And do they ask every single person they come across who is in a wheelchair the same question?
Probably.
I don't know, it's not all that often really, it's just that every time it DOES happen it kind of makes an impression, ya know? And besides, considering my job, I probably see about six hundred people in one shift. Even if only one in a hundred people is THAT socially unskilled, that's still six stupid comments in one day.
You kind of build up an immunity to this kind of stupid, but... it is really hard to have your game-face on ALL THE FREAKIN TIME. Sometimes it slips, and one stupid comment can just make me snap, especially if something has already pissed me off to begin with. Not the best thing to do AT WORK.
People say all kinds of bizzaro things you'd never imagine. "Slow down, you'll get a speeding ticket," for instance. WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT? I dunno, it's been years and years since I used a wheelchair in public, but hearing this one wouldn't surprise me one bit.
And people ask me variations of WHY CANT YOU WALK all the time. They walk up to me and say, "So, [insert disorder here]?" like they're playing a guessing game with me. If I'm at work I just start talking to them about the menu or the dining room or something. If I'm not I'm just like, "do I know you?"
Or I get "So, car accident/diving accident/gang violence?" or whatever. Again, the guessing game. I guess I'm here for other people's entertainment, or, I don't know, I look really approachable or something, and funny, that, cause usually I try to look mean! I guess I'm doing it wrong!
Every so often, though, I do give a stupid comment back, like, "I forgot how," or something. Or "Tonya Harding smashed my kneecaps." Only hardcore figure skating followers will get that one, but I like it anyway :P
no subject
They do, yes.
And do they ask every single person they come across who is in a wheelchair the same question?
Probably.
I don't know, it's not all that often really, it's just that every time it DOES happen it kind of makes an impression, ya know? And besides, considering my job, I probably see about six hundred people in one shift. Even if only one in a hundred people is THAT socially unskilled, that's still six stupid comments in one day.
You kind of build up an immunity to this kind of stupid, but... it is really hard to have your game-face on ALL THE FREAKIN TIME. Sometimes it slips, and one stupid comment can just make me snap, especially if something has already pissed me off to begin with. Not the best thing to do AT WORK.
People say all kinds of bizzaro things you'd never imagine. "Slow down, you'll get a speeding ticket," for instance. WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT? I dunno, it's been years and years since I used a wheelchair in public, but hearing this one wouldn't surprise me one bit.
And people ask me variations of WHY CANT YOU WALK all the time. They walk up to me and say, "So, [insert disorder here]?" like they're playing a guessing game with me. If I'm at work I just start talking to them about the menu or the dining room or something. If I'm not I'm just like, "do I know you?"
Or I get "So, car accident/diving accident/gang violence?" or whatever. Again, the guessing game. I guess I'm here for other people's entertainment, or, I don't know, I look really approachable or something, and funny, that, cause usually I try to look mean! I guess I'm doing it wrong!
Every so often, though, I do give a stupid comment back, like, "I forgot how," or something. Or "Tonya Harding smashed my kneecaps." Only hardcore figure skating followers will get that one, but I like it anyway :P