[Apparelyzed]

Ok, bit of a bugbear here!

I went shopping in Sheffield yesterday to Meadow Hall, and this happened to me so many times!

When people open doors for you (and proceed to block the doorway!), or there's a crowd, they move out of your way, but think their feet and toes just magically dissapear!

It's amazing, they all forget about their toes sticking out in the way of my wheels. I'm sure people think I can just breath in and get through the narrower gap!

I went to see the Stereophonics at the NEC last Sunday, and it was the same there, they all move out of the way, but forget about their feet and toes!

At the concert, I just pushed through the crowd shouting "Coming through, watch your toes!".

Needless to say, there were plenty of flat feet after I had ploughed through them all!

Ok, rant over!

Simon.

[dave420atya]

Sounds like my mom. She will open the door for me , then she stands in the doorway blocking my entrance. I have quit asking her to move. Now , I just sit and wait for her to realize why I'm not going through the door.

[Tim13]

Little kids are the worst! They'll turn around and see you heading in their direction then turn back around. A nice jab to the Achilles tendon with my footplate generally produces satisfactory results.

[Yong]

Haha. That is funny. So very true too. I'm in a manual chair now but when I had a power chair (first week of rehab) I ran over so many toes.

[dave420atya]

but, for all the feet I've crushed , I haven't felt a thing.
Some people's feet I would love to roll over!
Does this make me "evil" ?

[ryan08/06/88]

Yeah it is annoying...I tend to tell them it's cool I can hold the door and go through but they still stand there thinking they're being polite...whihc they are...but still...

[KarenFerguson]

I agree. It's bad enough that people will rush to "aid me" while I open a door (they just see my coming up to the door and rush to "help" ... don't get me started on that rant), their feet will most likely be in the way. They actually make it more difficult for me to push through the door opening. They squeeze their bodies as close to the door as possible. Don't they realize this does not benefit me or them? Apparently not. Eh, people ... they're the worst!

[Ches]

f*@k their toes. They dont need feet to survive. We are proof of that.
I tend to get lost in my own ego and expect everyone to jump out of my way when I say. I find myself doing this all the time. Funny indeed, but complete asshole-ish of me. Which just makes me laugh. My poor friends get their feet ran over all the time, on purpose. I think its halerious. I really like when somone has their back to me and I just roll up and crash into their legs. HAHAHAH. Just thinking about doing that makes me laugh. Im gonna get beat up soon over this.

I was at a concert, total fed up with the crowd. I just wanted to goooooooooo. I got tired of my friends politeness so I just told them to follow me. I yelled CUSE ME and just pushed my way thru. Its alot easier than trying to be polite and respectful.

[Brokeback Brenda]

Whenever a "helpy helper" holds the door the wrong way for me, I just laugh and tell them "ummm it works better if you stand over 'here' and hold the door, I can't go through you". I figure if they are acting dumb, I'm going to make them feel dumb. It always works and I get a good laugh out of it. As far as their toes, I agress w/ Ches--f%&k em!! When I'm going through a crowd, I call it bowling for people--get the hell outta the way or else!! I've also been known to use an airhorn in very large crowds!!

[Angela250153]

Thanks for that Simon. I use the wheelchair at work and I always get that problem. Doesn't matter how many times I tell them I'll be driving over their feet they just seem to be glued to the spot and deaf.

[Big Valley]

Very common problem. You can try to say no thanks on the door or what ever but people insist on "helping" you with the simple doors then create more of a hassle in the process.

Doesn't matter how many times you go through the explanation no one hears you and now you are just a grouchy disabled person.

I rarely use those door opener buttons because they are to slow and I can get through the door faster myself. But people insist on "helping."

[Avocado Baby]

Ugh...I hate this. Not only do they leave their feet in the way but they're usually leaning over to hold the door open which means their bodies are also in the way and you have to duck to get under them!!

[ryan08/06/88]

~Crikey peeps chillax!

It's annoying but not the end of the world haha!

[Avocado Baby]

One of the kids at school did this yesterday and I couldn't help it and I laughed out loud! I think he thought I was insane!

[darrel]

I have to admit that I am guilty of running afew toes over most on accident but there has been a few times that I did it on purpose..only because I got tired of the rudeness of other shoppers..how dare this person in a wheelchair shop here additude..shins and toes are fare game in crouds like that..

