Use of the phrase "Confined to a wheelchair"

zillazangel · 11-30-2006, 09:31 PM

OK, I need your opinions. When I hear anyone describe a wheelchair user as "confined" to a wheeler, it makes my blood boil. When someone says that about Chad (we here it all the time) I have to struggle mightily to not say something massively rude. As you all know here, I am terrifically talented at being rude - one of my charming personality traits.

SO - does that term offend you? Or am I somehow taking on a crip personality that has a chip on my shoulder?????

If I'm out of line in that irritating me, I'll try to not make me mad. It just implies to me "poor, poor, poor victim who is STUCK forever and ev-ah to a terrible plight in life". No one says that are confined to crutches or a cane do they?

cass · 11-30-2006, 09:42 PM

offends me. i was even more shocked when my neighbor referred to me as "bedridden" because i can't just hop outta bed to answer the door ...

darkeyed_daisy · 11-30-2006, 09:52 PM

Sometimes I feel like I am "confined" to motherhood and paying bills....LOL

Oh well... It does make it sound like he is in a "prison of a life". Maybe the people saying this automatically assume everyone likes to be pitied...and sympathized???

I like to throw my own pity parties on my own terms....and invite who I want to invite. My thing is "you look like youre gittin' along better"...small town talk ya know... Sometimes I feel like saying its only been seventeen years and you either choose to live or choose not to.

Its kind of like strangers handling my daughters hands when she was a baby....nothing errkkss me more. I know that people just try to be nice but just say how are you? fine and go on....LOL

I really dont feel confined but I dont want to be reminded that I am confined to this painful life either.

2jazzyjeff · 11-30-2006, 09:54 PM

Doesn't or rather wouldn't bother me. Never heard someone use that term towards me. I just get, ''in a chair''..

Crippled or crip bothers me more than anything and I'm getting use to it since being here since a lot of ppl. use it.

My best friends boys call me ''Sped''.. short for Special Ed..

zillazangel · 11-30-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2jazzyjeff

Doesn't or rather wouldn't bother me. Never heard someone use that term towards me. I just get, ''in a chair''..

Crippled or crip bothers me more than anything and I'm getting use to it since being here since a lot of ppl. use it.

My best friends boys call me ''Sped''.. short for Special Ed..

I'm so sorry Jeff!! Chad says it allll the time and alot of people here to do, but I apologize for offending you that way. (( apologies)) But thanks for the repsonse, these are helping.

2jazzyjeff · 11-30-2006, 10:13 PM

No need to apologize Ami..

but thanks. It just seemes that ''cripple'' is just a harsh word rather than handicapped. When I envision ''cripple'', I think of someone that is mangled from a wreck.. trust me, it's me and I don't mind it so much now..

We all have phrases or sayings that we have to overcome, right? That was mine..

trainman · 11-30-2006, 10:19 PM

I haven't heard the confined part as much as bedridden. Sure, I've been in bed for several weeks at a time for pressure sores, but I'm still able to get out of it. I don't know that it bothers me so much or that I'm just used to it any more. Just try to maybe a little education opportunity as not confined, but uses, or something of the sort. We get out of our chairs on occasion to do other things, but they are just the easiest form of transportation.

NorthQuad · 11-30-2006, 10:28 PM

The description doesn't bother me at all. When I describe myself as gibbled or anything like that it seems to bother other people more. As a matter of fact I just read a new label today that gave me a good laugh. Jeff's "Sped" name gave me a chuckle too, it's fairly creative.

Tiger Racing · 11-30-2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zillazangel

When I hear anyone describe a wheelchair user as "confined" to a wheeler, it makes my blood boil.

It doesn't make me angry, but I find it annoying in that it is extremely inaccurate and paints the wrong picture. If anything, a wheelchair frees one, it doesn't confine them. I point that out to people when they use the term and try to make sure that the phrase is never used in any printed article that I am associated with.

Quote:

No one says that are confined to crutches or a cane do they?

No, 'cause those gimps will beat you with their supportive devices.

