Wheelchairs aren't people, they are equipment.

[dropzone]

@Broomstick

Well… there’s always russian heel, he’s been quite the jerk in this thread…

Wouldn’t want to step on your toes or give the impression that I didn’t think you can handle him.

@Ambivalid

Hmm. How about nobody?

Can we pick on Velocity? Pretty please?

[Ambivalid]

@dropzone

Wouldn’t want to step on your toes or give the impression that I didn’t think you can handle him.

Can we pick on Velocity? Pretty please?

Oh between the two, I’d definitely have to go with the heel. I had forgotten about him. In addition to his dickish back-n-forth with Broomstick, he blatantly ignored *every-single *attempt I made-in good faith-to address some of the comments he made. You’d have to make a case for Velocity, (s)he’s not even on my radar.

[russian_heel]

@Broomstick

The notion I would “carry the water” for Ambivalid is ridiculous, either metaphorically or in real life (he is, after all, considerably stronger than I’ll ever be).
So, since you can’t defeat me intellectually you resort to an attempt to attack my person. Argumentum ad hominem

While I do wear glasses I fail to see how that is relevant to the discussion at hand, I have a human face, not a “pig” one, am not overweight, and I have a full time job. No cats, either. I do type pretty damn fast, though, so try to keep up.
My spouse is disabled. Not in a wheelchair, but it has made me more aware of disability issues.
More argumentum ad hominem. How does having a job, a spouse, etc. at all pertain to the argument at hand? Well, if your spouse is disabled (as is mine) it might be relevant but you’re throwing that out as if 1) it’s somehow important to this discussion and 2) those lacking such things are unworthy to engage in conversation.

And you could take time out to respond to other people, it’s your choice not to do so.
I have very little free time, actually. Full time job, taking care of a disabled family member, terminally ill parent… I get my jollies via a few minutes in the internet daily. It just so happens that’s were our paths intersect.

And, you know, you could skip a reply to me and respond to someone else. You CHOOSE to engage primarily with me and ignore the others here. Why is that?
What is and isn’t considered “inappropriate” is not writ in stone, though, and far too many people react to others who are different as if they had cooties, which is what the kids pick up on.
The problem you seem to have is that there isn’t a Special Wheelchair Etiquette. Treat them like everyone else - hold the door if you’re going through it, don’t make a special trip to do so unless the person asks for help. Make eye contact. I fail to understand why this is so hard for you.
I think I’ll stay happily non-Christian, thank you.
How would working at Wal-Mart disqualify someone from participating in an argument about disability? Again, more argumentum ad hominem. Again, you can’t win on logic so you resort to personal attacks. Do you work in politics? You (apparently) dismiss the disabled as not worthy of response, you now decree that a person’s worthiness to engage you in conversation is dependent on where they work and not the quality of their arguments… you are really looking like a complete bigot here.

Oh, and you do understand there are other stores in the world besides Wal-Mart? My employer isn’t nearly as large, but they pay better and treat their employees a fuckton better. Or maybe Wal-Mart IS the only store out in Buttfuck Nowhere where you live.
I think you have a reading comprehension problem.

I’ve been consistent with the term “wheelchair using” and even took a little time to explain why the descriptor “bound” is completely inappropriate.

With hundreds to over a thousand customers a day, accessible stores, and sufficient staff to provide customers with any needed assistance of course we get disabled people coming in on a regular basis. They need stuff, too. I do not interact with the disabled (other than my spouse) on a daily basis, but certainly a couple times a week. This isn’t extensive - usually just “good morning, let me know if you need any help” - but it does come up.

Also, I’d like to point out that people who need to use wheelchairs are only part of the disabled community. I have to provide the same level of customer service to anyone walking in the door, including clueless ableists such as yourself.
You wish. Quoting a sarcastic reply entirely out of context is the desperate ploy of the I expect from Fox News, not an intelligent debater… but then, you aren’t one, are you?
Janitor? Bah! If I ever was in line to work at NASA it would have been as a pilot (which license I do have, by the way).
I’ve seen message boards where people are banned for winning arguments. They don’t last long. Anyhow, just as well you’re not a moderator, you’d suck at it.

Thanks for the morning tussle. Will you be back tomorrow? But bring some actual debating skills rather than just personal attacks, that tactic is getting old and isn’t winning you points.