[Godsgirl151999]

do you know what is worst? when the kids at my school stick their feet out on perpouse and then get mad at me when i run them over!!! and dont get me started on the whole "helping" thing!!! yesterday in math my teacher had me pulling the overhead back for him and becouse i was going to slow some kids decided they would "help" me do it which of course made it hard for both of us!!!! WE ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING!!! YOU ARE NOT REALY HELPING BY DOING THINGS FOR US SO LET US LEARN TO ADAPT!!!! (i do feel like purposfuly running over their toes though i dont need mine( nor do i use them) so why do they need thiers?)

[Rolling Thunder]

I get the helpy thing too. I often just no thanks and do it myself, it's so much faster. Plus all that exercise I get it great.

[rkzenrage]

I've already posted that my family does this all the time and they get pissed when I laugh... but it's funny, them holding the door open, standing in the doorway looking at me all expectantly like I'm just going to magically appear on the other side somehow.

[bedrock]

HI

I totally understand all of your frustrations etc with people trying to 'help', but surely it is better for someone to offer and you to decline rather than someone slamming a door in your face. People on the whole are ignorant of the needs of a person in a wheelchair but they are only trying to help, not offend. Sorry if I have taken your posts the wrong way and I do realise that the posts have been a light hearted rant!

[dave420atya]

What about the people who are scared to make eye contact or get caught looking at you like they are ashamed or it is thier fault that you are in a wheelchair. I don't no which is worse that or the ones who stare in amazement. I say run them all over!

This post has been edited by dave420atya: 30 November 2007 - 12:59 PM

[Tim13]

dave420atya, on Nov 30 2007, 12:58 PM, said:

What about the people who are scared to make eye contact or get caught looking at you like they are ashamed or it is thier fault that you are in a wheelchair. I don't no which is worse that or the ones who stare in amazement. I say run them all over!

Actually, I find that not looking at people (or at least pretending not to) is the best crowd clearer of all.
If i watch people, they seem to expect me to move out of their way but if they think i don't see them or aren't paying attention the crowd parts like the Red Sea for moses.

Bonus: works well in the car on groups of people who stand in the road and refuse to move also :-)



sorry, back to the discussion of running over peoples feet now.

[Cheshire]

not in my chair yet. So far, it's either been scooter or slow and short with a cane.
I've found that people really get out of the way for those scooters...kinda fun to watch them scatter when I round the corner. As far as my cane goes, if I can't fit through the tiny gap, I start thumping my cane with each step as I approach (normally I'm rather quiet). That usually does the trick...that, or tapping their feet with the cane tip while smiling nicely. Works like a charm.

[funklab]

im a noob, not even out of rehab yet, but it is funny how people are.

in the elevator at rehab my dad was standing in front of me. when the door opened, he flattened himself against the wall to let me pass. i knew there wasnt enough room for me to make it, so i stood there for a few seconds staring at him, then promptly wheeled over his feet. i bet he wont do it again! and if he does i will wheel over his feet again, and it'll be good for a little laugh.

i think it kinda gets old people always holding the door or elevator for you, so sometimes i hold the door for walkers. an amusing way to get some funny looks without running over toes

[Cheshire]

I love holding the door for AB's! I used always be the one holding the door (just part of my nature), so I'm not about to stop now. Yeah...it gets the strangest looks sometimes. For the jaws that won't go back up, I just smile and say I'm still a gentleman, bad legs or no.

[Godsgirl151999]

funklab, on Dec 1 2007, 10:06 AM, said:

im a noob, not even out of rehab yet, but it is funny how people are.

in the elevator at rehab my dad was standing in front of me. when the door opened, he flattened himself against the wall to let me pass. i knew there wasnt enough room for me to make it, so i stood there for a few seconds staring at him, then promptly wheeled over his feet. i bet he wont do it again! and if he does i will wheel over his feet again, and it'll be good for a little laugh.

i think it kinda gets old people always holding the door or elevator for you, so sometimes i hold the door for walkers. an amusing way to get some funny looks without running over toes

at school i like to hold the door open for people too!!! (they dont even say thank you!)... i get the funnyy looks with some kids/adults come rushing over to hold it open so that i dont have to!!!

still... i like running over the feet... ... dont let the halo fool you!!