I actually got out on the 'bent today! I'd forgotten just how much fun it really is, my little smilemobile. HGV drivers grinning like cheshire cats... old ladies waving from the rear windows of cars... even WVM waving & smiling. My theory is they think it's some sort of machine for a disabled rider, so the think it's a good idea to encourage me. On the way home, Nathan (cycling with me on his Cervelo) would say in a loud voice, as any overtaking vehicle was overtaking very slowly, with passengers rubber-necking at the strange woman on the strange machine... "Wave at the nice man, Mummy, he's friendly" at which point I'd go into Little Britain mode, point, wave and say, "I want tha' one!"
Time for the politically correct response "No, just differently abled" ;-)
A bloody stupid load of nonsense if ever I heard one (the sort of thing I expect from people who /think/ they're PC, but are actually just thick).
Reasoning: Lance Armstrong and Paula Radcliffe are "differently abled" to folk like me. I don't think that gives them a right to park next to the door at Tescos...
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Time for the politically correct response "No, just differently abled" ;-)
A bloody stupid load of nonsense if ever I heard one (the sort of thing I expect from people who /think/ they're PC, but are actually just thick).
Reasoning: Lance Armstrong and Paula Radcliffe are "differently abled" to folk like me. I don't think that gives them a right to park next to the door at Tescos...
Pete.
Whoosh!!!!
-- Tony
"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't" Anon
Time for the politically correct response "No, just differently abled" ;-)
A bloody stupid load of nonsense if ever I heard one (the sort of thing I expect from people who /think/ they're PC, but are actually just thick).
Reasoning: Lance Armstrong and Paula Radcliffe are "differently abled" to folk like me. I don't think that gives them a right to park next to the door at Tescos...
Pete.
Whoosh!!!!
Dammit, you mean you can fly? No parking for you at Tescos at all, then.
Time for the politically correct response "No, just differently abled" ;-)
A bloody stupid load of nonsense if ever I heard one (the sort of thing I expect from people who /think/ they're PC, but are actually just thick).
Actually, "differently abled" is the exact term I've heard used when such people are describing themselves. In particular, the person I knew was very optimistic and outgoing, and refused to be called disabled. She was really keen on hillwalking and never let a missing leg become a barrier to her enjoyment.
More on-topically, in my experience the faster one rides a recumbent, and especially a trike, the less likely people are to perceive you as disabled; the converse also appears to be true.
Yeah, I've had "Gosh - I thought you were disabled!" as I dismounted. Can't think of a ready reply.
Not had that (yet?) on the SMGT, however I have had someone say "I thought you where doing a wheelie" ... -- These opinions might not even be mine ... Let alone connected with my employer ...
Actually, "differently abled" is the exact term I've heard used when such people are describing themselves. In particular, the person I knew was very optimistic and outgoing, and refused to be called disabled. She was really keen on hillwalking and never let a missing leg become a barrier to her enjoyment.
I'm waiting for the pro cyclists to realise that losing body parts is an excellent way to get rid of unnecessary weight. Appendix can go, plus a kidney too. Then there's just the wobbly green bit and you're on to the limbs. Legs I 'spose are vaguely essential for pro cyclists, but arms.... head? Anything in the regulations about it?
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Actually, "differently abled" is the exact term I've heard used when such people are describing themselves. In particular, the person I knew was very optimistic and outgoing, and refused to be called disabled. She was really keen on hillwalking and never let a missing leg become a barrier to her enjoyment.
Fair enough, and an apology in order for such cases.
My ire is directed at people who decide for /other/ people what does and doesn't offend them, worst offender being someone who insisted coffee choices were "with or without milk", the terms black and white being "offensive"... If the government pass legislation requiring all mention of disability to be replaced with mention of "different ability" then the latter phrase will just come to mean exactly the same thing to people that "disability" currently does, and then they'll have to think up a new phrase, and so on. Though I think a personal phrase of self description is a different matter, if it helps people feel better about themselves.
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
? Help. Please put my mind to rest, I have worried about this for a little while. I don't think I have a wobbly green bit. If I should have, I need medical help. If I shouldn't have, then you do. --
I'm waiting for the pro cyclists to realise that losing body parts is an excellent way to get rid of unnecessary weight. Appendix can go, plus a kidney too. Then there's just the wobbly green bit and you're on to the limbs. Legs I 'spose are vaguely essential for pro cyclists, but arms.... head? Anything in the regulations about it?
Well, there was the French cyclist who had to get a big toe removed due to an infection. His dedicated and adoring 'domestique' had a toe amputated to match.
"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Mark Thompson said:
Then there's just the wobbly green bit
? Help. Please put my mind to rest, I have worried about this for a little while. I don't think I have a wobbly green bit. If I should have, I need medical help. If I shouldn't have, then you do.
If I have a particularly nasty cold, I've noticed I can develop wobby green bits in my nose. I am very glad to get rid of them.
My theory is they think it's some sort of machine for a disabled rider, so the think it's a good idea to encourage me.
Yeah, I've had "Gosh - I thought you were disabled!" as I dismounted. Can't think of a ready reply.
"Look, it's that funny wheelchair again!" shouted a foopball-playing Yowth, as I propelled the Kingcycle northwards up the lower reaches of the Leyton High Road. Squarely in the Land of Odd, that one.
My ire is directed at people who decide for /other/ people what does and doesn't offend them, worst offender being someone who insisted coffee choices were "with or without milk", the terms black and white being "offensive"...
More practically if you ask for black or white coffee in North America they will not understand what you are asking for. With and without milk/cream/non-dairy creamer is far better understood internationally.
-- Tony
"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't" Anon
I'm waiting for the pro cyclists to realise that losing body parts is an excellent way to get rid of unnecessary weight. Appendix can go, plus a kidney too. Then there's just the wobbly green bit and you're on to the limbs. Legs I 'spose are vaguely essential for pro cyclists, but arms.... head? Anything in the regulations about it?
Well, there was the French cyclist who had to get a big toe removed due to an infection. His dedicated and adoring 'domestique' had a toe amputated to match.
Of course many French swear that Armstrong deliberately caught cancer so he could take body altering drugs legally ;-^)
-- Tony
"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't" Anon
More practically if you ask for black or white coffee in North America they will not understand what you are asking for.
When listening to a broadcast of the Food Programme on R4 once, Derek Cooper was looking around a trade show in N. America where some of the more serious coffee vending machines available were on show. A clearly American chap was demonstrating some absolute marvel that could do just about anything with coffee, and at the end he offered a cup of coffee from it to DC who asked him what he suggested. Depsite the capabilities of said machine the refrain was "there's only one way to drink coffee, strong and black". So it looks like the above assertion at least didn't apply to one US seller of coffee vending machines.
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
