Bet you I couldn’t do that
Written by duckrabbitInspiring.
Via @digitalmaverick
Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (7 Comments)
Amazing shot. But why do you say “inspiring”? Them’s cringe-inspiring words. Would you have used the same word had the player(s) been non-disabled? These guys are very good, perhaps even, elite athletes and it’s like saying “great…for a cripple”. The use of “inspiring” — even if not consciously intended — is patronizing and even demeaning.
Its patronising and demeaning to find a ping pong shot, by, as you put it yourself ‘an elite athlete’, ‘inspiring’?
How is that like saying ‘great for a cripple’?
‘Would you have used the same word had the player(s) been non-disabled?
When Nadal or Federer does something similar on a tennis court, yeah that’s inspiring. Anybody who works that hard, to overcome all the hurdles that you need to in life, to get to the top of your game, able bodied, or otherwise, is inspiring.
Bill – I too find your comment odd at best and downright prejudiced at worst.
I looked at your website and there are many links to disability websites and blogs, and you yourself may or may not be someone with personal experience of disability. But if thats the case then I fear it has perhaps coloured your judgment in this instance.
Fact is that not all people who express surprise at the sporting ability of disabled athletes do so because their starting point is one of low expectations, therefore anything such people do is ‘good’. Sometimes people reach for such words because they see ability displayed before them that humbles them, and eclipses anything they will personally ever be able to achieve.
Duck’s title should have been a huge clue:
“Bet you I couldn’t do that.”
Self-deprecation sometimes is rooted in truth, not prejudice.
Something I think you should always try to remember.
I couldn’t do that either. Fantastic. Thanks Duck.
OK, here’s the deal: Over the past 60 years since I acquired a severe disability, I have often been called “inspiring” just for doing ordinary things like anyone else. That experience is shared by many other people with disabilities. Take a look at this post http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19466064 on the BBC’s Ouch! page to get a flavor of what I mean. Am I overly sensitive? Maybe. But the world I live in is pervaded by negative stereotypes that portray (in all media) people with disabilities as dependent, lacking in ability, and as Jerry Lewis, the old king of the US telethons, called us “half human”. That’s why I react this way. The Paralympics, in fact, do inspire me. They turn the stereotype on its head. Even though I am in no way an athlete, this is a reality I embrace and support.
Hi Bill,
thanks for your comment and sorry if I offended you. Its shit to be patronised and I’m sorry thats been your experience.
I’m glad you linked to the BBC article. I know Damon, the guy who wrote it. Infact we made a radio documentary together some years ago. I liked Damon a lot when we worked together. He’s very funny, we had a great crack and I never felt sorry for him. I guess my definition of ‘inspired’ is wanting to go and do something and although I’ll never be as good at table tennis as the guy in the clip, it does make me want to go and pick up a bat.
Thanks again for your comment.
(NOT FOR PUBLICATION)
dear, dear duck — Thanks, but I’m not offended. This is, to me, important to talk about. I was thinking that if Federer or Nadal made a great shot I would not think or say “inspiring” I would say “fucking amazing!” Anyway, this is a great website and I read it regularly. I’m glad you know Damon. And I read some things Duck has done on disability. More, of course, is needed. Even now there is a gret story on the Paralympics, pitting Atos against people with disabilities who see Atos as a lethal threat to their survival. There are strong threads of justice issues running through disability in the UK, the US and around the world that seem to be mostly hidden by sappy stories. The disability rights movements focuses a lot on the intersections of disability and media, but it’s an uphill fight to move societal attitudes from sappy discrimination to equality, acceptance and inclusion. FYI, I spent my career in newspapers (The Globe & Mail, Toronto Star in Canada, and the San Diego Union in the US) as well as running a national magazine on disability, and working on a project to get national US media to improve coverage of disability (with some success). Coverage of these games is almost non-existent in US media, but UK coverage via the internet is pretty good. Anyway, thanks for the opportunity to vent.
bill