Whether or not being called “an inspiration” is a good thing is a polarizing question in the disability community, with passionate people on both sides of the argument.

Although it’s ultimately up to the individual as to whether or not they want to receive it as a compliment, we at The Mighty decided to ask our readers how they felt about the issue.

This is what they had to say:

t implies that my own existence is something to be overcome, that living my everyday life is above and beyond what anyone expects of me.” — Tonia Says

2. “Inspiration can come from anyone or anything. If my son inspires someone to keep going, I take pride in that… He has been to hell and back multiple times and continues to wake up each morning with a smile and bounce in his step.” — Lorie Crowell Doll

5. “For me it’s like one of those ‘Thanks… but no’ type feelings. Yeah, I have a lot of junk going on, but I’m not an ‘inspiration’ just for walking out of the house… If you want to call me an ‘inspiration,’ talk to me when I win a marathon!” — Ashley Laverdiere

6. “It depends on who is speaking and what it’s about. When my husband calls me one, I know it’s because he watches me trying so hard to live a normal life. When a parent of a child with the same condition calls me one, I know it is because they hope their children turn out to be as helpful as I try to be. When a stranger calls me one, it seems awkward. I am just living my life. They don’t know what it’s like and often say I’m an inspiration because they want to feel good about looking up to someone ‘lesser’ than them.” — Kirsten Schultz

10. “I’ve been told that I inspire people many times from many friends and family. It’s nice to have someone notice you, your life, your situation, your struggle and your fight… It’s nice to be noticed.” — Melissa Cote

12. “I have been told I am inspiring. It makes me laugh. I appreciate people finding something in me to inspire them but I don’t see myself being any different from them.” — Meghan Nagy

14. “Sometimes it feels like all the tears, pain, hard work and things get kind of of swept under the carpet as people only look at the achievement and not what goes on behind the ‘inspiration.’” — Antnz Burgess

15. “I feel honored and proud that I inspire people to find strength. It’s always there. Just have to find it.” — Becky Pantano

16. “I try and take it in the spirit intended by the speaker, but I hate it. I feel pressure to live up to that expectation of who I am, which I really do not need. I feel like the person speaking doesn’t know — and in some cases does not care to know — who I really am, preferring this idealized, saint-like picture they have created. This can be really isolating at times.” — Jess Guest

” — Jo Walker

21. “Fighting through metastatic breast cancer and living my life, being happy no matter the outcome — if that inspires anyone that’s great.” — Janet Oney

23. “I’m honored when I hear it but also don’t really know how to process it and react.” — Harper Spero

25. “I hate disability and inspiration porn with a passion… pictures of amputees with slogans that are meant to make able-bodied people feel grateful that they’re not disabled [are] insulting, and it treats disabled people as ‘other’.” — Louise Evans

27. “Many times people say to me, ‘You’re an inspiration. I couldn’t do what you do!’ One day I was fed up with it so I replied (with a bit of snark), ‘What? You couldn’t love your kids?’” — Carly Pointon

29. “If I can touch someone’s life through my life with gastroparesis, then I am happy to do it. I know I am merely one cog in the wheel of life that helps a person along.” —

30. “I have mixed emotions. Part of me feels proud, like I am being validated and recognized for the struggles I face and the things I go through. The other part though kind of feels like a fraud. They only see one side of me and my illness — the times I am actually feeling well enough to be in public, the carefully worded Facebook posts, etc. They haven’t seen the times I’ve not been so graceful — the crying from frustration after a bad doctor’s visit, how I get apathetic during a long hospitalization, the depression that accompanies my serious chronic illness, and the times where I haven’t been sure how I was going to keep going. But overall, if someone calls me an inspiration, it means they are taking the time to be invested in my life which means the world to me.” — Ellis Milligan

31. “I cannot express strongly enough how much I loathe being called inspirational.” — Nadine Riches

33. “I don’t mind it. I’m a poet. I want to inspire people. If my writing inspires people why cant my life?”– Marissa Stone

35. “I am not an inspiration. I fight because it’s the only option I have. If you were in my position you would fight too.” — Brooke Nelson

36. “I consider it a compliment because I feel when life deals us a difficult hand we all need a little push to keep us going through our rough day. If I can inspire one person to make it through one difficult day then I feel as though I’ve made a difference in their lives.” — Nicole Small

37. “I feel good about it! I worked hard to get well and if I can help one person, it is all worth it.” — Megan Roach

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39. “I don’t like it. I see life as a choice. You have the choice to pick your self up, dust yourself off and push through; or sit there and let life pass you through.” — Cassie Rebeor

40. “I appreciate it because they’re usually acknowledging how I positively deal with my diseases. When I can inspire someone else to keep going, it gives me more reason to keep fighting illness every day. It also makes it seem like maybe something good can come from all this pain.” — Katherine Mitchell

41. “I get it, but it makes me uncomfortable. I think sometimes that overcoming incredible odds can set you up for an accidental lack of support later. After all, you survived the impossible.” — Alena Belleque

44. “Seriously? It’s great that I’ve survived 40 years of bipolar disorder, over 30 hospitalizations, suicide attempts, etc. I’m a survivor. Eff yeah I’m an inspiration.” — Amy Hrynyk

How do you feel about it? Let us know in the comments below.

*answers have been edited for brevity.