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In reply to the discussion: Gal Gadots Seemingly Innocent Tribute To Stephen Hawking Pissed Off Some People [View all]LisaM
(27,806 posts)There was a woman with crutches (that kind you hold in your hands), sitting near the front of the bus, though not in a seat for the elderly or disabled. I missed the initial exchange, but apparently another woman, also sitting near the front, had offered her some assistance when she reached her stop.
I ended up feeling sorry for both of them. The disabled woman absolutely went off on the person who'd offered assistance, shouting that she was the same as any other fully abled person, her independence was important to her, and that she didn't need any help getting off the bus.
The other woman was taken aback, and said, "I was just trying to be nice", and that set up a new round of attacks...."no, you're not being nice! I don't need your help! I live my life independently!" to the point where people were kind of shrinking in their seats.
Like I said, I felt sorry for them both, for the woman with crutches because she probably just wants to blend in, and for the person who'd volunteered to help her get off the bus. I don't know the correct answer to this (other than maybe you make the offer discreetly and then you reject the offer discreetly). I felt as if I learned something from the encounter, though. I've been tempted sometimes to ask a person in a wheelchair if they needed a push up an incline, for example, but now I won't ever do that.