I just read through today's copy of the New York Times but I'm feeling none of that pessimism and negativity that I usually feel about my fellow Americans. In fact, I'm feeling a might chipper about living on this side of the Atlantic, a bit palpably relieve to be an American -- and all because I stumbled across this story about some narrow-minded Brits. My how advanced we Americans have become. How open-minded we are. How 21st century.
And I'm suddenly feeling nostalgic and fuzzy about political correctness. Thank goodness for the PC police...bless their finger wagging souls.
Okay. I should let you in on the story. You can either read about it or pull the same information from a video.
Disabled Host of Kids Show Draws Criticism
So would this happen in the United States? Can you imagine a network here receiving this many complaints? If we're different on this side of the drink, is it because we're beyond this issue or is it because we've learned NOT to discuss it, that it would be crass or improper to raise this as an issue?
I'm struck by a couple of things. First, I'm amazed that it's legal to have children before we know what to say to them when they encounter a human being with only one hand. I've thought about the merits of sterilization for people who believe it's fine for children to free base coke or chase the dragon, or even for adults who do not believe in child safety seats. But now along comes these people. Obviously these parents have learned to write (since their complaints seem to take the form of the written word), so they didn't suddenly emerge from a cave where they've been living. But to need so much rudimentary parenting advice is really beyond the pale.
Second, I'm struck by how it is that any of us would be uncomfortable around someone with only one hand. I understand that most people have two hands and that we all experience surprise at things that are unnatural or abnormal for us. But I'm thinking now about how strange it is that we so quickly establish standards of normalcy and walk through the world with those standards lighting our paths. Why do we do that?
So am I alone on this issue? Granted they only receive twenty-five complaints, but since the story broke they have received even more complaints -- I guess people who thought themselves rude if they spoke up. Keep in mind that the vast majority of Brits think the complainers are idiots, dolts, and blockheads.
Where do you think Americans would stand on this issue?
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«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 228 of 228The only thing that shocked me the most was the fact that they would invite her on the show just because they got a couple of complaints. They really had a whole segment about her being born with one long arm and one half of an arm. I don’t think she should have had to go on a show and explain to the whole world and concerned parents about something that she cannot stop or control. So in my opinion it is a stupid discussion in the first place because no one asks to be the way they are, or the color they are, or how much money they have or don’t have. She is not a monster so I don’t see why these kids are scared of her. Like these parents shouldn’t hide the real world from their kids because when the kids do get out into the real world they will not know anything and will be ignorant. Kids should know that everyone is not the same and some people look different. This will only help the kids in the long run. Parents think they are helping their kids out but in all reality they are really hurting their kids. Kids ask questions and wonder things but I would rather a child ask me why I am this way and they understand than for the parent to just hide it from them and act as if I am going to kill them (if I were a disabled person).I think that the US will react the same way the British people reacted because we are so used to seeing the norms on the TV screen. That when we do see someone different we say ignorant things out of our mouth, we speak before we think in some cases. The people in the United States might have more to say than the British people because we always overdue everything. We never let things go and just be. I respect her, she is very brave because she just came on the show and answered every question. Even though being handicap is hard enough but she held her head up and didn’t let the people know they had the best of her. I think that just having her on the television screen was a big step and a move forward to change. The media influence society heavily and I don’t think that the media would have let this thing play out for the best interest of the children. The world just has to be open to change and thing that are not normal to the social norm. This step was made even though its in the spotlight but we need to move forward and let the LGBTA have their spotlight.
As Americans, we tend to strive for normalcy and acceptance in the most silent ways possible. We teach our children to always remember that they are unique and special while simultaneously trying to fit the mold. We talk about acceptance and understanding, but we turn our heads in slighted shame to difference. The term “disabled” is inherently inferior, although that community has deemed it less so than the word “handicapped”. Regardless of how we identify people who are physically challenged, they will always be just that – physically challenged, and so somehow less worthy of life’s privileges than the rest of us. It bothers me very deeply that people can be judged based on things far beyond their control. And whether we are talking about race, religion, physical abilities, categories seem to serve the ultimate purpose of ranking individuals for social categorization.
This woman with one arm who works on a children’s television show handles her situation well, and encourages questioning it. She is right on target when she understands children’s curiosity. So often, kids are not exposed to enough diversity while they’re young. I was always taught to appreciate what made me different from everyone else. But in reality, I was so similar to the other children that the characteristics I could deem as unique were really quite trivial. For the most part, we were all white. And even though I am Jewish, that didn’t represent a problem since there were plenty of us. The point here is that there exists a disconnect between what we as Americans teach our children to value and what is the end result. For a people whose values reflect equality, we fall quite short. Our social norms actually contribute to values of homogeneity.
In addition to this disconnect, American values also reflect a tendency to simply not notice difference. To notice difference is to be a racist or to think more highly of oneself than the other. But this is coming from my perspective, from someone who was raised in an area where I was not of a minority. But imagine if this lady with only one arm lived a majority of her life among other people with physical ailments. If she were to join mainstream society later on, would it be acceptable for her to ask why people had two arms, or why most people could walk on two feet? It probably would be okay, because if we are part of a minority, it’s okay to address issues of difference. If we are of a majority, noticing difference is equated with having a problem with it. Here lies the hindrance to progressive dialogue. So in answer to Sam’s question of whether this response (about this woman) could happen in America, I would say it’d be less likely. We are not beyond the issue; we have definitely learned to just not discuss it. Although pretending not to notice that someone only has one arm is visually ridiculous, we are taught that in being silent, we are telling them that we find them to be normal, and that it’s okay.
To answer the immediate queries in the minds of many people- why are you uncomfortable with people who have one hand as opposed to two? I don’t know. I’m not sure at all. All I can tell you is this- for the longest time on earth, people with two hands have done things that are far more terrible than those with one. If you find yourself disgusted, repelled, or acting like you’re uncomfortable- don’t. There should be no need for it. You aren’t going “Yuck” in your mind because somebody else has one arm, you’re saying that because you’re afraid. Scared of what you don’t know, of something you’re not used to, something alien to you.
