Posted here first, but it got filtered right away. :/

I live in California and was born with oculocutaenous Albinism.

Just created a new reddit account so there's nothing to see at all, but here's my proof:

This is me. http://i.imgur.com/xusWK.jpg

& without any makeup. http://i.imgur.com/ePrQo.jpg

EDIT - 2:08 PM PST - Woah. I didn't think I'd get this many questions! I'm going to put down the laptop and go have some lunch. I'll be back later today. Maybe I'll answer a few from my phone when I get the chance as well. Thanks everyone! :)

EDIT - 7:00 PM PST - Forgot to mention that I'm back. Answering as many questions as I can. I can't believe I made front page! Thanks so much to everyone for the support. <3

FINAL EDIT - Thank you all so, so much for spending the day with me on Reddit. I've had a lot of fun talking to you guys. You rule!!!

I'll try to answer more questions that might stand out to me. I'll also be responding to as many PMs as I can. I honestly was not expecting this much response and so many kind words. I'm not used to hearing such nice compliments and I'm seriously so flattered, i dont even know how to process it all, but thank you so much. I really appreciate the support.

Also, quite a few people with Albinism and/or vision impairments have been reaching out to me for information or advice regarding how to deal with or cope with these types of issues. I don't have all the answers, but I don't mind chatting if you shoot me a PM. I'll try to respond as best as I can.

Thanks again, everyone! Take care. :)

Comments: 2646 • Responses: 59  • Date: 

10b-591 karma

Albino or not, still hawt.

bbysnorlax93 karma

Kewl, thx!! :>

m2k8822 karma

how does it feel when people stare at u? (being an average height brown guy, i clearly dont stand out). Does it make u feel good? bad? nothing?

bbysnorlax62 karma

I've gotten used to it, I barely notice it nowadays.

Usually the people I'm with will be the ones to point it out if at all.

People used to make and ask some pretty ignorant comments and questions, but that was when I was younger and had completely white hair. It offended me at first, but even after a while I got used to that too.

"Why are you so white?" "LOOK! An Asian blonde!" "Is she real?" Blah blah.

Nuggetface21 karma

Are you able to get tan?

bbysnorlax42 karma

Nope. I just burn. :(

48letters15 karma

Japanese? I assume this would be a really big deal in Japan, don't they really value light skin?

bbysnorlax67 karma

Taiwanese. :)

Yeah, I think a lot of Asians actually envy it. I remember being in Asia and overhearing girls talk about how light my skin was, and almost fawning over it. Here in the US, it seems that I tend to get the most looks from fellow Asians as well. I think they're just curious, maybe confused.

Rose198236 karma

I'm a pale Irish girl and I lived in Taiwan for a couple of years... The women there LOVED my skin. I'm sure you'd be envied in Taiwan.

bbysnorlax30 karma

Wow, awesome!

That must've been a pretty great experience. :D

GrantReddit7 karma

Has it actually effected your life very much in a negative way? Was it hard to make friends going through school?

I think your very beautiful by the way, your uniqueness is very attractive.

bbysnorlax11 karma

I think most of the negative impact has been self-imposed. I gained a pretty cynical perspective on many things and I think that made me close myself off to many opportunities, such as making friends.

I'm getting better about it though. I'm learning more and more about myself and my tendencies, and growing from it each day.

GrantReddit1 karma

well i wish you the best of luck! it seems you have tons of support coming from reddit. And if your ever in the hollywood area and want to make a new friend just drop me a pm!

bbysnorlax2 karma

Thanks!

I'm always down to make new Redditor friends! :D Take care!

evolutionaryflow6 karma

DO A GW! Ive never seen an albino gw

bbysnorlax39 karma

HEH...

Been there, done that. Don't go looking for it though. It's not posted anymore. :S

Larklen3 karma

Do you have any photos of you with no dyed hair? I know you have one below in a photobooth, it's pretty small.

I'm blonde myself...but I'm white, curious to see how it is on a Asian person

bbysnorlax2 karma

No others that I can get a hold of at the moment. Sorry!

brcaus443 karma

Do you feel like your condition has negatively influenced your quality of life at all?

bbysnorlax4 karma

Copied & pasted from other comment:

I think most of the negative impact has been self-imposed. I gained a pretty cynical perspective on many things and I think that made me close myself off to many opportunities, such as making friends. I'm getting better about it though. I'm learning more and more about myself and my tendencies, and growing from it each day.

Nuggetface1 karma

Do you ever want to be as other Asians?

bbysnorlax9 karma

Other Asians? Not really. I actually kind of like the fact that I stand out from other Asians.

From time to time, I do wish I was more "normal" though. For example, I'd like to have decent, or at least correctable, vision like everyone else. I'd like to stay outside for long periods of time without sun protection, maybe if I didn't have Albinism I'd have more confidence and self-esteem. Etc etc.

mhlleung3 karma

what is wrong with your vision and why can't it be fixed like everyone else's?

BaileeLake20 karma

I remember reading somewhere that the difference in vision in people with albinism is lacking detail e.g old cellphone cam (320 x 240) vs 1080p. People with correctable vision still have 1080p with the lens out of focus. That lens can be refocused using laser surgery, glasses, or contacts. You cannot increase the pixel count on a low res image though. This is caused in albinos by the eye not developing correctly due to lack of melanin.

That is what I understand of it, if anyone is an expert, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

bbysnorlax6 karma

I think you're pretty much spot on about it. :)

I'm no science expert. I don't know much more about the genetics of it all.

assumes1 karma

How many times a day do you get told that you're gorgeous? Because I don't think it's enough.

bbysnorlax2 karma

Haha, aw, that's so sweet.

Definitely not on a daily basis!! I do get compliments on my hair and eyes pretty regularly. Not unexpected though, I mean, it's a pretty unique thing for an Asian.

Koolaidolio1 karma

What do you think of the movie 'Powder'?

bbysnorlax10 karma

Hm. I don't really have an opinion. I've never seen the film.

It's about an Albino boy with superpowers right? And everyone ostracizes him? I think its kind of weird that movies like that would portray people with Albinism to have superpowers or demonic. But I guess Hollywood just feels that our appearance really suits characters like that.

I do know that the Albinism community tends to get pretty offended about the way media portrays us. Like DaVinci Code or Malfoy from Harry Potter (which I personally dont understand, because I don't think they ever implied that he had Albinism).

_hyperthetical_0 karma

Say you meet a wizard in downtown Chicago. The wizard tells you he can make you more attractive if you pay him money. When you ask how this process works, the wizard points to a random person on the street. You look at this random stranger. The wizard says, "I will now make them a dollar more attractive." He waves his magic wand. Ostensibly, this person does not change at all; as far as you can tell, nothing is different. But--somehow--this person is suddenly a little more appealing. The tangible difference is invisible to the naked eye, but you can't deny that this person is vaguely sexier. This wizard has a weird rule, though--you can only pay him once. You can't keep giving him money until you're satisfied. You can only pay him one lump sum up front.

How much cash do you give the wizard?

bbysnorlax9 karma

I'll keep my cash in my pocket. :>

1standarduser-2 karma

Some complain about the place down there looks like roast beef on Asians, as the outside is brown, the inside is pink. I don't recommend this, but you are prime age, size, gender and whiteness to get into J-porn.

bbysnorlax3 karma

Hm. Interesting. Thanks for letting me know. O_O

memymineown-12 karma

Why did you get a nose piercing?

bbysnorlax8 karma

I like nose piercings.