MN HQ Really needs to do something about disablist threads on here!

[PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog]

As a disabled person, this site makes me despair at times!

I think a poster putting a disability in inverted commas sounds as though they're questioning the reality of that disability.

@x2boysyes, unfortunately there are many of them. I stopped running support groups for families because the stress caused by the parents who would just stand by and watch their child cause damage to people and property while saying nothing was too much for me, my child, and the families that did care to cope with anymore.

I was on a very long one of these a couple of years ago. I think it reached the max 1000 post. A lot of posters thought they were there first and should not have to fold their buggies for a wheelchair user. Even after explained, several were adamant they were in the right.

@ilovesooty If your reading comprehension was up to par, you'd see that I've already acknowledged this in that very post you are quoting! 😂

Absolutely! Although I do have a small child. But if she's not with me then no, I would not park in p&c. However my badge will always be reissued sadly. Such is the nature of my disability, but I know what you meant.

I don't mean this to be a dick, but presumably if you have a blue badge it's because you need an accessible space, so how would you cope without that extra space? If that's an intrusive question please don't answer

Although I do have a small child. But if she's not with me then no, I would not park in p&c.

meh. I park in the p&c if I'm with my elderly mum who can't walk very well and needs to have the car door opened to its fullest extent to get out. I got shouted at by a woman who jumped out with her 2 teenagers who also jumped out without any problems. So no, i'm not going to say "sorry" because those spaces where you can be sure to open your car door properly are vital to my mum when we need to go out.

Te: expecting disabled people to challenge threads - this was one of MNHQ's poor excuses for letting an ableist thread run:

We left this thread to run today as many posts were challenging (what appears to be) common misconceptions about benefits and disabled people.

We think it's gone beyond anything potentially useful or informative now

Re: not Te:

There's a massive clash between the "it's not up to the people experiencing the discrimination to do all the work to challenge it" people and the "how dare you speak for them instead of allowing them a voice" people, and I fear that, like loo brushes, this may just be an unbridgeable divide between opposing viewpoints.

With the unfortunate consequence that it's the very people advocating for change that get pissed on in the resulting clash.

Even after explained, several were adamant they were in the right.

Some people are stuborn in their mornitude. I still think the conversation has value and that's not a reason to ban people.

But my blue badge will always be reissued as I have a degenerative, progressive condition and I'm dying, so it's a moot point. I probably wouldn't go out but I certainly wouldn't be the sort of person who makes life difficult for others and currently makes life harder for people like myself. If I did, I'd be as bad as them. I'm NOTHING without my principles and my stubbornness
Also, as I said, I have a small child currently so it's doubly a moot point!

Nothing wrong with my reading comprehension thank you.

This situation wouldn't bother me at all. To be clear, I have never ever challenged anyone on their parking validity. I have myself, had my car whacked with a walking stick and been grabbed hold of, by angry people who assume because I'm under 50 that I must be 'blagging it'

There's a massive clash between the "it's not up to the people experiencing the discrimination to do all the work to challenge it" people and the "how dare you speak for them instead of allowing them a voice" people, and I fear that, like loo brushes, this may just be an unbridgeable divide between opposing viewpoints.

Assuming positive intent, being polite and speaking with goodwill fixes most of that IMO. There is nothing wrong with speaking about a problem which doesn't directly affect you.

There is something very wrong about doing so in a way that assumes you know best and demonises anyone who disagrees with you. Those things are stupid, even if you are right, they are just especially ridiculous when describing something outside your experience and getting it wrong.

"Too sensitive"
"PC"

Why not throw "woke" in while you're at it?

I can't see this. Do you mean the poster who is quoting several satements by someone from a previous thread to illustrate a point and using quote marks to indicate that?

Apologies for the lack of clarity. I was referring to a previously quoted post referring to a large child with "dyspraxia".

Exactly. I was always taught to respect the fact that other people will have opinions which I may or may not agree with. I don't have to respect their opinion itself, but respect the fact that they're entitled to it. That may opinion & others' can live side by side quote happily with a little respect on both sides.

There's nothing wrong with healthy debate of course but I honestly fear that many people don't seem to get that it's ok for other people to think differently to them. That they must CHALLENGE anyone who has any kind of varying viewpoints or opinions.

*That my opinion

Apologies for the lack of clarity. I was referring to a previously quoted post referring to a large child with "dyspraxia".

I think it's clear they are quoting that person to show that they use the dyspraxia as an excuse to climb on shelves (not seen the thread, so no clue if that's an accurate quote). They quote several other things as well to make that point so it isn't a matter of just putting dyspraxia in quotes.

As I've said before: I think if we want to have difficult conversations we need to assume possitive intent on the part of others and not infer meanings which aren't explicit.

That's an interesting point. I think we may have interpreted it differently but thank you for that perspective.

There's nothing wrong with healthy debate of course but I honestly fear that many people don't seem to get that it's ok for other people to think differently to them.

I agree that's a probblem with the world but I think the examples on here are things that really do need challenging.

The thing is that to challenge an idea in someone's head you need to understand what that idea is in the first place. It may be that you actually agree and the person expressed themselves poorly or you leapt to conclusions. Even if they are dead wrong you won't persuade anyone if you don't actually understand the point they are making.

I completely agree, but of course, it's hard for most people to assume positive intent when they've had sufficient amounts of bile and idiocy thrown at them. I struggle with this myself quite a bit - it's a very normal, human reaction.

of course, it's hard for most people to assume positive intent when they've had sufficient amounts of bile and idiocy thrown at them. I struggle with this myself quite a bit - it's a very normal, human reaction.

Indeed, I do it all the time (I also sometimes just enjoy arguing with idiots) but when we get like that it's our responsibility to log off and go eat cake do some exercise.