63 replies to this topic

[brackman22]

This may not be funny to some of you but I laughed until I cried. I wasn't in a very good mood at the time. I was at the phamacy getting some scripts a couple of hours ago. Among the meds I was waitng for was my oxy which I ran out of this morning. I have pretty sever pain in my lower back (I am a C6 complete) and the source of the pain is a mystery. I take 160mg. three times a day. Along with my pain I have severe gas pain, pressure and bloating. I was sitting there with extreme pain and feeling like an alien was going to burst out of my stomach. I actually had to open up a box of gas-x while waiting.

The pharmacist was having trouble getting the authorization from my insurance. I've been taking it for at least a year but it took him nearly an hour to work things out. Anyway, at my pharmacy, there is always at least 2 or 3 people waiting for their scripts. There is a bench people can sit on to wait but most people just circle and croud the Rx counter.

After waiting an hour, I got my meds. There was a woman of about 50 not really in my way but almost. I need to explain that I am indeed a crip and look the part almost too well. It would be hard for someone not to know, simply by looking, that I do not have the ability to stand, let alone go for a stroll. As I turned around to leave, this woman and I made eye contact.

This is what she said. While looking at my power chair she said, "Those things come in handy, don't they?" I sat there dumbfounded for a couple seconds and then I lost it! The only thing I could get out was "yeah". And I "walked" away.

It may have been one of those "you had to be there" kind of experiences but I thought it was hilarious.

BRETT

[Survivor35]

Its amazing, isn't it?? I went to renew my drivers license last week, and went through the typical questions your bombarded with at the kiask, and the young boy, who looked like he was maybe 18 or 19, got to the question, "do you have any physical disabilities that affect your driving?" Now, here I sit in all my glory in my manual wheelchair.... I laughed at him and said, "no, this chair is just soooo comfortable." He kindof blushed and giggled and apologized, and I laughed and told him no problem, I knew it was part of his spiel.... but sheesh, ya know??

[lune14]

Brett,
Sorry you're in such discomfort but thanks for sharing that... a much needed chuckle I did have!

Survivor,
I loved that... mind if I borrow it? LOL

[studinchair]

i was in the mall last night and i was buying a pair shoes. The shoes where a size to big but me and my wife told the lady that it wouldn't matter and maybe it was a good thing because my feet sweal. The lady then asked if icould walk at all, I then told her no that i was a para. I told my wife that i would just leave the new shoes on and put the old ones in the box. A couple of seconds later the lady asked how the new shoes felt. I kinda just looked and smiled, and she just turned beat red. I told her not to worry about it that it didn't bother me one bit and stuff like this happens all the time. She just saying she was sorry!!1
gary

[LuckyinKentucky]

That a good one gary and survivor I'm definitly usin that one have i the chance!

[KimAndSophie]

What gets me every time is when someone makes the comment "You're so lucky you just get to sit there and don't have to walk" when I'm shopping! I usually just give them "a look", but most times I just want to tell them "Yes and you're lucky you can reach things on the high shelves, and you still have the ability to walk!"



I've gotten this comment quite a bit from people using those electronic shopping cart scooter things.

[sandyrun]

I think people tend to speak before they think, in other words put their mouth in gear before their brain. I also think some, not all for sure, but some don't truly comprehend what it's like to be in a w/c, to not be able to stand or walk at all. I'm not talking about using one of those scooters you can use at WalMart, etc. I use those as I have an awful lot of pain in my back, hips, etc. and I can't stand or walk very long at a time. (So my key words here are think and comprehend.)

My b/f has told me of a time he and another guy in a w/c went into a restaurant, I believe, and you know how everyone gets quiet and looks at you. Well, he said after they got settled at the table and everything, he leaned over as far as he could and said, and loudly said, something like "man look at all these freaks!". Don't you imagine that made some of them feel about an inch tall??!!

[bigsmiles]

[quote name='sandyrun' date='Mar 31 2007, 06:17 AM' post='31437']
I think people tend to speak before they think..... Yep they just don't think!! , at least it gave you a good laugh so that can't be bad.

[DaveP]

I went in to a sports shop to buy a pair of trainers. I was checking out all the different trainers on display and an attendant came up and asked if I needed any help, so I asked the guy if he had any football boots my size. He froze, not sure if I was serious, so I quickly said, "Forget the football boots, how about rugby boots?" My girlfriend gave the game away by laughing so load all the shop turned to look at us, then the guy caught on...

We can have a laugh too! lol

And when people say clumsy things, we can't reac badly - we just got to laugh and make a joke of it, as this is all about "educating" them.

