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*screams*

Tiffiny
  • By Tiffiny
  • Posted March 29, 2007 at 9:28 pm · 7 replies
  • Shared with the public
1 Recommendation

if one more person (read: STRANGER whilst errands my running downtown or anyone for that matter) comes up to me and says, "Slow down there young lady. You might break the speed limit," i swear i'm going to kick their ass. and as in "kick their ass" in mean, run them down iraqi -tank-style.

that wanna-be quip is SO not funny or unique!!! every 50 year old something old man with an IQ of 105 or less thinks their being smart when they say that to me.

LOSERS!

Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:

Pregnancy

7 replies

AgainstalOddz1

...they just don't get it, like we are just playing around in a wheelchair. I have so many people i want to "kick", that went i do get to walking again....I'm gonna have some strong legs, lol.

a_friend

With respect, that is an extraordinarily ungenerous response. Well-intentioned quips, however (ahem) lame and unfunny, are a way of coming to terms with what is, for the quipper, danger and discomfort; that is, they help the quipper to come to terms with a situation at once flustering (how does one deal with an obviously self-sufficient PWD?) and dangerous (OMG, I could be in one of those one day). In short, reaching out to you really hasn't much to do with you at all: it's their way of coping—and growing. Would it have been better had they looked away? I'll bet that after a time or two that individual won't make the stupid quip, because he or she will have come to better terms with their discomfort. You've willy-nilly helped someone to a healthier level of disability awareness at the expense of listening to yet another stupid quip. That seems like a good trade-off. Of course, that leaves a couple of billion unenlightened quippers to bend your ear. . . .

On a personal level, I've had to endure endless unfunny, embarrassed comments about my newish (and likely permanent) companion—a sturdy cane. I'd rather folks interrupt whatever I'm doing with stupid quips (that will come in handy with unruly students, ha-ha) than avoid me or become oversolicitous.

Or am I missing something?

Norm

Some of them think their being funny. Some times we are in a hurry too. They don't get it.

Patricia7

It is definitely far worse when I see my daughter struggling to open the door and no one stops, no one notices...

You could always just say thank you for the smile.. but I wish I did not have to be in a wheelchair...blunt honesty.... I think that would help others understand that the comments bother you... otherwise if the response is anger or physical violence it does nothing to show what kind of person you really are and they may easily conclude all people in wheelchairs are unapproachable, rude and angry...
At the nursing home I see plenty of people propped up in wheelchairs, not going anywhere... as people walk by without acknowledgement.

Lorajw

When I would go shopping in my manual chair people would look at me like I was in the way. So, I'm sorry but I do take a sick pleasure in watching people move out of my way for a change whether or not they want to give me a "speeding ticket".

Twisted

I believe quipping has its place and is generally, and often, deemed acceptable by the quipper because they think they are being clever and unique.

Used as a medium for an uncomfortable situation, perhaps, but less so, not more. For how then do you account for the people you see daily or weekly who, like a record on repeat, are as predictable as taxes in what comes out of their mouths? In Tiffiny's place, being young and pretty, most old men will say anything to illicit a radiant smile, but really, they could try to be original.

Here's a test anyone can take. The next time you make a comment to a stranger, aquaintance, friend, co-worker, etc., attempt to say something that has nothing to do with the obvious; disability, pregnancy, the weather, it matters not.

This particular quip about speeding becomes old and dull because it's dribbled out with such universal regularity. And we all have bad days where we feel enough is enough. I use a powerchair so I hear this one way too much and have preset responses depending on my mood:

1 - This thing comes with built-in radar detection.
2 - Talk to me when they make speed limit signs for wheelchairs.
3 - You're just jealous that I can move faster than you.
4 - I'll slow down when you speed up.
5 - Really? Is that the best you've got?
6 - I'm not adverse to hit-and-run driving.
7 - You're more likely to be ticketed for idiocy.
8 - Fast? Me? You haven't seen anything yet.

graybeard

Or.....beer is on sale, now get the hell outta my way!!

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