Comments on: “Bad Activist” moments

By: Cesy

Cesy — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:06:36 +0000

Thank you for posting about this issue. It’s a struggle to balance self-care with maintaining creditibility with doing what awareness-raising we can, and I guess a lot of us need encouragement sometimes that it is okay to let things slide now and then.

By: kaninchenzero

kaninchenzero — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:00:46 +0000

My apologies, Erin H. I was trying to get at my own feelings of inadequacy and cowardice and doing a poor job of it. In the process I hurt you. I’m sorry for that.

By: abby jean

abby jean — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:40:45 +0000

i look forward to reading more about your take on the subject! i agree that it’s a sensitive issue and appreciate you commenting here to discuss it further. i think for people concerned about rights issues, it can be very difficult to prioritize self-care over a potential advocacy opportunity. i struggle with it on a daily basis, it seems. and have a much easier time applying my “whatever advocacy a person does is exactly the right amount” principle to everyone else.

re passing: i sometimes feel like being able to pass as neurotypical only lets me see just how much people seem to hate neuroatypical folks. i’m not sure whether that’s a benefit – i definitely get that scary/fear feeling. it seems especially difficult for identities where just to claim the identity is a political/activist act – like having been raped, or having had an abortion, or being an immigrant without legal status. not only does it require identifying yourself with an identity they’ve already judged, it requires telling them intensely personal information in order to be an activist. the people being offensive never have to disclose their sexual history or health history or recount the past three generations of their families in order to make their points – it seems especially unjust to require the member of the oppressed group to do so.

By: Erin H

Erin H — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:50:25 +0000

@abby jean:
Thanks. I appreciate your dialoge with me. I think the whole topic is a lot to think about, and it’s a sensitive issue for a lot of people (*raises hand*) – I’ll probably write more about it in my blog.

Also, I wanted to say this:

Not only might this require someone who is “passing” to identify and out themselves, but explicitly claiming membership in the targeted group can lead to further discrimination and marginalization.

I deal with this a lot. I pass as white, but I am Latina. I have some nurses who will say things about Latin@s, or immigrants, and I usually don’t say anything because I fear their judgement. And, even though I think it’s a privilege to be able to pass, it’s scary when you think you’ll be outed among a group or someone who is racist. So, thanks for bringing that up.

By: abby jean

abby jean — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:24:30 +0000

@erinh – again, i sincerely apologize that it came across as targeted as you. i intentionally didn’t name you as the author to try to recenter focus on the overall concept of pressuring oneself to do more, but i understand that wasn’t sufficient and i apologize. i was also very frustrated with comment #1 and perhaps i should have effed on the side of deletion. as for comment #4, i’d prefer to let k0 speak for herself.

again, i enjoyed your original post a great deal and am very sorry that using it as a jumping off point led to you feeling attacked.

By: Erin H

Erin H — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:51:01 +0000

@abby jean:
Thanks for responding to me. I understand what you were writing about, but I felt it came across as “Her use of ‘bad activist moment’ can be damaging” rather than “This is how I feel about my own activism”, especially because you used my wording – I’m referencing specifically to the part I quoted above. I also think some of the commentors thought that way too, especially reading #1 (which, I actually was offended by) and #4.

By: abby jean

abby jean — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:10:49 +0000

@ErinH – hi! thanks for dropping in! i really enjoyed your original post and just saw the followup post today. i definitely understood that you were using the term to mark an opportunity that you chose not to pursue than to mean “bad” literally. i was hoping to speak more to the feeling that i often have that i’m “slacking” when i let an opportunity go by, and as you say, i think a lot of us feel that way. i hope the post was clear about addressing the latter feeling than your individual use of the term and if it wasn’t – i apologize!

By: Erin H

Erin H — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:44:11 +0000

I wrote the blog post that abby jean referenced in her post.

But I’m concerned that framing it as a “bad activist moment” suggests that to be a good activist, we must speak up and speak out Every Single Time we observe negative behavior, not just that affecting PWDs, but that affecting or oppressing any minority group or marginalized class.

That was certainly not my intention. If you read my following post (titled Activist Burnout), I talk about just that. How I’m NOT a bad activist because I don’t speak up every time – that isn’t my job and I don’t have to feel guilty about it. When I said “bad activist moment” I was really using it sort of tongue-in-cheek, like “oh, I’m sure people would think I’m being a BAD ACTIVIST!”

I do feel guilty sometimes when I don’t say anything, and I know I should not. I’m sure a lot of us feel that way – and it’s only natural. But I know I am not a bad activist, and I’m not saying anyone who doesn’t speak up is a bad activist – I am framing that term sarcastically, while also recognizing the “opportunity” I missed. I hope that makes sense.

By: Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:55:14 +0000

Astrid – I’m sorry if I hurt or offended you in anyway. That was not my intention and I’m really sorry.

By: Nonny

Nonny — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:25:20 +0000

I don’t always have the time or energy to bother trying to educate people about my disability. I have severe fibromyalgia and related conditions, which include fatigue and weakness along with the chronic pain. If I’m hurting too bad and am tired — no, I really don’t have the energy to correct someone who is making a huge gaff.

I educate where I can. I’m outspoken on my LiveJournal and — truthfully, most anywhere I frequent online when the subject comes up, because I have more energy and mental coherence sitting at my computer than I do out and about. If I have the “spoons” to educate, I will. If not… then I don’t.

I don’t think that makes me a “bad activist.” I think that makes me a human being with necessary priorities.