#disabled!scar

[fagsystem]

As an ambulatory wheelchair user I have so many thoughts about how people draw/write disabled!Scar. This is sort of a guide/insight from a disabled person about writing/drawing disabled people.

Specifically in regards to wheelchair users.

Do not get me wrong, this fandom is genuinely probably the best group of people I have ever seen when it comes to drawing wheelchairs. I do not believe I have ever seen Scar fanart where he is in a completely unusable, horrible, hospital chair. It is so clear people have taken the time and energy to research into wheelchairs and I love it. I am in no way saying stop that.

I just think people could maybe put a little bit more consideration into him being disabled beyond visual appearance.

I saw a really amazing artwork of SL!Scar and he is in a sports chair. Which is really cool, in many ways, as it shows some thought being put into the setting. If I were in combat, I would in fact like to not be knocked from my chair or have my chair tipped over.

Yet, you have very limited mobility in a sports chair. It is, by design, made to prevent you from tipping over. Which means that you are incapable of going over bumps, really, let alone natural terrain.

Just in general, there really is not any wheelchair that exists in our world that would allow wheelchair users to exist in a setting like the life series.

So, I have some ideas:

- Horses. Hands down my biggest suggestion. Especially with Secret Life they fit in very well with the setting, everyone uses them, and it fits the bill perfectly for what he would need. Especially considering Scar is an archer, it makes a lot of sense for him to be on horseback. It suits him and his style of fighting so well.

- Some sort of redstone power chair. There are all sorts of ways you could design something like this. Perhaps with pistons that push down against the ground, allowing for jumps. Perhaps just a series of pistions functioning as like a bunch of little spider legs. There are a lot of things you can do with that, you can get very creative.

- For my Vex!Scar lovers, you could have magic be used as a mobility aid. Perhaps a magic wheelchair, or perhaps a magic exoskeleton.

And with all of the ideas, considering how they fit into the setting really changes everything. What are the strengths? What are the draw backs?

With horses, they are strong and fast and agile. But they are big, it is hard to fit into small spaces, and they can be killed.

With some sort of redstone chair, I feel as though it would make sense for it to be robust and strong. Depending on how it is constructed, something fast and agile or perhaps something a bit slower and more clunky. Is it loud? How would stealth work in something like that?

When it comes to any sort of magic you do not want it to fix the disability. It is a mobility aid like any other. Not perfect, not the same as not being disabled, just another tool with its own unique draw backs. Perhaps magic is draining or it takes concentration. Would he tire quicker than others? Would he require food quicker than others? Is it possible for him to lose focus on it in a stressful situation, leaving him stuck until he can calm himself down?

Other things to consider are really specifically the setting as well as what disability you are giving him.

I feel as though on Hermitcraft an option like a redstone chair just makes a lot of sense. Multiple redstone chairs, even, all constructed differently for different uses. Such as ones for building. How does long distance travel work with the chair and how you lore your setting? Is it something he can put in his inventory? Is it something he remains in when using an elytra? Does that have any draw backs, such as being slower or needing more rockets or being less coordinated in the air?

I feel as though in the life series a mix of vex magic and horses makes a lot of sense. The magic is good for small spaces and short trips and emergencies, but it is too tiring to travel across the map with and too much effort to maintain when he needs to concentrate on battles. That would be where the horse comes into play.

As for what disability, well, it truly depends. Most of my rambles here have been based upon paraplegia, because I often times see people making him an ambulatory wheelchair user just because they do not know what to do otherwise.

Not that making him an ambulatory wheelchair user is a bad thing by any means. I am one and I adore reading stories like that. It is just a bit clear that a lot of you are quite lost as to how to navigate hurdles disabled people face, so you make it so he can walk over those hurdles. Which, once again, I am not shaming you for! This post is just to show there are other options

But in the case of him being an ambulatory wheelchair user: why is he one?

Mobilities aids are disabling unless you need them. You cannot access spaces or you do not have hands free or any number of things. What to the Scar you are writing makes using mobility aids helpful instead of a hindrance? What times are they more trouble than help, and what cost is there for not using it?

