Ancestors

Written by crimini on 2024-08-11 at 20:39

Our latest Project Mushroom newsletter includes a note from our mod team about patterns of casual #ableism that we've noticed in otherwise progressive communities (including ours).

Thinking deeply about how to live our values of justice, anti-racism, and solidarity can be uncomfortable — especially when mainstream culture hasn’t yet caught up.

https://newsletters.projectmushroom.xyz/june-newsletter-title-tbd/

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Written by crimini on 2024-08-11 at 20:40

There was a time, not too long ago, when it was common for otherwise progressive folks to tease a friend by calling them a “pussy”, or gloating over a sports victory by claiming the other team got “raped” — we now recognize this harmful language for perpetuating sexism and rape culture. Similarly, calling something that you don't like “gay” is now recognized as lazy homophobia.

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Written by crimini on 2024-08-11 at 20:40

As we continue to learn and grow, there’s another pattern of language that those of us trying to bring a better world into being are trying to stop and consider: casual ableism, especially as it relates to mental health.

In our communities, we often discuss heavy topics. War. Fascism. State repression. Exploitation. We talk about these topics because they’re consequential, and we use our platforms to try to hold the powerful to account.

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Written by crimini on 2024-08-11 at 20:42

But criticism can slide into harmful language when we reach for metaphors that diagnose cruel people with a mental illness, or equate disability with evil.

For example, calling Trump or Putin a psychopath doesn’t make your point stronger. Rather, it feeds into an ableist narrative that when people do evil things, there must be something wrong with them. It also implies that those who are diagnosed with this condition are beyond help.

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Written by crimini on 2024-08-11 at 20:43

When calling out people, institutions, and cultural phenomena, think twice. Get specific about what harm they’re causing, and use language that reflects those effects.

We can call fascist leaders power-hungry strongmen with blood on their hands without ascribing their actions to mental illness.

When calling out consumer culture that drives climate disaster, we can do so without invoking “addiction” or “stupidity” or “idiocy”.

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Toot

Written by crimini on 2024-08-11 at 20:44

Unlearning ingrained behaviour doesn't happen immediately, and it can be a challenge to let go of these habits, but if we are truly here to fight for justice and equality, we won’t get there by making light of #disability and #mentalHealth.

❤️ 🍄

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Descendants