What's the biggest misconception people hold about you?

Tori_Scope

A misconception is a view based on incorrect assumptions or information. 

What's the biggest misconception people hold about you?

Do you think disability can affect people's perceptions of you? For example, if you're a disabled person, or a carer of a disabled person.

Cartini

Hi Tori,

Your question reminds me of when I started my studies with the Open University (I started a psychology course, but had to change to IT when I was medically discharged (from the RN)).

The 1st module had 3 themes:

Local and global

Private and public

Representation and reality

The third theme, representation and reality, I align to your question of misconception.

The representation is that I`m an able bodied person but the reality is that I have several medical conditions, two of which can be quite debilitating.

Unfortunately, the majority of people judge a book by the cover instead of opening the book in an attempt to understand the contents.

Andy

Alex_Alumni

What a good question Tori!

I think disability certainly can affect people's perceptions yes, I've had people express surprise when they find out I have CP- or otherwise, when they know I have CP and I tell them about myself, my work/hobbies etc.

I think a common misconception for me is around driving, people are always fascinated by how I drive as a part time wheelchair user.

Other things include my liking for gaming, perhaps because I'm a woman. I hope it's changing, but there used to be a  big misconception about gaming only being for teenage boys. 

I think we each experience different misconceptions, and have our own misconceptions of others based on all sorts of factors, and disability can be a big or small part of that, depending on how much it's a part of our identity.

I'd love to know what other people think

bg844

That I’m ignorant, this is so untrue. I am very kind and caring when I’m chilled out, I can get quite stressed when I’ve got loads of things to do or something hasn’t gone the way I predicted. They also presume this from the way I write a message, I’d rather be down to earth so people can understand what I am saying more. This is all due to one of my disabilities.

66Mustang

Mine is that I'm unfriendly

This occurs as a direct result of my "disability"

That is completely untrue though, just I find it really hard to talk to people in person, so will often come across as "short" or "aloof" when really I just don't know what to say!!

woodbine

Most people think I'm tight with money, the truth being that I'm just cautious and would give you my last penny if I thought you needed it more than me.

bg844

would give you my last penny if I thought you needed it more than me.

Absolutely spot on!

vikingqueen

      Me too @woodbine, my daughter in law thinks I'm downright miserable with money and that I am just mean... She forgets the times I helped out with large purchases without being asked. 

    

wendy41

That because I speak with a scouse accent that I'm a thief! The most common biggest misconception about being a scouser. The all too common saying 'oh better watch my car around you I might come back to it propped up on bricks' or 'if it isn't tied down you migh walk off with it' then when I don't laugh at their NONE funny assumption about ME as a person they say 'where's your sense of humour' I'm SO FED UP WITH IT! A doctor once tried to make a joke out of it and when I challenged him about it and stated 'how is that funny?' it went a deathly silent. Then the question is asked 'oh what part of liverpool do you come from? and when you say TOXTETH they either change the subject or out jumps 'isn't that where the riots happened!?' 
So sick of it. The prejudice shows itself in it's full glory especially in a work environment.

Jo_2022

I love this question @Tori_Scope!!! Thank you for asking and bringing up such a relevant topic for disabled people!! I sense the assumption from certain people that I don’t deserve to be in a romantic relationship, or that I am not allowed to go on a date with someone, or that I don’t have any desire to find love. In the past some family members have projected the attitude that a person with a disability does not have any right to have children, or explore their sexuality, which I found very unfair, disrespectful and traumatising. I believe everyone deserves to feel accepted and loved… 

Cartini

wendy41 said:

That because I speak with a scouse accent that I'm a thief! The most common biggest misconception about being a scouser. The all too common saying 'oh better watch my car around you I might come back to it propped up on bricks' or 'if it isn't tied down you migh walk off with it' then when I don't laugh at their NONE funny assumption about ME as a person they say 'where's your sense of humour' I'm SO FED UP WITH IT! A doctor once tried to make a joke out of it and when I challenged him about it and stated 'how is that funny?' it went a deathly silent. Then the question is asked 'oh what part of liverpool do you come from? and when you say TOXTETH they either change the subject or out jumps 'isn't that where the riots happened!?' 
So sick of it. The prejudice shows itself in it's full glory especially in a work environment.

Hi,

Scousers are portrayed as thieving scallies.

Cockney`s are portrayed as wide boys.

Manchunians are portrayed as thugs (I`m Manchunian and about as much as a thug as a slug attacking a lettuce).

Geordies are portrayed as football hooligans.

The list goes on.

No point letting generalisations spoil your (your as in general, not your as in specifically) day, I don`t.

Tori_Scope

Thank you for the positive feedback on the question, all! 

Thanks also for your thoughtful and insightful comments. I'm sorry to hear that so many of you have faced negative misconceptions. 

I suppose my next question would be around how you react to these misconceptions? 

And what do you think needs to change to prevent these misconceptions being so widely held?

Karen7788

People think I’m quite posh when I’m really as common as muck. 

vikingqueen

               Someone once called me a snob @Karen7788 is that the same as posh  my daughter laughed that much she had bubbles coming out of her nose 

janer1967

People think I'm fat I'm just not tall enough 

leeCal

People think I’m overweight because I eat too much when actually It’s the meds I’m on. Within six months of being on them I weighed two stone more, I’m now four stone overweight due to the previous meds I was on. Nightmare. I’m now on a self imposed very low calorie diet. 

Sandy_123

I really don't know what people think about me directly,
Be intresting to know. 

SueHeath

I've only just thought to look at this post, because i don't know ha ha 
Some one did once say to me when they meet me face to face - oh i thought you were younger ha ha mmmmmm

66Mustang

janer1967 said:

People think I'm fat I'm just not tall enough 

Ha ha that's funny

If I was tall enough I'd be the worlds tallest person

Karen7788

vikingqueen said:

               Someone once called me a snob @Karen7788 is that the same as posh  my daughter laughed that much she had bubbles coming out of her nose 

I honestly don’t know why they thought I was posh, it was the mums at school, my friend told me, laughing their head off. I think it’s because of my manners, it’s the way I was brought up. I’m proud of being common.

ta_x

. . . . that I have no friends.  It's simply that the people who care aren't pretending, so there often isn't a big show for others to see.  I'd rather have a few real friends, than many fake acquaintances. . . . ta.x.