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Comments
| skyangel | I've tried to keep this part of Staceys history as short as possible so we can move on and get back to some happier stuff, hence the mammoth amount of text and little art. Also it feels like we have been at this party forever(They arrived back in June! lol). Even so I found my original idea of having Stacey tell her story all in one page just impossible in the end so I've had to spread it over two.
This is meant purely as an insight into Staceys history and also to illustrate how her character has evolved into the Stacey that we know. It's certainly not meant to condone her actions.
Apologies if the sexual abuse content makes some readers a little uncomfortable, it wasn't meant to, and this is as much detail as will ever need to be said about it.
Sky
-Posted on Aug 01, 2009 |
| User: oldguy85 | | 5 | | Touching and terrible story but... -Posted on Aug 07, 2009 | | User: bincola | | | | Wow That Social Worker Sucks ass -Posted on Aug 05, 2009 | | User: eSilva | | | | honestly..I love all the reactions of us (the readers) hating stacey first or at least strongly disliking her to feeling that "drop" in your stomach at reading how the social worker was and her entire situation. how -bad- we feel for her. It's undeniably fascinating! I can't wait to read more! -Posted on Aug 05, 2009 | | User: eSilva | | 5 | | Wow....what a terrible social worker!!! Ugh...now I'm upset. -Posted on Aug 05, 2009 | | User: armandoB | | 5 | -Posted on Aug 04, 2009 | | User: Emily Elizabeth | | | CONGRATS SKY, YOU DESERVE IT MORE THAN ANYONE!
: HUG HUG HUG HUG : -Posted on Aug 04, 2009 | | User: dontworrybehappy | | | and you are in the top ten again, "THIS WEEK IS YOUR WEEK"
congrats for all of your nominations! you deserve them, and it's quite interesting "best antagonist" after this last few pages :S, what's going to happen??? -Posted on Aug 04, 2009 | | User: skyangel | | | OMG!! *blushes* What a wonderful start to my day.(I nearly choked on my sugar puffs!!) When I first saw all those banners my first thought was that someone had plastered a load of ads all over my page!!lol
I'm quite shocked. Thanks Amanda for going to all that trouble to get those up, and thanks to all of you out there who thought so highly of SS when casting your votes *hugs* -Posted on Aug 04, 2009 | | User: DarkChibiShadow | | | YAAAY CONGRATS ON ALL THE NOMINATIONS!
GLAD TO SEE YOU GOT A LOT TOO!!!! LOOOVE! -Posted on Aug 04, 2009 | | User: skyangel | | | Thanks so much guys for your support on this page! *hugs all* I was so worried about the reaction to it that I didn't dare look until today (Monday), and I have been moved deeply by some of your personal experiences listed here especially as one or two are commenting for the first time. Stacey has been let down by both her mother and the social worker but emily elizabeth quite rightly points out that normally it is the system that is at fault. Did you know that by law a social worker cannot enter a house without permission, or interview the child without a parent present. I've read of too many cases where the child felt too intimidated to speak out with because the abuser was standing right next to them.
LittleSwan: Yes, you are very close in your assumption of Staceys mum. once again I have read a number of stories where the mother or sometimes even father has been in denial for one reason or another. Staceys mum has found her dream guy after a lot of heartache, and now desperately wants to believe that there is nothing wrong with the guy at her daughters expense.
Semiprecious: thank-you:) any form of child abuse whether sexual or not takes so many years to get over and rarely leaves these people totally recovered mentally doesn't it.
Flyhue: That is so beautifully put! You have summed up very nicely the way I felt Stacey was feeling before in the kitchen and again on the stairs.
Foxy: Another good point; Stacey is full of anger as often the abused are torn between a strange guilt for feeling that they 'allowed' the attacks to happen, and also a need to take their anger out on either themselves or someone they can stand up to. The only alternative is to withdraw into a shell and desire to just hide away from the pain and shame that they have been affected by, which is also very common.
Renhawk: Those are very scary stats aren't they! I have very reason to believe that it is a similar story in the UK. The amount of girls who would prefer nobody to know they were molested in some way is quite high I think. Many hardened criminals still have a lot of respect for women and children and these abusers know that, so they are terrified of going to prison, which is why sadly they feel the need to terrorise their victim so badly.
Xenny: *hugs* Thankyou so much.
Aymbear: *hugs again* I'm speechless. someboby relating so closely to this part of the story is something I had not hoped for expected.
Lummi: A very good point. We may understand her behaviour better, but it doesn't excuse it.
Fairylight: I think Emily Elizabeth summed up quite nicely the problems with being a social worker, and I know that there powers are limited by law so i think it's sadly oftn the case that in the end they either become disheartened with the job, or depressed about doing it, neither of which helps the family of course. -Posted on Aug 03, 2009 | | User: JinxMinx | | 5 | | Oh that's just so sad ;_;. You really made me sympathize with a character that was pretty despicable at first. -Posted on Aug 03, 2009 | | User: fairylight | | 5 | I signed up purely to comment on this. I can relate, not with what Stacey's gone through per se but with a social worker ignoring my family's issues. This page just made me feel better...not with the storyline but with...I dunno. Knowing that I'm not in the wrong sometimes. That the social worker was ignoring things. That a lot of others were too. This page is...reassuring.