I wonder how in a society as large as ours, we can still ask questions like that. I mean, think about it, you wouldn’t discriminate against people of a different race, so why discriminate against people of different abilities? Children have no qualms with the world. They don’t know the differences between us and the problems that are a result of those differences. Let them be that way. Let them grow up watching somebody with one hand. You would let your kids watch four aliens with strange faces, and names like Tinky-Winky (seriously?), Dipsy, Lala, and Po - but that’s ok right? That’s completely normal? For your kids to watch that? Because that’s not real. Those things are teletubbies. Let me tell you something. Those kids don’t that they’re puppets. They grow up thinking that that is real. A child’s reality is based upon what they are shown as the truth. If you treat handicaps differently- your child will too. And as you tell your kids to be more and more careful they find even more things to hate. Don’t do that to everyone.
Don’t let your prejudices air on national television, and don’t pass on your ignorance to your child, it’ll make their life a lot easier. Tell him that he/she needs to be tough and prepared because by the time he is big- we’re all competing on the same level. African Americans, disabled people, gay and straight people- everyone is on the same level. It’ll only serve to make your kid smarter and stronger. Sure, he/she might not have as good of a chance anymore, but on average they’re better than most people in the current generation are ever going to be
I often write about how, as people with consciences, we need have a firm grip on our identities. Whatever it is inside of us that drives up to know who we are and to define ourselves by casting out what is different or embracing everything seems to be imperative to our survival as human beings. Perhaps we have a strong desire to feel in control and if we give up that control we will die or something terrible will happen, and if we are in control of ourselves and our identities then the world around us is not capable of harming us in any way. Parents will often transfer their own identities to their children, and this is only natural because they feel as though what they think and what they feel and what they believe in is the end all be all of what to think and feel and believe. I also believe that parents baby their children a little too much today in that when anything comes along and causes their child discomfort it is a bad, terrible thing, regardless of whether or not it actually is. In this case parents are concerned about a woman with only one hand scaring their children. How ridiculous of a notion is this. The fear or discomfort that children feel whenever they experience a person with one hand or any type of deformity is only natural. Children have limited experiences and when something is far outside of the norm it will naturally scare. However, the fault lies with the parents here, as it normally does. Unless the parents are extremely prejudice towards anything and everything different they should have the wisdom and knowledge to know that all they child needs is to have this abnormality explained to them. But we must remember that some adults are so engrossed in their own identities and the extremely overzealous and unnecessary care for their child’s well being that they see anything outside the norm as the enemy and shouldn’t be there at all. This is ridiculous, and if I saw this same thing occur in America I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard something like this on the news. However, in America, I really don’t think that they would air a person with a handicap on a children’s show anyhow. I feel as though television producers would be concerned with exactly what happened in Britain and would avoid the situation completely. I need to state that if there are actors or actresses out their with disabilities in the same position as the lady in the video my analysis is wrong here, but from my own television watching experiences I have yet to come across a children’s show with an actor or actress with a deformity. I honestly do not think that this same actress would be allowed on an American children’s Television show, unless the character actually required a deformity, in which case it would be acceptable, but never as a host.
Based on the interview with the disabled British woman, I found many parts of this interview very disturbing. I agree with this woman that people are extremely unaware of the discrimination against those with disabilities. Just like people have been unaware of racial prejudice today, people with disabilities also face discrimination, but are not recognized as being discriminated against. They discuss in this interview that the reason for these criticisms is because of the “fear of the unknown.” Although I agree with this to an extent, I do not believe it gives people a reason to criticize this woman for being on TV just because some children have never seen someone with one arm. In order to stop discrimination against those with disabilities we SHOULD be exposed to it. Also in response to this statement, we cannot just be exposed to something we are unfamiliar with without any conversation following it. I believe many of us would just ignore her disability in order to avoid calling attention to her, but in reality we are making it more of an issue. We focus so much on avoiding these types of discussions because society has made us believe this is the right thing to do. However, anytime we encounter someone or a situation that we have never been exposed to before, we need answers. Parents need to discuss with their children that this woman has a disability and what a disability is. Children learn by asking questions in addition to being exposed to new things. In most cases, children would not be afraid of her, but they would be curious as to why she only has one arm. People shouldn’t make her out to be “different” or “not normal” compared to others. What makes her any different than another human being, beside the fact that she has only one arm instead of two? This brings me to my next point. What is normal and who has the right to define what normal means? Normal for me could be different in terms of normal for you, but when you really think about it is anyone “normal?” I was raised to believe we are all unique individuals. No two people are exactly the same whether we’re talking about a person’s physical, personal, or social characteristics. We cannot look down upon others whom we see as “different” than us just because we think we are “normal.” When we start pointing out who is normal and who is not, discrimination and prejudice takes place. This woman was well qualified and deserved her position on the television show and that is all that should matter. Whether or not she has two arms, eight arms, or no arms at all does not make her any less qualified and any less of a human being.
It was hard to read this blog and watch the video without feeling guilty about every time I have stared at a person who is different from me because of a disability. Though I have never been afraid or disgusted by any person with a disability, I am sure that there are people who have seen me staring at them along with the dozens of other people who stare at them every day. That being said, I can hardly even imagine someone writing to a broadcasting company complaining about a person with a physical disability. I think it is incredible that there are people out there who do that. I also hope that those parents realize that their children are not afraid of people with physical disabilities because they either do not realize that there is anything different about the person or they want to understand it. I do not think that there is a single child who would be actually frightened by this woman, especially because she is so charming and sweet. It is clear that there are just parents out there that want to be jerks in any way possible and they have found someone to feed their ego. It truly amazed me to hear that there were people who took the time to write out a letter and mail it just to complain about something that they do not even have to allow their child to watch if they are so concerned. More than anything else, I was impressed with the way that this woman handled the letters and the questions that the hosts of the show asked her. I truly felt horribly for her because he was just a really lovely woman that did not pity herself but rather wanted to stand up and prove to people that her disability has absolutely nothing to do with who she is. Though I have never heard of her or seen her show, I am certain that a vast majority of children in the United Kingdom love her and her show and do not care about the fact that she has a disability.
The one thing that I just cannot wrap my head around is the fact that these parents really wrote letters of complaint. If anything, the fact that she has a disability should open up a window for parents to teach their children something truly valuable at a young age so that they will know how to handle it later in life. I think that I would be pleased if my child was watching something of this nature because it is an educational experience that will save me from the eventual flood of questions that I will have to answer when my child encounters a disabled person in public. I really cannot believe that these parents, in good conscience, complained about a woman with a disability.
