I always find the way these discussions run really fascinating! Individuals
seem to take whatever part of the message suits their aim and use it
accordingly.
When Jennifer posted the first message in this thread, I thought 'fair
enough' and that she had made an interesting and valid point.
Then David responded in a way which seemed to underline (in bold) the very
thing Jennifer was protesting about; the *us* and * them * scenario. I could
almost hear him saying nah, nah in his comment ' I'd like to see them
survive', and I thought here we go...
So some of us are academics, some of us are not, and some are both or
neither!
I chose to study Disability Studies because I was very curious about why
people/society/medicine behave towards people with disability as they do.
It's been a fascinating journey and I hope the course will enable me to take
some of my empirical 'real world' evidence and write it up in an adequately
academic way.
A friend recently included me in a comment about 'You Academics!' and until
that moment I had no idea that anyone perceived me in that light.
So, I am an academic to some people, a real world person to others and
sometimes both, sometimes one or the other, sometimes neither to myself!
All of these elements inform the way I am here and now, I 'belong'
everywhere and nowhere.
We all have a role to play, advocate, academic, campaigner, Joe bloggs. All
equally important in life's rich tapestry. Let's not scoff at each other,
but consider that if we are in a Ivory tower, we might just have a pretty
good view of what's going on, if we care to look.
Perhaps we are all on the same side of the fence, just in different fields!
Gill.
Gill Dixon BHSc Hons, RGN
Independent Dyspraxia Advisor/Trainer.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask]
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Jennifer
> Sutton
> Sent: 24 June 1999 20:19
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Living in Ivory Towers
>
>
> But Michael, I'm not sure I'd ask this question. For me, it's not that I
> care that non-academics *know* what the social model is--that they know
> "the term." Rather, it's important that they understand the consequences
> of it.
> Jennifer
> At 10:57 AM 6/24/99 GMT, you wrote:
> >To all
> >
> >I would like to think that disability studies does have
> relevance to "the
> >real world", whether the real world knows it or not, but you
> have to ask the
> >question:-
> >
> >How many people know what Big Bang Theory is and how many know what the
> >Social Model is?
> >
> >Perhaps media attention has got a lot to do, ironically with the "real
> >world".
> >
> >
> >______________________________________________________
> >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> >
> >
>
>
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