A good example is if Scar can walk around short distances with minimal difficulty/drawback, but long distances are painful or physically not possible.

Look into different disabilities and consider it. A lot of people tend to default to chronic pain because that tends to be quite a common one across a lot of disabled people, but there are a lot more different reasons why.

It could also be that he is very slow because of his disabilities. I have muscle weakness sometimes because of my FND, and it is like moving through sludge whenever I try and move.

It could also be that the mobility aids are a preventative measure. He does not need to use his wheelchair, unless he has done too much walking and then his body refuses to support his weight. He does not need to use his wheelchair, but when he does not he is a lot more likely to dislocate something and then yeah he can't walk. He does not need to use his wheelchair, but he is a fall risk especially after a lot of walking or running. Him being in his wheelchair prevents him from falling! (And if he's a fall risk, maybe he's strapped in too!)

I just have so many thoughts and I wanted to share them.

I see so many of you putting in effort already and it warms my heart. It is why I feel comfortable enough to make this post, because clearly you all care a lot about representing disabled people well.

:]

If you have read this far thank you so much. Let me know what you think or if you have any questions.

Edit: I made a rough redstone wheelchair design. It is one of the few reblogs that has comments, if you filter for that you should be able to find it. If not, reply to the post and I can send you the link to it. :]

[faelynfawn]

The weirdest thing about all of it was that after Scar fell asleep, his robe had slipped down off his shoulders and exposed some tiny, glowing wings on his back.

---

Warning, despite appearances, this is not Scarian. It is Convex. You will get the Scarian preening, I promise.

Eventually.

[eluminium]

Obsessed with whatever the fuck this interaction was from yesterday's stream:

Scar: *makes a wheelchair joke* Skizz, while giggling: We can't join you on those jokes Scar! Scar: You could Skizz. Come to the dark side with me. Skizz: Okay, I'll do that but you have to make MS jokes to me! Scar: I don't know any MS jokes! ...You MS! Augh, I can't think of anything! Skizz, giggling again: "You MS!"? That's just terrible! Scar: I don't know, that just seems so worse! What am I gonna- YOU and your MYELIN! No! That makes no sense! Skizz: Yeah yeah! You and your...STUPID nerves and WEAK myelin! You and your DEFENSE SYSTEM attacking you NEUROLOGICALLY Scar: What? You on your 20 000 dollar drug a month over there? *Both giggle* Scar: I can't think of anything! That feels so wrong! Skizz: Use your hands while you can, Skizz! Scar: OHHH NOOOOO THIS GOT SO DARK! Skizz: You should be drumming now man! Your beats are numbered! Scar: NO! :(( I feel bad Grian! Grian:

[crippled-peeper]

My scarred body is not explicit. My scars are not dangerous to children. My scars don’t make me scary and they don’t tell you anything about the type of person I am. My scarred body is allowed to exist in public. I’m allowed to be shirtless in the pool and at the beach and I owe nobody an apology or an explanation for that

[elodee]

I won't be using Alaska Air if there are any other options available.

[goddessofbees]

So I have some old drawings for another fic that didn't get finished for the ecto bang and I thought I would post them

[the-rest-is-silenc3]

Every Body

your disabled, fat, deformed, intersex, trans, scarred body is worthy. claim it.

your stare attracting, "ugly," "grotesque," "freakish" body has beauty. love it.

your weak, exhausted, painful, uncooperative body is deserving of care. be gentle with it.

the body that doesn't look like you is a vessel for you to experience joy. respect it.

no body needs censorship. every body is equal.

[thetomorrowshow]

My dad (49 y/o) is explaining who goodtimeswithscar is to his dad

[embers--and--ashes]

(Disclaimer - I'm talking about the characters and representation, not the creators in this post)

I am having so many emotions over the fandom's representation of disability because I see so many well done representations of chronic pain and mobility struggles. I see people just casually writing Scar using his wheelchair, writing Scar using a cane, or braces, or magic as a mobility aid in addition to other mobility aids, I see the oxygen tubes. I see people writing in detail, projecting their pain and feeling seen in turn as others relate.

