I had exited my school library after studying, and was on my way to lunch, when my friend and I enconcountered this weedy looking asian dude. He was dressed like a ventriloquist from 1935, and was carrying a violin case and a ballon. He approached my friend and I and proceeded to ask us repeatedly if we "want $500" and what we would do for $500. And he did this on a loop of sorts, and I just said bye and bid him good day and walked away.
The following week, I got word that he had got arrested for disobeying the police when they told him to get down from the pole he had climbed, screaming that he would give $1000 to whomever "made the police go away"
[MENTION=251]Wyote[/MENTION] I'd have fake plaster casts made for both legs, to be used when going through public areas. (Either flexible, with seam at the back; or loose, so I could slip them over my feet/legs). That way people would assume that I'm able-bodied injured, but recovering - and thus avoid at least some patronising attention.Being in a wheelchair elicits very unusual reactions so I've had plenty of interesting encounters.
Recently, I was at a tea house and a man (complete stranger) approached me and basically forced me to shake his hand and got very chummy with me, like we were just the greatest of pals and I was the best person ever.
I'm not an idiot. It's very patronizing when people do these things, even if their intent might seem good to them.
One time, a woman came up to me completely randomly and asked me if I could feel my legs. I said no, and her response was "God has a plan for you" and then she walked away.
Another gentleman a while back approached me and looked at me directly very intensely and said "Jesus loves you, you know" and I didn't really know how to respond so I just said thanks and he walked off.
Unrelated to me being in a wheelchair, I encountered a homeless person one time that was very, very insane. Probably on some drugs but I didn't stick around long enough to really figure it out. They were sitting outside on the ground against a wall that I passed. At first they asked me something somewhat normally like "how are you tonight" and I said "fine" at which point they went into full crazy mode. Asked me the same "how are you" question a few times in rapid fire and then started to get up, but luckily they stumbled and then started saying allllll kinds of crazy shit that made zero sense. I got out of there quick.
I'd have fake plaster casts made for both legs, to be used when going through public areas. (Either flexible, with seam at the back; or loose, so I could slip them over my feet/legs). That way people would assume that I'm able-bodied injured, but recovering - and thus avoid at least some patronising attention.
I don't really follow your logic here. I'd need one of those crappy hospital wheelchairs to really pull that off. Even then, I'm sure I'd get approached with concern and pity and all sorts of things.
[MENTION=251]Wyote[/MENTION] I'd have fake plaster casts made for both legs, to be used when going through public areas. (Either flexible, with seam at the back; or loose, so I could slip them over my feet/legs). That way people would assume that I'm able-bodied injured, but recovering - and thus avoid at least some patronising attention.
Being in a wheelchair elicits very unusual reactions so I've had plenty of interesting encounters.
Recently, I was at a tea house and a man (complete stranger) approached me and basically forced me to shake his hand and got very chummy with me, like we were just the greatest of pals and I was the best person ever.
I'm not an idiot. It's very patronizing when people do these things, even if their intent might seem good to them.
One time, a woman came up to me completely randomly and asked me if I could feel my legs. I said no, and her response was "God has a plan for you" and then she walked away.
Another gentleman a while back approached me and looked at me directly very intensely and said "Jesus loves you, you know" and I didn't really know how to respond so I just said thanks and he walked off.
Unrelated to me being in a wheelchair, I encountered a homeless person one time that was very, very insane. Probably on some drugs but I didn't stick around long enough to really figure it out. They were sitting outside on the ground against a wall that I passed. At first they asked me something somewhat normally like "how are you tonight" and I said "fine" at which point they went into full crazy mode. Asked me the same "how are you" question a few times in rapid fire and then started to get up, but luckily they stumbled and then started saying allllll kinds of crazy shit that made zero sense. I got out of there quick.
Thanks for writing about this. My dad, who is blind, has had many similar experiences. Once he was sitting at an outdoor cafe happily drinking his coffee when someone walked by and dumped a bunch of change in his cup. Similarly to you, people come up to him and tell him God/Jesus has a plan and that God loves him and that a miracle will heal him etc. Or that God/Jesus love "cripples" most and etc. People also routinely tell him he is very "brave" or "courageous. As if he has a choice in the matter. Like he so bravely went blind of choice or something. The alternative to living as a non-sighted person being he should what? Kill himself because he is blind? I get mad about these kind of approaches, but he doesn't really care and responds usually very graciously. People also ask him if he sees in his dreams. Answer (in case anyone is wondering) because I am guilty of asking this question myself: Yes.