New rule

[kaberett]

My default answer to "How long have you been in a wheelchair?" is "since I left the house" (or similar literalist interpretation).


(Brought to you by the stranger on the bus yesterday who thought an appropriate conversation starter was: "Hello dear. How long have you been in a wheelchair?")

Comments

[kaberett]

... and because I apparently need to say this shit or else get things ~patiently explained~ to me: yes, I am aware that there are exceptional cases. I am in fact extremely aware that there are exceptional cases. I do not need you to tell me that there exist exceptional cases in which a non-literalist interpretation is appropriate. The case I am describing here, however, is not exceptional.

[afuna]

What the hell dear stranger! What the hell!

(That sounds about the best response you can give, because what the hell dear fucking stranger!)

TMI Thursday: tw inappropriate ob/gyn visit and heterosexism

[untonuggan]

This reminds me of the nurse practitioner who asked me "How long have you been a lesbian?" while giving me a pelvic exam.

Re: TMI Thursday: tw inappropriate ob/gyn visit and heterosexism

[rmc28]

Because I just love to make small-talk in that situation!

Re: TMI Thursday: tw inappropriate ob/gyn visit and heterosexism

[untonuggan]

Exactly!

Re: TMI Thursday: tw inappropriate ob/gyn visit and heterosexism

[pipisafoat]

What. No. Really? Because. I mean. There's a specific date you point at and say, "Since this day. Before that, I was heterosexual." NO REALLY. BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. *headdesk* *headdesk* *headdesk*

Re: TMI Thursday: tw inappropriate ob/gyn visit and heterosexism

[jamfish]

...bloody hell. O_o

Re: TMI Thursday: tw inappropriate ob/gyn visit and heterosexism

[kaberett]

... hah.

(The worst convo I've ever had with someone rummaging around in my cunt was actually pretty good - duty gynae: "Do they normally have trouble finding your cervix?" Me: "... left a bit." Duty gynae: "Ah yes. *starts taking me seriously*"...)

[stephdairy]

"How long have you been on a bus?"

(S)

[worlds_of_smoke]

Oh, for fuck's sake. WTF is wrong with people? -offers a hug-

[kaberett]

Thank you ♥

[rjw76]

"How long has your wheelchair had a flamethrower attachment?"

[kaberett]

I really need to get around to actually building the scale catapault boything got me, so's I can mount it to the chair!

[forthwritten]

Oh for fuck's sake, some people.

[alexwlchan]

How classy.

I would probably have come out with something like “How long have you been starting conversations tactlessly?”

[kaberett]

So I actually gave Stranger the "since I got out of bed this morning" line, and Stranger obliviously went on at me about how they'd been a nurse and this one time...

... meanwhile, the person sat opposite me was somewhere between "horrified" and "helpless amusement" and "oh gods I'm so sorry is there anything I can do to help?" (It was a very evocative facial expression.)

[jamfish]

Ahhhh stranger fail! But I quite like your default answer. Boom!

[sidheag]

In this situation, I would have had to assume that this person was someone who knew me, and I hadn't been in a wheelchair last time they saw me - I'm impressed that you were confident it was a stranger!

[kaberett]

They were very distinctive (vocal delivery, body type, accent) such that I assumed I'd remember any long enough interaction that I'd be okay with them (a) addressing me like that and (b) asking that question...