Free Speech. A sincere desire to provide a place for us to discuss our problems. No pay. Only our thanks, which are not sent often enough.
We have a thread in the RVing with Disabilities... that puzzles me.
I read it. It upset me. I am not sure of the intent of the writer.
We don't know each other (usually), other than our posts in the forum.
To me.... coming to a forum for people with disabilities and titling a thread "If you can climb on your roof..." is a little like going to the other forums, especially Class A and titling a thread with a title like "Fuel guzzling big rigs are offensive..." or something similar to that.
WHY come to an RV forum and write something you KNOW will be offensive to many? I try hard not to. But I admit, I have quit coming to this forum because the thread is upsetting to me. The writer has always been a "good person" to me. And I think they are probably a good person. I certainly have written things trying to be "cute" or funny and read it the next day, wishing I had not said that.
I have read part of it. It would appear to me the writer was trying to say..."IF you can walk at all, please camp in regular sites because we do have people in wheel chairs, etc." AND I agree with him. There are exceptions, but this thread seemed to originally paint with a wide brush. It offended me. After my post here I won't be back for awhile. The author might have seen me crawl on the roof of my Monaco last June 6th, on the side of I-80...in 70-80 mph direct cross winds. If you drove by that day you might wonder how I got handicapped plates. He did not know I had been on oxygen for the whole drive, but the hurricane force winds had blown our small awning over the door loose. Our BIG electric awning was coming loose in the rear. I went off oxygen and somehow got up there, too weak to walk, I crawled on my stomach to reach the problems. I laid there resting because I was too weak to get down. My wife was inside our coach, knowing of my severe respiratory problems, bad back, etc. She was praying for me. I was too. After resting a few minutes, gravity helped me down. I got back on oxygen and drove into Salt Lake City. With the steps down. I have never done that before. Or since. I am usually too careful. We got to the KOA and my wife went in. I was too weak to stand up at first. Then I guess I walked down the steps and a man standing there looked at me and asked if I wanted him to park my rig and level it. God Bless Him where ever he is today. I asked him if he had driven one before (dumb question as I look back on it) and he nodded yes. I handed him the keys and I went back to our bed, got back on oxygen and laid there.
I was too weak to leave the next day and the KOA people were kind enough to leave us where we were. We bumped one of you out of that spot around June 6th or 7th. I am sorry. I had no choice. We left the next day and made it to Rawlins, WY. A long drive. I never drove our Monaco 73mph before, but I knew I needed to make it and set it on cruise control at around 73. Got over 10mpg thanks to a 500mph tailwind. OK, I exaggerate, but anyone who has traveled I-80 in Wyoming knows what I mean.
I was sent to the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, CO for a week of testing. We were gone almost 6 weeks total. After a month of testing, they placed an implant to repair the hole in my heart. We took 6 days to travel the 1100+ miles home.
Yes, I got on my roof. If you drove by you might wonder why I had handicapped plates. Sometimes I need the handicapped spot, sometimes I don't. If I am doing well, I don't use it.
HERE IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY FOR THOSE "HOLIER THAN THOU" PEOPLE OUT THERE. I HAVE BEEN ASKED WHY I DID NOT USE THE HANDICAPPED SPOTS BECAUSE THEY WERE EMPTY AND MY NEIGHBOR'S FRIEND COULD NOT SPEND THE NIGHT NEXT TO THEM BECAUSE OF ME.
Being handicapped be a double edged sword.
We need to show responsibility in how we post. If that thread had been titled something like "Please consider the severely handicapped when you park" - or something like that... but I can tell you the wording of that title alone is insulting to many. WHY deliberately irritate each other? I don't know the person who posted it, maybe their disability is mental. We don't know. I am NOT trying to insult them, even though I feel they insulted me with the title alone.
What is the saying... "One Aw sh-- wipes out a hundred attaboys"?? Proper decorum dictates we don't yell fire in a crowded theater and it should dictate you do NOT come the "RVing with Disabilities..." forum and deliberately insult/irritate the members. God knows many of us have enough problems just surviving.
People in pain may overreact. I do. But WHY even post it? I would like to see the whole thread withdrawn myself. Or locked so it has to go away.
Moderators have a tough job. I salute all of you and hope THIS thread does not cause you a problem. If it does, delete it please. I come here to inform and learn. My sincere apologies if I have done otherwise...
EDIT: Too many meds I guess, I got a great email suggesting I "hide" the thread, THEN it won't bother me. THANK YOU.
I think your post is just fine. This is the correct forum for these types of conversations. I will leave this and the other thread open as long as members are respectful and considerate of one another and abide by the forum rules.
Sometimes many just get a little too "touchy" on these Forums.
I remember your thread last year about Winco and the scooters and IIRC, that touched-off some controversy as well.
I contributed to the other thread in question and got a response that I appreciated and enjoyed from the original poster.
Yes, if one just reads some thread titles and the title alone, then it is very possible to get the wrong impression of the author. That is why it is best to read past the title and into the thread. I did and found the author of the "roof" thread to be a very considerate, caring and concerned disabled human being. I found nothing offensive about his original post but did add that sometimes, like in my case, just seeing someone walking around and climbing on a roof, doesn't show the whole story.
Never judge a book (or person) by it's (their) cover (or post). If you do, you could be missing out on a great experience.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
Yamaha EF3000iSEBC "Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It"
There seem to be a lot of people with an overactive interest in other people's business and who jump to conclusions to make a point (or start a controversy). Life's too short to worry about them, so please don't.
Husband: Derek
Dog: Bucky
RV: 2000 Aerolite 19RB TT
TV: 1996 Chevrolet Blazer 6 cyl. 4WD
This car used to be our toad, now is our TV!
I agree the poster is a pretty good guy most of the time, but .... when a posting is made with a finger pointed straight at me, I reserve the right to be offended.
That is ok, I hid it and that is good. As for being too sensitive, maybe so.
BTW, a new Super Walmart is moving in about 2 blocks from Winco. They are toast. Even the Chamber of Commerce does not like Winco. But we don't have to shop there, we can go to Walmart.
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