After watching the video of the disabled host of the children’s show I was completely appalled. I did not realize that some people would be as ignorant to discriminate against those with disabilities. I was also actually surprised that the host was not shocked by the criticism she was facing since she only had one arm. It seems as though she was used to facing this type of discrimination, which is even sadder. One parent called her “scary” and believed that it would frighten children that watched the show which I find completely wrong. It is a parent’s responsibility to explain to their children that not everyone looks the same and unfortunately some people do have disabilities. If their parent does not inform their child of this then who is going to? Parents have a responsibility to their child to teach them certain things about life and this is one that should not go unnoticed. Are parents really that ignorant to believe that their child is not going to see a disabled person on the street or in school? Obviously at some point in that kids life they are going to come across someone that does not look like them, so what is the difference if it is on T.V. or not? It would probably almost be better for that child to witness it in their own home, on T.V. first so they have the ability to ask questions without feeling guilty.
I agreed with the disabled host of the children’s show when she said that she believes that it is a good thing that people are becoming aware of the prejudice that disabled people face. Most people are do not think about what type of discrimination people face if they are not in the majority group. Therefore, for the ignorant parents that called in and criticized her for hosting a T.V. show, they actually helped in aiding people to become aware of the discrimination that does exist for disabled people.
I would like to think that if a host of a television show was disabled that it would not become an issue in America. Although I think it is unlikely, you can never be certain with the array of diversity that lives here. I definitely do not think that the network that was airing the show would receive as many complaints and the one in Britain did. I am really surprised at how much of an issue this became and how shocked parents were that a woman with only one hand was hosting a children’s TV show. I like to know when disabled people were no longer allowed to do what they wanted in public. Have we become so shallow that we cannot tolerate the disabled?
In my opinion, it is totally absurd that grown adults have the nerve to write in and complain about something like this. Children are expected to be inquisitive or, perhaps initially, even a bit afraid of something that is different than anything else they have ever seen, it is simply the nature of youth. Adults however, and parents in particular, do not have this same right. By the time you have reached the age to have children, you should have also reached the age where you are capable of explaining to your children the differences between people. If you are not capable of calmly explaining why this woman without an arm is different (and why that is ok) then how are you going to explain the other differences between people when your children look to you for answers. Are you also going to write letters of complaint to shows featuring people of different races, people with different accents, and people of different belief systems? What about on a day-to-day real life basis? If your child is scared of someone because his skin is darker than theirs, are you going to ask that person of color to leave the area? The mere thought of it is absolutely insane.
I don’t know if I can honestly say why I believe Americans would be less likely to complain about the employment of a disabled woman on a television show. As someone who grew up around a great uncle with Down syndrome, my family taught me at a young age to be tolerant and accepting of those who are different from me. Through their kindness and tolerance, they showed me that all people have feelings and deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of their abilities. So maybe it starts there. Right in your own personal family unit. Or maybe, for people who did not learn through the example their parents set, Americans have learned to be tolerant through the politically correct structure our country has established. I’m not sure where our acceptance of those who are different really started, but I am glad to be a part of a country that teaches such respect for one another.
With regard to the disabled woman on the British television show, I give major credit to the television network. When the executives at the station made the decision to hire this woman, they most likely anticipated at least some type of negative reaction. However, by allowing a woman who may not fit the idea of what is “normal” on a children’s program, we are forcing parents to confront their children’s questions and begin a much needed dialogue about accepting others, regardless of how different they may be. The earlier we begin to teach children respect and acceptance, the more tolerant our world will become.
When reading, “For the Sake of the Children, Please Keep the Disabled in the Closet” I can only think about the plethora of cartoons and video games that children are exposed to. For people to complain about this lady with a disability with a television show is ludicrous. Everyday, people allow their children to watch television shows with characters with two and three heads, fighting, and shooting each other. Why not let them watch an educational television show, who cares if the host is missing a limb. We talk about not discriminating against others for differences, but this is discrimination at its best. Unfortunately, I believe that there would some complaints from Americans as well. Even though we want to believe Americans are more open-minded to things that are different, but they are not. We would have the same problem if the show were in the United States.
I feel as though there are some people that would think as I do about the issue. I feel as though addressing the issue of seeing disabled person will help the children watching the show in the long run. This is the same for a lot of different issues. That way when the child grows and gets older it won’t be such a culture shot when they come upon someone different than they. For example, when I was younger my father worked as a manager/counselor in a facility for the mentally retarded. I would often go to work with my father and o activities with people there that happened to be mentally retarded. Being there with my father exposed me to people with mental disabilities at a young age. Because I had obtained the understanding that these persons had a mental disability and were people too, at a early age helped me deal the issue, if I were to come across someone with a mental disability now that I am older. In high school, I would see how others reacted towards people with metal retardation; some who freak out and wouldn’t interact them and simply ignore them. I was infuriated when I first saw how people reacted. Then I had to quickly remember that these people were exposed to this at a young age as I was and were afraid of what they did not understand. I said all of this to say that the British people complaining that their kids watching a television show with a character missing an arm would somehow harm their children is ridiculous.
Obviously, you cannot expose your children to everything at an early age because some things may scar them for life. Some things such as disabilities should be a topic of discussion while the children are young, so when they are older, they will understand better and not be so shocked when they come across something that is not of the Norm.
Honestly, unfortunately I think Americans would react the same way. In fact, I know they would. Nearly anywhere you go you can find this judgment of the disabled. It’s something people aren’t used to; they expect everyone to have 2 hands, just like them. And when they come across someone who has only one hand, it can be somewhat disturbing to them because it is unnatural. To me, personally, it would sort of startle me at first, but after a few seconds I would get over it. If I were to have a conversation with this woman, I wouldn’t just constantly be thinking “OH MY GOD SHE ONLY HAS ONE HAND.” I might wonder why she only has one hand, whether it was a birth defect or the result of some accident but I wouldn’t let that pondering overtake my thoughts as I continue to converse with her. But I do understand why it might bother someone – just because it’s something they’re not used to seeing and that puts them out of their comfort zone. I think this ties back into race relations and why some people are uncomfortable around people of another race, especially if they’ve grown up or are around people of their own race the majority of the time. It’s just something different and they’re not used to it, so it makes them uncomfortable. I think we need to put ourselves outside of our comfort zone more often so we can break these boundaries of comfort. If we can do this there would be less prejudice against people who are different – that is of a difference race, different sexual orientation, or disability.
