# Ask the Girl in the Wheelchair **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 19, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436 "2012-05-19T16:21:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/361 "2012-05-28T21:58:25Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Do you feel like your disability has had any effect on your political opinions? Do you have wildly different political views from your parents or siblings? Why or why not? Please answer in no less than 500 words šŸ˜‰ My dad, oldest brother, and twin are all bankers; my second oldest brother is an entrepreneur (whom I work for); and my third oldest brother is in the Air Force. And my mom grew up wealthy in Dallas. As you might suspect, they are all staunch Republicans. But me? Well, I swing wildly and unpredictably between the two ends of the spectrum. For example, I voted for Bush AND Obama. :eek: Iā€™m not terribly political, since I clearly canā€™t figure out what Iā€™m for or against enough to be remotely consistent in my voting patterns. Some election cycles Iā€™m pickinā€™ up what the Dems are puttinā€™ down, other times the GOP line makes sense. Does this have anything to do with my disability? I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/362 "2012-05-28T22:03:09Z")
> [@Sacrilegium](#): > > Silly question: Do you have a plan in place for surviving the zombie apocalypse? Iā€™ll answer your question with a question: Do YOU have any suggestions for how a (probably deliciously tender) quadriplegic girl has any hope of surviving the zombie apocalypse? Iā€™ve noticed there isnā€™t a single quadriplegic character on Walking Dead, and this has me understandably concernedā€¦:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/363 "2012-05-28T22:04:45Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Can we just get back to saying how awsome she is? What a sweetie. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/364 "2012-05-28T22:25:27Z")
> [@umkay](#): > > What a sweetie. šŸ™‚ Takes one to know one. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/365 "2012-05-28T22:26:53Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I have a question for you, umkay. Maybe itā€™s been asked before, and forgive me if it has, but - do you have many hobbies? What are they? Do you enjoy reading? Iā€™m guessing from your usage of this message board that you enjoy browsing the internet. > > Thanks again for starting this thread. šŸ™‚ I would love to say that I have a lot of hobbies, but when I really think about it, I spend most of my time working or hanging out with friends and family. I canā€™t cook, or knit, or jog, or rebuild old cars, so a lot of classic ā€œhobbiesā€ are out for me. I do love reading and Iā€™ve been toying with writing a book for about 3 years. I used to draw quite a bit and Iā€™m looking into getting a camera that I could get set up to be accessible to me. Iā€™m also going to try my hand at SCUBA this summer. But when I donā€™t have plans with folks and I am home, particularly in the evenings or on weekends, I canā€™t putter around like AB people do, putting laundry away or grabbing a little snack or painting my toenails or whatever. So Iā€™m usually in front of my computer, sometimes with the TV or music on, too. I only just recently joined The Dope, but itā€™s definitely a new fave. šŸ™‚ On weekdays, my work schedule is really variable, since I recruit for a field that is itself really variable. Itā€™s not uncommon for me to be emailing from 7am to 11am, have nothing pressing to do from 11am-6pm, then get on the phone or email again from 10pm to 1am. Again, if Iā€™m already at my computer and I donā€™t have much work to do, The Dope is a nice diversion. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/366 "2012-05-28T22:38:05Z")
> [@umkay](#): > > ā€¦Iā€™ve been toying with writing a book for about 3 yearsā€¦ Hurry up! That would be so cool. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/367 "2012-05-28T23:07:35Z")
Do you have pets? Is there a pet youā€™d like to get but have concerns about the level of their reliance? Does it seem youā€™ve met every idiot there is to meet?\* \*You havenā€™t. Thereā€™s always more. ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/368 "2012-05-28T23:47:00Z")
> [@umkay](#): > > Iā€™ve noticed there isnā€™t a single quadriplegic character on Walking Dead, and this has me understandably concerned Iā€™d think a good support crew could still keep you going. You might want to get started on the sustainably-powered underground bunker just in case. Or heck, you might be able to train some zombies [to help you](http://ualoo.com/images/5510774097.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/369 "2012-05-28T23:47:43Z")
How did you deal with your 1st post-injury crush? Iā€™ll recount my experience if/when you answer. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/370 "2012-05-29T00:10:55Z")
umkay, weā€™ve all been extremely rude and impertinent in this thread by not asking the most important question we could askā€¦ What would you do for a Klondike bar? (andā€¦ in a similar vein) How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie-roll filled center of a tootsie pop? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/371 "2012-05-29T00:40:41Z")
Ok, I have an interest in vicarious squirming embarrassment, so Iā€™ll ask: if you had to assemble a Top Five Cringe-Worthy Comments Youā€™ve Heard, where the commentator just must look back, remember what he or she said, and glow bright red with shameā€¦ what would that list look like? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/372 "2012-05-29T00:44:08Z")
