Gimp Porn?

Due to my job responsibilities, I venture to say that I spend more time than the average person on Facebook. I am fully immersed in the amputee community and have noticed a growing trend. Images of people with various handicaps paired with a motivational saying or quotation are being shared at an alarming rate.

The first few times I saw the little bilateral amputee girl running with Oscar Pistorius, I have to admit that I thought it was cute. I don't remember, but it is possible that I even clicked the dreaded "share" button making the poster available to my entire friend's list. If I did fall for this ploy, I must now apologize!

The posters initially appear to be inspirational or motivational. After all, if the little boy with no hands can learn to write his name by holding the pencil in his mouth, how can one not be impacted by the quote underneath asking, "What's your excuse?" As these pictures became more prevalent on Facebook, I found myself feeling more uncomfortable. It has taken me awhile to understand why I was starting to cringe each time I saw another poster pop up.

Although seemingly uplifting, these messages portray individuals with disabilities as second class citizens. Many of the people shown are just living their lives, completing ordinary tasks. Why hold up the image of a man without a leg walking his dog as motivation? I've come to realize that society views amputees with such little regard that simply completing a normal daily task becomes something extraordinary.

In addition to perpetuating the low standards held for individuals with a disability, I have concerns about the ownership of the images that are being used. Many of the posters portray cute little handicapped children. Do their parents know that their snapshots have been taken and altered only to be shared and viewed by thousands of people?  The same images are often used with a different quotation. This leads me to believe that the owner of the photograph is not authorizing the dissemination.

In the amputee community and the larger family of individuals with a disability, I am not alone in my detest of these images. In fact, I've come to learn that they are referred to as "gimp porn." Although not sexual in nature, the images do appeal to people who  like to gawk or look at somebody that is different or unique. These "motivational" images have become the modern day version of the freak sideshows that were popular decades ago.  I hate these posters!