Hi, you are “face to face with Shell”.
HAVE YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH A HATE CRIME?
Please click on the link below for more information/advice:
https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/hco/hate-crime/how-to-report-hate-crime/
I love the Festive Season but I have found that it can bring out the worst in some people. Maybe people who are not used to drinking as much, been out all day? I have had a few things said to me and done to me at this time of year. Here, I will share a couple of these stories with you.
Please watch this video and then read on for more:
What I’m about to talk about could have happened to anyone but what was SAID to me, was because of my burn scars.
You will probably know by now that I was severely burned in a gas explosion in 1984, receiving first through to fourth degree burns, to fifty percent of my body.
Please click on the link below if you want to find out what happened to me:
It was three weeks or so before Christmas and yes, this time of year brings out a lot of people; drinking all day, maybe not used to drinking as much, office days out, etc.
My work friends and I had left the office and gone to our usual pub to have a pre-Christmas celebration. It was getting near the end of the night and we decided to go for one last drink in another pub. As soon as we arrived, I noticed a group of men at the other end of the bar and immediately thought they were no good and warned my friends to stay away from them. So we did; we sat at the other end of the pub.
This group of men had noticed us arriving and decided to join us. I was in no mood to “entertain” them, so said nothing and let the others talk to them. One of the men asked my friend what was wrong with me and she told him to ignore me. I had no interest in them at all, I could see quite clearly what they were, no good. It turns out, I was right.
The one that had asked what was wrong with me, then launched himself across the table at me, shouting that my face was f**ked-up and that he was going to take a blowtorch to my face.
Very upset, I left the pub with one of my friends to calm down. This man then followed us outside and proceeded to launch himself at me once again. My brave friend got in between us and told him to leave me alone. His friend had to put his arm around his neck to pull him away.
The bouncers at another bar and the police were amazing, both arriving very soon after the incident. This man was arrested and charged; meaning that we had to attend court.
We all attended court, prolonging the ordeal but I wasn’t going to let this man off with what he had done. The Procurator Fiscal spoke to me; as my attacker claimed that he had came out of the pub to apologise to me. I told her that he came out to attack me again. The PF told me that what this man had said and done to me was terrible, especially against a woman, and that the case would be heard that day. He obviously was told by his Solicitor to then plead guilty. He got a £500 fine! An expensive night out for him.
This kind of attack was the worst that I have ever experienced and it really upset and affected me for a while afterwards. This was years after I was burned but it brought it home to me how horrible some people can be and that I had to bear this in mind. He had used my scars against me.
Even though I am years into my “burn journey”, people will still say and do nasty things because of my scars.
I also had to remind myself that there are so many beautiful souls in this world and to bear that in mind. I just had to look at the way people came to my aid; my friend, the bouncers, the police, and other passers-by (people who comforted me while we were waiting for our lift home).
I did eventually get over it but it was hard, I had lost some of my confidence.
Why do people think that because others look different/have scars/have an altered body image and have obviously been through a traumatic experience, deserve to go through more?
ANOTHER INSTANCE:
This happened a few years after the above incident and it was around the same time. Chris and I were in one of our favourite rock clubs in Glasgow, we were having a great night. We had noticed a bunch of lads that clearly had “stumbled” across a rock/metal club. At one point, they were actually only wearing their underpants! Chris and I kept away from them.
We were about to leave but then decided to stay for one more song and started dancing again. Chris seen one of the guys from the group come up behind me and push me so hard that I literally “flew” across the room and landed on another man. I was glad he was sitting there, as I would have smashed against the wall.
I have no idea why this guy done what he did.
By the time I had made my apologies to the man I had landed on and composed myself, Chris had done the same to the guy who had pushed me. Maybe not the right thing to do but Chris just reacted to what had just happened to me. He wanted the guy to know how it felt for the same to be done to him (especially as he had attacked a woman).
The bouncers quickly arrived; Chris and I made our way out. The group of guys were asked to leave but unfortunately, we all met at the exit door. The group of lads started shouting at me. What had I done?
The door staff were brilliant. Chris explained that I had been attacked before and this is why I was so upset. They watched the lads leave and told us to go the other way.
We left town very quickly and got home safe.
As I have said, this Festive time of year can sometimes bring out the worst in people. I am sorry if this has happened to you.
People need to understand that it is wrong to behave like this to anyone but especially to someone who has already gone through a traumatic time and has to live with an altered body image on a daily basis.
I was watching a video from Changing Faces about hate crime. Please click on the link below to visit their site:
https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/about-us/scotland
Remember that there is a lot of good in the world, keep putting out those positive energies.
Stay strong and we’ll chat soon.