[brackman22]

sandyrun, on Mar 31 2007, 01:17 AM, said:

I think people tend to speak before they think, in other words put their mouth in gear before their brain. I also think some, not all for sure, but some don't truly comprehend what it's like to be in a w/c, to not be able to stand or walk at all. I'm not talking about using one of those scooters you can use at WalMart, etc. I use those as I have an awful lot of pain in my back, hips, etc. and I can't stand or walk very long at a time. (So my key words here are think and comprehend.)

My b/f has told me of a time he and another guy in a w/c went into a restaurant, I believe, and you know how everyone gets quiet and looks at you. Well, he said after they got settled at the table and everything, he leaned over as far as he could and said, and loudly said, something like "man look at all these freaks!". Don't you imagine that made some of them feel about an inch tall??!!

I would say all. I can't truly comprehend what it would be like to be blind, deaf, a little person or even black. I have blind and black friends or acquaintances and have bombarded them with question after stupid question about what it is like to be whatever or whoever in every sort of situation. I can somewhat imagine what it would be like but I can't truly wrap my head around it. There are some things you cannot truly comprehend until you experience them fully IMHO.

I always love disability awareness week on a college campus. The profs rolling around in wheelchairs or walking around with blindfolds on. They are always smiling and joking around. You see them try to open a door and say something like "This is harder than I imagined". Then they shift or situate themselves in the chair in a way I would never be able to and open the door. Then you read an interview with them in the college rag (complete with a photo of them in the chair) and they claim to have been enlightened about the plight of the disabled community. HILARIOUS!

BRETT

[itsjustme]

Quote

"Those things come in handy, don't they?"

I can't tell you how many times I've had that said to me. My standard answer is, "Yeah, especially since I am paralyzed and can't walk!"

For some reason the word paralyzed isn't even enough. I have to explain that it renders me unable to walk too in order to penetrate their thick skulls.

[cdngrl]

i don't wear shoes i don't use them so i don't wear them!
while shopping for a pair of shoes for my husband i was ignored by 3 yes 3 sales clerks untill finally they approach my friend in which she pointed to me and said no but you can help her shes in such a state that they give her tire rotations rather than shoes.
i roared with laughter.
another time an older lady said to me my husband needs one of those
i piped up and said well, he can't have mine
i realized later that she couldn't tell the difference between a power chair and a scooter which made me feel like a arse.

[sandyrun]

brackman22, on Mar 31 2007, 09:48 AM, said:

sandyrun, on Mar 31 2007, 01:17 AM, said:

I also think some, not all for sure, but some don't truly comprehend what it's like to be in a w/c, to not be able to stand or walk at all. I can't stand or walk very long at a time. (So my key words here are think and comprehend.)

I would say all. I can't truly comprehend what it would be like to be blind, deaf, a little person or even black. I have blind and black friends or acquaintances and have bombarded them with question after stupid question about what it is like to be whatever or whoever in every sort of situation. I can somewhat imagine what it would be like but I can't truly wrap my head around it. There are some things you cannot truly comprehend until you experience them fully IMHO.
BRETT

Brett, after reading your reply, I realize that comprehend is not the correct word I should have used. You are correct that there are things we cannot truly comprehend until we exprience them outselves. And even at that, someone with the same illness/disability, or whatever, does not feel the exact same as someone else with that same illness/disablity. We all experience our illnesses/disabilities individually. But having experienced something the same, or similar, as another gives us a better understanding of how that person might feel. (I feel I'm rambling on without saying what I'm trying to....so I'll quit for now!)

[Andrew Meddings]

Survivor35, on Mar 31 2007, 11:09 AM, said:

Its amazing, isn't it?? I went to renew my drivers license last week, and went through the typical questions your bombarded with at the kiask, and the young boy, who looked like he was maybe 18 or 19, got to the question, "do you have any physical disabilities that affect your driving?" Now, here I sit in all my glory in my manual wheelchair.... I laughed at him and said, "no, this chair is just soooo comfortable." He kindof blushed and giggled and apologized, and I laughed and told him no problem, I knew it was part of his spiel.... but sheesh, ya know??

hi survivor , i'm with the kid i allways answer no to that question & prepared to argue that i dont have a dissability which affects my driving
regards andrew

[brackman22]

I do the same as you andrew. Yes, my disabilty did hinder my ability to drive initially. But, with my van modified specifically for me and my needs, my disabilty doesn't limit my ability to drive my vehicle one bit. But it is funny to see the looks on the people at the DMV when I say that.. There is a noticable pause while they try to process that information. It is a considerable break from the script they were prepared for.