As for the people who are complaining to this TV show because they don’t think this woman should be on it because she has one hand and is scaring the children, I think it’s perfectly fine for her to be on this show. If anything, it’s a good thing. Children will be exposed to things like this early on in life so it doesn’t come as a total shock later. It’s easier to teach children than it is to teach adults. So if children start asking questions earlier they can come to accept it earlier and this acceptance and understanding will be more embedded than if they encounter it at an older age. So when they grow up and they see someone who isn’t just like them, they won’t flinch in disgust or feel incredibly uncomfortable. When I was growing up, my neighbor had only one leg. And I never found anything weird with that, because I always knew him as far back as I can remember, and he always had just one leg as far back as I can remember. I don’t remember my initial reaction to him, but now I realize I never realized he was any different from the rest of us – because he wasn’t.
In regard to the blog which tells of a children’s television show hosted by a disabled women and the controversy which it has brought, I have very mixed feelings. This took place in the United Kingdom, and many parents wrote in complaining that this disable women ( she did not have a right hand) was scaring their children. My initial thought, whether it be politically correct or not, was, the fact that most children, having never seen someone with a missing body part, may very well be scared by seeing a women with out a hand. And then quickly after, I tried to pretend like I did not think that. Political correctness has taken over my thoughts. A question posed at the end of the blog was something along the lines of ‘how do you think people in America would respond to this?’ also made me think about political correctness. I believe many people in America would have the same thought as I did, and then quickly be ashamed that they even thought it, so not speak up, or complain to the radio station. Now, that sounds like a bad thing, but I’m suggesting it is not. Children may have very well been scared of the show’s host, but it is a natural fact that people are born with out limbs and other body parts. That would not be a hard thing to explain to a five year old. It isn’t like the lady was shooting up to much heroin for the previous ten years of her life, and had to have the lower half of her arm amputated. That would be something to call or write to complain about. The fact is that although the woman’s appearance may at first scare some children, fear usually creates curiosity, which then involves learning. And to be perfectly honest, some children may experience no fear at all. They would undoubtedly notice the show’s host’s missing hand, probably ponder about it for a few seconds, and then continue to watch the show. As I am writing this, I keep going back and forth between opinions and convincing myself that each of them can be right given the situation. Another thing to look at is the age level of the show. I am not familiar with the show, but considering that they were blowing feathers off of a piece of paper, to reveal a cartoon duck underneath, I am figuring the show was for a very young crowd. And while it would be unfair to discriminate against a disabled person such as this lady, perhaps she could host a show for a slightly older crowd, maybe five to seven years old. I think that would alleviate much of the controversies. People of that age level are more understanding of situations like that, and are much easier to explain things to.
I find it absolutely ridiculous that parents are complaining about a children’s television host having only one arm, but honestly I am not too surprised. From my experience working at a YMCA for four years, I realize that people will complain about basically anything, especially if it could impact their kids. I remember shirts that had pictures of food on them were banned from the gym because a girl wore a shirt with an ice cream cone on it and the image made a patron “hungry”. Personally, I cannot understand how a parent could possibly justify complaining about a disabled person acting on a TV show. Their children will see a person with one arm. So what? I have never seen or heard of a child being scared of a disabled person. Children are inquisitive by nature, so of course they will ask questions about something out of the ordinary, but after they get an answer, they will move on to something more interesting. Clearly, these parents were too lazy to take the time and explain that there are many people with disabilities in the world. When you become a parent, you know that your kids will have questions about certain things and that you will be responsible for answering them and teaching your children about the topic. This is just common sense. Also, disabled people are not that uncommon and in good time, these parents’ children will come face to face with someone with a disability. I don’t know how schools are set up in Britain, but as a young child, I remember seeing kids with disabilities in my elementary school. Maybe these British families live in an oddly disability-free area.
If this TV show aired in the United States, I am sure that some crazy people would complain about the hostess with one arm. I do not think this issue has to do with an area of the world, it is more to do with the nature of parents in general and the close-mindedness of certain individuals. There are plenty of stories that air daily about Americans’ crazy ideas, actions, or complaints. Seriously, there are some extremely odd people in the world. Also, once one person gains the bravery to broach a complaint about a potentially controversial topic, others will follow suit. It is human nature. I am glad that the host is very calm and understanding about the whole situation. Of course, she has probably built up a pretty tough skin having to deal with discrimination and hurtful comments her entire life. I am guessing that the individuals who complained about the host will soon find something else insignificant to gripe about. This breed of person exists everywhere, and the host should try her best to ignore their hateful remarks and continue bringing smiles to children’s faces.
I think it’s easy to tell that there are still some social differences between the United States and United Kingdom. When I was a little kid and I saw a person without a hand, which I did, I freaked out. I can see how it would be wrong to not give the one-handed lady a job, but it’s a children’s television show. If parents care that much as to send a complaint to the TV station, it would probably be in the stations best interest to change the show. On the other hand, no pun intended, parents should monitor what their kids watch to a certain extent. If you are going to allow your child to channel surf without supervision, that kid is going to find some more disturbing things than a person without a hand. The question arises: whose responsibility is it to make sure children aren’t “disturbed”? The show is obviously aimed toward the interest of very young children. It’s almost as if the show wants to expose this as being socially acceptable. Anyone who complains will come off as being prejudice or whatever you call it. “Physically disabled” people take offense to being called “handicapped.” I honestly don’t know the difference and who cares. That would be like if someone called me Caucasian and I said hey, I’m white. The solution to every one of these problems is people need to stop taking everything so personally. Maybe children exposed to people with disabilities are better off learning sooner than later. There is no evidence to prove anything, but this issue in America would be different. A one-handed children’s show host in America would spark a larger argument in the US. There would be the side with all of the disabled people arguing that it’s not right to complain about her disability and making it into a discriminatory issue. The other side would be the parents trying to raise their kids “right” and arguing that the television network needs to take more care with what they show their children. In a perfect world, this wouldn’t be a problem, because everyone would accept everyone for who they are, but that’s never the case. I honestly don’t think there’s a real dilemma either way. Parents can simply tell their children not to watch that channel. Of course if a kid saw the one-handed lady they would be very interested, but that’s just what kids do. Either way people really just need to relax, because filing complaints like that in America usually leads to a lawsuit of some kind. Suing people has just become an American tradition, and a controversial situation like this definitely merits some kid of lawsuit. I would rather not have to write about an issue like this cause it’s something that we shouldn’t really have to be concerned with, but unfortunately we do.
