Peter Aitken wrote:
>
> "Geoff Miller" > wrote:
> >
> > Fifo > writes:
> >
> >> I always thought walking is a popular means of moving your ass
> >> from point A to point B but it seems it has become such a
> >> vigorous activity that 20 feet closer to the grocery store is
> >> considered major privillege.
> >
> > The extra walking distance _is_ trivial, but then, it isn't the
> > point. The point is that this thing of giving various groups
> > special privileges at the expense of the majority is a matter
> > of principle.
> >
> > The way that gimp spaces in particular always seem be on the
> > increase only adds fuel to the fire. I've made it a point
> > to pay attention to this, and I've observed that many times
> > when a shopping center's parking lot is repaved, it's re-
> > striped with more gimp spaces than were there before. I
> > think part of the problem is the defining up of what it is
> > to be handicapped. It used to literally mean "crippled," but
> > now even the morbidly obese seem to qualify.
>
> An important factor I believe is choice. Truly handicapped people did not
> choose their condition - their paralysis, severe arthritis, broken leg, etc.
> was something that was inflicted on them. Mothers, expectant or actual,
> chose to be mothers. Thus they should be prepared to put up with the
> inconveniences of the condition - and my experience as a parent tells me
> that parking spaces are the least of it!
>
> Does it make you feel superior to use the term "gimp?" Are so so lazy that
> having to park a few extra spaces away because of all the "gimp" spaces
> really ruins your day?

I disapprove of euphemism. People used to be crippled, then
handicapped, then (god forbid) differently-abled. Some people were
negroes, then colored, then black, then African-American (including
Nelson Mandela, according to some clueless newsdroid), then people of
color, and probably something that I don't even know about today. What
are the retarded called now? Oh yeah, "challenged". For a while they
were "exceptional" but I don't think that stuck very long.

> Yes, the handicapped permits are misused by some
> people, but I would much rather that a few people misuse them than someone
> who really needs them has to go without.

I don't mind when they're used. What really ****es me off is a crowded
parking lot with a dozen empty gimp spaces. What also ****es me off is
that medical buildings apparently are required to have no more gimp
spaces than a department store of similar size.

--
Cheers,
Bev
================================================== ==================
"My parents just came back from a planet where the dominant lifeform
had no bilateral symmetry, and all I got was this stupid F-Shirt."