BRETT

[brackman22]

[/quote] (from sandyrun)

Brett, after reading your reply, I realize that comprehend is not the correct word I should have used. You are correct that there are things we cannot truly comprehend until we exprience them outselves. And even at that, someone with the same illness/disability, or whatever, does not feel the exact same as someone else with that same illness/disablity. We all experience our illnesses/disabilities individually. But having experienced something the same, or similar, as another gives us a better understanding of how that person might feel. (I feel I'm rambling on without saying what I'm trying to....so I'll quit for now!)
[/quote]

I totally agree the the amount of empathy we disabled individuals have toward others "of our kind" is extremely subjective and largely context driven.

Brett

Edited by brackman22, 01 April 2007 - 03:19 PM.

[SusanSusan]

Ok .. HI (I'm new)
The thing that GETS me everytime ( except the one about how LUCKY I am not to have to go to work everyday) is that I have people come up to me all the time in stores and just blurt out "Do you have MS? "

That really gets me and most of the time I just say no and walk away but once I was having a bad day and I said "No, do you have manners?"
And to my surprise the woman turned from me and started bombarding my mother with questions about MY health. * shaking my head*

But the nicest thing that was ever said in that regard was by a little gaffer about 7 years old. He and his mom were walking passed me and he stopped and said " How come you have a cane? Youre not old !"

*s* I liked~ that .

[dorkette]

On Tuesday I was the the parking place on campus because I had to switch out the normal commuter tag they sent me for a medical one. So I finally get up to the window (which I have to move back like 3 feet away from so the lady can even see me) and I tell her what I need and hand her the tag they sent me and my student id and she goes, "Okay, do you have your handicapped id card?" I tried not to laugh and told her "No" in this you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me voice. First of I've never any heard of having a handicapped id card. I mean did I miss the part were we have to be registered or something now?? And secondly, I'm sorry if you need something to tell you that I'm handicapped then I just don't even know. I mean the wheelchair isn't an obvious giveaway or anything.

Hahaha, Brett, last semester one of my teachers offered bonus if we went to the disability awareness week thing and did the little sheet saying you went to so many booths.... which is actually quite popular among professors to do because otherwise people wouldn't go... and anyway, my friends thought I should have raised my hand and asked if I still had to go to get bonus because I was I was already pretty well aware about having a disability. I did go though and I contemplated beasting all the people doing the wheelchair obsticle course thing but then thought that wouldn't be too nice, ha.

Susan, I love little kids the best I think. They always suprise you with what comes out of their mouth. I've had this happen multiple times when they ask why I'm in a chair and I explain that I had cancer when I was born and it made me not be able to walk. They always get this certain look on their face and go "I'll teach you" or "I can help you practice" Gah, isn't innocence great sometimes?

Edited by dorkette, 01 September 2007 - 07:52 AM.

[Somebody]

How funny y'all. Thanks for the laughs!

I can't list all the funny things said to me,
but I will quote a dumb one.

I was always a exercise buff.
Loved a small waistline.
So I can't help but sneak in a complaint about my fat belly.

Well my nurse taking care of me.
That changes my supra pubic catheter,
and takes care of all my other medical needs.
After me going" uggg I can't stand this big stomach",
said, "While you're lying in bed, suck in as tight as you can,
and hold in for ten secounds. Do it as many times as you can.
That should tighten your stomach muscles."

I'm thinking like "what Nursing School did you go to?"
I can't suck in my stomach muscles. Dah!

I watched every move she made for then on.

Edited by Somebody, 01 September 2007 - 05:49 PM.

[zeta]

A few months ago I was followed out of Wal-Mart by an elderly man yelling. "Stop your supposed to leave those chairs in the store! I need that chair to shop." He was so seriously mad I completely lost it. My husband had to explain that it was my chair because I was laughing so hard I couldn't speak.

[rkzenrage]

Per the org. post... well they ARE handy!
I get a lot of comments, but the ones that drive me nuts (most I find funny) are the ones where they talk to me like a child.
At the Dave Matthews concert several drunk young ladies seemed to think I was three for some reason.

[darrel]

rkzenrage, on Sep 22 2007, 07:49 PM, said:

Per the org. post... well they ARE handy!
I get a lot of comments, but the ones that drive me nuts (most I find funny) are the ones where they talk to me like a child.
At the Dave Matthews concert several drunk young ladies seemed to think I was three for some reason.

