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Don't play "stupid" characters. It is ableist.
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<blockquote data-quote="Mordhau" data-source="post: 8467827" data-attributes="member: 7032137"><p>Part of the issue here with this thread is there is no real clear behaviour being discussed.</p><p></p><p>If for example I know a nuerologically divergent person and I based my character on that person and I also make them a figure of comic relief then it seems hard to say I am not doing something wrong.</p><p></p><p>1) I am not actively hurting that person (presumably). They will never know what I am doing so they will not be hurt by it directly (in theory). So as people have said, the issue is not direct harm or offence.</p><p>2) By doing so I am normalising mocking mentally disabled people. Everyone is laughing at my impersonation so I am normalising the impression that such people are worthy of mockery. This seems to be the main argument, and it's a plausible one. I probably am reinforcing certain attitudes and behaviour - though it might be possible to argue that in circumstances in which everyone knows the behaviour would be wrong in other circumstances to argue that it is a form of cathartic taboo breaking. (I tend to find it dubious that this still doesn't involve some kind of normalisation).</p><p>3) You are being inauthentic. (I've seen no one make this point yet, but it seems pretty obvious to me). You are behaving in a way that should it be recorded and shown to someone who is not present but would be hurt by it you would feel ashamed (one would hope). A behaviour that is only ok so long as it is hidden is a dubious one. (This assumes that we do value authenticity of character - but this is a pretty strong element of our culture. We tend to be hurt when we find out that people we know are behaving inauthentically with us in even minor ways.)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mordhau, post: 8467827, member: 7032137"] Part of the issue here with this thread is there is no real clear behaviour being discussed. If for example I know a nuerologically divergent person and I based my character on that person and I also make them a figure of comic relief then it seems hard to say I am not doing something wrong. 1) I am not actively hurting that person (presumably). They will never know what I am doing so they will not be hurt by it directly (in theory). So as people have said, the issue is not direct harm or offence. 2) By doing so I am normalising mocking mentally disabled people. Everyone is laughing at my impersonation so I am normalising the impression that such people are worthy of mockery. This seems to be the main argument, and it's a plausible one. I probably am reinforcing certain attitudes and behaviour - though it might be possible to argue that in circumstances in which everyone knows the behaviour would be wrong in other circumstances to argue that it is a form of cathartic taboo breaking. (I tend to find it dubious that this still doesn't involve some kind of normalisation). 3) You are being inauthentic. (I've seen no one make this point yet, but it seems pretty obvious to me). You are behaving in a way that should it be recorded and shown to someone who is not present but would be hurt by it you would feel ashamed (one would hope). A behaviour that is only ok so long as it is hidden is a dubious one. (This assumes that we do value authenticity of character - but this is a pretty strong element of our culture. We tend to be hurt when we find out that people we know are behaving inauthentically with us in even minor ways.) [/QUOTE]
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Don't play "stupid" characters. It is ableist.
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