C.

canuck · 11-30-2006, 11:28 PM

The confined to a chair does bug me along with crippled. I also hate "requires 24 hour a day care" the only people that really & truly require the 24 hour a day care are the vent dependent quads/

11-30-2006, 09:31 PM	#1
zillazangel Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 2,005	Use of the phrase "Confined to a wheelchair" OK, I need your opinions. When I hear anyone describe a wheelchair user as "confined" to a wheeler, it makes my blood boil. When someone says that about Chad (we here it all the time) I have to struggle mightily to not say something massively rude. As you all know here, I am terrifically talented at being rude - one of my charming personality traits. SO - does that term offend you? Or am I somehow taking on a crip personality that has a chip on my shoulder????? If I'm out of line in that irritating me, I'll try to not make me mad. It just implies to me "poor, poor, poor victim who is STUCK forever and ev-ah to a terrible plight in life". No one says that are confined to crutches or a cane do they? __________________ Ami in NC Mom of a Medium Boy Wife to Chad-His-c4/5-Quadness Only semi-sane

11-30-2006, 09:52 PM	#3
darkeyed_daisy Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southern Colorado Posts: 5,034	Sometimes I feel like I am "confined" to motherhood and paying bills....LOL Oh well... It does make it sound like he is in a "prison of a life". Maybe the people saying this automatically assume everyone likes to be pitied...and sympathized??? I like to throw my own pity parties on my own terms....and invite who I want to invite. My thing is "you look like youre gittin' along better"...small town talk ya know... Sometimes I feel like saying its only been seventeen years and you either choose to live or choose not to. Its kind of like strangers handling my daughters hands when she was a baby....nothing errkkss me more. I know that people just try to be nice but just say how are you? fine and go on....LOL I really dont feel confined but I dont want to be reminded that I am confined to this painful life either. __________________ Only I can change my life, no one can do it for me. Carol Burnett

11-30-2006, 09:54 PM	#4
2jazzyjeff Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 9,585	Doesn't or rather wouldn't bother me. Never heard someone use that term towards me. I just get, ''in a chair''.. Crippled or crip bothers me more than anything and I'm getting use to it since being here since a lot of ppl. use it. My best friends boys call me ''Sped''.. short for Special Ed.. __________________ Life isn't like a bowl of cherries or peaches. It's more like a jar of jalapenos--What you do today might burn your ass tomorrow. If you ain't laughing, you ain't living, baby. Carlos Mencia

11-30-2006, 10:13 PM	#6
2jazzyjeff Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 9,585	No need to apologize Ami.. but thanks. It just seemes that ''cripple'' is just a harsh word rather than handicapped. When I envision ''cripple'', I think of someone that is mangled from a wreck.. trust me, it's me and I don't mind it so much now.. We all have phrases or sayings that we have to overcome, right? That was mine.. __________________ Life isn't like a bowl of cherries or peaches. It's more like a jar of jalapenos--What you do today might burn your ass tomorrow. If you ain't laughing, you ain't living, baby. Carlos Mencia

11-30-2006, 10:19 PM	#7
trainman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: IA Posts: 1,189	I haven't heard the confined part as much as bedridden. Sure, I've been in bed for several weeks at a time for pressure sores, but I'm still able to get out of it. I don't know that it bothers me so much or that I'm just used to it any more. Just try to maybe a little education opportunity as not confined, but uses, or something of the sort. We get out of our chairs on occasion to do other things, but they are just the easiest form of transportation. __________________ Live life as you see fit, not as the world says.

11-30-2006, 09:42 PM	#2
cass Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: WA Posts: 3,610	offends me. i was even more shocked when my neighbor referred to me as "bedridden" because i can't just hop outta bed to answer the door ...

11-30-2006, 10:28 PM	#8
NorthQuad Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,792	The description doesn't bother me at all. When I describe myself as gibbled or anything like that it seems to bother other people more. As a matter of fact I just read a new label today that gave me a good laugh. Jeff's "Sped" name gave me a chuckle too, it's fairly creative. __________________ It's a little too late for Caltrate.

11-30-2006, 11:28 PM	#10
canuck Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: BC Canada Posts: 1,735	The confined to a chair does bug me along with crippled. I also hate "requires 24 hour a day care" the only people that really & truly require the 24 hour a day care are the vent dependent quads/

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
RNOH backs "walking wheelchair"	Max	Life	0	10-21-2004 01:29 PM