# Where Was Jamie McGarry When I Needed Him?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 30, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405 "2011-06-30T17:26:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/1 "2011-06-30T17:26:06Z")
This is one of those bizarre aggravations that insert themselves into my life:
By way of background, my spouse is disabled. Thus, our car has a handicap plate on it. Now, MOST people know that such plates are for the use of disabled people, NOT their able-bodied loved ones. Thank goodness I am not required to swap out the plate prior to driving off on my own. Alright, got that?
OK, I went shopping recently, my usual rounds. Outside the local K-Mart, this little nosy busy-body apparently noticed that not only does my car have the wheelchair on the plate, but I am parking way the bleep on the end of a row far away from the door. And why not? Despite the plate I am not legally permitted to use the blue spaces unless the disabled family member is with me. He isn’t, he’s at home. Nothing wrong with my legs, no reason I can’t walk. The exercise is probably good for me anyway. Well, Ms. Busy-body comes up
“You know that there are handicapped spaces available?”
Yes, yes I know. I attempt to explain that since I am able-bodied I’m not supposed to-
“But you have handicapped plates! You HAVE TO park in the handicapped spots!”
:smack:
I have to wonder if this is the same lady I encountered some years ago [in this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=139188).
Anyhow, she continued to insist that I park in the handicapped spot. When I finally convinced her that no, I didn’t have some hidden disability and was really able-bodied she THEN tore into me for driving a car with handicapped plates on it! Um… I’m co-owner of the car? But apparently once the plates were on ONLY handicapped people where allowed to drive it or something. According to her.
THEN she goes off to look for mall security!
Teh Stoopid was getting thick and deep, let me tell you.
Anyhow, Mall Security Guy tried to explain to her _all over again_ that yes, able-bodied people ARE allowed to drive vehicles with handicap plates all by themselves without the disabled people on board, and no, I don’t have to park in the blue spaces. In fact, even if my disabled spouse was driving HE wasn’t obligated to park there, either!
All of which made me think of our very own Handicapped Rights Crusader (HRC) Jamie McGarry, who along with his buff body-building physique might perhaps be called HRCules. Oh, how I wished he had been there to take on this clueless busy-body. I mean, gosh darn it, I’m doing my part to keep reserved parking spaces open and be an honest and upstanding citizen and THIS little harpy has to butt her nose in and hassle me for doing the right thing.
Some days you feel like you just can’t win… And I’m beginning to wish we had stayed with just hang-tags instead of getting the plate sometimes.
---
### Author:  [@curious11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious11)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/2 "2011-06-30T17:31:43Z")
You should have pulled out a No Whinning sticker. Once she saw that, she’d have to be quiet!
---
### Author:  [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/3 "2011-06-30T17:35:49Z")
HRCules made me LOL. That’s all.
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### Author:  [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/4 "2011-06-30T17:52:32Z")
Wow.
---
### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/5 "2011-06-30T18:04:36Z")
LOL I have the plates on my car as well, and have had exactly the same run ins with busybodies when I have run hubby to the store and I’m sitting in the car enjoying the windows down and sunroof open, music and a book while poor hubby does the grocery shopping :rolleyes:😃 [I usually toss my crutches in the back seat whether or not the wheelchair is in the car or not.
---
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/6 "2011-06-30T18:12:05Z")
> [@Broomstick](#):
>
> This is one of those bizarre aggravations that insert themselves into my life:
>
> By way of background, my spouse is disabled. Thus, our car has a handicap plate on it. Now, MOST people know that such plates are for the use of disabled people, NOT their able-bodied loved ones. Thank goodness I am not required to swap out the plate prior to driving off on my own. Alright, got that?
>
> OK, I went shopping recently, my usual rounds. Outside the local K-Mart, this little nosy busy-body apparently noticed that not only does my car have the wheelchair on the plate, but I am parking way the bleep on the end of a row far away from the door. And why not? Despite the plate I am not legally permitted to use the blue spaces unless the disabled family member is with me. He isn’t, he’s at home. Nothing wrong with my legs, no reason I can’t walk. The exercise is probably good for me anyway. Well, Ms. Busy-body comes up
>
> “You know that there are handicapped spaces available?”
> Yes, yes I know. I attempt to explain that since I am able-bodied I’m not supposed to-
> “But you have handicapped plates! You HAVE TO park in the handicapped spots!”
>
> :smack:
>
> I have to wonder if this is the same lady I encountered some years ago [in this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=139188).
>
> Anyhow, she continued to insist that I park in the handicapped spot. When I finally convinced her that no, I didn’t have some hidden disability and was really able-bodied she THEN tore into me for driving a car with handicapped plates on it! Um… I’m co-owner of the car? But apparently once the plates were on ONLY handicapped people where allowed to drive it or something. According to her.
>
> THEN she goes off to look for mall security!
>
> Teh Stoopid was getting thick and deep, let me tell you.
>
> Anyhow, Mall Security Guy tried to explain to her _all over again_ that yes, able-bodied people ARE allowed to drive vehicles with handicap plates all by themselves without the disabled people on board, and no, I don’t have to park in the blue spaces. In fact, even if my disabled spouse was driving HE wasn’t obligated to park there, either!
>
> All of which made me think of our very own Handicapped Rights Crusader (HRC) Jamie McGarry, who along with his buff body-building physique might perhaps be called HRCules. Oh, how I wished he had been there to take on this clueless busy-body. I mean, gosh darn it, I’m doing my part to keep reserved parking spaces open and be an honest and upstanding citizen and THIS little harpy has to butt her nose in and hassle me for doing the right thing.
