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glowing_dragon(I've fleshed out the "My Past" memory section, and added a new one for rants / nonsense / reposts... I could have added more entries with the volume of rants here, but don't have time as I have to get up at 7:30... ugh...)
Yes, I know I'm different from most everyone else on the street. I do realize that I don't walk like everyone else, and the first impression of me that you get is likely to be your last. (and therefore you can't look past my disability to see the person underneath, unlike my friends and acquaintances) There is nothing I can do about it, either.
BUT.. why on earth would you assume that if I have problems with walking, that I am also deaf? Believe me, I can hear you when you quite clearly mutter "cripple" (or something similar) underneath your breath. Granted, I don't know you from Adam and hopefully won't see you again.. however, can't you keep your misguided notions inside your pea-sized brain?
For your information (even though you obviously don't need it, having made up your mind instantly and unchangeably), I am NOT crippled just because I have a noticeable limp when I walk. Doesn't mean I like it, but it's all I've ever known and will know. (since I was BORN with it, you flipping blasted idiots) Normally, I don't really think about it at all, but it's amazing the power words have, isn't it? With your one word of ignorance / hate / cruelty (I can't tell, and perhaps I'm lucky that way), you have managed to put thoughts of rage and helplessness in my head. (quite a feat for someone who's normally on an even keel and fairly self-sufficient)
Oh, and also for your information: I do need a seat on the bus, preferably in the courtesy seats. Not that I can't stand on the bus; I have done so, and will probably have to do so again. Notice I'm not saying I'm entitled to a seat on the bus, but if I'm already sitting in a seat, there's little chance I'll give it up because of my balance issues. (unless there's someone who obviously needs it more than me.. crowded buses negate that chance, though)
But for goodness sakes, DO NOT lift me up bodily out of my seat so I can perforce give up my seat to someone! Just because it happens to be the last courtesy seat available, and I look like a younger healthy person with no apparent disability doesn't necessarily mean that I'll give it up for an old lady. Sure, I might have if you'd asked me politely (or if I'd noticed first, which I didn't), but when you go straight to the "personal space invasion method".. that's just NOT cool with me. And absolutely no call to fling an expletive ("Bitch!") at me when I do get off the bus, either!
Damn jabronies.
No, I am not totally rude when old people get on the bus: I will give up my seat for them, or at least make an offer. But in the situation described above, I didn't notice. Not noticing doesn't mean I pretended to be asleep / engrossed in my book so I wouldn't have to give the seat up! Some people, indeed...
Oh, and recognizing a sketch in the paper of a person who's wanted for sexual assaults of some sort on women (because he harassed YOU on the bus!) isn't much preferable to this!
Yes, I know I'm different from most everyone else on the street. I do realize that I don't walk like everyone else, and the first impression of me that you get is likely to be your last. (and therefore you can't look past my disability to see the person underneath, unlike my friends and acquaintances) There is nothing I can do about it, either.
BUT.. why on earth would you assume that if I have problems with walking, that I am also deaf? Believe me, I can hear you when you quite clearly mutter "cripple" (or something similar) underneath your breath. Granted, I don't know you from Adam and hopefully won't see you again.. however, can't you keep your misguided notions inside your pea-sized brain?
For your information (even though you obviously don't need it, having made up your mind instantly and unchangeably), I am NOT crippled just because I have a noticeable limp when I walk. Doesn't mean I like it, but it's all I've ever known and will know. (since I was BORN with it, you flipping blasted idiots) Normally, I don't really think about it at all, but it's amazing the power words have, isn't it? With your one word of ignorance / hate / cruelty (I can't tell, and perhaps I'm lucky that way), you have managed to put thoughts of rage and helplessness in my head. (quite a feat for someone who's normally on an even keel and fairly self-sufficient)
Oh, and also for your information: I do need a seat on the bus, preferably in the courtesy seats. Not that I can't stand on the bus; I have done so, and will probably have to do so again. Notice I'm not saying I'm entitled to a seat on the bus, but if I'm already sitting in a seat, there's little chance I'll give it up because of my balance issues. (unless there's someone who obviously needs it more than me.. crowded buses negate that chance, though)
But for goodness sakes, DO NOT lift me up bodily out of my seat so I can perforce give up my seat to someone! Just because it happens to be the last courtesy seat available, and I look like a younger healthy person with no apparent disability doesn't necessarily mean that I'll give it up for an old lady. Sure, I might have if you'd asked me politely (or if I'd noticed first, which I didn't), but when you go straight to the "personal space invasion method".. that's just NOT cool with me. And absolutely no call to fling an expletive ("Bitch!") at me when I do get off the bus, either!
