Anti bullying Disclaimer

Providing clarifications in order to educate and help prevent and/or shut down bullying and abuses stemmed from ignorance. If you are unclear of where I stand and why, of the facts and/or want clarification and to be educated, please read the labour below.

Dear Readers/Viewers/Skeptics/Critics,

Social Limits:

Please review the Contact Protocol page as a guideline regarding the nature of my social contact limitations and why.

Regarding Harassment:

I will not tolerate harassment whether it’s verbal abuse or sexual harassment, I will block and report.

Overall, regarding Bullying

I am dealing with a lot of hard stuff in life and am also living with post traumatic stress; I cannot and will not tolerate bullying, abuse, or hateful words. These things will be immediately blocked and reported. Respectful constructive criticism is okay, and is totally different from the aforementioned. However, please be respectful of my reflections and viewpoints, and mindful of why/where they have come from. I have had challenging, painful experiences in life. I also missed out on pieces of my formal education due to life circumstances (which has sure made things challenging.) If you think I need to be educated about something, please gently and politely do so and I may reflect. You also may not agree with me about something and may have a differing viewpoint, and that’s fine, but I ask for reasonable respect and courtesy. I have dealt with very inappropriate, hurtful bullying and abuse in the past, and today I’m the process of healing. I still encounter misjudgement too frequently, for various reasons mentioned below; I’m on the autistic spectrum, have complex trauma, complex medical health issues and invisible disabilities etc. I am a lot more challenged than I may appear. If you don't understand why then consider educating yourself…or if you don’t want to make time for that at least be respectful and move on (or be blocked.)

Communication Differences:

I am diagnosed on the autistic spectrum (formerly asperger syndrome) and have some intermittent neurological difficulties due to my health condition. I also deal with post traumatic stress disorder. Though I’m smart and astute, I have processing and communication differences and difficulties at times. I tend to not communicate in a typical way. Sometimes communication can be a struggle for me, for various reasons. However, I’m determined anyway, and this may come across. The ways I express myself may at times seem a bit odd to others who don’t know me well. I am quirky and and idiosyncratic. Sometimes not all of what I’m thinking meets my lips properly, which can be frustrating. This is why I try use at least some annotations in videos, to help. I may sometimes ramble a bit too much, or express or word things a bit differently. Though I may express feelings and emotions in different ways, (which happens with autistic people) they are valid. Consider learning about this and shifting your paradigm with an open mind, rather than judging. If you aren’t sure about something I meant, ask me. You may be surprised to find I meant something different to what was assumed… and again if you do not agree with some of my viewpoints, that’s fine - but please be respectful.

Health & Medical Fundraising

When it comes to my medical condition and raising funds online (Go Fund Me) and/or through music or writing for the specific medical treatment I need (but can’t currently access) I will not tolerate any ‘faker’ accusations. Although my medical condition is unusual and even considered ‘rare’, I am genuinely in a very physically compromised condition at the present time - to the point that it can indeed potentially be life threatening. My medical records confirm my challenges. Therefore, making public claims that I’m “faking” when the situation I am in is genuinely serious, can be very damaging to fundraising efforts for me to get the help I need. This is also a crime called Slander (or in writing, Libel.) My family and I have zero tolerance for people uttering slander or writing libel about me in relation to the validity of my health situation and doing so may result in legal action. Though my health condition (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) is unusual, considered ‘rare’, and is somewhat invisible (especially to those who don’t know how to identify EDS) it is very serious and real. Though I may look 'fine’ and/or well dressed with nice make up sometimes, and thus seem 'well' in photos, it takes a lot of work for me to present that way. Truthfully I’m in a lot of pain, my mobility is compromised and I am physically weakened. There is an ugly side to my battle that I have a hard time sharing about and usually do not, because it is quite personal. However, this struggle is very much real and anyone who truly knows me knows this. For years my unusual health problems and reports of them were treated like they practically didn't exist and were not worthy of being heard. I am now past that. At present day my health is very challenged, to a point where medical personnel cannot deny it without looking foolish and negligent - though they were negligent for too many years, hence why I’ve reached this point. A lot of other EDS patients experience neglect like this too, as well as frequent ‘faker’ accusations, by people and systems. It’s a cruel experience that no human being should ever have to go through and it needs to change. Not only do I need to protect my own well being but I need to set an example by saying I have zero tolerance for this cruel and inaccurate bunk.

My diagnoses are factual and confirmed, and my day to day life is a struggle that’s obvious to those who know me in real life. Therefore I will not tolerate any more ‘faker’ or ‘exaggerator’ accusations - facts are facts, end of story!

A note regarding "attention seeking” :

In terms of my work and art, critics have sometimes thrown the accusation of being "attention seeking." Well, yes, I sometimes do "seek attention" - with purpose - because I am an artist/content creator trying to promote by work. Other times, I wish to have privacy. This is actually to be expected among self-advocates seeking to raise awareness, and it's absolutely to be expected with anyone involved in the performing arts. So yes, I aim to gain specific attention - to my art and work…and for awareness when it comes to EDS and related issues. Therefore, using "you are attention seeking" in the context of an insult sort of makes no sense, has no fair base, and distorts the reality of what I am actually doing as I decide to put myself out there for the reasons I do.

So it’s simply a stupid to say.

Regarding viewpoints/opinions:

Please respect my viewpoints in terms of what I share on youtube and blogger. I am exploring, pondering and figuring out how I feel about the social/political scene at this time. I do not always have time or energy to read up on everything, so if I am wrong about something or a fact has been updated/changed, gently remind/educate, I will learn, absorb and augment..but please be respectful. I am quite socially liberal, though I may be moderate about certain things. I prefer to identify as 'independent and freethinking.' My viewpoints may evolve over time. I seek balance and moderation, and prefer objectivity, compassion and peace before conflict. I support better communication, less polarization in thinking, and more mediating among activists. I am really striving for this myself. If you don’t like what I have to say or present, that’s fine - but do not attack me for it. I don’t have a problem with someone peacefully expressing a different viewpoint, unless it is blatant bigotry ie. racism, homophobia, ableism etc. Violent arguments over varying viewpoints happen too often in groups and comment threads, and I do not wish to engage in this. I don’t have time or energy whatsoever, for that. People have different experiences and others don’t know or factor this in, often enough. Please strive to respect my expression of my viewpoints (even if you may not agree) and I will strive to respect yours if they are not communicated violently.

and so it is,

Thank you. 

• Scarlit-Rose Ashcraft