Rude and abusive disabled people

This isn't really a 'rude and abusive disabled people' gripe - just a 'rude and abusive disabled person' gripe. As has been said below, there are rude people and nice people who have rude days, and there are disabled people, but I very much doubt there is a correlation. And in answer to the ridiculous question three posts below - do most disabled/gay/ethnic minority/female/transgender etc people want equal rights? Yes. Do some disabled/gay/ethnic minority/female/transgender etc people want preferential treatment? Yes. Those in minorities have a responsibility not to tar feathers but those outside the minority have a responsibility not to fall for it.

Why do bus companies allow baby buggies to take over the space that was designed for wheelchair users? Mother's refuse to fold buggies and wheelchair users are then left at the bus stop as there is no where for them to go.

This is selfish and unfair. People choose to have children and can fold buggies - no one chooses to become disabled.

I am very sorry that this happened to you, I urge you to continue your respectful way of asking a person in a wheelchair if they need help. I am in a wheelchair, and I will tell you from experience, that woman was probably just having a bad day, same as you and I do...She had probably been soooo frusterated by people grabbing her chair and thinking her helpless(happens alot during public outings where there are alot of people) that she mistakingly took it out on you. Just try to be understanding, and keep being you!

Do disabled people want equal rights or do they really mean preferential treatment rights?

Disability or no, some people are rude and obnoxious wherever they go. Delighting in making life awkward and unpleasant for as many people as possible. They want it all their own way and when it goes wrong, instead of facing their own faults, they'll blame others first and last. Try as you might, you just can't always avoid these people. One just has to get on with life and smile when one can.

Congo,

I think I have mentioned before that the area we live in has experienced massive changes for the worse in the last 5 or 6 years and we meet a lot of negative and hostile reactions from people these days, many of whom do not believe guide dogs should be on buses or in shops so forgive me if I was a bit touchy.

There are another two blind people with guide dogs who live within a very short distance of my friend and they meet with problems frequently as well, to the extent that they never travel on buses any more and stay away from the town centre unless they have no choice. Some one has even kicked one of the guide dogs.

As for Freddy biting the aggressive woman, well he is a big soft thing and any one would be safe with him unless, Labradors being what they are, they had a pork chop tied around their neck!

Happy New Year Congo

Kit

Having re-read my comment several times I still do not see how it could be mistaken for hostile however I must accept your word that it appeared so to you. Fortunately all is now clear and thank you for the explanation.

I have not used public transport for many years (by choice) but would agree that if I came across such intransigence on the part of the mother and her pushchair I too would have been annoyed at her impertinence.

As I said below the hound should be congratulated for not retaliating and biting her.

Smithy : that is a very insightful posting. You are quite right about people who have undergone fundamental changes - either bad or good - because of life experiences. Surely one of the unique things about being a human, top of the chain, is that our brains are adapted to not only learn from our mistakes, but to actually benefit from an adverse experience by turning it from an "evil" into a "good". Whereas animals will learn from their mistakes, I believe humans go one step further than this.

Human nature changes all the time, this is an inexorable part of evolution. Any species that does not change, will not survive.

"Why was your friend in the wheelchair space with her guide dog?" sounds a bit hostile and disapproving, especially if you take into account what I had been saying about people thinking she should not be on the bus at all. I am sorry if I jumped to the wrong conclusion but you could have been a little clearer Congo.

The fold down seat is, on many designs of bus, the only seat where a guide dog is safe from being injured and they are also out of people’s way. Despite knowing this Transport for London is determined to remove them all and replace them with just a backrest and no seat. They are doing this to save on maintenance costs.

They know the problems guide dog owners have on the London's overcrowded buses – I am not talking about the rush hour; many routes are a nightmare all day now – but they don’t care.

"Human nature does not change"

I believe that you are wrong. I have known many people who have undergone fundamental changes, for good or ill, in their behaviour and attitudes because of their experiences. I am not talking here just about disability but life experiences in general.

People continue to learn and grow all through their lives.

A prat is still a prat even if they are in a wheelchair. Human nature does not change.

Kit

I did not "question the right" at all, how did you manage to infer that I did?

I am perfectly aware what the space is for.

I simply asked a question. It seemed odd to me that a blind person should choose to stand. You had not explained that the space also contained a seat.