"Hi, er, sorry. Are you called Christopher?"
I think: Er, right, fair question. No, but, what? Do I know you? Christopher? Who?
I am called Patrick.
I am not Christopher.
I didn't answer. But I tried not to be rude, as I had no reason to be.
However why oh WHY OH WHY OH WHY, does he attempt to identify me? Does everyone do this, get identified by a totally random stranger? Why me, because I stand out as instantly recognisable, in a wheelchair? I travel down Twickenham High Street, at lunch, and I do wonder just what percentage of people take notice of me because I am in a wheelchair. Yes, I may welcome a door being held open, or 'no, i'm gonna have wait for you to walk past' first. I am in a wheelchair but I AM STILL A PERSON. grrrrrr.
Sorry, it just gets to me when it seems that everyone first sees the wheelchair, and thinks that therefore i must be a 'screw loose'. People see a wheelchair, and then work to the lowest common-denominator, 'He can't even walk. Oh shame. Probably a mental nutcase.'
WHATEVER.......
I think: Er, right, fair question. No, but, what? Do I know you? Christopher? Who?
I am called Patrick.
I am not Christopher.
I didn't answer. But I tried not to be rude, as I had no reason to be.
However why oh WHY OH WHY OH WHY, does he attempt to identify me? Does everyone do this, get identified by a totally random stranger? Why me, because I stand out as instantly recognisable, in a wheelchair? I travel down Twickenham High Street, at lunch, and I do wonder just what percentage of people take notice of me because I am in a wheelchair. Yes, I may welcome a door being held open, or 'no, i'm gonna have wait for you to walk past' first. I am in a wheelchair but I AM STILL A PERSON. grrrrrr.
Sorry, it just gets to me when it seems that everyone first sees the wheelchair, and thinks that therefore i must be a 'screw loose'. People see a wheelchair, and then work to the lowest common-denominator, 'He can't even walk. Oh shame. Probably a mental nutcase.'
WHATEVER.......
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