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devilicious — --sticksandstones--

Published: 2003-07-30 18:18:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 51193; Favourites: 1353; Downloads: 5914
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Description “Sticks and stones may break my bones – but words will never hurt me”

What a crock of shit. I’ve been wanting to do a piece on how words can scar a person for a while. I finally decided that this image best represents what I hate about being labeled for life once a word is thrown your way. It’s as if you are suddenly “defined” – that that is ALL of who you are. One mistake, one action, one assumption and suddenly you are nothing more – incapable of growth or change. For life you are what they decided in their eyes – and they keep you in a box, refusing to let you grow, change, be more.

There are many words that scar. Fat. Ugly. Weak. Stupid. The list goes on and on –these are the ones that I have chosen :

Fake – anytime someone thinks they know your motivations, your whole story, believes you couldn’t possibly be who you appear to be – they call you fake – as in NOT REAL. Everyone is REAL. And you don’t know anyone’s real story but your own. Your conception of any other person is tainted by your own stories, issues, appearances, assumptions, etc.

Liar – not honest. EVERYONE has told a lie at one point or another in their life. Remember the saying “I’ve never told a lie.” – Response “Well there’s you’re first one then”. Do you know their issue? Their story? Perhaps they had to lie to survive at one point in their life. Perhaps they grew up learning to lie. Perhaps they’re frightened of the conflict. I’m not condoning dishonesty – but its an awfully judging person to label someone for life and NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE has NEVER told a lie. (and don’t bother to post you haven’t – read above – there’s your first)

Slut – a woman that has sex with more partners than you find appropriate. This is probably one of the most over used words to describe women to me. Sexuality coming from their own wishes is often stifled in women – as if the desire or freedom of sexual partners and the choices they make, make them “less”. Who are you to decide what the appropriate number of lovers is for a person? How much are you assuming by their behavior on the outside?

Killer – any woman that ever had to cross a line of protestors to receive an abortion has been labeled this lovely word. Do you know her story? Do you care? Why do your moral beliefs have to match hers?

I’ve been called all of these words at one time or another – and a few others. I’ve learned to “own” them and be accountable for my actions and know that I am OH SO MUCH MORE in the big picture.

Don’t let anyone define who you are but you. Don’t let anyone keep you in a box because they called you a name. Your actions define who you are – sure – and you know what – people make mistakes. People are often misunderstood. People don’t come with an accurate history so you know their full story and how they obtained their faults, mistakes or stumbles in trying to figure out who they are for themselves.

I’ve got a few words for you – forgiveness, understanding, respect, privacy.

Anyone who’s been scarred by words - - you know who you are inside. That is all that matters. Life is hard people – worry about yourself.


mary
Related content
Comments: 743

IvanRostoff [2013-02-15 10:20:40 +0000 UTC]

Nobody puts Baby in a box!

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womenslifelink [2013-01-17 04:28:13 +0000 UTC]

Hi,

I just wanted to let you know that I featured your photo on my women's website. It's powerful and represents an age long struggle we women have with identity and heartbreak. I've given you full credit and a link here. If you have any objections, please let us know.

Thanks so much,

Kellie
[link]

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devilicious In reply to womenslifelink [2013-01-19 04:06:17 +0000 UTC]

no problem and thanks

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Jynx-Wilde [2012-08-19 02:22:38 +0000 UTC]

I cannot express how much I love this photo and it's meaning.
I literally just got down telling my watcher how I am using my bullies in life as inspiration for my work. I get the word "psychotic" because I have anxiety and things like that. That was my label in school and it does hurt. I'm so glad you made this

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devilicious In reply to Jynx-Wilde [2012-08-20 03:53:21 +0000 UTC]

i am so glad you found the photo - i really cleaned myself from a person doing their best to hurt me with the truths of who i had shared with them in a way that really hurt me - and it was beyond liberating to just wear the damn labels and make a statement *to be free of them*. brush them off, laugh them off, cold dark silence them off, but always know you can be free from any box someone tries to fit you in for their convenience. it's so much more about them than you if they're hating on you for something.

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sabreekoonce [2012-03-08 01:42:09 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful piece. Simply wonderful.

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devilicious In reply to sabreekoonce [2012-03-08 01:42:44 +0000 UTC]

thank you it was very cathardic to do

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manismind [2012-01-14 20:53:38 +0000 UTC]

I Love this because, I've always felt that "sticks and stones can break my bones, but WORDS can cause Permanent DAMAGE". Great shot.

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devilicious In reply to manismind [2012-01-14 21:24:36 +0000 UTC]

thank you for checking it out and taking the time to comment - yes - words can SCAR for sure

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cm-photography11 [2011-10-08 17:32:11 +0000 UTC]

This project really hit me. :/ It fits so well together, and you confronted the harsh words of others, perfectly. There needs to be more people like you in the world, to help those who have to deal with the verbal abuse of others, and make them strong again. This is so great, and I am going to show my friends around here, I hope you don't mind. Great Job Again.

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devilicious In reply to cm-photography11 [2011-10-08 18:55:15 +0000 UTC]

i'm so glad you found it - trust me - it was beyond cathardic for me to do it and post it - feel free to use it for any purpose for it's intent

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ReMixD [2011-07-26 23:41:58 +0000 UTC]

sticks and stones but words last ever after!

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Bloody-NightMare [2011-03-23 08:59:53 +0000 UTC]

thank you.

