It's a Trade

You walk into a party dressed to the nines with your makeup on point. The air smells like your favorite food. There are people there, but none of them seem to want to talk to you. They stare and whisper as you pass by. You maintain confidence long enough to duck into a bathroom and use a mirror to check if anything seems amiss. Your hair is fine. So is everything else. There's no giant food stain on your clothes. Even so, the party guests seem to be repulsed by the sight of you. Running your hands over your clothes you decide that the problem is your body. Because of this, you decide to limit yourself to the vegetable platter for the rest of the party.

When home, you check your social media. There are pictures of you everywhere. "I'm so jealous." "I wish I looked like you." "You're so lucky." You don't feel as lucky as everyone claims you are because people disperse at the mere sight of you. It happens everywhere you go: your favorite coffee shop, your job, just walking down the street. No one says "Hi." They just stare and whisper. You think about posting about what you experienced, but you decide against it. It's easier to be pretty, isn't it? Who are you to complain when so many people want what you have?

Do you think it is better to be so ugly that you repulse people or so pretty that you scare them away? Remember that just because someone has a characteristic that supposedly makes their life easier doesn't mean it always does. How did it feel to be the pretty person in the story? Isolating? Confusing? Like you weren't really that pretty?

Milestone envy has always struck a chord with me. Everything has a price and these posts seem to dismiss that. Contrary to popular belief, a milestone is not an absolute gain. It's a trade. The price of walking is falling more often. The price of talking is saying the wrong thing. The price of intelligence is not being able to relate to those around you. The price of talent is having absolutely no sense of satisfaction. The price of being able to do things is making mistakes. Some things have heftier price tags than others and some have hidden fees. There are negative and/or untrue assumptions for pretty much everything, even positive qualities.

Remember: Even the best of gains have a price. That group of kids you envy have sacrificed many other things to be where they are.

Watch these musicians. What do you think they traded to be here?

Persona

What mask should I wear today?

Red or black or blue or gray?

Feathers, jewels, "Yes" or "No"?

I'm not sure of the way to go.

Everyone wants a different thing.

In many directions, there I swing

Extravagant, plain, what do you want?

There's not a mask I've haven't bought.

Which one should I wear today?

What's the part that I should play?

The role, the script, I'll do it all.

After all, such is my call.

I'd Like to Talk About this Owlturd Comic

Panels in Verbal Chronological Order:

1. A square, finding a circular hole, says "Oh no! The hole is a circle, but I am a square."
2. The square, in dismay, says "How will I ever fit in?"
3. One circle suggests "You could just go in sideways."
4. The square says "You could just shut up and let me be special."

This comic was deemed "ableist" by several people, causing the creator to remove the comic and say the following:

I think I fucked up. Usually I can tell these things when there are a bunch of people (quietly) telling me I fucked up, and also when they are a bunch of people using my comics to justify judging others, which they’re never meant for.

My intent with the last comic, like usual, was self-deprecation. I’m supposed to be the square. I often romanticize being an outcast in society, so when the circle essentially points out “you can still fit in, you’re not such an outcast,” I respond by saying “SHUT UP, YES I AM.” Because, y’know, I romanticize it.

This was the intent, but looking at it now, mistakes were made. For many people, the thing that I romanticize is not a choice. I’m going to take this one down, and might not have another one to put up today.

I’m sorry.

Have a great rest of your day, peeps.

Given that I am a huge Owlturd fan, I was sorely disappointed that the artist had to remove one of his comics due to audience pressure. Owlturd is a brilliant comic series that revolves around somewhat dark, self-deprecating humor. My favorite comics are the Type A/Type B comics. The comic above is another one of my favorites from Owlturd. The creator claimed the comic was a jab at himself for romanticizing his status as an outcast.

Frankly, I don't see anything ableist about this comic. The square and circles could represent any two different groups trying to cooperate and do things together. The reality is that some people do act like this regardless of disability status. Although the creator intended this comic to be self-deprecation, I interpreted the comic as a satire on social justice warrior extremism. Social justice warrior extremists are often seen demonizing "privileged" groups, pitting levels of "oppression" against each other, and censoring others because they are supposedly a certain kind of "-ist". These actions do not help anyone and detract from other, more important issues. Moreover, these people will never be satisfied or listen to input from outside parties as is seen with the square.

In the comic itself, the circle proposed a solution to the square's problem. It may not have been the best solution possible, but every solution starts somewhere. The square did not (1) try the proposed solution or (2) propose a different, better solution (e.g. "Cut the hole into a shape of a square"). Instead, the square insisted on being mad and not bothering with a possible solution. The creator said people were using his comics to "justify judging others." Seeing as how people will do horrible things to anything nowadays, I don't agree with the creator's decision as a person, but respect his course of action as a performing artist.

What do you think of this comic? Do you think it was ableist or just an overreaction on the audience's part?