That has to be one of the most anoying ones, I had a physical therapist who treated me like that, in this town I don't think there is that many SCI patients, every time I would complete something(Walking the parallell bars), she would start clapping and acting like I had brain damage, after about 5 days of this I finally snapped on her. I ended up with a new therapist, she didn't try that method. ( I'm in a wheelchair not walking into walls and drooling)

[PetitMortVampyre]

darrel, on Sep 27 2007, 11:15 AM, said:

rkzenrage, on Sep 22 2007, 07:49 PM, said:

Per the org. post... well they ARE handy!
I get a lot of comments, but the ones that drive me nuts (most I find funny) are the ones where they talk to me like a child.
At the Dave Matthews concert several drunk young ladies seemed to think I was three for some reason.

That has to be one of the most anoying ones, I had a physical therapist who treated me like that, in this town I don't think there is that many SCI patients, every time I would complete something(Walking the parallell bars), she would start clapping and acting like I had brain damage, after about 5 days of this I finally snapped on her. I ended up with a new therapist, she didn't try that method. ( I'm in a wheelchair not walking into walls and drooling)

Hey now, the drooling was not my fault, he was hot and as to that wall... it jumped in my way! Ok it was the corner of a wall, and well this lil Chevy does not handle so well my crutch caught the wall and down I went... thats what I get for checking out a cute guy instead of watching what I am doing.

[WheelsWithAttitude]

I was at the Paris Charles de Gaulles airport one time.
They require you to give up your own wheelchair and check it in(which I absolutely hate to do) and then they push you in one of their littele ones with the 4 tiny wheels.

Anyway, they drive me all the way over to the terminal, after letting me sit parked in some corner for about half an hour and she drives me to the stairs and stops...
I am like 'ma'am?' She says in broken english you have to get down there now.
I am like 'I beg your pardon'? I cannot stand let alone walk any stairs, I am a paraplegic.

She is like 'oh'....

After a long debate about how they plan on getting me down as to get to the bus that takes passengers to the planes (this is one old airport) they finally carry me down there, not in a chair but carry ME which is hell for me as I am also autistic and any kind of touching and stuff is not always tolerable for me.

The point I am trying to point out is...they have all these ppl they drag around in chairs all day, that are most times, not really disabled or unable to walk at all but just older or whatever (I hate to use lazy), that they are totally confused when one 'real' Wheelchair person comes along.

This is why statements like, 'does this not come so in handy?' like mentioned above are so common.


Also, same flight, i had to wait a pretty long time for them to come get me out of the airplane after we arrived, because they took one elderly woman first, and i had to wait for someone to find another one of those chairs for me.
Happened so that i transferred were she went to and lo and behold she jumped out of her seat and deboarded no problems...go figure...

Edited by WheelsWithAttitude, 27 September 2007 - 10:51 PM.

[KarenFerguson]

I also get that line of "Those things come in handy, don't they!" Hubby & I also get comments about our car as well (he drives an accessible Honda Element), such as "I need to get one of those!" Yeah, first you have to be disabled - not fat and lazy.

I know many of you think the kid's comments are cute, but being in a wheelchair all my life, let me tell you ... they start to get annoying after awhile. If hate the "Why are you in a wheelchair?" question from kids as well as from adults. My explanation is so confusing that I can tell most people glaze over when I'm half way through my story. When I get to the part about bleeding in my spine at birth I think I loose them. Hubby has it easy, he just says 'construction accident'.

Here are some more amusing comments I've heard over the years:

-"So, you can't walk?"
Hey, if I could I would.
-"Wanna race?"
NO!
-"How fast can you go in that thing?"
As fast as it takes to get away from you & your lame comment.
-"So, you can't walk up/down the stairs?"
Crawl, yes. Walk, no.
-"You're so lucky! You get to sit down all the time!"
Thanks for reminding me I'm disabled. Also, I'd be luckier if I had the ability to walk - duh.
-"You can drive a car? That's amazing!"
I have two words for you - hand controls.
-"If I stabbed you in your leg, would you feel it?"
First off, please don't stab me. And second, YES!
-"I need to get one of those!"
Um, www.sportaid.com - but you might have to be disabled to fully appreciate it.
-"Do you like being disabled?"
The parking is great, & cutting in line at Disneyland rocks. But other than that, it pretty much sucks.

That's all I can think of right now. Hope you enjoyed them - I know I've gotten a laugh out of them.