Other than that, I love this comic. -Posted on Aug 02, 2009 | | User: Aida | | 5 | | I can't wait for the next page! -Posted on Aug 02, 2009 | | User: Lummi | | 5 | I understand Stacey has been through a lot in her life. It's tough, cruel, hurtful and just evil. That social worker needs to be fired, she reminds me of those socail workers who failed to help Baby P, if any of you know what I am talking about.
But after all that, no matter what happend to Stacey, it still doesn't give her the right to abuse others and do what she does.
Great comic as usual though. :) -Posted on Aug 02, 2009 | | User: Pierrah | | 5 | Wow.. Poor Stacey, having to go throgh all that no wonder she acts out like that. DX...
Nice Page full of emotion, done very well. -Posted on Aug 02, 2009 | | User: Roisin Dubh | | 5 | | what a sucky social worker... -Posted on Aug 02, 2009 | | User: roycemarie | | 5 | | Hard to hear stories like this, but we all need to know. And help if we can. -Posted on Aug 02, 2009 | | User: kanoka | | 5 | Lovely and moving as always. It's so powerful the way you build your characters and stories and obviously this current story line communicates to a lot of readers. I think it's so important that these things are stated and I'm so glad that you do it. So keep up the good work and don;t get dishearted!
-kanoka -Posted on Aug 02, 2009 | | User: DarkChibiShadow | | 5 | Wowsa, loooove it.
I think you are the only person who can make a page that is half text and make it work.
*claps for you*
AMAZING AS ALWAYS SKY!!! -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Poki_rat | | 5 | | Well, that social worker will be so fired if the truth gets out. -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Aymbear | | | Sky,
I just created a DD account simply so I could say the following:
*Possible Trigger Warning*
I have been physically, verbally, and emotionally abused since I was eight years old. It started off with smacks and "switches," but quickly escalated. Sometimes I had to stay home from school for days at a time because of the bruises.
By the time I was fifteen, I was getting beat on a regular basis by both my father and my stepmother. I was deeply depressed, because I didn't feel like anyone loved or even slightly cared about me at all, and because the severity of the beatings was sharply increasing. I can honestly say I was scared for my life.
One day, after my dad had pushed me down the stairs and I'd sustained some pretty nasty bruises, I went to school just like always. That day, in art class, one of my friends jokingly poked me on my arm, on one of my bruises. (I was wearing a hoodie, so it wasn't visible.) Seeing me wince, she asked what was wrong, and I replied with some non-committal response about being bruised. Fast-forward to the next day. The counselor called me into her office and said that she'd noticed that my sisters and I had some very nasty bruises, and that she was concerned about us. Normally, I would've lied to cover it up: said something about falling, or being clumsy, or rollerblading or something. I don't know why, but that day, I...I told the truth. I told my counselor about the beatings, the curses, the tears, about...everything.
She called in a Social Worker, and they snapped pictures of my bruises. I can't even describe how... RELIEVED I was that something was finally being done, that this nightmare would finally end. The Social Worker smiled and said that I'd be safe.
A little while later, she left to talk to my parents. To this day, I still don't know what they told her, but I think the gist of it went along the lines of, "No, I'm not beating her, actually, SHE'S beating ME," or something like that. When she returned, I looked up. Her smile had been replaced with a scowl, and she yelled at me for being a huge liar. It felt like I was being crushed. Here I was, hoping to escape the nightmare, only to have it thrust back on me in all its horror-filled glory. I looked at her and in that moment, I realized that I couldn't trust anyone but myself. Nobody could rescue me from the nightmare.
Not only did I not get "rescued," I also wound up on probation because I was "out-of-control"-- me, a 4.0 GPA, perfect attendance, shy as fuck fifteen-year-old. This comic really brought me back, and I thank you for publishing it: sometimes, we need to face our demons head-on. -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Xenny | | 5 | Sky,
Please don't apologise for including some difficult issues in your comic. Obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinion and others may not feel as I do, but as someone who has been through abuse myself, and is now trying to work through an addiction to heroin (something I don't normally share on the web, but I guess your story has moved me), I really appreciate those comics that don't shy away from the more difficult aspects of life.
I'm not saying that all comics need to deal with abuse etc, but those which are attempting to give a realistic portrayal of life come across as being far more *real* when they do give due weight to the more serious things that a fair few people go through.
I would urge you not to be over-cautious for fear of losing readers, or for fear of triggering bad memories. Personally if I am in that frame of mind I find triggers everywhere I look. A few well considered pages of a really enjoyable comic are not going to mess my head up too much ;). Quite the contrary. So don't rush through the darker bits if they're not meant to be rushed - I think your readers are strong enough to handle them.
I'm sure there are other readers of yours who have had difficult lives and I don't want to make presumptions for them, but as far as I'm concerned I'm so glad you haven't made the mistake of trying to remain continually light and cheerful with Simply Sarah - it just wouldn't have the same impact. And that isn't life.