>
> Some days you feel like you just can’t win… And I’m beginning to wish we had stayed with just hang-tags instead of getting the plate sometimes.
Jesus Christ. :smack: Wow. I’ve never heard this one before. It’s people like this lady that make all genuine efforts by those with real concerns that much harder to discern from the crap that shouldn’t even be addressed.:smack:
---
### Author:  [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/7 "2011-06-30T18:13:14Z")
> [@jamiemcgarry](#):
>
> Jesus Christ. :smack: Wow. I’ve never heard this one before. It’s people like this lady that make all genuine efforts by those with real concerns that much harder to discern from the crap that shouldn’t even be addressed.:smack:
But would you have blocked her into her parking space as payback?
---
### Author:  [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/8 "2011-06-30T18:15:07Z")
Did you tell her that you don’t even use the handicap bathroom stalls, and make her head explode?
---
### Author:  [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/9 "2011-06-30T18:23:32Z")
Wow. Some people genuinely don’t get it.
Nothing to do with the thread, really, but I can’t stop myself from telling this story:
One day my mom, who had (and deserved) a handicapped hang tag stopped by the truck of a young man who had just pulled into a handicapped space. She said “Don’t you hate it when people use these spaces who don’t need them?” (Yeah, she was passive aggressive.) He said “Yes, ma’m, I do” as he swung his one-legged self out of the car. One of the few times she got what she deserved. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/10 "2011-06-30T18:31:39Z")
> [@Brynda](#):
>
> Wow. Some people genuinely don’t get it.
>
> Nothing to do with the thread, really, but I can’t stop myself from telling this story:
> One day my mom, who had (and deserved) a handicapped hang tag stopped by the truck of a young man who had just pulled into a handicapped space. She said “Don’t you hate it when people use these spaces who don’t need them?” (Yeah, she was passive aggressive.) He said “Yes, ma’m, I do” as he swung his one-legged self out of the car. One of the few times she got what she deserved. 🙂
Ha! I can relate to this story. I get mean looks and passive aggressive comments all the time from people who see a young man pulling up into a handicap space driving a sports car. I never say a thing; I simply go and get my chair out and then laugh when the accusing eyes immediately go darting off in another direction or the nasty comments get replaced with awkward silence. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/11 "2011-06-30T18:44:45Z")
> [@Brynda](#):
>
> Wow. Some people genuinely don’t get it.
>
> Nothing to do with the thread, really, but I can’t stop myself from telling this story:
> One day my mom, who had (and deserved) a handicapped hang tag stopped by the truck of a young man who had just pulled into a handicapped space. She said “Don’t you hate it when people use these spaces who don’t need them?” (Yeah, she was passive aggressive.) He said “Yes, ma’m, I do” as he swung his one-legged self out of the car. One of the few times she got what she deserved. 🙂
Any idea why he didn’t have a handicapped sticker?
---
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/12 "2011-06-30T18:49:13Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#):
>
> Any idea why he didn’t have a handicapped sticker?
Yes, I forgot to ask that myself. Sympathy aside, there really is no excuse for a permanently disabled person to NOT have a placard/permit if they are planning on using handicap parking spots. It is their responsibility.
---
### Author:  [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/13 "2011-06-30T19:11:49Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#):
>
> Any idea why he didn’t have a handicapped sticker?
I assumed he had one but didn’t look obviously disabled at first?
---
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/14 "2011-06-30T19:14:17Z")
> [@needscoffee](#):
>
> I assumed he had one but didn’t look obviously disabled at first?
Then why did Jamie’s mother confront him? Who looks disabled sitting in a truck?
---
### Author:  [@Cowboy8467](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy8467)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/15 "2011-06-30T19:14:18Z")
> [@jamiemcgarry](#):
>
> Yes, I forgot to ask that myself. Sympathy aside, there really is no excuse for a permanently disabled person to NOT have a placard/permit if they are planning on using handicap parking spots. It is their responsibility.
Well, she never stated that the young man didn’t have the stickers. Her mom might have assumed that he was a young guy abusing a handicapped parking permit.
---
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/16 "2011-06-30T19:15:49Z")
> [@Cowboy8467](#):
>
> Well, she never stated that the young man didn’t have the stickers. Her mom might have assumed that he was a young guy abusing a handicapped parking permit.
So she berates him before he gets out of the truck? Really?
---
### Author:  [@Cowboy8467](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy8467)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/17 "2011-06-30T19:17:28Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#):
>
> So she berates him before he gets out of the truck? Really?
Seems to me that it happens frequently, at least according to Jamie.
> [@jamiemcgarry](#):
>
> Ha! I can relate to this story. I get mean looks and passive aggressive comments all the time from people who see a young man pulling up into a handicap space driving a sports car. I never say a thing; I simply go and get my chair out and then laugh when the accusing eyes immediately go darting off in another direction or the nasty comments get replaced with awkward silence. 😃
---
### Author:  [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/18 "2011-06-30T19:17:38Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#):
>
> So she berates him before he gets out of the truck? Really?
I think that was the point of the post.
---
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/19 "2011-06-30T19:17:54Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#):
>
> Then why did Jamie’s mother confront him? Who looks disabled sitting in a truck?
Whoa, whoa. Huh? How did this get spun into being MY mother??? 😕
---
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-jamie-mcgarry-when-i-needed-him/587405/20 "2011-06-30T19:27:41Z")
> [@jamiemcgarry](#):
>
> Whoa, whoa. Huh? How did this get spun into being MY mother??? 😕
Absolutely my mistake. My apologies.
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