This is actually quite ridiculous. Why are people so concerned with what is different instead of embracing diversity??? It bugs me that PARENTS would actually call and complain about how their children are afraid of her or not use to her and don't want their children to see that on the TV. How dare you?! Not only are you influencing your child to not accept differences in normalcy but you are also bringing on a sense of prejudice to something you nor your child have truly experienced. Not only that, but this issue can occur to anyone and being disabled doesn't only happen to one individual.
When it comes to Americans I think that we usually don't go that far in comments, because like we repeat as a cliche comment in class... "we see people, not color". This means that we see color, the disabled, and differences but we won't bring up the issue for the simple fact of being seen as racist or prejudice.
In a way though, I feel like not noticing and accepting differences is a form of racism in its own and it establishes not being able to cope with everyone's uniqueness and diversity. Just think of it like this, would if their child, the child that is complaining about being disturbed by the lady, the same child that doesn't want to be bullied in class, becomes disabled because of an accident... will the parents now complain or is it now okay to have disabled people on the TV. In retrospect, it doesn't make any sense.
I feel so bad for the lady but her being on TV goes to show that she is comfortable in her own skin and is allowing others to accept the simple fact that she is comfortable. This attitude of being scared doesn't justify anyone from being respectful, especially of the lady's feelings. It reminds me of elementary school when we used to say "He's got cooties", because in reality, NO ONE WANTS TO BE THAT PERSON.
So now that we realize that other countries can't even accept difference, then masking ours is no different. Like the female said, the more this different thing is seen the more the children will get to understand what they fear because they do not know. In reality I blame the parent for instead of explaining to the child how not everybody is the same, but that doesn't make them less qualified to perform anything we "normal people" do. In fact she might be more qualified than us considering she might need even more qualities to be able to get around and such. Teach your kids that instead! Overall I am disappointed and hopefully being different can be seen as a positive instead of negative in the future because that makes us who we really are.
I am shocked at how people treat this woman because of her disability. She is a very intelligent and charismatic person, the type of person who should be portrayed on a children’s show, and yet people are overlooking this and only focusing on the fact that she is missing one of her hands. It is amazing how physical qualities have such an impact on how others view us. There have been studies that show that people who are “better looking” and thinner get hired more easily than people who are not.
In a world, and society, were everyone hates being judged, it is amazing how often we judge people, and how we judge them on the wrong things. How is it that people are so close-minded, and so willing to brand someone based on their appearance? The very fact that people wrote in complaints about this is ridiculous. Do they want their children to grow up to be just as close-minded and unable to accept differences as they are? Apparently so.
I think that if this same situation arose in America, the reaction would be, on the whole, the same. Most people would not see any problem in it, yet there would be the select few who decide to complain. We might see her as being “different” or “not normal”, but when did being different become such a bad thing? Why is it bad for us to recognize our differences? The answer, is simply fear. We have been conditioned to fear things that are different, or that do not fit the norms that have been established. We have a hard time fathoming that there are people who are truly different, and when our norms are questioned, our entire way of life is questioned.
The parents that were so threatened by this woman were simply afraid because they would not know how to explain this woman’s situation to their children when they asked. This seems ridiculous but I think that fear, or discomfort, or misunderstanding is the basis of all judgment or prejudice that exists in the world.
Since the parents do not understand this woman’s situation, they decide to complain about her presence on a children’s show, or just stop their child from watching the show. When really, what they should be doing is encouraging their children to watch this show, and portray her as a role model. She is someone who broke into an industry that is largely based on looks with only one hand, if this is not admirable then I do not know what is. The only way that we can become more tolerant as a nation is to teach our children to accept the differences that people have, and parents like these only set us back.
Children are never afraid to walk up to a person and say what is on their mind. Most kids do not filter their thoughts before they speak. Having a young lady on a show with one arm of course is going to bring up thousands of questions and feelings from a child. But the fact that parents actually complained about this woman actually astonished me. What kind of environment is your child in that they are scared of a person with one arm? Not to mention the fact that I think brining a child in the world is one of the most selfish things you can do in the first place and then on top of that not educating them is crazy. The talk show host seemed to not be bothered by the complaints and she shouldn’t be bothered by them. She said it herself that most children just want to know what has happened that made her different. I know too many children she might be an unusual sight to see but they need to see it. Why shelter your children from something as wide spread as having one limb? I feel like Americans do a lot of crazy things and a lot of our television shows are complete trash so to see someone with disabilities on TV would actually be an uplifting television program, not something to worry about. If a school teacher was happening to be missing an arm do you think parents would complain? This woman picked a career that has her in front of the public eye and that is her decision. If it bothers you don’t watch. I just want people to stop being so ignorant. Yes don’t get me wrong if I was a child I would want to know what happened and why she was different but I would not be terrified of her. I commend her for not being afraid to be who she is. People can be really crude and this just shows how sheltered a lot of people are. I would like to hope that the United States would accept the TV host with open arms but you never know. It is so easy to judge someone but most people keep it to themselves. I guess I am just boggled by the fact that people are so ignorant to differences. People were made different for a reason we all need to learn that. I hope the young lady has a nice long career on her TV show and I hope that children realize that there is nothing wrong with being a little different.
As to where Americans would stand on this issue? I’m not exactly sure. I’m sure part of us would be incredulous to learn of such discrepancy concerning someone with this disability, but at the same time, I am sure that this issue could come up quite easily. To a certain extent, one cannot monitor this kind of discrimination - it is immensely personal, as the “one-handed-woman” says. To a certain extent, the parents in control of the children should handle these kinds of comments and life lessons.
In America, however, I think that we have been trained to not talk about these sorts of issues. Maybe Britain is far ahead of us by leaps and bounds in this way. At least they are willing to talk about it on TV, rather than just cause everything to be “hush - hush.” After all, we really are not used to seeing disabled people on the “tele,” but there is nothing wrong with that. If we were more accustomed to seeing it, the status quo would no longer be those that are “normal,” the status quo would also include those who are different. In some ways, I think this would help to lessen discrimination. The media possesses immense control over the population and current modes of thinking and what is deemed as “normal.”
I admire this woman for making the conscious decision to not wear prosthetics. I admire her positive, yet realistic, attitude. She has clearly represented well the case of other people with disabilities. After all, she did have to audition for this part, it was not just given to her on a silver platter. That being said, not only was the actress aware of the discrimination she could/would face, but the broadcast company owners were aware of this as well. This means, that all involved were completely aware of the complications that would arise from putting someone without a hand on national television, and they pushed forward anyways. In this way, I do think Britain is ahead of us. Not only do they choose to make decisions that do not follow status quo, but they also openly discuss them on national news programs.
