In today’s TMI: I have some burn scars on the right half of my torso and thus fewer sweat glands on that side. So when I have double sparring practice and perspire buckets, only one half of my shirt gets soaked.
The one sided boob sweat makes me feel LIKE AN AMAZON.
The ‘Napalm Girl’, 40 years later
Joe McNally, who was commissioned by LIFE magazine to find and photograph subjects of Pulitzer Prize winning photos, shot Kim Phuc – the girl running from an airborne attack in this devastatingly iconic shot during the Vietnam War.
The original photo was taken by AP photographer Nick Ut, and turned Kim into a propaganda tool for the anti-war movement. Joe had the privilege of meeting and photographing Kim, who had recently given birth to her newborn son. Joe knew to treat the situation with care, since showcasing her scars from the napalm burn was significant.
“For me, doing this assignment reconfirmed so many things I’ve always believed about photography,” says Joe in his blog post “On a Road, 40 Years Ago“. “That photo made on that horrible day was made in less than a second. Yet a lifetime spun on its power. With so many photographs being taken everywhere, easily, and thoughtlessly, it’s easy to forget how powerful they can be, and occasionally are.” (via)
Let me tell you, there is nothing like working the night shift on a burn unit in Iowa during meth/campfire/firework season to give you a great big dose of “YOUR PROBLEMS, THEY COULD BE WORSE. MUCH, MUCH WORSE.”
I…kind of have a personal problem with this attitude? I dunno, I don’t want to be a keyboard warrior. But I have big, lumpy burn scars covering about a third of my body, and I encounter this mindset a lot. That by pointing out the flaw you are showing that you are cool with it. And I didn’t mind it in The Avengers,but I think it’s becoming more prevalent in a worrisome manner.
Three or four times a week, I will be minding my own business and a total stranger will grab my arm and ask what happened or, if they are familiar with burn scars and want to show off their knowledge, ask me how I was burned. That is not an exaggeration. It’s nice to be able to pat yourself on the back, I’m sure, and say that you’ve shown this other person that you don’t mind that they’re different, but a lot of times that person will have that sort of reaction on a nearly daily basis. You don’t think that gets old?
Let me be clear. This should probably be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Nick Fury does not give two shits if you make fun of his eyepatch. He is probably smirking because he has poison darts hidden behind the patch and is gleefully wavering back and forth between ending Tony’s life or allowing him to live for another moment. A lot of the people that you will use this mindset on in day to day life? Will have been living with their difficulties their entire life and might have a few insecurities about it that your good intentions will not make better.
I’ve had my scars since I was six. My first crush started picking on me and calling me “Ugly Girl” when the bandages finally came off. Friends who would normally throw an arm around my shoulder and hug me with abandon wouldn’t come near me if I bared my shoulders. I’ve had little kids whisper to each other that it looked like someone puked on my arm while I was trying to teach them how to swim. A coworker once noticed them, rubbed my arm vigorously and then told me at least I still had my pretty face.
You think I really want a fucking reminder that my scars are highly visible, that I want you to touch them without permission just to show me that YOU are OKAY WITH THEM?
My attempts to avoid keyboard warring seem to have failed. But I guess the point is: don’t follow Tony Stark’s example. He is a fucking idiot. Please try to mind your fucking manners.
(Source: iamnevertheone)
Quincy moans and groans
I kind of wish there was a tag you could explore where you could find burn scars from people who were in actual accidents. I was looking at the burn scars tag tonight, hoping to find other people who had them and how they cope with people noticing them because yet another total stranger just grabbed my arm out of nowhere and asked me what was wrong with it.
Instead I just get post after post of people who self harm. Which, I mean, they probably need to find some understanding and support from people who have experienced the same thing more than I do. But it would be nice to find some of my own and also not be tripping into some unpleasant reactions. Where I just want to scream at people who give themselves scars when I have spent so much of my own life covering mine up or forcing myself to keep them exposed to show how many fucks I should not give. When in fact I do give more than a fuck or two.
