Character Theory Writing as Characters with Disabilities

[Malphaestus]

Unlike what would seem like the majority of RPN's mentally ill community, I do not believe that respectful portrayal is something that matters. It should be realistic, and that's about it. If realism is what is deigned as respectful, then I suppose there's no reason to differentiate, though I assume it is not. I never quite understood the meaning of respectfulness as a condition to writing.

Though I do not have much of a physical handicap, so I am not privy to that perspective.

 

[Syntra]

Unlike what would seem like the majority of RPN's mentally ill community, I do not believe that respectful portrayal is something that matters. It should be realistic, and that's about it. If realism is what is deigned as respectful, then I suppose there's no reason to differentiate, though I assume it is not. I never quite understood the meaning of respectfulness as a condition to writing.

I think we need to clarify what 'respectful' means in this context. I am not suggesting that the ugly parts of mental disorders should be sanitized or left out-- that's not at all what I meant. I am arguing that you, as a writer, shouldn't spread misinformation, and that you should treat the character with some dignity. Even ugly things can be portrayed tastefully, without making the character look like a freak and/or villainizing them. If that's what you are opposed to, then I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[Malphaestus]

I think we need to clarify what 'respectful' means in this context. I am not suggesting that the ugly parts of mental disorders should be sanitized or left out-- that's not at all what I meant. I am arguing that you, as a writer, shouldn't spread misinformation, and that you should treat the character with some dignity. Even ugly things can be portrayed tastefully, without making the character look like a freak and/or villainizing them. If that's what you are opposed to, then I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree.

I will have to say that I do not understand, and if you are able, an example would be prudent for my further comprehension. Though I do not know whether that example can be presented.

 

[Malphaestus]

On second thought, I think I understand what you mean. To refrain from demeaning the character through measures of subjective descriptioning. Calling them "disgusting," or some-such. Then I suppose I do agree, to a point. There is no reason for such behaviour.

 

[Chordling]

Yes. You can still show the adversity while being respectful.

 

[Malphaestus]

You will have to forgive me, the thought of my own interpretation of a condition shaping the writings I put forward into the roleplay was beyond me (not that I have any). Never thought of such a thing. A character's personality shapes the way I write my roleplay contributions.

 

[Kiyoko Tomoe]

I was writing that in the context of "disabilities that affect ability to function socially" for the most part, and as response to another individual I believed was using the same or similar context. I should have been more specific there. Something like being in a wheelchair or having a prosthetic leg I wouldnt see any issue with in a fun roleplay unless of course it befalls the "I have to make this disability a constant problem getting in the way of fun even though it neednt be because the point of the roleplay is fun and lightheartedness".

I suppose I should correct my prior post's statements to have the stipulation "if it significantly affects ones ability to socially interact with others or in some way creates situations that impede or interfere with the intent of the roleplay, it should not be played by majority of people and / or should be researched in depth and discussed with the person running the writing / story beforehand as to just how much attention they are okay with having the roleplay or writing itself give to that disability versus the 'fun' aspect of the roleplay.

If its written as "despite this I can have fun just like everyone else" then by all means, don't let me hold you back from writing it, thats for the person and their storyteller to discuss.

tl;dr I meant that as a general statement about disabilities and illnesses that interfere with social interactions in a significant way and don't entirely oppose the playing of disabled characters in any type of roleplay as long as its done with research and with effort to keep the intentions of the roleplay or writing in tact and that most people likely shouldnt be writing disabled characters (as in, no specific person is or isnt allowed to, more of "should I be writing this character in this particular story").

Also apologies if I make no sense or I put out meaning I dont mean to put out, 14 years I still don't think very well in English

Let's not forget that a lot of physical disabilities are hidden too. Not everyone can tell that you have a disability by looking. Not everyone disabled is in a wheelchair or mobility aid.

Also ... yeah people genuinely do go up to wheelchair users and tell them to get up and stop faking it. Especially in my country where the prevailing attitude is that disabled people are welfare scroungers.

Oh which brings me on to...

Cultural attitudes to disability. What is the society like? Are they like the Spartans who think the "weak" should be taken off into the woods and left to die of exposure, or is it more of a caring, inclusive society where ill and disabled people are taken care of.