As for Americans, I think a lot of us would be quicker to complain right off the bat (instead of a simple 25 complaints). For the most part, I think that Americans are highly opinionated and vocal about their thoughts. It is hard to say for sure though. I think it is great that issues like this are being raised in some parts of the world. Of course, it will definitely be a process before real changes of thinking occur, but we are clearly on the (slow but somewhat steady) way.
Sam posed a question that I hope everyone will agree with me on. “Would this happen in the United States?” I am positive that a small percentage of Americans would also be offended if this happened on our children’s programs. There are plenty of lesser-educated people in this country that forget that there are handicap people in this world. Their misguided views come from watching all the “perfect” people on television and forgetting that there are others in this world. I, for one, am glad that this show gave her the job. Maybe now that she is getting air time, some of these people oblivious of the real world will finally get the point.
I personally cannot understand why anyone has a problem with this. According to Disabled in Action, eighteen percent of the population has some type of disability. This means that theoretically one in five people you pass on the street has some form of disability. If you are walking down the street with a small child who sees one of these people, they are more likely to make a comment that may embarrass you. I have been around a lot of young children, and trust me; they do not have a filter. Wouldn’t you rather answer these questions in the privacy of your home then have to deal with them in a public setting? Children are naturally inquisitive and are always trying to wrap their young minds around differences they notice between themselves and the others around them. I would much rather have them see this on television and ask me why they are different. This way, when they encounter this situation in the real world, they are less likely to make comments that will embarrass you or the person whose disability they have just noticed.
I also have to agree with Sam that it should be illegal for some people to have children. There should be a test created that would allow us to know if the potential parents had enough skills to take care of this child and raise them properly. I grew up in a small, country town and have witnessed some of these poor spawns of uneducated breeding. However, since we cannot stop people from breeding, early education and introduction to disabled people should have a positive impact on a young child.
I am all for television programs, especially ones geared toward children, to make light of differences between all the people of the world. Since many parents tend to let the television babysit their children, I think this would be a positive step to helping younger children immerse themselves in a diverse world. At least it would start them off in the right direction to open the boxes and help all races come together as one. Bringing everyone together on television would only help this cause, especially if seeing is believing.
This is absolutely absurd! I do not think that people here would have reacted like this. I am shocked that parents would actually make complaints. I understand that kids can be ignorant, but how ignorant can parents be? I do not think that kids would get afraid if they saw a lady with one hand. I think they would just be inquisitive about it, which is completely normal. It is sad that these parents would do such a thing. I do not understand what is wrong in being disabled. It is unfortunate that these people are disabled. They go through enough on a day to day basis anyway, this only multiplies their problems. Why cause these people more trouble than they already go through? Kids are not an excuse! There may be some kids who might get afraid; however, it is the parents’ job to explain to their kids and answer their questions. If they know and if they are informed, then there will be no problems whatsoever. I never realized that people could be this rude towards disabled people and for what reasons? These people have never caused them harm then why have such an attitude? It is disgusting how parents can do such a thing and then give the reasoning of kids as an excuse. It is not something extraordinarily unusual to be disabled. It is not their choice to be disabled. It is part of their life and not a lifestyle. I believe it is every person’s duty to be respectful towards everyone including people who are disabled. They are unlucky in a way to be disabled and many disabled people do not have many opportunities to be successful. I am sure that it is very difficult to be born with only one hand; however, it looks like she has not made this her weakness. She has worked hard to be where she is. To receive complaints just because she is disabled and it “scares” the kids is just ridiculous. Kids have to learn sometime and they are not too young to learn about this. There is not much to learn, but just enough so they would not be “afraid.” If kids were an issue, then why have we not heard of something like this in the United States of America? There are disabled people everywhere and I have never heard of kids getting afraid of them for the most part, and I especially not heard of people making complaints just because there is a disable person on television. Come on people seriously, give these people a break. I do not understand why people make a big deal out of everything. The complaints were definitely not needed. These parents are the ones who are acting childish. It is them who need to be taught first and then their kids.
It angers me to imagine some snobby lady who thinks she is a good mom writing a letter to the news station complaining that the disabled child show host scares her children. I think it is actually a pretty neat thing to have something like this taking place, and it makes me wonder why we don’t see this in America. I would think that most times this woman would have been turned away from this job and the position would be given to someone without a disability who was conveniently “more qualified.” Watching the short segment of her show, this woman seems so natural and comfortable with what she does that I would love for my future children to have the opportunity to see her program. This is exactly the kind of person we should want to be hosting child TV shows. As far as how the parents of these child viewers feel, they should be welcoming to the opportunity to teach their children about the many different kinds of people they will encounter in their lives. It is better to have this conversation in the privacy of one’s home because when you are out in public with your child and see someone in a wheelchair or like the TV host, with one arm, they will not point and yell out rude questions. Instead they will think to themselves that the person must have a disability like the nice lady they watch on TV. I respect this woman’s decision not to wear a prosthetic arm. She has lived her whole life with only one arm and could imagine that wearing a fake arm would only be a hindrance now. I am glad that the people who hired her do not make her wear one either. Why should she trouble herself with a fake arm that she doesn’t need just so lazy parents don’t have to explain to their “scared” kids what it is to be disabled. I love her attitude towards her handicap and how she understands, seemingly better than some parents, that children aren’t scared of differences in people, they are just curious. It’s not like she’s waiving her disabled arm in front of the camera and forcing the kids to look at it. She simply goes on with what she’s doing without bringing any attention to it at all. In this way, she is not only a teaching mechanism for parents to use on their children, but she is also a role model for young disabled children who watch her show. They will see her and notice that she acts the same and gets along just as well as everyone else and that she doesn’t let her disability slow her down or get in the way. I think that this program probably does more good than other kid TV programs because it has this disabled woman as its host.
When I saw the video, I thought that it’s one of the thing that when people want to know about something they end up asking without thinking about how the person might feel. I understand for kids to ask the disable people bunch of question because they are at the age where everything is curious and ask questions non stop. It’s a same thing as what we learned in class. Just like how many questions that colored students get from white students. I understand that they don’t know the answer and just want to ask. But, what they need to realize is that they have to think about how they would feel when someone else ask them that. If I get a question that is purely out of the curiosity then I would be more than willing to answer them. But, if it was meant to be a joke or trying to say some racial jokes inside the question then, I would be very offended. And I do feel like if people are going to ask me a really stupid questions like am I from North Korea. It just makes me mad just because I feel like if they really thought about it for ten seconds then they won’t even have to ask me anything. I don’t take their stupidity as curiosity.