This is one of the only times I casually see mobility aid rep in fanart, fanfiction, and animatics and it's done well. I see people talking about worldbuilding in fanfictions, how the logistics work and whether a sports chair would have worked for the lifegames and how redstone could be used to power mobility aids. I see people talking about how facets of the world could be used for accessibility, technically that riding the donkey *would* be easier than walking, and the use of elyctra as a way to stay off one's feet. I also see magic, when used to supplement mobility aids and as a support, often following spoon theory, which I love.

I'm just giddy at all the representation and feel seen. Not all of the experiences are my own, and it's set in a fantasy world, but bits and pieces I relate to and that is rare and beautiful. Maybe I wouldn't be getting so emotional over this if it wasn't 2:30 am but I am.

[anonbeadraws]

Character sheet commission for @roguelocks, of Gnarl Stormforged, the handsomest gnoll on any sea (according to his wife uwu) 🌩️

🌩️more commission info in source🌩️

[sphinxcatberkin]

GoodTimesWithScar fanart!

You are not immune to the good times!

This is an extremely old piece, but I think it’s pretty good

[Image description: a drawing of character!goodtimeswithscar, wearing his season eight outfit. He’s wearing black boots, brown pants, a white button up shirt with a green sash, as well as a maroon (red) blazer. He has a yellow tie with a flower on the knot of it. He’s wearing a top hat the same color as his blazer, with a green stripe at the base above the rim. Flowers are stuck to it. He has scars on his face and a cannula in his nose. He is sitting in a mint green wheel chair, facing forward. One hand is on the wheel and the other on the brim of his hat. There is a speech bubble reading “Hello my fellow miners and crafters!”

End of description]

Description credits to: @nelson-and-murdock-and-page

[fagsystem]

Hi! Sorry for bothering you but I saw your post about Scar's wheelchair in-universe and this has made me reconsider my design a bit more

For context, I have tendonitis (from shoulder to wrists) so when I was first doing my design I kept switching between giving him a wheelchair and a leg brace because of my own brace for my arms... but after doing surface level (imo) research on it, I never really considered if they could work as an effective aid for a debilitating condition?

So um, if it's not too much trouble would you be alright explaining/talking about how it works on that area? Cuz I want to make sure I didn't like mess up bad bad

TLDR: Yes, it can be an effective aid. However, if someone wearing braces is the only representation of their disability in a story, then I would not really consider that a disabled character. I would consider that an able-bodied character wearing braces. (Not saying you are doing that, for the record. Just summarising this big long post.) My biggest suggestion is to just consider what disability he has, how the disability impacts him, how the aids help, and how they don't.

(Previous post about disabled Scar and wheelchairs, but not necessary to read to read this post.)

The thing about disability is that it is not exactly a clear-cut topic, because what symptoms someone has and the way they present really vary person to person. In particular with physical disabilities, people subconsciously categorise things in their mind on a scale from 'easy' to 'hard'.

For example, take walking versus aerial arts in circus. For the majority of people, walking is easy and circus is hard. For me personally? I have far easier time hauling my body weight around in the air and making it look good than I would going for a 10 minute stroll.

Personally, I project most of my disabilities onto him. Primarily, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Which are, essentially, lose joints = ouchy + dislocations disorder and veins loose = brainfog + fainting disorder.

Scar's symptoms are based entirely on my own. They primarily impact him when he has done a lot of standing, if he has to do any running, and if he has neglected to hydrate properly. He is very strong and physically capable of doing things others are not.

For me, the reason walking is horrible and circus is manageable is for two main reasons. The first being that, specifically with POTS, being on my feet for a long time is the biggest trigger for my symptoms. The second being that I am far, far more conscious of my body when I am doing circus versus when I am walking or honestly doing much of anything.

I rarely experience dislocations when it comes to circus. I know my body and I know circus and I know how to avoid injuring myself. A lot of this was trail and error to discover, but I now know the things I cannot do. I generally only injure myself if I am careless, such as rushing warm-up and stretching or doing activities I know end poorly for me. I cannot do any handstands or tumbling, primarily because my wrists will hyper extend and then have pressure put on them and that is excruciatingly painful regardless, not to mention likely to end in a subluxation (partial dislocation).