Did this person get a disability as a result of an accident, warfare, illness or were they born with it? This is also a big cultural factor. The society might be respectful of war vets for example, but think that those born disabled are something to be pitied/discarded. It could work the other way around ... maybe a war has left the society in need of some serious pacifism and ex-soldiers are vilified for being killers. (Think about how returnees from Vietnam were protested against, even though they weren't the ones responsible for the war.) In a war-like society, are combat-injury related disabilities seen as a good thing (you did a lot of fighting) or a bad thing (you're a crap fighter to let yourself get wounded).

Maybe there are some disabilities that are looked upon as a sign from the gods. For example - from my research from your RP Musician XD - if a person has fits and seizures, hallucinations or visions then they might be considered to be channelling the will of the spirits and trained as a medium. Or maybe they are thought of as possessed by demons.

With a lot of playing characters with disabilities you need a combination of research, yes, but also empathy and the ability to put yourself in the other's position. It does require a bit more careful imagining - what can/can't my character do, how does this impact them? but in a way it's not so much different than playing a non-disabled character.

Here's some things to avoid because they are annoying and/or disrespectful and/or cliche:

A character who gets miraculously "cured" from their disability.
A character whose main goal is to get miraculously "cured".
A character with a disability who has to sacrifice themselves so an abled person might live.
A character with a disability who has a magical workaround so that their disability doesn't really impact them at all and is just there for show.
A character with a "special power" that makes their disability negligible. (For example: blind, but has such incredibly heightened other senses that they are a master swordsman and can outfight everyone.)
A character who spends all their time angsting about their disability.
A character who nominally has a disability but it is never shown impacting them at all.


EDIT:



I don't see why a disabled character shouldn't be in a fun-oriented etc. story. People with disabilities have fun too. I'd be interested to know why you you don't think it's a proper setting?

I think it might even be better for someone to start off writing disability in a fun/casual story because it will ease them into the character better than suddenly planting them in the middle of a ton of action.

 

[Murdergurl]

I've written a whole bunch of characters with disabilities. Physical disabilities mostly.

Partial blindness. Amputees. Burn victims. Disfiguring scars. Life-long damage from past attacks. etc.
I might even say I write them more often than characters without.

This is because I write characters that have seen some shit and survived to continue their misadventures.
They should realistically be pretty fucked up from all the things they've been through.
My favorite of these characters is easily Nadia. She is actually all of the above rolled into one.
I know I've showcased her before, and maybe some of you are getting tired of me referencing her.
But I made her AT LEAST 5 years ago, and have yet to even ONCE get her into a successful RP.

One of the more recent characters I have made, suffers from Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser syndrome amongst other things.
I can't link her profile though. She's made for adult-oriented RP, and is not minor appropriate.

 

[Sero]

Just stepping in here again for just a general opinion, but I do think that overall, people should not be discouraged from playing someone with a disorder, or any type of character. I've found the best approach is to kindly educate those that wish to be educated, rather than closing off the option to them. We need to encourage proper portrayals because those can make a very interesting, hard hitting, and realistic character.

There are certainly plots that can take advantage of a disability, and some that will portray them wrong. Those that are obviously disrespectful should be pointed out and addressed, with grace. Forget about those that do not wish to learn.

I agree on a key point, in the end you are writing a person and it should be approached as such, their disorder should not be their personality. I find that this is a valid way not only to approach those with disorders, but other orientations, genders, or qualifications. Do your research and make your mistakes, you will make them, but what sets you above is if you choose to learn from them.

 

[Jannah]

As a non-physically disabled person who has written physically disabled characters I'll just say this: don't tokenize the characters. In other words, give them personalities beyond their disability and the resulting struggles. However, don't downplay the struggles or ignore them either. It should be made clear that the character is disabled.

I am mentally ill and say the same about anyone wanting to write mentally ill characters.

Oh, and please do research about the condition you're trying to portray regardless of what it is.

 

[Chordling]

give them personalities beyond their disability

Oh yes, this is an absolute must. People are so much more than a diagnosis. Disabilities do not define people.