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 Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:49 am
See, I live in a small town and we have a small movie theatre, and every time I walk in there (I go to the movies a lot) I get offended and I was wondering what people think about whether I should complain or let this go because it's no big deal. For about a year (a year of me being annoyed) a sticker machine has been set up right near the entrances to the theatres in plain view and every time I walk past it I cringe because it's always displaying a bunch of big black stickers with incredibly ignorant supposed to be witty and cool neon slogans about crazyness.
One example: "I used to have schizophrenia... but we're getting better."
I find the level of ignorance in all these upsetting, but on the other hand it's just stickers and nobody takes them seriously, right...?
I know I can't take on everybody and fight every little battle, but it might be equally unhealthy to just let offensive things pass...
I know others have mentioned those stickers, I know I'm not the only one who has been annoyed by them. And I don't want people who don't think to be offended as they see them to just let that kind of thing pass through their brain and sit in their subconscious, you know?
I've got a massive anxiety disorder so complaining would be hard, I'd have to write a letter. And if I did write a letter how would I word that?
So, what do you think, do I complain because it makes me uncomfortable or let it go because it's just stickers?
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:52 am
That's horrible, even if it is just stickers. If I were you, i'd probably write a letter, or do something about it. And the one you used as an example isn't even right, Schizophrenia isn't when you have split-personalitys or whatever, stupid sticker people.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:26 am
I would write a letter, and get those people who agreed with me to sign their names on the letter at all. You should quote some sources to prove that the sticker is incorrect, and state why stigma is harmful and their stickers are offensive.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:54 pm
Okay, I'm complaining. Here's my letter: Quote: Dear Manager/s of the Rialto Theatre, I would like to respectfully request as a long time patron of your theatre that you remove the part of the sticker display in the lobby that contains stickers such as "I used to be schizophrenic... but we're getting better" and the others that link this with a crazy, mad scientist-like image. I understand most people would not see the big deal with it, but every time I walk past it I cringe and I have gone to the theatre with friends and family who have noticed it and found it disturbing. The display is upsetting, even though it may be small, because it shows and reinforces stigma to the mentally ill. As a mentally ill young person I am made all too aware of the effects of such "harmless" stigma and general ignorance in my peers and the attitudes of others. 1 in 4 people will deal with a mental illness at some time in their life but only 20% will get help and one of the most commonly cited reasons for not getting help when it is most needed is fear of stigma, their own or from others. Stigma is a prejudice, just as racial prejudice is. Prejudice is nothing but fear. Fear is based on ignorance. When people see these ignorant statements, as on those stickers, it does settle in their minds and effect their judgements and beliefs about what mental illness is. For example, in the sticker I mentioned schizophrenia is linked with multiple personality disorder. That is completely false, the two disorders have nothing to do with each other and true multiple personality disorder is extremely rare, but to anyone buying the sticker that belief is subconciously reinforced. The subconscious does not descriminate between a medium considered harmless and a textbook, a statement is a statement and a prejudice is a prejudice no matter its source. A person passing by with a mental illness, and there are many who go to the movies just like other person, is aware of that and a person who does not yet know their illness sees it and their chances of getting help before it's too late go down because either they believe it and don't think they could be mentally ill if that's what it's all about, or they think if they do tell that they might be sick those close to them will believe it and judge them. It would be hard to explain the extent of how unwelcoming it is to suddenly be made to wonder how those around you would judge you, and if they really believe these horrible things about you, when you just want to have a fun night out like anyone else. I'm sure you wouldn't show a totally racist film, or allow employees to make sexist jokes to your customers. Please consider those with less visible differences as well, and let everyone feel welcome at your theatre, and consider removing the offensive items. Sincerely, Alice Fairbanks Do you think I should change anything?
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 6:13 am
LaLaLogic Do you think I should change anything? I think it's very well-written! Go ahead and get folks to sign along with you who agree with you, and send it to them!
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Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:28 pm
I think you should remove your real name and the name of the theatre from your post. Might be my OCD manifesting as paranoia that makes me think that the information can be used to find your real-life self, or maybe I'm right. Or both.
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Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 1:27 pm
It is just a sticker - But I can definately understand why they're offensive. I saw that same slogan on someone's T-shirt in school.
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:53 pm
Manhattan I think you should remove your real name and the name of the theatre from your post. Might be my OCD manifesting as paranoia that makes me think that the information can be used to find your real-life self, or maybe I'm right. Or both. It's alright, I'm okay with that being there. I didn't even notice it was there before. Anyways, I'm away for the next two and a half weeks waaay up north on vacation, and then I'll mail that off. See you all when I get back. 3nodding
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 7:29 am
Someone on my block has a car with a bunch of bumperstickers like "I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it" and "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the least," stuff like that. It's weird, how wide the range of perception of mental illness is...and when you see things like that you don't realise how it can destroy people's lives...literally, in some cases. I suppose you have to laugh about it, because if you don't it'll just be unbearable.
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 1:35 pm
LaLaLogic I'm away for the next two and a half weeks waaay up north on vacation, and then I'll mail that off. See you all when I get back. Keep us updated on any response you may receive! La Veuve Zin I suppose you have to laugh about it, because if you don't it'll just be unbearable. Yeah. This may be a pun, but I'm of a split mind on the issue of mental-illness humor. I do think that humor is a good way to take away from the fear surrounding the issues, and usually I give a large allowance to those who spread misinformation in the name of a good laugh. But on the other hand, a lot of people have only stupid slogans as their ideas about real mental-illness, and that's a shame.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:59 am
La Veuve Zin Someone on my block has a car with a bunch of bumperstickers like "I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it" and "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the least," stuff like that. It's weird, how wide the range of perception of mental illness is...and when you see things like that you don't realise how it can destroy people's lives...literally, in some cases. I suppose you have to laugh about it, because if you don't it'll just be unbearable. Those stickers are funny - To a certain extent. The thing about schizophrenia kind of crossed the line.
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