[rkzenrage]

I was getting out of the van at a concert recently and some idiot was walking by and stated loudly, "I never wanted to be disabled as bad as I do right now, ha, ha".
I assume because of the parking spot.
I try not to lower myself to their pathetic level, but I would have loved to have told him it can be arranged quite easily and quickly.

[dave420atya]

I had a halo for 16 weeks. You know, with the screws in my skull , and the rods down to my waist. While in the hospital I was always asked if I was comfortable, which I never was of course.
One sleepless night I decided to "loosen the contraption to try to gain some comfort. A nurse caught me disassymbleing and thought it was a suicide attempt. It was not! They put me on 24/7 "watch" It was the best care I received , till they finally realized I was not trying to kill myself. Then it went back to typical , I couldn't get shit and "are you comfortably?"

[rkzenrage]

Very drunk Halloween party reveler would not listen that I was not a disabled vet for the entire party, he cried.

[Godsgirl151999]

studinchair, on Mar 30 2007, 06:34 PM, said:

i was in the mall last night and i was buying a pair shoes. The shoes where a size to big but me and my wife told the lady that it wouldn't matter and maybe it was a good thing because my feet sweal. The lady then asked if icould walk at all, I then told her no that i was a para. I told my wife that i would just leave the new shoes on and put the old ones in the box. A couple of seconds later the lady asked how the new shoes felt. I kinda just looked and smiled, and she just turned beat red. I told her not to worry about it that it didn't bother me one bit and stuff like this happens all the time. She just saying she was sorry!!1
gary

thats funny but want to know what is kinda funnyer? my own mom does that to me!! (she also sometimes seems to forget i am in a wheelchair becouse she says things like any typical mom would say NO RUNNING!!! or DONT WALK TO FAR AWAY my dad always has to say that i can[/i]run[i] just not roll vary fast!!)
i would not mind people asking why i was in a wheelchair nearly so much if they did not start it out with "i hate to sound rude but.." or "dont take this the wrong way.." come on people i am in a wheelchair it is just the way things are nothing to get mad about.

my dad told me of a time when we parked in a handy capped parking spot and he gets out of the car. this guy is yelling at him as he walks to the trunk of the car saying that my dad should not be in that spot becouse he is not handycaped or anything. my dad is quiet and just calmly gets my wheelchair uor of the trunk and comes to get me out. needless to say that shuts the man up right away

another ting i find earitating is when people stare. so i have gotten into the habit of just saying Hello? but what is funny is the little kids just runn away so when ever they do me and my dad look at each other raise our hands and (in a very high pitch) say " AHHHHHHHHHH"

[kewlcatkez]

I think that my other points have been, but not sure if the first one has been covered in this thread already, but I seem to attract it a lot.

When out shopping usually, but wherever really, I have been asked if I can have sex and on one occasion even heard a couple of women discussing it whilst I was queueing for the checkout! Then people seem amazed that I have children too. I have been asked many a time, especially when my youngest was really young and riding on my lap, if they are mine etc. I also get lots of 'compliments' about my children's behaviour but they are always 'back handed' in that the person will say "Your children are so well behaved, but I suppose they HAVE to be!"...etc

To tie in with the driving comments, I had a car park security officer wave me out of the disabled area and into the main carpark during reconstruction of the carpark. When I finally managed to park and confronted the guy, he said that I didn't "Look disabled"...perhaps I need a sign for my head??

Another time, I parked in the disabled bay off a car park and as I was about to get out of the car, an elderly man rushed over and began to chastise me for taking a parking space. When it became evident that I was legitimately using it he explained his actions as me "looking to young and well to be disabled"...lol On all occasions I had my blue badge in full view.

Another one which I have been asked is whether I have to wear in their words "nappies for adults"...it was at a pub one night. Not sure if the person was serious or not, or whether she was joking.. Maybe she was herself into that adult baby thing, who knows!..but I put her straight! She again was a stranger..

Then I get these people who tell me that their (insert family member or friend) was once disabled/in a wheelchair and they either cut something out of their diet/life, added something, or did some strange act or another or believed hard enough and now they are healed!!!..but ultimately I have to WANT it enough and blah blah...I think that they confuse me enjoying my life with me not wanting to be 'healed' enough..lol

Once I had someone ask if I KNOW personally "that women off the tv who bravely raced in her wheelchair and got a medal from the queen?" ( I think they mean Tanni GT).......<sigh> Thats usually from the same sort of people who think that if you say come from Wales, that you would personally know their aunt, cousin or whatever from the other side of the country!...lol


the list, sadly, goes on...

Edited by kewlcatkez, 25 November 2007 - 11:18 AM.