In my case, braces and honestly just taping the joints can make a world's difference. I do not do it nearly as often as I should, I truly should start doing that more, but it changes a lot. I feel as though it also would for my version of Scar with the disabilities I have assigned to him, because I sort of parallel circus and building in terms of our symptoms and presentation.

Which, is truly the important thing. Braces can aid prevention of some in some debilitating conditions. It is really not a clear cut yes or no. In order to answer the question of if it works for the way you are using it, it is important analyse why it would or would not work.

In order to apply this to my presentation of Scar, the first step really is to consider where braces could be applicable. The first thing that comes to my mind is that, being a builder, his knees would suffer quite a bit. Real-world construction workers face this issue often. I feel as though with his joints weaker, that would make that problem worse, the risk of dislocation aside. I feel as though knee braces would be a good way to stabilise the joint and minimise the symptoms.

When it comes to long distances, I feel as though it could maybe decrease some of Scar's pain, but not nearly enough for him to justify using a brace over some other aid such as a wheelchair. Typically, a wheelchair would be quite inconvenient as it is big and bulky and spaces may not be able to accommodate that, but I feel as though on Hermitcraft spaces are intentionally designed with his accessibility in mind, and also that he is easily able to store it in his inventory (I view inventories as pocket dimensions). In Scar's mind, there is really no reason not to use a chair instead, and also there is not really any point in wearing braces if he is going to be using his chair. I also do not believe he tends to wear braces for anything other than building, even if he will be walking and on his feet, primarily because I think he forgets about it/feels as though it is too much of a hassle.

The thing about aids is they do not completely eliminate the problems. That is honestly the biggest thing when it comes to disability representation for me. I do not care if you come up with some magic-based solution, for example, but it has to be an aid not a cure.

My biggest sort of gripe I suppose with how people represent Scar as being disabled is they do not really consider him disabled beyond surface level appearance. This is most notable in animatics where he is just casually in his wheelchair in completely inaccessible settings, such as one I saw of him in the zombie spawner in Secret Life session 6.

When it comes to an aid such as braces, it is less important to consider the context of what it is being presented in. In a one off fanart, the braces are a visual way to represent the disability or impairment. In a story, if the only representation of him being disabled is that he has braces, then he is essentially an able-bodied person wearing braces.

My biggest concern when it comes to people using braces instead of a mobility aid such as a wheelchair is that they tend to do it because it is the easy option. They truly can just write an able-bodied character who wears braces, and have the ghost of a disabled person in their story.

That is because, unlike most mobility aids, braces are not a hinderance if you do not need them. When it comes to wheelchairs, able-bodied people very quickly are forced to confront that physically disabled people do in fact face challenges and often times have minimal idea as to how to approach them.

I touched on this briefly in my initial post where I said that people will often times write Scar as an ambulatory wheelchair user so he can walk over any hurdles being a wheelchair user creates.

I do not believe it is a problem to make him an ambulatory wheelchair user or even just not a wheelchair user but still disabled. I think that it is good that people are making Scar disabled, and good that there is a wide variety of ways they make him disabled. Genuinely I have never encountered such a plethora of disability representation until I stumbled upon the MCYT fandom.

I have cried in the past over Scar fanworks because it was the first time I had ever seen myself represented as a disabled person. I literally cried earlier today at how many people were reblogging my post and sharing it and taking on my feedback, because this group of wonderful people truly cares to represent people like me.

While it does bother me sometimes that I see people making disability representation that is not quite so accurate, I still think it is so sweet and touching that people are trying. It is a confusing, confusing thing. While for me it is just normal, every day stuff, for many of you you have no frame of reference.

My biggest, biggest suggestion is to just consider what disability he has, how the disability impacts him, how the aids help, and how they don't.

For example:

The disability - Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Impact - Causes chronic pain, especially when he walks too much

Aids help - They stabilise his joints, preventing a lot of pain and allowing him to walk for longer

Aids don't - They do not completely minimise his pain, and he is still is prone to flare ups in symptoms if he walks too much. During those times he is unable to walk much at all, and it is excruciatingly painful for him if he tries.

