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From: gjk@talcott.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Re: handicapped spaces
Message-ID: <193@talcott.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Dec-84 13:51:30 EST
Article-I.D.: talcott.193
Posted: Mon Dec 17 13:51:30 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Dec-84 03:09:50 EST
References: <121@iris.UUCP> <4000022@hp-pcd.UUCP> <755@oliven.UUCP> <184@talcott.UUCP> <410@amdcad.UUCP>
Organization: Harvard
Lines: 49

> > I have only rarely seen a legally occupied handicapped parking space, and I
> > have often seen a large, completely full parking lot.  Completely full,
> > that is, except for the handicapped parking spaces, all of which were
> > empty.  Meanwhile, I spent twenty more minutes looking for a parking space
> > in the nearby lots...
> 
> Greg, you are a selfish insensitive jerk. I'm sure any handicapped person
> would be happy to trade places with you and spend an extra 20 minutes
> parking for the ability to walk in from a distant parking space
> while you rolled into the store in your wheelchair. If only it were
> possible for you to get an idea of what it's like.
... 
>  Phil Ngai (408) 749-5790

I suppose this is net.flame, but why are you calling me all these names
when I only reported what happens to me all the time?  I gave no opinions
and drew no conclusions, nor have I ever parked in a handicapped parking
space.  It was a statement of fact.

In order to prevent you making up opinions for me, I will give them now.
First, I don't see how any one else's handicap is in any way my fault.
Second, I did not have in mind handicapped people, I had in mind the
absence of them.  I don't see how three empty parking spaces will help a
handicapped person any more than two.  The parking lot I had in mind indeed
has more than one handicapped parking space; it has at least five.  And
not one, not three, but *all* of them were empty.

And how do know that I have no idea of what it's like?  As a matter of fact
I do.  I happen to have been temporarily handicapped on more than one
occasion because of operations/injuries that I have had.  Sure, it was a
pain in the ass, but it *didn't even occur to me* to think of anyone else's
responsibilites for helping me.  When someone helped me, I considered it an
act of generosity, something extra on their part, rather than something that
they "should" be doing.

If I ever see a handicapped person who is walking any distance through a
parking lot, I will be more than happy to drive him/her wherever they wish
to go, but until that time, I can only stare at the empty parking spaces.

In any case, it is a minor issue.  It is not something I feel strongly
about.  It inconveniences me only in a small way.  Since many people
(apparently you) do feel strongly about this, you can go ahead and have
your handicapped parking spaces.  I will think about other issues.  Like
nukes, starving populations, totalitarian regimes...
---
			Greg Kuperberg
		     harvard!talcott!gjk

"  " -Charlie Chaplin, for IBM