Oo, I want to hear that, too! ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/373 "2012-05-29T03:21:11Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Do you have pets? Is there a pet youā€™d like to get but have concerns about the level of their reliance? I briefly addressed this a few posts ago, so I hope you donā€™t mind if I just post that response here: > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Mama Zappa > Would a service dog be at all useful for you? Do you have (or wish to have) any pets? > > Iā€™ve thought about it, because I do love dogs. But it seems like overkill, since Iā€™ve already got a human helper with me 24 hours a day. Plus, I wouldnā€™t want to take that opportunity away from someone else either; I can see it being really the one thing that could make the difference for a lower quad between needing in-home care and living independently. > > I donā€™t have any pets myself, but my parents have a pair of Doberman pinschers whom I adore. Iā€™ll also add that I donā€™t want to add any pet responsibilities to my helpersā€™ already long to-do list just taking care of me. I love dogs, but I get enough interaction with my parentsā€™ dogs to tide me over, so donā€™t cry for me, Argentina. šŸ˜‰ > [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Does it seem youā€™ve met every idiot there is to meet?\* > > \*You havenā€™t. Thereā€™s always more. Ahaha! Iā€™ve met my share of idiots, but thenā€“Iā€™m sure Iā€™ve been an idiot a time or two (at least once on this thread). šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/374 "2012-05-29T03:26:19Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Hurry up! That would be so cool. Not an autobiography, though, a novel. ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/375 "2012-05-29T03:32:29Z")
> [@Sacrilegium](#): > > Iā€™d think a good support crew could still keep you going. You might want to get started on the sustainably-powered underground bunker just in case. Or heck, you might be able to train some zombies [to help you](http://ualoo.com/images/5510774097.jpg). Yes, but how to convince a support crew to take me on? I have LIABILITY written all over me. Especially in a world where money isnā€™t worth the paper itā€™s printed on. Youā€™re right, better get started on the underground bunkerā€¦ And I love [Rage comics](http://ragecomics.memebase.com/). šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/376 "2012-05-29T03:39:56Z")
> [@umkay](#): > > I have thrown up exactly twice post-injury. Once, after drinking too much at my high school graduation party (my parents did not sanction the drinking, but it happened) OK, Iā€™ve got to know more about this one. Who fed you the booze? I know youā€™ve said that your carerā€™s job is to do what they are told without passing judgement. But at this point, I would assume the carers were still hired by your parents, not you. So do they have an obligation to your parents to stop you from unsanctioned drinking? Or do they just do as you say and help you with your keg-stand? šŸ˜‰ Or was there no carer present, only friends and/or brothers? Did your parents find out? were there repercussions? Or was it just that you vomited, were OK, moved on, and the 'rents never knew? ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/377 "2012-05-29T03:48:14Z")
Umkay, Re; the zombie apocolypse, I have four words for you: Voice. Activated. Flame. Thrower. ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/378 "2012-05-29T04:15:28Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > How did you deal with your 1st post-injury crush? Iā€™ll recount my experience if/when you answer. Uggghhh. Well, although I had my fair share of friends, among them guys, I was flat-out _ **undateable** _ in high school. Not sure if that was because a lot of those guys had known me before I got hurt, or because dating someone with my disability is just a really heavy thing to take on in high school. I found myself attracted to many of my guy friends, but none of them reciprocated romantically. But, honestly, I donā€™t know what I would have done if one of them had liked me back. I really wasnā€™t sure what my body was capable of, sex-wise (the 70s-era wheelchair sex videos Iā€™d been shown in my doctorā€™s office at 16 notwithstanding :eek:). And though I had accepted my new body, I wasnā€™t sure Iā€™d ever meet a guy who would also be able to do that. I was really self-conscious and worried about being judged (so, pretty much like every other high school girl). I didnā€™t have sex or a real relationship until I was in college, where guys were more mature and open-mindedā€¦and social drinking entered the equation. šŸ˜‰ You? ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/379 "2012-05-29T04:17:35Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > What would you do for a Klondike bar? > (and.. in a similar vein) > How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie-roll filled center of a tootsie pop? You so crazy. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436/380 "2012-05-29T04:27:16Z")
I told you Iā€™d share: In my hometown. they held sports camps to expose kids to HS offerings. A week before I started 7th grade, I did track camp, and met this girl, ā€œKateā€. I would go on to spend the next 5 years madly in love with her. She wouldnā€™t date me, though it wasnā€™t becasue of my wheelchair. It was because I wasnā€™t what she wanted me to be. What did she want me to be? IMO, a biology book. (she was our valedictorian, went to Harvard, later earned a Ph.D from Washington University.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-girl-in-the-wheelchair/622436.md?page=20)