Anyway, even if you're worried, I would say your comic is 90% light and 10% dark, and it always puts me in a good mood :). -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: dueeast | | 5 | | Just...wow. Good (if sad) story! -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Lopriest | | 5 | | Unfortunately, not an uncommon story. -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: The Satoshi | | 5 | | Wow that is sad... -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: RenHawk | | 5 | I knew a girl once who's father abused her everyway possible...social workers came out, seh wouldn't talk and he put on the happy family mask. She has a child now, and it could either be her boyfriend's...or father's...
The saddest thing is... these aren't unusual stories. RAINN stats show that 44% of rape victims (attempted or completed) are under the age of 18; and darkness2light shows 1 out of 4 girls are victims to sexual abuse. The numbers should actually be higher, though. It's so under-reported (30% never tell anyone), and when people who do try to report it... they aren't always believed, because about 90% of the time, the victim knows the attacker. Many times, the victim goes on to be vicim again. Those are all stats from the US, I don't know how it is in the UK...? -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Foxy_Kitty_Girl | | 5 | | Poor Stacey.... I mean that doesnt make up for her attitude , actions and the things she does... but i still cant help but feel sorry for her.. maybe shes just angry on the inside , angry at her mum ,angry at the guy , angry at others... she has so much anger because she couldnt escape that it comes out in a negative form... I mean, thats what happens , anger morphs us into people that we really arnt.. I bet on the inside under all the crud , Stacey isnt that far from Sarah... -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Fly Hue | | 5 | | See, this makes me believe that Stacey sort of... admires Sarah, I guess? I mean, you just look at Sarah and can see she's this pure, friendly, kind of average-ish girl and Stacey knows that's they type of person she was SUPPOSED to have been. In a way it seemed like she wanted to have them have something definite in common so that she could be like Sarah or the other way around, even if it was something negative like violation. I believe that Stacey is not only a redeemable character type, but she wants to be redeemed, so she's reaching out to Sarah, in her own ill-productive, unconventional way. -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: semipreciousjewels | | 5 | Sky:
Your art and dialogue, story, characters, everything is so wonderful. Each page has a life of its own and I never leave unsatisfied ever with this comic. I know I have said this before, but you really feel for the characters and the lives they lead. I can't stop crying from this page - I just want to give Stacey a hug. It doesn't make up for what she did, but I completely understand and feel for where she's coming from. I've met a lot of people who experienced sexual abuse as a child (some turned out well, others struggled with drugs and depression) and I guess for me, it's always made me more aware of how past experiences shape people's lives...for better and for worse. -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Little Swan | | 5 | Emily Elizabeth is totally right about the social care system. There was a while back where I wanted to be a social worker, but gave up on that idea for those reasons.
Poor Stacey. Rana is totally right, of course.
In college we did a play about a guy who continually beats & rapes his wife and daughters and how they're too paralysed by fright to do anything about it, and how the people in the world outside don't help. I think on some level Stacy's mum believed her and knew what was going on, but was too scared to admit to herself or anyone else, because if you show you're aware of something, in can hurt you, and therefore she was probably in denial.
This page really boosts nurture on the nature/nurture debate too. It also explains why, when she stopped and thought about what she did, that it made her cry.
This is a very difficult subject, and you have dealt with it marvellously, Sarah. 5 stars to you! *hugs* -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Miki | | 5 | -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: dontworrybehappy | | 5 | is the same in every country, sad but it is.
if thereis a social worker in my city i don't know any or where i can find one, that's bad too -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Emily Elizabeth | | 5 | Poor Stacey! Most of my friends were in care, so I know the stories well.. so sad.. and pinkbatmax, I agree with you, but the whole Social Service sector is severley underpaid and understaffed, its all about ticking boxes and alot of social workers have very low pay and are forced to work overtime, which means they get less time with each child, and are too tired/stressed/ pushed for time that they miss details... and there are also stupid rules and regulations that end up protecting abusive parents rather than the children...
Meanwhile the government MPs in charge of social services waste money on duck houses and huge second homes.
It makes me sick. This country needs its social services sorted out!
Sorry for the rant! Great page, sky, beautiful art as usual! -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: allanah | | 5 | I knew it had to be something like that. Poor Stacey. And what a crap social worker!
Great page! -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: harryq | | 5 | | Powerful. You did a great job of striking a balance between the words and the graphic. -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: DAJB | | 5 | I guess not all angels are Skyangels!
Sad story. And all too common in the real world, I'm afraid. -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: rana | | 5 | | omgod.... Poor stacy... I knew her story was a sad one, girls like her always have a heartbreaker -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Kawaiime | | 5 | | I really massively don't like stacey's mom =/ -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: Udyr | | | | eh what the hell kind of social worker is that?! for a second i thought something good would happen and it only ended up worse xD -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 | | User: pinkbatmax | | 5 | | Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Any social worker that does that oughtta be in jail! -Posted on Aug 01, 2009 |
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