The internet often provides a platform for bullies and unhappy people to attack strangers. Unfortunately, certain people continue to be frequent targets of this negativity.
It’s a disturbing trend that many people find joy in hurting others online. This story highlights this problem. But the twist is that the victim decided to confront her attackers.
Jennifer Knapp Wilkinson was shopping at her local grocery store when she lost her balance and fell while trying to hold onto a shelf. She tried to support herself from her scooter but managed to get back up, thinking she was alone.
Unfortunately, she soon discovered that this was not the case. Instead of helping her, a passerby took a photo of her fall and shared it online. This action sparked a wave of ridicule from users around the world who cruelly mocked her for her weight and circumstances.
Instead of remaining silent, Jennifer decided to speak up. In her response, she explained: “I’m saying this because people find it funny to laugh at people with disabilities”.
She explained that her weight problems were due to a spinal condition called spondylolisthesis, which causes pain and weakness in her legs. Standing for long periods of time increased her risk of falling, which she had unfortunately become accustomed to.
Although she was feeling particularly weak and in pain that day, she dared to go shopping for her family. As she reached for a case of lemonade, she fell, and although she felt people nearby giggling, she ignored it, as she was used to rude remarks from strangers.
Jennifer stressed: “You can’t see my disabilities, but they are there and they are real. Next time you see someone being mocked, remember that you don’t know their problems. It’s never just harmless fun”. She condemned the fact that the photo was taken and shared without her consent, stating: “I did not choose to be photographed at a low point in my life”.
Although Jennifer is constantly faced with accusations about her weight and assumptions about her health, she wants to remind everyone: “Overweight people are treated as less than human, but we are only human too”.
She concluded by saying that her goal was not to elicit pity, but to encourage understanding and compassion. “I’m human, so please treat me as such!” Jennifer’s courage to stand up to bullying and her compassionate message remind us that the online world can be dark, but those who stand up for themselves and others help to shed light on the darkness.