That is hugely different from only knowing that he wears braces to help with chronic pain. That, to me, is the best way to go from poor disability representation to good, because it shows quite a bit of thought was put into it.

And my secret, bigger suggestion is to just try your best. A lot of people are too afraid to include representation because they are afraid to represent it poorly.

Literally today I saw someone draw the worst wheelchair design I had ever seen from a practically standpoint. Ever. (Here is a fantastic guide to drawing wheelchairs, by the way.) But it had clearly had a lot of time and effort put into stylising it for Scar's character. Sure, the base design of the wheelchair showed they do not understand much about wheelchairs, but they put effort into creating the wheelchair design. They even mentioned wanting to design other wheelchairs in future for Scar in different seasons.

Even if I would not consider it good representation, the energy put into it was good. It was heart warming, it made me smile.

Even if you have done what I referenced before about writing what is essentially an able-bodied character who wears braces, that is still better representation than people who just write able bodied Scar. Especially since you were basing it off your own experiences, I love that and I am so certain it reflected in whatever you created.

I also cannot stress how overjoyed I am that you asked me this.

When I made that first post it was honestly because I was a bit frustrated with seeing so many people who clearly had no idea what they were talking about creating disabled Scar content. The massive, overwhelmingly positive response to it has completely floored me. People truly do care and it is such a refreshing change of pace to literally every other space people have tried to include disabled representation in that I have ever seen.

(Also, I would truly love to check out your Scar design if you are willing to show me.)

[faelynfawn]

When Scar applied to join Hermitcraft, he decided to put his best foot forward. He knew he was more than good enough, he just also knew if he said he was disabled he would never get a chance to show them that. By the time he felt secure in his position on the server, well, he had other reasons to not disclose it. It was fine! Scar was doing just fine! Until he wasn't.

---- Essentially, Scar unlearns internalised ableism the fanfiction.

[acertainmoshke]

I am thinking so much about magical illnesses today. Specifically illnesses brought about by magic, as a side effect. Like you know how agent orange exposure in war can cause Parkinson’s years later? Fire magic that doesn’t kill you unless you’re caught directly in the blast but twenty years later you find yourself choking on smoke, your scars burning. Poison or plant magic to hinder armies that leave seeds/spores/some trace in your body that grows vines around your organs if you make it out alive. Etc. please give me more ideas if you have them!

[solazu1]

[backonrepeat]

Thinking about Gortash being shaped by his time in the House of Hope.

Purposefully mimicking Raphael's accent and manner of speaking, elegant, sophisticated, confident, to disguise his own working class roots and mingle with the Gate's upper class. Matching Raphael's demeanor, his posture, the way he negotiates his deals and flatters his clients. Even the theatrics, to an extent. Raphael is a consummate showman, and from him Gortash learns that presentation is key to manipulating people's perceptions to his own ends.

His views on sex don't differ too much from Harleep's, if Lady Jannath's note is any indication. Sex is just a tool, a commodity, currency that can be used to manipulate people and gain favours. He has no issues with selling his body, as long as the price is right.

As much as he hates the Nubaldin, he also learns from him. Each blow, each cut, each excruciating form of torture gets committed to mind. What worked, what didn't, how did each one feel. It's all knowledge in the end, and if he so wants it, it's his to use.

His own belief and devotion to Bane, God of Tyranny, his desire for absolute order and control, and lawful evil alignment could be linked back. Devil's are famously hierarchical creatures, who believe in order (in opposition to demons who embrace chaos), and the rule of the strong over the weak. Know who is a famous, scheming, sweet-talking tyrant in d&d lore? Old Hoof and Horns himself, Asmodeus, Devil in Chief.

Even his disregard of Karlach's optimism, generosity and good heart. The only truly "good" person young Gortash ever met was Hope, a captive of Raphael tortured for years for refusing to renounce her principles. Her sister Korilla, instead chose to serve Raphael and is thriving, free to come and go as she wishes, granted warlock powers by Raphael, living her best evil life.