*Some of the subject matter in this blog readers may find triggering. This is an article I wrote for Leonard Cheshire.
When I started my blog, ‘My Life Kerry’s Way’, it never crossed my mind that I would receive negative or hateful comments just because I’m disabled and sharing my journey.
I am all for constructive criticism and will always welcome it. And criticism will always come with the territory. But how do you deal with comments that aren’t so much critical but more hateful!?
Why I started my blog
I have a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. It’s a progressive muscle wasting condition that affects my arm and leg muscles. As well as my heart and respiratory system. I have a power wheelchair that acts as my legs to be able to keep my independence. I rely heavily on the help of others to do the simplest of daily tasks.
My blog is a way for me to talk about the good, bad and sometimes ugly. But also the positives of living with Muscular Dystrophy. I receive many comments from people sharing their own stories. But who are also very appreciative as they don’t feel so alone. Then you have the odd few telling me in an incredulous voice that I wouldn’t understand ‘real struggles’. And how would I? I’m only disabled.
The type of comments received
Now I am totally going to sound like my mother when I say this… ‘I remember when’. But yes, I do remember when social media wasn’t around. If you wanted to talk or tell someone something, it was by knocking on their door or telling them to their faces. A crazy concept and totally alien these days, I know!
I was once told that ‘if everybody liked you, you’re doing something wrong’. It’s a very true statement that I carry with me always. As a disabled person over the years, I have learnt to grow a thick skin. As much as I have received the odd hurtful comment, it’s been a mixed bag. Mostly private messages and your classic lines of ‘should’ve been aborted’ or ‘I can’t even bring myself to read anything with a title like that’ and ‘you’re a drain on society, just die already’.
How the trolling comments affected me
Even though I knew these comments were coming from people hiding behind their keyboards and, more than likely fake accounts, you just can’t help but have this gut-wrenching fear. And yes, I have cried in the past.
It affects and heavily plays with your mental health. You can spend your time worrying and looking at those one or two hurtful comments over and over, trying to understand why! If you’re not careful, you can hit a new low. If you’re not careful, anxiety can creep in and take over. I found myself second-guessing my writing and the context. In a way, I was starting to write on eggshells. All because of other people’s words. I was allowing them to take my words, my truth, my life, my personal experiences.
You can be consumed with thoughts of “if I continue to share my whole life with the world online this could mean receiving more hurtful comments.” While I receive more positive, kind and beautiful comments from my followers, my mind can take me back to the negative ones.
I have learnt as time has passed that I can’t allow these people and hateful comments to control my life and affect my mental health. It’s not like they lose any sleep after they have left a hateful comment. So why should I?
Why it’s important to talk about disability hate crime
Unfortunately, people don’t see or understand that disability hate crime is very much alive and happening. It’s just as bad as any other form of hate crime and prejudice. You will rarely see disability talked about in social media guidelines, and it is often an afterthought. Until social media platforms start to recognise disability hate crime and ableism, we are faced with adding it to the already long list of things we ‘just put up with’.
Join Leonard Cheshire in their pledge to drive down disability hate crime on social media and support victims. Make your social media #NoPlaceForHate. Share the hashtag and take the pledge. Help make a change by signing Leonard Cheshire social media pledge
Until next time. Tell me what you think?
Kisses K
Come give me a follow and say hi.
Kerry Thompson - My Life, Kerry's Way. 
Jeees. I’m not sure where to start. I was going to say that “if everybody liked you, you’re doing something wrong” was awful, but then I read “you’re a drain on society, just die already” and I realised that first one was pretty tame.
I feel a bubble of raging anger about to pop inside of me. It’s been growing for quite some time now with so many issues that are unfair, unjust, disgusting and frustrating in our society, within our healthcare system, the nightmare government and so on. But when I see people have treated you like this, it makes me bloody furious and it sadly makes me doubt the goodness in the world.
If we start letting those certain ignorant individuals make us lose hope or doubt that goodness in human beings, then their poison will have won. If we let them silence us, they will have won.
I’m very fortunate in not getting too much hateful crap from my blog, but I’ve had the odd things. I also had a barrage full of it on Twitter, something I only started the other year, when I stood up for the vulnerable during the pandemic. I’m well aware that the tossers (excuse my language) trying to shame others are pathetic and that I shouldn’t take it personally, but I couldn’t help it. I was shaking and crying and I absolutely hated it. It went on for a few days and I had to block countless random strangers who decided to take a crap all over me, to wish me dead and all sorts. It made me think maybe I should shut up. I bore myself most of the time and there are far better people out there to raise awareness or try to change a situation than I am. I had a while of feeling weak and terrified and miserable, then I got pissed off. I think it’s that anger that can be good for me, and I imagine it’s the same for some others too. I used to be painfully shy and now I’ve found my voice a little, I don’t want the nasties in the world to take it away from me again.
Basically – after this long ranty comment – I just want to say that whoever is giving you these pathetic, vile messages is a danger to themselves. They shouldn’t be out on their own with so few brain cells. Pity them, get angry with them, but don’t let them steal your voice.
The good, the bad and the ugly all need talking about. Keep doing what you do so well, K.
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I’m a little speechless on some of the comments you’ve received. I would like to throw all of these into a fire and say “Be gone with you.” I’m so sorry you’ve received these. Just know you are loved, valued and amazing! 🙂
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Thank you for your kind words – it’s very much appreciated you have taken the time to read my blog as well as send me a message 💕
Kisses K
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Reblogged this on Peregrine Arc.
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Thank you 😊
Kisses K
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I blog about my disability and have never received any hate comments. I wonder if it’s because I am a man. Do you think people are more negative to female disabled people? I don’t even get negative comments. I do get spam. I used to just write about my disability and help available. Now I only write comic thoughts or observations on life.
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I love that you write comics I am definitely going to go and check out your blog.
I have no idea why people choose to write hateful comments. And it’s great that you don’t receive any I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, I’ll be honest I don’t know if it’s because I’m female, but thinking about it most of my friends that do receive hate our female!
kisses K
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