This happened to me a couple of days back and has been on my mind since. Let me start by saying I've always considered myself pretty good dealing with the handicapped, I'm not a starer, I don't make jokes and I think I've always had a good balance of pity (in the nicest way..) and respect for those in a less fortunate physical or mental state than myself. I'm not pushing around wheelchairs all day but part of my job is making orthotic devices for deformed kiddies, so while I'm no Mother Teresa, I do my little bit.
Anyway, I was at the video shop a couple of days back, just browsing around and went to round the corner to another aisle and nearing walked into a wheelchair bound girl (about 16-17) who was parked at the top of the aisle, out of view until the last second. I did a bit of a double take (as you do when something is in your path unexpectedly), took a step back and walked around, thinking to myself 'I'm glad I didn't knock her over', and go on my merry way. As I'm looking at a shelf close by I become aware that someone is staring at me (you know the kind, you get the feeling at the traffic lights or on public transport), so out of impulse I look up and the girl in the wheelchair is giving me a rather firm glare, our eyes meet for a moment - not overly familiar with video shop stare down etiquette (handicapped or not), I look away thinking 'jeez she's not looking too happy..'.
Anyway, she then says rather loudly to her friend close by 'You know what I hate more than people staring at me? - People who are so disgusted by the sight of a wheelchair that they can't stand to look at me', I'm thinking 'niiiice...' Her friend adds 'What that guy?' then I feel the glare on me intensify, I look at them with a 'I'm standing right here, is there a problem?' eyebrow raised look and they turn in disgust with a 'urrghh...'. I figure getting into some kind argument with a handicapped girl and her friend would probably just make the situation worse so I walk away, only to look over at the next aisle on to find an older woman (perhaps her mother I guess) giving me a FILTHY glare (a real 'shat in ya hat' kind of look usually only reserved for drunks at dinner parties) and shaking her head at me! At this point I'd usual ask what the hell the problem was, but because it involved a handicapped person I just shook my head and walked away.
So what ya reckon?, should I have stuck up for myself and disputed my perceived lack of social grace or does this one simply go through to the keeper with everyone because it involves a wheelchair bound person, therefore not someone you argue with about such a thing. Does this girl have the right to have a go at whoever she wants? I found it both insulting and embarrassing at the time (which I assume was the desired effect) and while it's no major thing, the situation and how I dealt with it has played on my mind.
Thoughts?
Anyway, I was at the video shop a couple of days back, just browsing around and went to round the corner to another aisle and nearing walked into a wheelchair bound girl (about 16-17) who was parked at the top of the aisle, out of view until the last second. I did a bit of a double take (as you do when something is in your path unexpectedly), took a step back and walked around, thinking to myself 'I'm glad I didn't knock her over', and go on my merry way. As I'm looking at a shelf close by I become aware that someone is staring at me (you know the kind, you get the feeling at the traffic lights or on public transport), so out of impulse I look up and the girl in the wheelchair is giving me a rather firm glare, our eyes meet for a moment - not overly familiar with video shop stare down etiquette (handicapped or not), I look away thinking 'jeez she's not looking too happy..'.
Anyway, she then says rather loudly to her friend close by 'You know what I hate more than people staring at me? - People who are so disgusted by the sight of a wheelchair that they can't stand to look at me', I'm thinking 'niiiice...' Her friend adds 'What that guy?' then I feel the glare on me intensify, I look at them with a 'I'm standing right here, is there a problem?' eyebrow raised look and they turn in disgust with a 'urrghh...'. I figure getting into some kind argument with a handicapped girl and her friend would probably just make the situation worse so I walk away, only to look over at the next aisle on to find an older woman (perhaps her mother I guess) giving me a FILTHY glare (a real 'shat in ya hat' kind of look usually only reserved for drunks at dinner parties) and shaking her head at me! At this point I'd usual ask what the hell the problem was, but because it involved a handicapped person I just shook my head and walked away.
So what ya reckon?, should I have stuck up for myself and disputed my perceived lack of social grace or does this one simply go through to the keeper with everyone because it involves a wheelchair bound person, therefore not someone you argue with about such a thing. Does this girl have the right to have a go at whoever she wants? I found it both insulting and embarrassing at the time (which I assume was the desired effect) and while it's no major thing, the situation and how I dealt with it has played on my mind.
Thoughts?
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