Damn jabronies.
No, I am not totally rude when old people get on the bus: I will give up my seat for them, or at least make an offer. But in the situation described above, I didn't notice. Not noticing doesn't mean I pretended to be asleep / engrossed in my book so I wouldn't have to give the seat up! Some people, indeed...
Oh, and recognizing a sketch in the paper of a person who's wanted for sexual assaults of some sort on women (because he harassed YOU on the bus!) isn't much preferable to this!
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 07:49 am (UTC)I really liked how you expressed yourself in this post-very well written. Too bad it's friends only-I'd love to link it or post it in my journal because I think it's such an excellent post.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 08:05 am (UTC)Just for you: public. :P
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 08:14 am (UTC)I'm going to link it in my journal right now, if you don't mind.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 08:26 am (UTC)If I did mind, I wouldn't have made it public. :P
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 12:44 pm (UTC)I have never, in the whole of my thirteen years alive, seen such an incident. How did he lift you up, pray tell? And give him a good kick up his arse. The most he should've done is inform you of the old lady.
As for those who stupidly accuse anotehr of something the latter doesn't deserve, smash his cock.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 02:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 07:16 pm (UTC)although for some reason they tend to leave me alone (the pushy people). Maybe it's the mask....
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 07:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 07:36 pm (UTC)Nothing gives anyone a right to violate personal boundaries - except violating someone else's personal boundaries.
I recommend to anyone who is treated this way:
Kick 'em in the nards
Asking - acceptable manners. Yelling or insulting - unacceptable but still "civilized" somewhat. Anything else - deserves immediate punishment.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 08:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 08:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 09:31 pm (UTC)Just feel free to tell him that. That also might get him to stop...
'tis better for a person to face responsibility for an (actually illegal) breach of manners than worry about other people's attitudes at this point.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 10:03 pm (UTC)I would have threatened him with arrest. That's assault, and it's not cool at al.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 10:51 pm (UTC)I think it's more your imposing presence than anything else!
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 11:00 pm (UTC)For the last while it's been a gas mask. Let's just say people are less likely to bother me now - but when they do they're a lot less nice about it.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 11:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 11:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 11:11 pm (UTC)Heh, now I feel dumb. :P
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 11:13 pm (UTC)(I have a mild form of cerebral palsy, and so I limp noticeably)
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 11:30 pm (UTC)but at that point I was in Fort St John slowly falling apart due to stress and health problems - and had just discovered the beginnings of being a priest. (the same problems I'm dealing with now - but that's the time when these problems started. I've actually gotten lots healthier on a lot of levels since then).
no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 11:59 pm (UTC)PS. I've had juvenile idiopathic arthritis for 22 years....2 hip replacements, babee.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 12:29 am (UTC)Yeah, that's a difficult situation. Usually when I ask for a seat (note: no invasion of personal space), people seem willing to give me one. But then sometimes they don't... eh well.
True. More education would be a good thing. Some people would say I'm not that disabled compared to people in wheelchairs and such, and I'd agree. But sometimes I don't feel like comparing mine to other people's.. I know, it makes me sound unselfish. However, I'm not faking it, and I don't feel like going into a lengthy explanation for your average person on the bus.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 12:32 am (UTC)Semi-rhetorical question, but nice to know. :)
Hey, I was thinking that you'd be perfect for these "every-so-often" dinners that my brother's organizing. Maybe sometime when you're back in town and have met some of my people, as if that will ever happen. (haha)
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 12:35 am (UTC)I think people *should* be able to have a seat when they need that seat, whether they're disabled or not. Even healthy people have bad days. My ex-girlfriend had severe nausea very frequently, and it made me mad when people wouldn't let her sit, even when she was clutching her stomach with one hand and clutching the pole with the other.
I've only ever had someone refuse to give me a seat once. It makes me mad when people get refused because their disability is invisible, or they're healthy people having a bad day.