The first part of your name may be right. I don't know anybody in a wheelchair who behaves like that. I guess I don't know the right cripples.

your father is comedgy gold. he should star in a movie.

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

What about people who post drivel on internet message boards?

here here.

my problem is that when i spend time getting about town with my friends in wheelchairs, i forget i can use my legs after they leave. i get to a flight of stairs and go "WHERES THE RAMP. OH DEAR!". and then go, oh. that's right. i can walk up them.

__________________

That just means your dad is a dick, and prolly would be if he wasn't in a wheel chair.
It has nothing to do with the fact that he's on wheels.
A lot of people tell me that they feel bad for me or think that I'm strong because I'm in a wheel chair, and it holds no ground.
If I wouldn't get in the wheel chair, I wouldn't be able to leave the house.
It would be the same if a person that can walk would stay in all day.
We don't ring their doorbell and tell them they're weak.
It's a little condeseding to tell me I'm a strong person because I'm on wheels, but that's just the way it is.

Wow, here in Holland you need to be evaluated by a special doctor, and I've been denied a handicapped parking card 3 times already.
My own doc can say I need one, but they barely ever give the cards to young people.
The number of times I've seen or heard about older people who don't need them apply and get the card is rediculous.
Meanwhile, my mom parks on the sidewalk to unload me and my chair, and risks getting a ticket, just because I can't use a normal space, but don't get the card.
I actually contacted a lawyer yesterday about it, because I'm pissed as hell.
The doc that evaluated me insists I can walk 100ft, and I can't.
If I could, why would I be in a wheel chair asshole?
But anywho, just saying that people who don't need the card should be ashamed for even applying.
There's people out there who do need them, but don't get them.

You're very correct that he would still be a dick (everybody who new him before wheels will agree), but because he's disabled he can get away with a lot because nobody is going to call him on his behavior. Who wants to be the guy who yells at the cripple? Trust me, my dad plays that card to death.

you deliberatly used a vague word as "special" to cause controversy
maybe you should oh you know
practice what you PREACH
that whole worry about yourself thing

Aw, that's sick.
I would yell at a cripple, but hey, I guess it's okay for me, because I'm a "cripple" too. LOL
I just have the notion that if you're a dick (one on wheels or not) you deserve to get yelled at.
I hate it when people use velvet gloves around someone who deserves to get yelled at, only because they're on wheels.

You are correct, as far as I can see; degenerative forms of human life are obviously not "special" in the sense of being superior to those who don't have those degenerative characteristics. "Specialness" I think is a tactful way of referring to mentally handicapped people. I hear it used that way more than to describe people who have a deaf ear or whatever. It was probably adopted when words like "retarded" and “spastic” became too pejorative. Once "special" becomes too taboo polite society will probably invent some other bubblegum way of describing the kids in the yellow bus. Chromosomally challenged" maybe. Im just gonna go on calling them “Lebensunwertes Leben”.

Cripple Fight!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you! The thing that I find really sad is that for years he was on the board of the Portland MS society and fought for equal rights of the disabled, but with his behavior has set back his cause. That and I don't think he realizes that equality doesn't mean immunity from bad behavior.

I do remember about 6 years ago though, be got pushy with the wrong guy and he almost got punched, I think if hadn't have been there as a witness he would've been.

you were there? i would have let the guy know that you would turn your head should this come to blows bc you know how obnoxious your father can be

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

I didn't stand up and defend him, I was a good ten feet away smoking (after all he says he doesn't want to be patronized). But if I had said that (and oh, oh, ohhhhh I wanted to) I wouldn't get the condo when he dies. (tick tock dad!) Yeah I know it's awful but at least it's honest.

LOL! you deserve your username.

do you love him too, though? is this relationship conflicted?

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

Thank you

I'm actually indifferent. I don't love him, I don't hate him. I still talk to him, but on the level of that aquaintence or coworker who you can stand but don't really enjoy spending time with (except for rare instances).

do you like your mom?

__________________
the cave mouth shines
by pure force of will
i look down on the world
from the top of this lonesome hill
and you can run, and run some more
from here all the way to singapore
but i will carry you home in my teeth
-mountain goats

The actual thread up until that point was just you and O_o fellating each other's egos because no-one was bothering to argue with you. Surely you'd rather people didn't comment on that.

He never actually said that they were. In fact, the only ones in this thread who have actually suggested that disabled people are considered special - evidenced by repeated assertions that they aren't, which would be meaningless if they were not in reaction to something else - are you and O_o. Everyone else gets that the word is a euphamism and thus a purely semantic issue and doesn't feel the need to start a thread about it.

Given that this keeps coming up, I recommend you do some background reading on how language and conventions of communication are mutually established by a society - in order words, that communication depends more on both parties understanding what is meant, and that words and sounds have no innate meaning outside that context - as that seems to be causing you a disproportionate amount of anguish lately.