affect on others.SlapBatternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-29119742583116006002014-05-04T09:18:40.280+01:002014-05-04T09:18:40.280+01:00I think there are two main types of awareness: inf...I think there are two main types of awareness: informative awareness and awareness for the sake of awareness. For example on Twitter there're a lot of tweets like "Today is epilepsy awareness day, I hope everyone is aware of epilepsy". You can't fit much in 140 characters, but you can fit in some information - or a link or two, of course.<br /><br />I've worn a blue ribbon for years and I've once been asked (by a friend) what it means for me (CFS/ME awareness). So no, not very useful.Maija Haavistohttp://www.brokenmarionettebook.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-32380518277394423092014-05-02T05:08:16.986+01:002014-05-02T05:08:16.986+01:00I'm going to throw in with Spoonydoc and Sam h...I'm going to throw in with Spoonydoc and Sam here- there are times when letting people know about the existance of a disability is a good thing. For example, becasue of my daughters extremely rare disorder, I needed to educate neighbors about the what and why of things that happened in our home, to avoid misunderstandings. And I talk about their disability publicly because I think it is important for people to know that not all disabilities have something you can visibly point to and say 'disabled'. <br /><br />Supporting & promoting things like Rare Diseases Day, or specific charities can help get funding to researchers & families, and that <i>is</i> important. But that takes active outreach and participation, not just sporting a ribon. EleriCookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11405443595634157878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-81543874679843380162014-05-02T03:56:24.429+01:002014-05-02T03:56:24.429+01:00As along time depression sufferer I find it exceed...As along time depression sufferer I find it exceedingly annoying that people are depicted in the media as getting better. Perhaps they might, I myself usually do ok from day today, but it can strike again - and hard.<br />In NZ we also have a sportsperson who "had" depression but got better who advocates exercise as some form of cure all.<br />Exercise - as if most depressives can do much more than just go on with normal stuff till they get some meds sorted out!<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-31903793752920120102014-05-02T03:27:43.275+01:002014-05-02T03:27:43.275+01:00They're not asking the celeb to RT a link abou...They're not asking the celeb to RT a link about the diagnosis in question, nothing about a social justice campaign or fundraiser. The tweets always literally just say "can you RT this? It's for xyz awareness."Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-76622709960255998342014-05-02T03:24:52.560+01:002014-05-02T03:24:52.560+01:00I'm starting to think that a main driver in th...I'm starting to think that a main driver in this awareness business is that people want celebrities to interact with them on Twitter. So they ask "can you RT this? It's for narcissism awareness," and they get the attention they've been craving when the celeb does RT them.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-22708683714901775502014-05-01T22:42:24.899+01:002014-05-01T22:42:24.899+01:00I think it can be worth educating about some condi...I think it can be worth educating about some conditions, but that's not the same as raising "awareness". I'd like it if more people had a vaguely accurate understanding of both narcolepsy and bipolar disorder, but that can be done without the problems that you so beautifully point out.<br /><br />I'm now going to spend some time thinking how these arguments apply to disability awareness training, which I've had some issues with for some time, but not really been able to articulate, even inwardly, what the problem is.Sam Barnett-Cormackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01904395421765346531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-91618541994321270692014-05-01T21:36:51.365+01:002014-05-01T21:36:51.365+01:00Well said!!Well said!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109087847023130544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-69970019163998788582014-05-01T15:39:37.678+01:002014-05-01T15:39:37.678+01:00Don't ever take that of the net - that's a...Don't ever take that of the net - that's a brilliant article I'm going to share so many times when my social networking timelines are hit by ribbons and pandas.<br /><br />:-) great job. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-50640939159376893572014-05-01T14:30:37.452+01:002014-05-01T14:30:37.452+01:00Thanks folks,
Spoony - you're absolutely righ...Thanks folks,<br /><br />Spoony - you're absolutely right. I suppose I see an issue like epilepsy as largely a first aid thing, along with knowing that heart attack symptoms could be a pain in the arm or look like a panic attack, rather that the classic chest-clutching version we always see on TV. <br /><br />Of course, the information you describe is purely medical and about clinical variation rather than the need to put a human face to a particular condition. <br /><br />However, it is a omission from my post. I've spoken here and before about the fact that people don't usually need to know anyone's diagnosis or medical info, but epilepsy certainly is one example when folks do need to know what's going on.<br /><br />(As a very young man, my Dad had a colleague who, in the face of stigma worse than today, hadn't told any colleagues he had epilepsy until he had a grand mal seizure at work. This terrified the young men around them, they didn't have a clue what to do, one of them had the idea that the poor chap might swallow his tongue and (according to Dad's possible hyperbole) almost lost a finger trying to prevent it.)The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-37031116819044639882014-05-01T14:30:36.643+01:002014-05-01T14:30:36.643+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-18216516962738784572014-05-01T05:44:49.751+01:002014-05-01T05:44:49.751+01:00Great start to BADD 2014!Great start to BADD 2014!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639094548415759560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-92105038303711571732014-05-01T05:33:13.441+01:002014-05-01T05:33:13.441+01:00Thank you, now I have a perfect link anytime I'...Thank you, now I have a perfect link anytime I'm asked to help with "awareness." (I agree with the above commenter, that there's room for public education, dispelling myths, etc.--but "awareness" can't do that work, given the baggage that word carries.)Penny L. Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00102296070193780691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-6024510760716959642014-05-01T01:15:22.810+01:002014-05-01T01:15:22.810+01:00Unusually I am going to disagree slightly.
I think...Unusually I am going to disagree slightly.<br />I think there are times when "raising awareness" is useful. But certainly, if you do "raise awareness" then you should have a specific goal in mind. <br /><br />For instance I will happily "raise awareness" about epilepsy. Why? <br /><br />1) Safety. Too many TV programs show medical staff inappropriately restraining people having a seizure. I want to raise awareness of proper procedure and what to do if you encounter someone having a tonic clonic seizure. This really could save lives.<br />2) Less important but still there: counteract the media's portrayal of epilepsy as a condition which is "just" tonic clonic seizures which eventually are completely manageable by medication. People with the other types of seizures can have a very hard time of it. Many get arrested or are not believed or lose their jobs, etc... Better general knowledge among the public would help this.<br /><br />3) Get rid of some of the myths and stigma that still persists. The only way I see to do that is through education.<br /><br />This way, the next time you either choose or *have* to tell someone you have epilepsy, you will run a better chance of them understanding you, believing you or knowing what to do if things go wrong. Spoonydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-54100035134458567752014-05-01T00:50:04.609+01:002014-05-01T00:50:04.609+01:00WoW - I'm sort of stunned. I had really never ...WoW - I'm sort of stunned. I had really never thought about awareness raising quite like this. You have really thought it through. On a first reading I cannot disagree with anything you say. You are so right, I often feel the need to self-justify my conditions and disabilities, when really folk only need to know what I can and cannot do. Much food for thought here. Thank you. %) xCriquaerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05674014458662056474noreply@blogger.com