Why do people feel the need to make judgements about things they don't understand? Why do people feel the need to make assumptions, jump to conclusions? Comment on things they know nothing about? Is it really that difficult to just think before you speak? Or even better, not speak at all unless you actually have some understanding of the matter in hand?
I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/M.E, and people always seem to feel the need to give me their opinions, or judgements on the illness. No matter how rude, hurtful, or pointless they may be.
On one occasion, not so long back, whilst in Newquay, Cornwall, I was in a shop with my mum. My mum got talking to the man who owned the shop, and the conversation, somehow (I wasn't particularly listening), turned to me. The man turned to me, and asked me how old I was,
''Fifteen.'', I said, to which he replied, as so many people seem to think school is compulsary,
''Why aren't you in school?''. It obviously never occured to him that maybe I was home educated.
I explained that I have M.E, and that I can't go to school because of it. But of course, I was in a shop, dressed nicely, my hair was done nice, and I had makeup on, so he assumed nothing was wrong with me. Which, I'm used to people making judgements like that, I suppose it's human nature, if someone looks okay, it means they are. Even though he was thinking that, I don't see he had any right what so ever to say to me,
''Look at you! There's nothing wrong with you! You're walking round town perfectly fine, you should be in school! Get in school!''. I cannot describe how angry and upset I was at that comment. To me, it was very ignorant, and rude. And, to be honest, insensetive.
When he saw that my facial expression had changed, he quickly switched to 'Mr Nice And Reasonable',
''Oh yeah, no, I know quite a lot about M.E actually, quite a few of my friends have it. Although one of them seems to be able to walk the dogs miles every day and spend hours on facebook. I keep telling her to get a job but she won't.'', and he called himself a friend? I feel very sorry for the poor woman if she has friends like that.
So many people believe that M.E is 'all in the mind'. When in actual fact it is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a neurological condition. Which means, for those of you who don't know, it is a physical condition. Most definately not in the mind.
Also, people seem to assume that just because I can walk my dog, or go out with my friends (once in a blue moon), that I could be in school. On the very few days I feel slightly better energy wise, my mind is still not in the right place. After all, walking doesn't require any concentration. Where as reading, or watching a film, obviously does. A common symptom of M.E is 'Brain Fog'. The Brain just won't function right. And that is the reason some people can walk around looking fine, but can't work/go to school. I myself am different on a day to day basis. Some days I'm in bed or on the sofa all day, barely able to move, where as other days I can walk my dog for ten minutes or so.
So many people believe that it's all put on. A way to get out of work or school. If only they knew. If only thats all it was. I don't think there is a single person alive that would choose to be stuck at home all the time. To have no hope of acheiving any qualifications. To have no social life. No life, basically.
If you came accross someone with cancer, who looked okay, you wouldn't judge them, or question it, would you? No. Because you KNOW the seriousness of cancer. You understand it. So many people just dismiss things they don't understand, instead of actually listening and trying to understand. Or even sympathise. M.E is a serious condition. It can leave people bed bound, some people even have to be tube fed. Google Lynn Gilderdale. Then tell me it's all in the mind. Do you really think a lively, active, bubbly girl would choose to be bedbound for eleven years? I don't think so.
Anyway.. after such a depressing and ranty and bleurgh post.. a pretty picture.. ?
Yes.. my idea of a pretty picture is Paolo Nutini.. nomnomnom.
