Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

Photo courtesy of here.

Last year, when I wrote this story, for whatever reason I didn’t actually think they would do it again.  But it’s February, and The Enquirer can’t help but tap into their annual fluff story for helping people feel better about the Winter.  Like they do almost every February, they have published another piece about Dustin Carter, the armless and legless wrestler from Hillsboro.

My earlier piece has links to Newsbank archives of Enquirer stories featuring Dustin Carter from 2004 - 2006.  (The Dustin Carter blog was, indeed, short lived, and now a different blog takes that former address.)

And here is last year’s February story about Dustin Carter.

By now, the story’s formula is so predictable, it’s disgusting how they use this kid each year, not only to make people feel better about themselves despite the long nights and cold Winter temperatures, but also as a way to sell more advertisements.

If The Enquirer were honest, hoping to inspire us by showing that people can overcome great odds, they wouldn’t return year after year to the Dustin Carter well.  He is not the only person working despite adversities, handicaps, and so forth.  But his situation is so alarming, and the pictures of him are so eye-catching, the paper can’t help but make its annual pilgrimage.  He is a great strategy for delivering advertisements to consumers, and that is why they are acting like a pimp.

Somewhere in the article, be sure to notice how they mention that Dustin is “just a regular kid.” That’s the angle.  Sure, he has no arms and no legs, but by calling him a “regular kid” they help their depressed readers feel a little better about themselves.

Do a Google search for the most depressing month of the year.  You’ll find all sorts of articles about how upset people feel in January, and psychologists claiming that days near the end of January tend to be the most depressing days.  So following up in February with feel-good stories is a great way to ride the average person’s annual mood swing.  In February, we have things like Groundhog’s Day and Valentine’s Day to serve as pick-me-ups from the Winter blues.  And in Cincinnati, we have Dustin Carter, who reminds all of us with full use of our limbs that things could always be worse.

So happy Dustin Carter Day, Cincinnati.  You have much for which you should be thankful.  Stop feeling so sorry about yourselves.  If an armless and legless boy can be the wrestling team captain, you can make it just a few more weeks till Spring.

Thank you for reading (and printing from) The Cincinnati Beacon.