Via Heather Johanssen I came across this video of a woman who has acne, a skin condition that can create physical scars and even deeper emotional ones. She had posted images of herself on social media with and without makeup. The video shows her transition and the comments that she received. It seems like she just can’t win.
Knowing what we know about how vicious people can be on the internet, why would she expose herself to such vitriol? She explains her motivation:
Three months ago, I began posting images of myself without makeup on social media. The following film contains real comments that were left on images of my face.
Over the past few months, I’ve received thousands of messages from people all over the world who suffer or have suffered from acne, an insecurity or self confidence issues.
I wanted to create a film that showed how social media can set unrealistic expectations on both women and men. One challenge many face today, is that as a society, we’re so used to seeing false images of perfection, and comparing ourselves to unrealistic beauty standards that It can be hard to remember the most important thing
You ARE beautiful. You are beautiful – no matter how flawed you feel, no matter how upset you may about the way you look or how hard you find it to make friends, or be confident. Believe in yourself, and never let anyone tell you’re not beautiful – not even yourself.
It is quite incredible to me that people feel free to make such gratuitous hateful comments to people about their physical appearance. Why do they care?
I take such hateful comments as indicating some sort of deep insecurity on the part of the hater, for which they are trying to overcompensate or negate by improper comparison. Comments to relieve their own psychological distress are clearly not based on reality. I think people have always had such thoughts in the past. But it’s only with the internet that we all get to hear the garbage.
Seeing other people do such things without consequence lowers the barrier for anyone following them to do the same.
I thought she looked very pretty to start with but of course I had the advantage of an introduction first. Not sure how much that mattered or not. I also belatedly remembered one of the people I was in a long term relationship with had the same acne problem. It simply isn’t the primary characteristic that comes to mind when I think about people.
I think we get a lot of image issues on the matter courtesy of the snake-oil salesmen pimping facial cleansers. One of the ugly comments even directly referenced them.
Much irony here. The internet is a Dorian Gray portrait gallery of grotesque commenters.
you are so brave and courageous and beautiful/
thank you for you bravery
maura
Some people can’t look at anything without trying to make it all about themselves and their petty little opinions.