APE IN A CAPE: True Thing I Did

gailsimone:

junkieofdata:

gailsimone:

daggerpen:

gailsimone:

thefingerfuckingfemalefury:

gailsimone:

A while back, an astounding Ragdoll cosplayer actually gave me the flawless Ragdoll mask that he had made (he was making another, if I remember correctly). I can’t express what a perfect version of the mask he had made, it was an astounding replica, and included the mop of red dreadlock-like hair…

I’m not going to lie, I would have been screaming SO loud if that happened to me O.O;

It sounds like a lovely gift though

But probably slightly horrifying to see in the dark when you’re not expecting it

I don’t believe I even thought, “Oh, my god, RAGDOLL IS IN MY HOUSE.”

I think the first thought I had was, “Some damaged stalker got IN MY HOUSE AND LEFT A RAGDOLL ON MY SOFA.”

Funny story in retrospect, but am I the only one sideyeing the use of the word “damaged” here?

Ah, crap, you’re right. I was trying to be cautious, too.

I’m sorry to anyone who took offense, to be honest, I’m not 100% what the best way to say this would be.

Since becoming a pro writer, I actually have dealt with some very scary situations…one man wrote letters saying how he wanted to hurt people, and was going to commit a ‘comic book apocalypse,’ at an event I was attending in Texas. We had undercover cops in the parking lot, and an escape route planned. The man left two bullets at the store to let us know he was serious. So my mind did go there, especially in light of another round of very disturbing letters from a different writer entirely.

I know a lot of people are suffering with mental conditions beyond their control. If ‘damaged’ is the wrong word, and it does sound pretty wrong when I look at it, I am not sure what the right word is. I make no excuse. I am really sorry to anyone who took offense, ignorance on my part is no excuse.

I am very sorry.

Y’know what? No. If a man breaks into your house, just to leave a creepy-as-fuck doll of a character from a comic you wrote a yearish ago, and nothing else? Probably some level of damage there.

This is like the people saying it’s ableist to call the Colorado shooter “crazy”.

People who are struggling with these conditions have enough to deal with without painful labels. I appreciate the thought, but I am happy to update the language I use if it makes a difference to the people who have this in their lives.

As someone who has been institutionalized more than once, trust me, how people refer to us is the least of our worries.

Totally understand, just think language is something we CAN improve upon.