# Compilation video shows the utter absurdity of what "accessibility" means to some. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 16, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839 "2011-10-16T20:15:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/1 "2011-10-16T20:15:10Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TezO5hYiEJc/hqdefault.jpg "life in a wheelchair") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TezO5hYiEJc) This is about the funniest, _truest_ compilation video I’ve seen. A facebook friend posted this and I **had** to steal it. It speaks for itself. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/2 "2011-10-16T21:04:02Z")
ROTFLMAO! Just posted it on Facebook too. “Torture chamber unsuitable for wheelchair users” :eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/3 "2011-10-16T21:15:51Z")
I’ve actually seen the “Deformed man end place” sign in the wild! It’s at the Chengdu airport in China. The first time I saw it, I laughed and laughed for hours. Internet translation makes amazing things happen. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/4 "2011-10-16T21:23:15Z")
What’s up with the guy with the baseball bat chasing the wheel chair dude? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/5 "2011-10-17T14:39:06Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > I’ve actually seen the “Deformed man end place” sign in the wild! It’s at the Chengdu airport in China. The first time I saw it, I laughed and laughed for hours. > > Internet translation makes amazing things happen. There’s a restaurant in China named [Translate server error.](http://boingboing.net/2008/07/15/chinese-restaurant-c.html) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/6 "2011-10-17T15:10:19Z")
I particularly liked the sign about drunken drivers creating new users of handicapped parking. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/7 "2011-10-17T15:14:44Z")
“What? Of _course_ it’s accessible! I put up a sign, didn’t I?” ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/8 "2011-10-17T15:19:17Z")
I’m curious about one of the clips - what’s wrong with the sign granting permission for an attendant of the opposite sex to enter the bathroom? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/9 "2011-10-17T15:23:08Z")
The sign at 1:53 is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen…I know I shouldn’t laugh at it, but I can’t help myself!I’m getting odd looks at work… ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/10 "2011-10-17T16:32:41Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > I’m curious about one of the clips - what’s wrong with the sign granting permission for an attendant of the opposite sex to enter the bathroom? I’m curious about the same thing. I’m not sure what point this compilation is supposed to be making Some of these certainly appear to be outrageous. But some of the “problems” in these clips just seem to be acknowledging that some people are in wheelchairs and may need assistance. Other images smack very strongly of being out of context (many of the ones with arrows that appear to point to a stairway, for example, when if the photo were taken from a wider angle it might reveal perfectly acceptable wheelchair access next to the stairway). Or using the word “downstairs” to mean “one floor down” - is there an elevator? We don’t know, all we see is a poorly worded sign. And the mistranslated Chinese signs - so what? Is this supposed to make a point about people in wheelchairs, or about bad translations? As with so many compilations, this one appears to me to be padded with marginal or even pointless cases. I don’t think the outrageous ones are funny, and I don’t think the marginal and pointless ones are funny. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/11 "2011-10-18T14:46:15Z")
I like the one with the alligator. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/12 "2011-10-18T16:18:13Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I’m curious about the same thing. > > I’m not sure what point this compilation is supposed to be making Some of these certainly appear to be outrageous. But some of the “problems” in these clips just seem to be acknowledging that some people are in wheelchairs and may need assistance. > > Other images smack very strongly of being out of context (many of the ones with arrows that appear to point to a stairway, for example, when if the photo were taken from a wider angle it might reveal perfectly acceptable wheelchair access next to the stairway). Or using the word “downstairs” to mean “one floor down” - is there an elevator? We don’t know, all we see is a poorly worded sign. And the mistranslated Chinese signs - so what? Is this supposed to make a point about people in wheelchairs, or about bad translations? > > As with so many compilations, this one appears to me to be padded with marginal or even pointless cases. I don’t think the outrageous ones are funny, and I don’t think the marginal and pointless ones are funny. > Roddy Wet blanket. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/13 "2011-10-18T16:45:26Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Wet blanket. ☹ But is it a handicapped accessible wet blanket? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/14 "2011-10-18T17:04:00Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > But is it a handicapped accessible wet blanket? > > 😃 Assho…Oops, I know better than to joke around with such words now. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/15 "2011-10-18T17:36:40Z")
At least a few of these are due to the fact that the same symbol is often used for “bathroom” and “wheelchair accessible”. The one at 0.41 isn’t saying that the handicapped bathrooms are downstairs. It’s saying that the toilets are downstairs. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/16 "2011-10-18T17:49:52Z")
Since you joined the board, **Ambivalid** , I’ve been noticing stuff like this more and more. It really shocks me how often places claim to be accessible, and aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/17 "2011-10-18T19:20:38Z")
Some of these seem innocuous, some seem photoshopped, and some… Wow! The ramp with the couple of steps is my favorite. What were they thinking? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/18 "2011-10-18T22:55:26Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Assho…Oops, I know better than to joke around with such words now. 😉 You have passed the test, grasshopper. Wisdom is now yours. 🙂 I still want to know what was up with the baseball bat carrying sign. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/19 "2011-10-18T23:43:49Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Other images smack very strongly of being out of context (many of the ones with arrows that appear to point to a stairway, for example, when if the photo were taken from a wider angle it might reveal perfectly acceptable wheelchair access next to the stairway). Or using the word “downstairs” to mean “one floor down” - is there an elevator? … > As with so many compilations, this one appears to me to be padded with marginal or even pointless cases. I still think the whole compilation is funny, but I’ll point out one where it’s almost certainly a case where the compiler thought a sign was funny simply because he/she didn’t know what was available - the sign at 0:45 at a beach. Electric wheelchairs specifically for beach use **do** exist and are presumably what is being referred to; I’ve played around in one in San Diego. They have great big baloon tires. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839/20 "2011-10-19T00:16:14Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Wet blanket. ☹ Yep. No apologies, either. Roddy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compilation-video-shows-the-utter-absurdity-of-what-accessibility-means-to-some/599839.md?page=2)