Being a disable person is one thing that separates her from being in someone else’s view of being a normal human being. It is sad to see that but, she sucked it up and trying to understand people with lots of different opinions. I mean that is a good thing for her and I am amazed. I wouldn’t be weird out even if I am walking right next to the person with one hand. It’s not like her other hand is going to come off and will hit me on my face. I just feel like everyone is making such a big deal about how they don’t look like each other.
Also, about the legal to having child before knowing what to say to them when they born disable. I just lost a word for second. So, if it is illegal to have a child before knowing what to say when they born with disability then, how the parent did knew they are going to have a disabled child or so, if it is illegal then are they going to get an abortion. Like actually killing the baby just because they will be born with disability that is wrong too. Nothing should have been said there. So, if that is illegal then what if I have a normal baby and then just because I don’t know how to explain it to my son that he is born as a male? Then that should be illegal too. Everyone have their different, no one is exactly the same. But, difference is one of the things that make a person unique.
The interview was very interesting. The women being a host for a childrens show. She got complains about parents saying that she shouldn’t be in the show because she scares the children. So should the world cut off the people who are handicap just to avoid explaing to their children the reality of this worl.d that the world and humans are not all born the same and they are not all similar to you. It’s very similar to the case of black and white. Racisim starts but you can’t run away from it. you have to learn to accept and the younger you know tha the reality of the world is like that, the more you learn to accept others. I believe that having her as a host is a very good thing because it shows the children that not all humans are the same. We are all different. My cousin is handicapped. She has been on a wheel chair her entire life. Her niece loves her so much and is learning how to accept and how ajust to people that are handicapped. Ims ure sometime in her life she will ask her parents why is my aunt on a wheel chair. But that’s completely understandable and that’s how it should be. The world should not discrminate anyone. Handicapps are trying to achieve their goals just like any other human. Why are we stopping them? The beauty of kids is that they learn to accept easily other people. and if they learn at a young age they will have no trouble accepting others no matter what. Whether it’s nationality, colour, or being handicap. Parents should expose their children to every kind of person. The parents who try to protect their children from different people they are not protecting their kids. Because reality of life is that sooner or later they will have to interact with different people. the united states of America shouldn’t be the same they should learnt o accept. No one is born perfect life’s hard on everyone no one I better than the other. We are equal maybe education wise we might differ or wealth wise we might differ but at the end of the day it all comes down to the person is personality and his qualities. Asking people why they are the way the are is completely understandable because that is how people learn. No body should be offended by it. You should share your knowledge and be happy that people actually try to learn. They might be offensive when they do it but you shouldn’t be offended but teach them. At the beginning of the year some of my friends were asking so does Kuwait cars is it civil? I could take it as being offensive but I didn’t I was just happy that they want to know.
Wow! I guess I haven’t realize how heartless some people are, it amaze me how ignorant these parents could complaint about a these nice lady that is doing her job, even though she only has one hand. What is the problem with explaining a young child that a person with only one hand is a normal person, and we shouldn’t see them differently. This woman has a job and that is to entertain young children and she is doing it, so that means that its discrimination against this woman, just because she is disable. I think in America they would make complaints like this, but also I think people would go against it. Because America always try to make everyone comfortable, even though it doesn’t really happen. This world is full of shit, because if as human beings we can’t respect each other, we are going to destroy one another. This lady was saying that its normal for people to complaint about it, but I know it affects her a lot, because it’s really hard when you know you are doing your job and some miserable people try to get you fire, just because you are missing one arm, like its illegal to work with only an arm. I know for a fact that these kids are not going to be afraid if these parents explain to them that a person that has an arm is totally normal. How rude? Where they even thinking how they were going to make this woman feel, like if the program really bothers you change the damn channel. If most of the parents let their child to be afraid of a disable person and don’t talk to them about it, those are the child that when they go to school they make fun of disable people and it’s not fair, because they didn’t choose to born like this. They are not letting these kids to overcome that fear, so they are going to learn that disable people are different so they are going to treat them differently. I’m not saying that this only happens in that country, but around the world because here in the United States things like this happen, and we all know that. In the United States they are so many different discrimination that we can’t even name them and it’s supposed to be a free country. What we could do about this is teach our kids what is right because they are the future, and they are going to be expose to different people and that’s the reason they don’t learn how to get along with different people because the learning starts at home. It was very ignorant what those parents did.
This woman with one arm seems to be very understanding of the criticism from parents, who's mind seemed to have closed from society. This woman says she auditioned with her one arm, so the network knew what they were getting into when they hired her, and accepted her for who she was. She is on a children's show, catering to children and she is definitely not the first disabled person on television. There is a mentally disabled person on that idiotic show The Secret Life of the American Teenager and so I know that American television has had a disabled person on network television before. Granted, it is a slightly different situation, because no parent would allow their young child to watch a show about a fifteen year old getting knocked up and drama ensuing. I think that having a disabled woman on a children's show just allows parents to open up discussion about people with disabilities so that children know that not everyone looks exactly like them. Children are naturally curious about anything and everything, and the woman in that video clip even said she's has numerous kids come up to her and ask her what happened to her arm.
If parents are really complaining about exposing their kids to people with disabilities, then how exactly do they expect their kids to go out into the world and not see one? It is not as if there are not people with all kinds of disabilities all around us, and by not allowing their children to watch that show, they are caging their children and letting them become ignorant of the world around them. If this happened in America, I am sure that there would be those parents who complained and ignored the politically correct way to handle the situation. It is just like those parents who turn their children away from disfigured or disable people on the street. Not only is the act of even complaining about this demeaning to the poor woman who has dealt with her disablility and the many stares I am sure she receives everyday but it is just plain rude. Let the woman do her job, something she obviously would not be doing if she did not love children in the first place. Who are we to judge what's normal, and tell our children what is normal? This woman is completely normal, other than being the star in a I.Q-lowering television show, she is not stark raving mad and telling children at home to smoke crack. We should teach children to have open minds so that they do not walk through life judging everyone who does not look exactly like them. So, yes I do agree with you, and agree that those complainers are complete blockheads.