Well, well, WELL.

You poke a stick at a woodpile long enough and the snakes will come out:

EXHIBIT A: BROOMSTICKS ORIGINAL ARGUMENT

Broomstick

russian heel
But to just close your eyes and pretend its not there isn’t as easy as you seem to think it is for most people because most people do NOT interact with wheelchair bound people on a daily basis.

I don’t interact with wheelchair users on a daily basis, either, yet somehow I manage to achieve that mighty, mighty, feat.

EXHIBIT B: BROOMSTICK COMES CLEAN

I work in the health area of the store and between that and the pharmacy we get a lot of disabled people in my area.rk in the health area of the store and between that and the pharmacy we get a lot of disabled people in my area.

My spouse is disabled. Not in a wheelchair, but it has made me more aware of disability issues.

The entire basis of your argument against me is that you encounter people in wheelchairs as often as I do, but react less, therefore are a better person than me. But, after extensive interrogation and prodding you REVEAL you indeed deal with disabled people (wheelchair, or no) on a DAILY basis therefore, of COURSE your comfort level with dealing with the disabled is higher than that of the average person, and God Bless you for it.

However, the fact that you have not only been abusive to only me, but have bullied other people on this thread, but have LIED about your background, makes it impossible for me to enter further into a dialogue about this subject with you because you are a liar. I suggest you consider taking anger management lessons.

I hereby take the advisement of you and others, and as time permits, review other posts on this thread, and end this conversation. I wish you and your spouse well.

[Ambivalid]

Can a mod shut this thread down? The dishes are done, man. Ending fittingly.
ETA: I realize that probably ain’t happening. I just see no value in keeping it open any longer. Just sniping.

[butterfiles]

Having experience with the disabled population might be a positive factor, but I do not find that it is necessary. I find that personality and adaptability, and most likely intelligence, are more determining factors. Plus formative experience in childhood.

[Broomstick]

@russian_heel

The entire basis of your argument against me is that you encounter people in wheelchairs as often as I do, but react less, therefore are a better person than me. But, after extensive interrogation and prodding you REVEAL you indeed deal with disabled people (wheelchair, or no) on a DAILY basis therefore, of COURSE your comfort level with dealing with the disabled is higher than that of the average person, and God Bless you for it.

Your reasoning is, as usual, deeply flawed.

1. I never said I encounter people in wheelchairs as often as you do. I have no idea how often you do or do not encounter people in wheelchairs. I suspect it’s less often than I do, but for all I know you just ignore them, walking by without registering their presence.

2. Disabled does not equal wheelchair using. While I do live with a disabled person he does not use a wheelchair, therefore, my statement I do not daily encounter wheelchair users is entirely accurate.

3. Different disabilities impose different limitations and needs for assistance. Living with my spouse does not give a person any special skills with regard to those using wheelchairs to get around.

4. STFU with the “god bless” bullshit. I’m not a saint, neither is the spouse, and there’s nothing “godly” about dealing with the situation. I really despise holding up either the disabled or those who live with them as some sort of Special Inspiration People - it’s just another way to shove them in a ghetto, by making them Other. And, of course, anyone who doesn’t live up to sainthood expectations is just a jerk.

However, the fact that you have not only been abusive to only me, but have bullied other people on this thread, but have LIED about your background, makes it impossible for me to enter further into a dialogue about this subject with you because you are a liar. I suggest you consider taking anger management lessons.

You have not yet demonstrated where I have lied.

You HAVE been listening to the voices in your head a bit much, and failing to accurately read the text in front of you.

[butterfiles]

For those interested in learning more about disability, there are many resources on the internet. For example, BBC Ouch does disability related news plus a monthly podcast:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs/ouch/

There must be many blogs out there as well which have lots of info. and different perspectives.

[Broomstick]

@Ambivalid

Can a mod shut this thread down? The dishes are done, man. Ending fittingly.

For those who want to shut their own thread down the most efficient way is to click on the little “report post” thingy and then ask to have the thread shut down in the message box. That gets it to a mod faster than waiting for one to wander by.

[Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge]

I’m cool with ganging up on Russian Heel…

To further the kumbayness of the thread, I’ll say that Ambivalid has matured quite a bite over the years and even though he still annoys me sometimes, I always read what he writes because he is smart and interesting. We would probably be friends in “real life.”