My thesis is basically ethical in nature.
In the first part I'm trying to establish a reasonable deffinition of
disability based upon factors such as desire, consciousness, effort and
quality of life. In the second part i'll then apply this deffinition to a
number of problems. I have for instance already got a workable deffinition
of when a thing is, or is not accessible.
that's why this sort of thing is related, ---- sinse though I am not working
in a legal field, most government legislation, ---- as well as even more
basic social deffinitions is based on a rather shoody system of defigning
disability, ---- which doesn't seem to work.
also, in terms of the academic literature, medical professionals simply
state that condition X is a disability, ---- without saying overall what a
disability is. Then in the 1970's, a raging mob of sociologists decided that
the entire "disability" deffinition was just another form of discrimination
like racism or sexism, ----- and railed loudly about it ever sinse.
that's why I'd like to take a step back, and start with first principles
with "The word disability means" and go on from there, ---- hopefully ending
with something useful.
That's the plan anyway.
On the international front, i've actually noticed that atitudes of
individual people as well as countries can vary widely.
By and large it seems people in American, norway, Germany, Holland and
several other places are more relaxed on the disability issue, ---- despite
legal hang ups, and will both provide some sort of assistance, ---- ie,
tactile lift buttons, and not treat someone like a marssian simply because
their carrying a white stick or in a wheel chair.
Sadly other countries, ---- Britain included, are not so great.
I do not actually use busses at all for the reason you described, ---- in
fact in this country, trying to get a driver to notify you of a stop is an
absolute impossibility!
I've also had innumerable instances where people behave in an absolutely
idiotic manner, ---- usually arousing my sarcasm.
One amusing instance, i was walking down a six foot wide pavement, ---- six
feet from a lady. She decided for reasons best known to herself to bellow in
an incredibly loud voice for the hole street to here "mind! the Blind! man!"
Not to be outdone, I turned round and bellowed equally loudly "yes! mind the
man who is not deaf!"
Sadly this isn't an isolated incident. if I go to a general event of any
nature, I can be certain nobody will even acknolidge my existance for the
first three hours, ---- much less see me as a human being worth talking to.
On one occasion, I was in a performance with an american director, ---- who
was aqbsolutely and completely shocked by this behaviour!
When I visited norway however, not only was everyone quite prepared to be
reasonable, --- but the social reactions were truly bizarre!
Standing at the side of the road with my cane, the traphic would very
literally and abruptly stop! as though it'd reached a red light, ---- I've
never seen that in any country sinse.
Then of course there are the legal issues. In america for
instance, --- -isn't it the law that the first few seats of every train
cariage be left for disabled passengers?
I'll stop before this turns into a wrant (ooopse! too late), but hopefully
this illustrates why I'm working on a theory of disability, and what sort of
things I'd like it to highlight.
Do I think it will change the world? ---- heck no! but having it out there
and having people rethink the debate certainly can't hurt.
pluss of course, I get my Phd out of it ---- grin!
We'd better get back to games now.
Dark.
---
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