Are you tired when people go out of there way to open doors for you?

[offroaderswife]

I'm T-10 complete. I don't mind people opening the doors and I always smile and thank them. I do get annoyed when someone makes a scene and yells at their kid or spouse to hurry up and get the door for the girl in the wheelchair. It pisses me off when they make a big deal about it. Don't mind at all if someone gracefully opens it with a kind heart AND DOESN'T MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT!

Yesterday I was grocery shopping. I take a laundry basket from home and set it on my lap, roll around and pile it up with my crap. If I need help with something on a high shelf then I ask. I was looking at the wax paper on a shelf that was around hip level on the baking isle and this lady came over, hurried and almost out of breath, as if it was a freaking 911 emergency and and loudly said "Can i help you reach anything?" I said no thank you, I'm just looking at the wax paper right here (pointing). She said "well I don't mean to be offensive but I just get so upset when I see people like you trying to do stuff on their own". UMMMM WHAT??? I just replied with....When PEOPLE LIKE ME need help we just ask. She said, well I wish someone was with you to help you out. I said, I'm pretty good at helping myself but thank you for the concern. Had to get away from her before I really blew her mind with a karate chop to the face!

As I got to the bread Isle a man said "why didn't you get a cart?" I said, I'm fine, this basket works best for me. He said, Mam, let me get you a cart. I said thank you but a cart would be more of a hassle to push around and I don't need a cart. He said well let me carry that basket for you. I said, no thank you, I'm almost done. Thank you for the offer.

INSIDE MY HEAD I WAS SCREAMING! I'm freakin smooth, creative, classy, and independant. I don't mind people being smooth about helping WITHOUT making a scene about it. That's when I get pissed and have to calm myself down. ANNOYING! I always keep a smile and thankful spirit but I would burn in hell if anyone heard the thoughts in my head about the dramatic people.

[offroaderswife]

[QUOTE=SuprSi;1537995]When I first left rehab I used to feel the same, but now I don't mind, as mentioned above it's a good idea to thank people for being considerate as it will benefit others who are less able than you or me.

I quite enjoy holding the doors open for able bodied people!

Haha...So true about holding doors open for the able bodied people. That really messes them up when they make a scene to open it for me.

[hugheswf]

offroaderswife - - - you completely nailed it. The times that bother me the most are when people make a ridiculous scene and end up bringing unwanted attention. If someone is helping as they would for anyone else then of course no big deal. I feel the same as you - - i'm strong, capable and I hate feeling inadequate. Thanks for the reply.

[St Elmo]

I’ve been doing the chair thing for 29 years, and after a while you come to realize that most AB (walkies) people’s brains just shut off when they see the wheelchair...they don’t look past it to see the person in it, they just see the chair and it’s like we all automatically become drooling, invalids that MUST need help to do anything. We all look the same to them. When I get one of those really insensitive, or rude almost insulting types I try to just ignore them, however recently I’ve tried to inform them. Stop and gently ask them to look past the chair to the person using it, not just do a knee jerk reaction thing, and say that If the individual is by themselves they probably, repete probably don’t need assistance to do the basic things in life. That if we did, we would most likely have somebody with us that is part of our “team” . Try to get them ask first before they assume we need help. I rarely need “help” but I could frequently use some assistance in making this tough life easier.

[~Lin]

my roommate and I go to this food pantry on saturday mornings. When you first get there you have to go show your ID at intake. When it was my turn I rolled up and the woman asked if I was able to sign my name, or if I needed her to do it for me. I raised an eyebrow, that one's new.

The place works on a point system and you 'shop' in a line going past stations of food. The guy in front of me turned around at one point and says 'there are no cripples in heaven, did you know that? Remember that, no cripples in heaven.

[Colin83]

Wow. I would've told the guy to jump off a cliff or something.

[47+years]

Originally Posted by Colin83

Wow. I would've told the guy to jump off a cliff or something.

I imagine he meant it to be encouraging. In other words, this isn't forever, but some people just have a way with words, don't they?

I guess you could have said, "And you won't be standing in a food pantry line there either!"

[24/7 Quad]

When I first got hurt people would look the other and scold their children for talking to me. Distincly remember passing a guy in a hallway and he looked up at the ceiling to avoid making eye contact. If someone is trying to be considerate and helpful at least they are recognizing that we are people too. As annoying as it may be I appreciate that person more than the azz that puts his shopping cart in the striped zone next to my lift.

[NoDecafPlz]

I'm always gracious with strangers.

I'm only shitty to people I know.

[My395]

Originally Posted by offroaderswife

I'm T-10 complete. I don't mind people opening the doors and I always smile and thank them. I do get annoyed when someone makes a scene and yells at their kid or spouse to hurry up and get the door for the girl in the wheelchair. It pisses me off when they make a big deal about it. Don't mind at all if someone gracefully opens it with a kind heart AND DOESN'T MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT!

Yesterday I was grocery shopping. I take a laundry basket from home and set it on my lap, roll around and pile it up with my crap. If I need help with something on a high shelf then I ask. I was looking at the wax paper on a shelf that was around hip level on the baking isle and this lady came over, hurried and almost out of breath, as if it was a freaking 911 emergency and and loudly said "Can i help you reach anything?" I said no thank you, I'm just looking at the wax paper right here (pointing). She said "well I don't mean to be offensive but I just get so upset when I see people like you trying to do stuff on their own". UMMMM WHAT??? I just replied with....When PEOPLE LIKE ME need help we just ask. She said, well I wish someone was with you to help you out. I said, I'm pretty good at helping myself but thank you for the concern. Had to get away from her before I really blew her mind with a karate chop to the face!

As I got to the bread Isle a man said "why didn't you get a cart?" I said, I'm fine, this basket works best for me. He said, Mam, let me get you a cart. I said thank you but a cart would be more of a hassle to push around and I don't need a cart. He said well let me carry that basket for you. I said, no thank you, I'm almost done. Thank you for the offer.

INSIDE MY HEAD I WAS SCREAMING! I'm freakin smooth, creative, classy, and independant. I don't mind people being smooth about helping WITHOUT making a scene about it. That's when I get pissed and have to calm myself down. ANNOYING! I always keep a smile and thankful spirit but I would burn in hell if anyone heard the thoughts in my head about the dramatic people.

Wow. Reminded me of this must watch video.... http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo...ry?id=12940712