I wanted to discuss farther what we talked about in class last Thursday. In my small group we discussed how when we see people with disabilities we don't want to be rude and stare, but we also have a curiosity towards them. Then we started talking about shows we see on television that involve people with disabilities and the different ways they are portrayed.There are shows on discovery health that I would consider spectral shows. These are usually one hour specials that talk about and show people with very rare and unusual disabilities. Some examples of these shows are "The Half Ton Teen" and "Mermaid Girl" and "The Tree Man". These shows give a short glimpse into the life of someone with disabilities that people can stare at in the privacy of their own homes. They do not feel as guilty looking at these people when they know that no one can see them or judge their thoughts. Then their are also shows on TV like "The Little Couple". This show is about a newly marries couple of little people and their struggles to make it in a big world. This show, even though the people are disabled is not the same because, besides being little, they look the same as everyone else. They do not have a type of dwarfism that causes their bodies and limbs to be disproportionate. They couple also lead very normal lives. The woman is a doctor and the male is a business man.
These shows would not be on TV if people did not enjoy watching them. Thomson is right when he discusses people feeling uncomfortable looking at people with disabilities but with modern technology and television people can now stare without actually staring at the person. They can stare in the comfort of their living room and then go on with their day without anyone every knowing.
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So I really agree with what you said about how people become more comfortable with staring when they're in their homes watching on tv, rather than in public looking directly at someone who is disabled. I think that this is case for everything though. Haven't you ever looked at somebody walking down the street that you thought was "cute". Like it becomes "ok" to look at them when they can't see that you're looking, but once they turn around or catch your eye, it's like you look right away and feel awkward. I think this is the same with people who have a disability. It's like we as society feel more comfortable staring at others when they don't know were looking or they can't see us (this includes tv). I think it's a wrongful stereotype that when you stare at somebody you're automatically judging them; like you said, sometimes we look just because we're curious.
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