OSH '05 Comments

Paul Tomblin wrote:

> In a previous article, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net> said:
>
>>The trouble is that anyone can get a note from their doctor for
>>anything. Some of the people I know who have gotten handicap tags for
>>their cars and SUVs really aren't handicapped, but if you complain to
>>your doctor about any ailment at all you can get approval for a handicap
>>tag.
>
>
> I have chronic debilitating knee pain. It ended my cross country ski and
> orienteering racing 25 years ago, and has only gotten worse. I had to
> give up mountain biking and backpacking and even canoeing. Every single
> day of my life, I'm in pain. Lots and lots of pain. Pain so great that I
> didn't even realize that my appendix had burst for three days after it
> happened, and I lost a large chunk of my stomach and large intestine to
> gangrene. Every day where I have to walk more than a few hundred metres
> means a few days where I have to gobble down handfuls of naproxen and
> tylenol and sit with my legs up and ice them. Every day I walked around
> Oshkosh a couple of years ago was agony, but I put up with it because it
> was worth it.
>
> And yet if you looked at me, you'd never guess it in a million years.
> Because I take the pain. Because the pain isn't any less if I limp or
> carry a cane, so I don't. Because I can continue to do what I want to do
> if I'm willing to pay the price in pain afterwards, but I'd still prefer
> to avoid the pain where I can. Because it isn't a visible disability, but
> it's a disability none the less.
>
> Think about people like me next time you dismiss somebody as "really
> aren't handicapped" just because you can't see anything wrong with them.

Read it again, for comprehension this time. I didn't say people I've
"seen", I said people I "know." There is a big difference. These are
people that I see doing lots of activities that are much more strenous
than walking across the parking lot to Wal-Mart.

I have degenerative disk disease. You can't always tell it from
watching me walk, but some days you can. I could easily get a handicap
permit, and actually have had doctors suggest I get one. I also have a
high pain threshold and wouldn't think of getting a handicap permit
unless it gets a LOT worse. And you'd then be able to tell from looking
at me that I needed the permit.


Matt

Paul Tomblin wrote:
> In a previous article, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net> said:
>
>>Paul Tomblin wrote:
>>
>>>Think about people like me next time you dismiss somebody as "really
>>>aren't handicapped" just because you can't see anything wrong with them.
>>
>>Read it again, for comprehension this time. I didn't say people I've
>>"seen", I said people I "know." There is a big difference. These are
>
>
> Yeah, you were talking about people you know. But there are a lot of
> people out there who sneer at me in public because I sit while others have
> to stand and do what I can to avoid unnecessary walking and standing. I
> hear the rude remarks from total strangers, and I was addressing my
> remarks more to them than to you.
>
> I don't have a handicap permit, although if one were offered I'd probably
> take it.

Ask your doctor. It sounds like you'd have no trouble at all getting one.

Matt

Paul Tomblin wrote:

> In a previous article, ptomblin+netnews@xcski.com (Paul Tomblin) said:
>
>>In a previous article, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net> said:
>>
>>>Paul Tomblin wrote:
>>>
>>>>Think about people like me next time you dismiss somebody as "really
>>>>aren't handicapped" just because you can't see anything wrong with them.
>>>
>>>Read it again, for comprehension this time. I didn't say people I've
>>>"seen", I said people I "know." There is a big difference. These are
>>
>>Yeah, you were talking about people you know. But there are a lot of
>
>
> Oh, and by the way. I bet fewer than 10% of the people who think they
> "know" me know that I have this pain. I bet a lot of them "know" that I
> don't really need to sit when I'm sitting.

I can't speak for folks who know you. I guess the question is to they
see you playing golf, mowing the yard with a push mower, etc. I've
known a number of people who do these things and more and then park
their car in the handicap slot at Wal-Mart. If someone can push a mower
or walk a golf course, then they certainly can cross 200' of flat
parking lot.


Matt

Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net> writes:


>I've known a number of people who do these things and more and then park
>their car in the handicap slot at Wal-Mart. If someone can push a mower
>or walk a golf course, then they certainly can cross 200' of flat
>parking lot.

There was some senior Apple person who insisted on parking in one
handicapped spot. So they changed the sign to:

"Reserved for the mentally or
physically handicapped only"
--
A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

Jonathan

in the spirit of bringing it a little bit back on topic :-)

you wouldn't believe how few airports have handicap
parking spots for aircraft (actually, the only time
I remember I had such a spot reserved was on an AFB,
believe it or not, these guys are great :-)

one of these days I would really like to go to OSH;
snag is, it looks like it involves an awful lot of
walking (as pointed out by another poster) and I heard
that scooters and such were not allowed on the grounds;

anyone out there who has mobility limitations has gone
to OSH (flying that is) and could tell me about it?