I really am disappointed by parents who do not take the time to teach their kids about disabilities in human beings. I believe teaching children about handicapped people would help them to appreciate what they have more and realize that there are some people out there who do not have an arm or a leg and etc but they still live the same way as most of us do and they have the same needs. This whole political correctness does not make sense to me. After hearing all these stories, it makes me think about reasons why people even let themselves to talk and think about disabled people the way they do. There are always going to be those ignorant people who do not know what it is like to miss a part of the body and live like that for the rest of their lives. I am sure it is hard as it is, so people should not make this even harder. I believe we can improve this way of thinking by teaching the people around us about different types of disabilities and how it affect people’s life and their families. If people learn how to respect and be accepting of people who look different, life would be so much easier.
While I always find the ignorance of others distasteful, it is never surprising. I am not shocked that viewers in Britain would complain about a one-handed woman on a children’s television show. I do believe that it would easily be the complaint of viewers in America as well. The values of the British are similar to Americans- so it would be foolish of me to believe that Americans are so much more evolved and enlightened than the British that not one person of out the millions in this country would complain about such a thing. I also understand that ignorance mostly arising out of feat. I am not denying the fact that I may be ignorant about some things as well. I will not stand here and claim innocence more than any other average American. I would not be so uncomfortable around a person with a disability to complain about it, but I do admit I would notice it or take a second glance at it. Anything that is not perceived to be normal often gets a second glance or a stare. But would I not allow my children to watch a television show because a woman has only one hand? Certainly not. Would I complain to the television station about it? Again, no. I think it is an accurate depiction that the television studio received complaints from about twenty-five percent of viewers. I would expect about the same number from Americans. I do not think that that twenty-five percent is stupid, cruel, or mean-spirited. But I do think that that twenty-five percent is ignorant. Mostly, ignorance means scared. And mostly, people are scared of the things they do not know about or are uneducated about. So I am saying that that twenty-five percent is probably scared and uneducated. Some are scared of what is not considered “normal.” Fear is a powerful factor. I’m not saying that one of the viewers who complained about the one-handed girl is afraid of her in the sense that she will show up at their house and beat them up. It’s more about a fear of disabled people. I’m not even sure what that fear really is- or even if those impacted know what the fear is really of. I think it’s a mixture of not understanding disabled people, fear of being uncomfortable, fear of not knowing how to act around another person who is not “normal,” and fear of somehow catching whatever the disabled person has (which as most of us would know is most likely impossible.) I think the best cure for this fear and ignorance is education. Instead of complaining about the disabled girl on their child’s TV show or barring their children from watching that show, parents should use this as an opportunity to educate their children. If their child asks about the one-handed woman on TV, parents should inform their children about people with disability and how just because someone is different doesn’t mean there is something wrong with them. Apparently complaining is easier than teaching our children.
In the article, Dr. Richards states that these parents who complained were “narrow-minded Brits,” but in fact I believe that the same amount of parents, if not more, would also complain here in the United States. Although I believe that a majority of Americans would be accepting to this woman and her show, I feel that many would still complain and demand that she be taken off the air. Why is this? Why is it that we can walk around the streets and malls and see people with disabilities and be okay with it, but when someone with a disability appears on television we throw a fit? It is ridiculous. Everyday people in this world are born with disabilities, whether it is having only one arm, one leg, no arms, or even no legs. These same people take on the challenge that they were born with everyday and learn to overcome it and go on with their lives. Why is it that these people with disabilities can get over their disability, but others can’t? It doesn’t seem fair. Why punish this woman on television for having a disability? We should be praising her for she truly is an inspiration.
When I first saw the video of the woman on the children’s show, of course her disability caught me eye, but at no point in time did I become uncomfortable or scared of her disability. It seems ridiculous to me that anyone would complain and write into the producers saying that this woman was “scaring their children because of her disability”. What do they mean scaring their children? If a show is scaring a child, then turn it off, but I highly doubt the child is really that terrified. In my opinion, I think the parents are more uncomfortable with the disability then the children are. The only reason a child would question why she only had one arm would be because they were unaware and curious. It is a parent’s job to explain to their children that there are going to be people in the world that are different sizes, shapes, and colors. Why shelter a child from something that they are bound to see when they go out into the real world? I think it takes great courage for this woman to go on television and do what she does. She has accepted her disability and is moving on with her life. Why should she have to hide herself away because she was born with only one arm? I become angry when I hear parents complaining about this woman for I instead believe that she is a great role model for the younger generations. She teaches children with disabilities that it is okay to look different and to accept who they are. She also teaches every child that regardless of what they look like, whether it is their race or a disability, they can strive to be anyone they want to be. Instead of these parents seeing this woman as a threat to their children, they should see this as a great opportunity to teach their children about the differences in others.
This blog and video clip made me think about the different types of discrimination in the world there really is. I usually just think of racial discrimination, gender discrimination, and ethnic discrimination. But obviously there are so many more. I give a lot of credit to this woman for choosing not to wear a prosthetic arm. I must be very hard for her because she obviously knows that people must look at her funny or just stare at her when she does simply daily tasks. But that is her choice and I think people need to not judge her for that decision. My first reaction was that of anger and sadness. I felt so bad for this woman to be born like this and people are saying that she is scaring their children. I think that is a little ridiculous. If the parents just explained why the woman was like that then the children would understand to an extent and being more accepting of it. It truly is sad that this woman is faced with these issues. I wonder why these parents choose to act this way. Do they want their children to see only the ‘normal people’? And if so why, seeing people of all races, ethnicities, abnormalities or not should be wanted by parents. At least that is what I would think. I guess maybe not at such a young age, would a parent want their child to see a murder take place so they can understand that type of person. But I would think most parents would want their children to see people with disabilities so they can understand they better and just for the future. If you shelter a child then they will get a huge culture shock when they grow up. All people are different and it is unfair for a parent to teach their children that everyone is the same. Another thing is I’m amazed there were actually complaints about her being on that show. I would think people would feel sad and sympathy for her. I am also unsure of whether I think this could actually happen in the United States. My gut instinct said definitely just because there are more outrageous things that I have seen on the news but I am not sure if it would ‘acceptance’. Americans might think that they are out of line speaking about this. But I do kind of think that people have learned to understand the uncontrollable. She was born without an arm, she didn’t cut it off herself to be different. I think most people don’t feel uncomfortable but they may be curious, which is not wrong. She said it herself that asking questions is fine, she doesn’t get offended because she understands their curiosity.
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