Huh. Well, mine will still be different..."overcoming" being sort of out of fashion for hip crips nowadays.(It's a lot to carry, you know. Having all of the responsibililty for your level of accomplishment. Reminds me of "ownership society", kinda.) Wow, Hec, do you like, hope for me to happen by to spring these cool-but-exotic links on me?

Wow, Hec, do you like, hope for me to happen by to spring these cool-but-exotic links on me?

Actually, I was just thinking you'd be uniquely qualified to write an article about the genre.

Wow. I suppose so. I was just wondering if *I* should make a note in *your* file. It'd be interesting at that, because I would say there's been some evolution in the concept of disability since those books have come out...more of a perception of us as a minority community, as opposed to being a few unlucky souls who are "fate's bitches" It's still small right now...I wouldn't say we're at "Crip is Beautiful" yet, but... Oh, this is probably incredibly boring. I'm sorry. ETA: One day, I will accept such information without first thinking "Oh, great. He thinks I'm an idiot." But apparently, not today. Inferiority complex, much? Dag.I'm sorry, Hec, and I guess me, too, but apologizing to oneself feels like one step from rice pudding on the Haldol Express.

"overcoming" being sort of out of fashion for hip crips nowadays.

Less overcoming, more being? Kind of like the "When I am X, I shall do Y," when you can be doing Y all along?

I wouldn't be surprised if Hec' examples of "crip noir" comes from the confluence of pulp detective novels and the vaudeville/circus sideshow fascination with all things funnylooking(*). You've got your various forms of "low" entertainment, mashing themselves together.

Like modern romance novels having military action plots -- instant crossover!

(*) I found out in the notes of a Dickens novel the other day that the sideshow "pig-faced lady", in the 1840s at least, was in fact not a lady at all, but a bear, shaved, dressed in women's clothes, and strapped down into a chair. And while I might enjoy a novel about a circus bear detective, I can't imagine the bear would enjoy being shaved hairless.

Not exactly. More like because "overcoming" is more of a thing for a special person. Kind of a "credit to your people" thing. Very individual and about the effort of will. Movement people don't like it because if everyone thinks a crip can make it if she's strong enough, then it takes away from the civil-rights aspect. Also, what if you can't mentally transcend your limitations?ETA: Overcoming, like presidenting, is hard Dang, poor bear...that's so weird.

And while I might enjoy a novel about a circus bear detective, I can't imagine the bear would enjoy being shaved hairless.

Not to mention that it would SUCK to have the job of shaving the bear.

Not to mention that it would SUCK to have the job of shaving the bear.

Note to self: update resume.

My mother has not had every bad job.Will have to mention this one, as it embarrassed her when I told her what a "fluffer" was.(I thought she knew already.)

I just had a flash of memory about a blind guy with a sword cane, but now I think it was someone just pretending to be blind? Anyone know what I'm talking about?