Originally posted by Oddity
I believe it's absolutely possible.
Humans seem to have an instinct driving their ability to be attracted/respect/admire and/or willingness to follow another person. Assuming these are satisfactory definitions of the tangible effects charisma (as opposed to comeliness, or raw physical attraction.)
I was first exposed to this idea by Joseph Campbell in The Power of Myth, followed by Hero with a Thousand Faces. Compelling works.
Powerfully charismatic people tend to share several specific traits. Wheelchair users have an opportunity to embodied most, if not all of them. Starting with the reluctant nature of the predicament they are in. Culminating in their "rising above" it. With several stages in between, to be sure, resulting in profound perceptions of the chair user in the minds of people around them.
I have a long paper, somewhere around here, I wrote analogizing the experience of disability with Campbell's archetypal "hero myth". They strongly parallel each other, IMO. We (instinctively) recognize people on this journey and reward them (equally instinctively) with a deep admiration/respect/attractiveness...or in your term: As being highly charismatic.
Much in the same way we instinctively respect the person on/having completed the "rags to riches" journey more than the "born with a silver spoon" narrative.
So, YES!!! It is not automatic but it IS possible!
Humans seem to have an instinct driving their ability to be attracted/respect/admire and/or willingness to follow another person. Assuming these are satisfactory definitions of the tangible effects charisma (as opposed to comeliness, or raw physical attraction.)
I was first exposed to this idea by Joseph Campbell in The Power of Myth, followed by Hero with a Thousand Faces. Compelling works.
Powerfully charismatic people tend to share several specific traits. Wheelchair users have an opportunity to embodied most, if not all of them. Starting with the reluctant nature of the predicament they are in. Culminating in their "rising above" it. With several stages in between, to be sure, resulting in profound perceptions of the chair user in the minds of people around them.
I have a long paper, somewhere around here, I wrote analogizing the experience of disability with Campbell's archetypal "hero myth". They strongly parallel each other, IMO. We (instinctively) recognize people on this journey and reward them (equally instinctively) with a deep admiration/respect/attractiveness...or in your term: As being highly charismatic.
Much in the same way we instinctively respect the person on/having completed the "rags to riches" journey more than the "born with a silver spoon" narrative.
So, YES!!! It is not automatic but it IS possible!
Here's two perfect examples:
1. I'm at work...there's somebody that obviously wants to go home, he's finished what he's working on...not so fast buddy
2. There is typically only ONE handicapped restroom stall where I work. Inevitably there's some corporate clown babbling on the cell phone, defecating on company time. Bringing this up makes those silly AB's look at themselves in a mirror. If I can do a bowel program, why can't they ? nimrods...
In short, if I abandon the pity factor, lighten the mood, tell the stories about drunk women I just meet for the first time asking me "can you still have sex? here's my #..."
I humanize myself. That's the best I can do right now
They both rocked my boat severely and influenced my arc.
Grateful to have people like them in my universe!