# Exercising their rights or crazier than a sh\*thouse rat?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercising-their-rights-or-crazier-than-a-sh-thouse-rat/188637>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [July 15, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercising-their-rights-or-crazier-than-a-sh-thouse-rat/188637 "2003-07-15T13:24:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercising-their-rights-or-crazier-than-a-sh-thouse-rat/188637/21 "2003-07-16T01:33:08Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by j.c. \*  
> Would it be discrimination if I refused to hire a man who had deliberately amputated his leg as a letter carrier?

Well of course it would be discrimination, just like when I discriminate against Heineken in favor of Shiner Bock. The question is whether your discrimination would be illegal. The Americans With Disabilities Act certainly prohibits much employment discrimination against disabled persons, and mandates “reasonable” accommodations for their disabilities. If the amputee could not perform the job even with any reasonable accommodation, there would be no violation of the federal law.

On the other hand, my limited knowledge of the ADA gives me the impression that it would be an open question whether you violate the law by refusing to hire the one-legged letter carrier because the dude seems completely bonkers. And lord knows we don’t want any more nutjobs working for the Postal Service. 😉

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**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercising-their-rights-or-crazier-than-a-sh-thouse-rat/188637/22 "2003-07-16T02:45:57Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by dropzone \*  
> **Dissonance, I think I’ve found a present for my wife in that book. Right up her alley. :eek:**

There’s also Apocalypse Culture II, though I haven’t read it. You’re umm… a lucky man… I think.😉

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**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercising-their-rights-or-crazier-than-a-sh-thouse-rat/188637/23 "2003-07-16T06:11:47Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by minty green \*
> 
> Indeed, my understanding is that transexuals seeking gender-reassignment surgery are required to undergo a long series of psychological evaluations and counseling to determine (among other things) whether their desire stems from a **metal** disorder.

What, a rusty pole, perhaps?

😃

Sorry, couldn’t help myself

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**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercising-their-rights-or-crazier-than-a-sh-thouse-rat/188637/24 "2003-07-16T15:59:29Z")

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[hijack] I enjoyed & bought APOCALYPSE CULTURE, but after skimming AC II in a bookstore, I couldn’t force myself to buy that!  
[end hijack]

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