--Sylvain

Jim N. wrote:

> Here are my two cents as an orthopedic surgeon and pilot (attending OSH
> tomorrow). In my opinion, I never give anyone a permanent handicapped
> parking sticker unless they need a cane, crutches, walker, or wheel chair to
> ambulate. This especially includes people who have undergone joint
> replacement and have no problem playing 18 holes of golf, but want to park a
> little closer at the grocery store.
>
> Besides, most of the others who ask for stickers would do themselves a lot
> better if they did more walking rather than riding on scooters. I also see a
> lot more abuse of handicapped parking places than I do people using them who
> really need the assistance.
>
> In essence, I agree with the original post. After recently traveling to
> Europe and Southwest Asia on a military deployment it was noticeable how
> obese the average American was compared to their European counterparts. It's
> a lot easier to ride a scooter that's paid for by insurance than to lose
> weight.
>
> On the other hand, for the right person, both scooters and handicapped
> permits can really expand the quality of life of an individual, assuming
> that they are prescribed appropriately.

I wish all docs shared your philosophy!

Matt

Richard Riley wrote:

> On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 21:36:15 GMT, Matt Whiting <whiting@epix.net>
> wrote:
>
> :I have degenerative disk disease. You can't always tell it from
> :watching me walk, but some days you can. I could easily get a handicap
> :permit, and actually have had doctors suggest I get one. I also have a
> :high pain threshold and wouldn't think of getting a handicap permit
> :unless it gets a LOT worse. And you'd then be able to tell from looking
> :at me that I needed the permit.
>
> Matt, with all due respect - get one. My dad had one for bad knees
> (both eventually replaced, which helped some but not enough.)
>
> If you don't need it, don't use it, leave it in the glove box. Then
> one long, bad day with lots of walking, you'll have one last errand to
> do - and no one will begrudge you.

I just can't see having one when I see people who REALLY need them. I
don't feel I'm at the level of need. Maybe in 20 years. Also, I NEED
the exercise! :-)

Matt

"PPT33R" <mtmueller@usa.com> wrote in message
news:1122647545.263725.192660@o13g2000cwo. o...
> Another great OSH. The number and quality of the exhibits seems to
> improve each year. I especially like the Miller Welding trailer. My
> girlfriend even got to play with the plasma cutter, and she liked it
> (maybe helping me justify a future purchase ;-)...
>
<<<snip>>>
>
> Wicks had a much smaller display this year with no parts, just pilot
> supplies. They should probably move to the Fly Market and provide more
> selection next year.
>
> I am not sure about the new scheduling, starting on a Monday. Crowds
> seemed VERY light on Monday (which was good for us, but not sure for
> the vendors.) It will be interesting to see how this weekend works out
> for them. The North 40 was filled by Sunday night, but emptied out
> considerably by Wednesday afternoon (when we left.)
>

<<<<snip>>>>

Funny, when we got there by air at ~2:00 on Monday afternoon, the ATIS
indicated that ALL camping was full and the only thing that was open
on-field was General Aviation Parking... From my perspective, this was the
busiest Oshkosh I've attended. I managed to get a spot in Homebuilt
Camping, but the guys there indicated that they were essentially out of
room. Maybe a half dozen spaces left (I'd guess there were 1,000 aircraft
in Homebuilt Camping), and they were about to have to "invent" parking
spaces. The North 40 appeared full, as did Antique and Classic
camping/parking...

Amazing how different folks have different perspectives.

KB

Ocean City, NJ has aircraft handicap parking.

Les

"Sylvain" <sryl@att.net> wrote in message
news:Iamdnafb__oKmnbfRVn-vg@speakeasy.net...
> Jonathan
>
> in the spirit of bringing it a little bit back on topic :-)
>
> you wouldn't believe how few airports have handicap
> parking spots for aircraft (actually, the only time
> I remember I had such a spot reserved was on an AFB,
> believe it or not, these guys are great :-)
>
> one of these days I would really like to go to OSH;
> snag is, it looks like it involves an awful lot of
> walking (as pointed out by another poster) and I heard
> that scooters and such were not allowed on the grounds;
>
> anyone out there who has mobility limitations has gone
> to OSH (flying that is) and could tell me about it?
>
> --Sylvain

I think there were more aircraft this year than in years past coming
through, but I was speaking of the foot traffic being very light. Not
nearly as bad as last year.

The difference may be in the weekend traffic. I make it a point to
avoid Fri - Sun...