All Bumpy?

[itsnotmymind]

Tara in Crush, emphasis mine: "No, see, it can't, it can't end like that, 'cause all of Quasimodo's actions were selfishly motivated. He had no moral compass, no understanding of right. Everything he did, he did out of love for a woman who would never be able to love him back. Also, you can tell it's not gonna have a happy ending when the main guy's all bumpy."

It never struck before today how ableist that last sentence is,

Comments

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Sadly, the show does have quite a bit of that. Like how in an earlier season Buffy said, "god, I'm so mentally challenged!" and at the time I didn't think much of it, but when you look back, yeah, it's definitely bad. While the show still holds up in many aspects, it also doesn't age well in that regard.

[nondenomifan.livejournal.com]

Didn't Xander even come right out and use the R word in an episode?

[itsnotmymind.livejournal.com]

I don't remember that, and I think I would - but I can't be sure.

[nondenomifan.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was Spike. Yeah, now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure it was. Bet James hated that line.

[itsnotmymind.livejournal.com]

I forgot about Buffy saying that, but it sounds right. Very unfortunate.

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Good lord, looking back at that, the show has NOT aged well in that regard,

[itsnotmymind.livejournal.com]

:(

[thenewbuzwuzz.livejournal.com]

I agree there are multiple truly unfortunate lines of dialogue throughout the show in that respect. But I think this particular one *could* be read as Tara pointing out that stories tend to be ableist.

[itsnotmymind.livejournal.com]

I could see that interpretation. I would have to re-watch it to get a sense of her tone of voice. Even still, "all bumpy" is not the most sensitive of descriptions.

[thenewbuzwuzz.livejournal.com]

"Even still, "all bumpy" is not the most sensitive of descriptions."
True, fair point!