To have been upset have a blue badge?

[Calypso44]

Yes sorry another disabled parking space one. And have nc'd as spoke to a friend about it who I know sometimes uses MN.
I had a GP appt this morning, I parked in a disabled bay. I have a blue badge for my car due to disability and I also struggle to walk long distances due to health condition. As I was pulling in, the man who had just pulled into the next disabled bay before me was pointing aggressively at the 'BLUE BADGE HOLDERS ONLY' sign. I ignored it as I am a blue badge holder.
As he got out of his car he came and knocked on my window and said 'you're parked in a blue badge space' I said yes I know I have a blue badge and pointed to it. He didnt apologise, walked off tutting and saying something about 'youngsters defrauding the system'. I'm 26, so not exactly a 'youngster'.

[Calypso44]

Sorry have totally messed up title trying to edit a spelling error and pressed post too soon!!
Title should read 'to have been upset by man assuming I don't have a blue badge'
I often get from work acquaintances etc, 'but you don't look disabled'. It's frustrating and I do get funny looks sometimes when I'm parked in a disabled bay. I don't know why it upsets me so much, it just does.

[DailyWailEatsSnails]

He just wanted to have a go at somebody. Not worth your energy to care about him.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

You met an arsehole. Try not to think about it. Similar happened to me when I was mid 20s and I remember being upset about it. I suppose he was trying to defend the rights of disabled people but was deeply lacking in imagination.

[MonochromeDog]

Well he's a twat isn't he! As if people only become disabled when they reach pension age. I think someone needs to let him in on the secret that people can be born with disabilities.

[Calypso44]

I know I shouldn't really give it any head space. I suppose it's just really representative of how frustrating I find frequently having to defend myself in similar situations, when I get 'the look' getting in or out of my car in a disabled bay.

[AntiHop]

He was a fucking bitter arsehole

[monkeyted]

YANBU. Not at all. What a nasty experience for you.

[EasterRobin]

I was expecting him to have a problem because he needed that space more (eg needed wheelchair room for a partner) but he already had a space to park! That's so rude and unpleasant. I'm sorry you had to go through that OP.

[ILoveDolly]

Sorry but but he was just an arse

[DairyisClosed]

As someone who doesn't really present in accordance with the realities of my life I get you. It is annoying to have to constantly correct others because they make really stupid assumptions based on the way one looks.

[fifipop185]

I feel you frustration. I've been told I must have lied to get DS's blue badge as DS doesn't look disabled. Ignore him OP, you're doing nothing wrong.

[Calypso44]

Yes fifi it's all manner of comments like that, on a fairly regular basis. From innocuous but 'you don't LOOK disabled!' To things like today where people clearly think I'm just a liar, because I don't fit the profile. (What is the stereotypical profile of a disabled person anyway?!)
I bloody wish I was as able bodied as the next person... maybe they'd like to swap places for a day.

[Avasarala]

Too many elderly think that blue badge means old and disabled. It's like they just don't want to believe other people have mobility issues.

I'm sorry someone felt they had the right to do that to you.

[MrsJoshDun]

Yes unless you’re old or in a wheelchair you’ll get this from people sadly. Friend of mine has a blue badge due to her 7yo boy who is unwell but not in a wheelchair. She reckons she gets grief more often than she doesn’t.

[MammaTJ]

I was coming on to relate to you, thinking you meant you are upset at being disabled enough to have a blue badge, which is how I feel. Even worse when they gave me PIP straight after my face to face! I need it, but am pissed off I need it and that others can see I need it!

Ah well, the man is a grumpy fucker! Don't give him any more thought.

[GabsAlot]

ignore its his hang up not yours

if he has a problem with the system he should take it up with goverment not people with badges

[Calypso44]

mamma I do feel like that as well. What I would give to be 'normal' and not be in pain all the time and need a blue badge and be unable to work full time.. and the rest of it.

[Echobelly]

So sorry you went through this. My mum gets this crap because she has a fluctuating condition that means she can't walk very far and often not far at all. She's had the 'you don't look disabled' comment, to which her standard reply is 'Why don't we swap bodies for a week and see if you think I'm not disabled then?'

[BishopBrennansArse]

I get this all the time, OP. It's upsetting

[Stiddleficks]

I know someone who is waiting for a heart transplant, he looks like a normal young lad, you can imagine the grief he gets when he parks in a disabled space in his boy racer car and with his music blaring. He turns blue if he has to walk too far or over exerts himself, none of the complainers want to hear about that though.
I got told in an a&e waiting room once that maybe I should wait and see my doctor after the bank holiday as I didn’t look like I needed to be there, by another patient! His face was a picture when I got whisked past him on a trolley with ecg wires all over me, o2 mask etc, etc, I can only hope he remembers that next time he judges someone!

[Calypso44]

I am so sorry that so many of you also get this shit. If only people could understand that there are many kinds of disabilities, and that the requirements for a blue badge are not just simply being an elderly person in a wheelchair.

[Bramble71]

I understand your frustration, OP. I've been terribly upset after similar incidents. It's so hard to even manage to get out of the house when you have so much pain, then to be on the receiving end of personal abuse is more than you can bear.

No matter how many times I tell myself the miserable git who abused me is a pathetic loser, it still hurts.

I hate to say it, but elderly people are the worst for it. I've had mobility issues since my early teens and sometimes I want to shout at them, try to make them understand the misery of it all, but I know they are blinkered and wouldn't care.