to criticise a colleague for parking in a disabled bay

[MrsMooo]

... in Tesco's car park because "there were no P&C spaces"

I'd rather this didn't become a debate about P&C

But Colleague has posted on facebook saying that a man in a 4x4 shouted at her for parking in a disabled bay "then strode off not looking disabled and not needing any assistance walking faster than did"

I've commented that there is no excuse for parking in a disabled bay if you are not in fact disabled and that is she thinks a blue badge is being misused she's free to report it

The reply I got was "I feel that what is classed as being disabled to get a blue badge doesn't always cover an actual disablity" I mean, WTactualF?!?!

So, AIBU and should therefore bow out and keep my mouth shut

Or do I stick to my guns as I think there really is no excuse for taking up a disabled space

[Kladdkaka]

Reply with, 'You may well feel that. But then you would be wrong!'

[aldiwhore]

YANBU.... possibly surprising after some of my postings today, this is a real bug bear of mine!

Whatever the reasons, whatever the opinions, they are for Blue Badge holders only. End of discussion!

[lec0rnsillk]

direct her over here...

[becstarsky]

Obviously YANBU to feel that way about what she has said and done - it's clearly awful. But if she's a colleague in a professional environment, and this is all going on on FB with possibly other colleagues/bosses reading it, I'd swallow my irritation in the interests of staying professional. Yes, she's dreadful, yes what she's said is awful, she's wrong, she's daft, she's all of it. But we all have to work with idiots sometimes. Getting in a Facebook row with them, however badly they have behaved (unless it actually happened in a work environment, which in this case it didn't) doesn't make you look professional. Even when you're right. Which you clearly are. I hope any sensible person reading what she's put on Facebook will defriend her instantly without needing your comment.

[Blu]

The man's status is irrelevant, She parked her car in a Blue Badge bay without a BB. That is all that is relevant. She's in the wrong.

She is also in the wrong of she thinks she is the expert on diagnosing disability from a quick glance.

But she should be ashamed that she was prepared to take up a disabled space, no matter what anyone else did. She might seriously obstruct a disabled person if she carries on with this attitude.

Who knows about the other man - there are loads of people who use badges fraudulently, maybe he was one of them maybe he wasn't. It isn';t her place to ask disabled people to justify themselves, it isn't her business to have the expertise, and none of it should affect her own behaviour.

[kat2504]

If there are no P&C spaces then you park in the ordinary spaces. How is that difficult for anyone to understand?
I wouldn't let this debate take up too much of your mental energy as sadly your colleague is unlikely to be persuaded to your point of view. She clearly believes P&C spaces are an entitlement and that most disabled spaces are being abused by misuse of blue badge.
You are right, she is wrong. but I wouldn't waste your time arguing the toss with her. You will get nowhere.

[AMumInScotland]

YANBU - she's just trying to deflect her own guiltiness by smearing him. Tell her to look up the rules for getting a blue badge on your local council website - they don't give them away with cornflakes packets!

[Blu]

Becstar speaks wisely.

Just calmly point out the facts and then leave it.

[betterwhenthesunshines]

YANBU but some people seem to think their legs might fall off if they have to walk more than 50 yards. I'm always surprised in out local supermarket that people double park, and narrow the access lanes, rather than park in all the empty parking spaces that are slightly further away.

[IrmaLittleteapot]

YANBU.

I suggest you offer to break both her legs and then let her apply for a blue badge and see how far she gets.

[HecateGoddessOfTheNight]

Reply

You are misinformed. It is the other way round. You can have a disability that does not qualify you for a blue badge but you cannot get a blue badge for a minor disability. In order to get a blue badge, you must be
blind
unable or virtually unable to walk
have severe pain when walking

there are other discretionary criteria that vary from council to council, where you have to prove that you cannot walk, cannot walk far, walking would be dangerous etc etc, but the above and not much else are the things that will generally entitle you to a blue badge.

and please end by telling her that someone on the internet thinks she's a twat

[SpanishPaella]

some people seem to think their legs might fall off if they have to walk more than 50 yards


absolutely.

[rubyslippers]

Yanbu

[Charleymouse]

YANBU

Oh also tell her in some areas you can get a BB if you are terminally ill. So although, for example, FIL looks fit and well on the outside inside he is riddled with cancer. On a good day he looks perfectly fine on a bad day can hardly walk due to side effects of chemotherapy. I daresay she would not want to swap places with those particular individuals.

[kelly2000]

Tell her to set up her own car park then with her rules. If the rules state you need a blue badge, then it is not up to her to decide the rules are incorrect and that she qualifies as disabled since she has a child with her.

[Andrewofgg]

The man may be able-bodied and going to collect his BB-entitled DW, DP or DC in which case he had every right to park in a BB bay.

But in the work environment . . . not worth rowing with her.

[crazycarol]

I parked in a disabled bay once and was displaying a blue badge. I was taking my mum to a hospital appointment. She is the bb holder. DD was with me and we took mum into her appointment but as we knew it was going to be at least a couple of hours we left her there and were going to the local shops. We came out of the hospital and without thinking dd and I skipped to the car, got in and drove off, much to the disapproval of a few people who were standing about. I didn't stop to enlighten them but I am sure they thought bad of me.

[Sevenfold]

yanbu
but you know that