I heard a new insult aimed at me today. "Ableist"

[Archae]

I was on my bicycle, as I rode past some teenagers, (one of them in a wheelchair,) the one in a wheelchair called me an "ableist."
(I don't know if I'm spelling it right.)

I had never heard that before, and asked him what it was.

He said it was because I was riding past them, no problems riding a bicycle.

I told him, I had open-heart surgery, 5 bypasses.
Just this July I had cancer surgery.

The guy looks a little chagrined, says, "Sorry man..."
His friends told him he keeps getting into arguments like this.

Seems this guy had his mouth put in gear, when he got a wheelchair.

[cwydro]

1. I haven't had any of those surgeries, can I not ride a bike?

And no offense, but you must have been riding pretty slowly to hear an insult (one not immediately recognized)!

[Archae]

6. I had slowed down, I didn't know if the group was going to cross the street in front of me.

Apparently that was a "trigger" for the guy in the wheelchair, and like someone here said, he may be having issues with being in the wheelchair now.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Well, at least they apologized. Perhaps the wheelchair changes some people, and they ...

have some issues/problems adjusting to life in this manner, it can be a life changer, I image. I don't appreciate the smart ass comments, but my heart still goes out to the person in the wheelchair, who apparently still needs some adjustment or help getting used to a wheelchair. Sad.

One of my favorite uncles whom I correspond w/, is now confined to a wheelchair, and is unable to go out as much as he used to. My heart was broken when I heard this news, and I just heard back from him again, that his eyesight is going. Man, getting old is no fun.

I'll write him back shortly here and give him some love...

Take care all.

[grantcart]

3. Curb Your Enthusiasm had a funny reoccurring character about a horrible

Pest who happened to be blind

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Sounds like he was an asshole.

While "ableism" is quiet real, though not often discussed, the mere act or riding a bicycle in the way you describe is not an act of ableism.

[cyclonefence]

5. Ableism is a thing

and it's real, but I don't understand what you were doing that was ableist. A friend of mine who has CP was car shopping with his wife. The salesman kept talking to her, not him. Finally, my friend said, "Why are you talking to her? She doesn't have any money." That's an example of ableism.