A Tale of Poverty: The Battle Between Restorative and Performative Justice
Alice Scarlet Death
This is from a Facebook post I made. Not really written with a blog format in mind. Is it really a blog if you don’t post about your self once in a while?
This is the story of how I responded to a public shaming incident in July 2018. Cancel culture is usually used in instances of celebrities and internet outrage over their poor behaviour. I was called out, blacklisted, and publicly shamed over my behaviour. I have taken to criticizing their methods. I have nothing against people removing people from positions of power for being abusive. I was abusive, so I get it. But there’s so much more to this story than that. I was in a few local positions of power, and it’s better for everyone I’m no longer involved. Celebrities can handle and bounce back from these situations. I am not a celebrity. I’m disabled, at risk for homelessness, living in the bottom rung of the United States considers poverty. I needed help, not public shaming, and cyber bullying.
There may be some sensitive topics such as medicine, homelessness, abuse, marginalization, and other symptoms of late stage capitalism.
Sometimes in situations like my own as the lowest tier on the poverty chart, at-risk for homelessness. Waiting for disability. There’s no room for accidents. And you’re always stressing out you’ll be on the street again. And you feel like you have no other options.You don’t have very many friends who can help in a tangible way. Over time this starts to really affect your mental health. And you have little resources to get out of that depression, even if you have coping skills to damped the pain. You starts to feel like you have no other options. You don’t want to feel this miserable all that time.
You being to show signs of toxic behaviour. You’re at your wits end. You ruminate thinking about what options you have left. And then you realize you have a few options. Lie about being suicidal and going to the hospital to get some decent food. Stealing. Lying. Drugs. A lot of my behaviours,
I chose some of these things as a last resort because i couldn’t think of anything else. And by some of the tings I mean all of the things.
You come to a conclusion that this is the only way. You might feel guilty for steeling. Or lying. You might know full well the dangers of drugs. Yet, we do all of these anyways. Not everyone does these but it is fairly common.
Social justice advocates often post about self-care and doing what you can to survive. Self-care is a privilege this situation does not allow room for. Not without engaging in illegal or otherwise destructive behavours. People become addicts. muggers.and more.
In general, crime happens because we take away people’s ability to take care of themselves.
Humans are resistant creatures, But like with any animal they defend themselves when being attacked.
And morality and ethics aren’t necessarily considered when you’re thrashing and lashing out against what’s attacking you.
Some people might laugh at this and call it excuses. Or that they deserve it. Yes, we are responsible for our actions. Regardless of the influence. But perhaps next time before you judge someone in that situation. Just remember, we’re all just humans trying to survive and that those whose survival is being threatened, us resilient humans will do anything to survive. The issue is that these behaviours you used to survive linger on even after you have no reason for it anymore. Poverty like this can cause PTSD. and they might have the privilege to get proper healthcare, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Unlearning these behaviours means getting the needs met of this person,
You say you support marginalized communities, but when the reality of their behaviour stemmed from that, you ghost them, cancel them, think they’re out to hurt you on purpose. I mean it’s definitely your own decision to keep them or cut ties. Just keep this in mind. Treating them like the government does is not a good look
Try to be compassionate and less performative.