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saniakhanphoto [2011-02-22 18:23:42 +0000 UTC]

featured: [link]

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HFXmermaid [2011-01-28 16:11:38 +0000 UTC]

I faved this back in 2003 when I started on DA and I still love it

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devilicious In reply to HFXmermaid [2011-01-29 00:40:16 +0000 UTC]

thank you for this!

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FullMetalFroggie [2010-12-14 11:03:50 +0000 UTC]

This is a great piece it really talks to me about how our identities are sometimes defined by others and how what others think of us can impact us in so many ways, not always in a bad way like your example here but i think you have captured how an individual can feel because of negetive oppinions or thoughts/words.

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devilicious In reply to FullMetalFroggie [2010-12-16 04:23:08 +0000 UTC]

thank you for this wonderful comment

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tessmariah [2010-12-13 17:20:41 +0000 UTC]

a very true and relatable concept! thank you for saying it like it is!

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devilicious In reply to tessmariah [2010-12-14 01:58:10 +0000 UTC]

thank you for taking your time to comment

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SkeletonMob [2010-12-12 01:42:33 +0000 UTC]

Excellent concept!

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devilicious In reply to SkeletonMob [2010-12-12 03:09:09 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much

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zcatz [2010-11-03 03:10:27 +0000 UTC]

I'm so glad that someone else understands how horrible it is to carry a word around with you every single day because of a label someone ELSE has given you.

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devilicious In reply to zcatz [2010-11-03 14:05:44 +0000 UTC]

you are not alone -labels are everywhere - so yeah, don't let it stifle you - they don't know you're WHOLE story

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urban-lingo [2010-09-29 11:15:27 +0000 UTC]

you're amazing;
thank you for uploading this.

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devilicious In reply to urban-lingo [2010-09-29 13:04:47 +0000 UTC]

thank you for checking it out and taking your time to comment

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urban-lingo In reply to devilicious [2010-09-29 13:30:47 +0000 UTC]

i love comments, so why not spread the :]

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Aglaira [2010-09-19 02:43:08 +0000 UTC]

Great description!

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devilicious In reply to Aglaira [2010-09-19 19:30:36 +0000 UTC]

thank you

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WorldWar-Tori [2010-08-29 04:51:48 +0000 UTC]

I love this piece. It's perfectly executed, and reading your artists comments, I can completely relate to this photo as well. I think all too many of us could/can. Even if it's not the specific words.

The box is a wonderful representation. I think we all start out in boxes.

I really like the four words you chose to counteract the four in the photo. They match so perfectly, and are so much stronger than the words in the piece ultimately are.

This piece is really touching

I have so much more to say, but I'll cut it here as it's all ramble babble stuff Great piece!

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devilicious In reply to WorldWar-Tori [2010-08-30 00:31:36 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much for taking your time to really read it, ponder it and then comment to me about all of that - you have no idea how great that makes me feel

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WorldWar-Tori In reply to devilicious [2010-08-30 03:36:34 +0000 UTC]

anytime I could've rambled for quite a while, but figured you didn't want a book tor ead

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s-shi [2010-07-30 20:00:28 +0000 UTC]

I like

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devilicious In reply to s-shi [2010-07-30 20:07:27 +0000 UTC]

thanks

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mertonparrish [2010-07-27 09:54:20 +0000 UTC]

How very interesting... great piece!

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KalineReine [2010-07-19 05:09:51 +0000 UTC]

Words can be more painful than actions sometimes...

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devilicious In reply to KalineReine [2010-07-19 05:13:26 +0000 UTC]

indeed - they scar internally

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KalineReine In reply to devilicious [2010-07-19 05:25:00 +0000 UTC]

Very true...

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we-are-the-remnants [2010-07-18 22:59:19 +0000 UTC]

very well put people are so busy judging when they need to be looking at them self but then I guess they would have to clean up there own house.

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devilicious In reply to we-are-the-remnants [2010-07-19 00:21:23 +0000 UTC]

indeed!

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SavajToast [2010-07-18 01:56:28 +0000 UTC]

This is so transcendent.

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devilicious In reply to SavajToast [2010-07-18 02:26:24 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much for that

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Eternal-Afterglow [2010-07-17 20:22:22 +0000 UTC]

I love this.

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devilicious In reply to Eternal-Afterglow [2010-07-17 20:23:40 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much - i have learned to love it too

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Eternal-Afterglow In reply to devilicious [2010-07-19 01:50:26 +0000 UTC]

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bigtimesynesthete [2010-07-17 16:58:28 +0000 UTC]

I have kept in mind that many kids just did not know enough about me to be calling me the words they did. I wish I were able to explain myself better and expect the kids to listen to me when I told them.

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devilicious In reply to bigtimesynesthete [2010-07-17 19:53:21 +0000 UTC]

half the time they don't bully or call names b/c of a lack of knowing you - they don't want to know you - they are just using you as an outlet for their own anger/fear/etc

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TMNTISLOVE [2010-07-17 04:05:05 +0000 UTC]

That is definitely true. Words tend to hurt a lot more than broken bones. Powerful message! Great job!

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devilicious In reply to TMNTISLOVE [2010-07-17 19:52:34 +0000 UTC]

thank you - yes - bruises heal - verbal scars are tougher

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TMNTISLOVE In reply to devilicious [2010-07-18 00:57:17 +0000 UTC]

Exactly!!! ^^

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