Screw the self-appointed "Handicap Tag" police

[Patiod]

My friend's Facebook post for today (she has had quadrule bypass surgery at age 35)

"was I bad to pull down my shirt to flash my 12 inch scar down the center of my chest to the woman in the car who nastily questioned my handicap hangtag in this 95 degree heat in front of my children?"

I guess people abuse the handicapped tag, but better to err on the said of safety and STFU.

Youth does not guarantee health or exempt you from needed a tag. My 30-something cousin has an inflammation of the lining of the heart and is on the TP list, and another young friend has some weird disease that has destroyed all the muscle in her thighs - she uses a wheelchair at work, but can walk short distances on perfectly flat sufaces. Both have (and need) tags.

My 85 yo dad needs handicapped parking (walker + O2) so I get the problem, but again, unless you're SURE the person is 100% healthy, STFU.

[MrScorpio]

1. Damn skippy nt

[Dr. Strange]

2. I agree.

I don't know if the questioner was upset that someone might be getting something that they're not (a la FR) or the need to show off their self-righteousness (a la GD) but they clearly need a big old helping of STFU!

[TZ]

6. lol--even your serious answers are funny!

My stepmother has a bad ankle and its really hard for her to walk on it. She has a handicap tag hanging in her car but unless you see her getting out and hobbling, she looks perfectly healthy. I'd want to slap someone who questioned her having that, myself...

[Deep13]

3. My father in law uses a handicap tag because of heart surgery.

No wheelchair or crutches or even a cane, but it is still a significant error for him to do a lot of walking.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. I use a handicapped tag because of my arthritis

And if anyone were to question me I'd say I'll be glad to take off my shoes and show you my feet and then drop my pants so you can see my knee replacement scars- but first you show me proof you're a licensed physician and are qualified to judge my physical condition.

Note: just because I HAVE a tag doesn't mean I use it every day- I don't because I'm not always in pain. I'm sensitive to the fact that there are others who need the space more than I.

[Patiod]

8. I try to do the same thing - save spaces for those who need them

Whenever possible, I'll drop my dad off and then go park, but if there's nowhere for him to sit and wait for me (he's got a walker and oxygen), then we'll use the handicapped space and go in together.

On a completely different topic: I wish there were different handicapped space requirements for different types of buildings - I wish hotels and restaurants and other places frequented by seniors had more spots, and place like fitness centers (especially those not offering PT) and non-medical office spaces had fewer. This would be WAY too hard to implement (lots of health clubs offer PT, and office complexes could become medical buildings). But I hate seeing the competition for spaces at "senior-friendly" restaurants, and then seeing all the perpetually empty spaces at the gym!!!

(Again, my OP stresses that not all handicapped tags belong to seniors, but they ARE a disproportionate percentage of the users)

[Arkansas Granny]

5. Maybe the woman was pissed because she was planning on using the

HC space herself to save a few steps. I see many people parking in those spaces that don't have a tag.

[mainegreen]

7. "You don't look handicapped enough to me."

Good grief. Only a socially impaired a-hole would say something along those lines.

[KitchenWitch]

9. I have one too. Have since I was 30

I once asked someone who gave me the stink eye if he wanted me to drop my drawers to show him why I have the tag.

He totally STFU and kind of slinked away.

[1gobluedem]

10. I get that all the time

I have a handicapped plate because I have balance issues, due to my inner ear being removed so they could get the brain tumor out.

My stock answer to people who tell me I don't look handicapped is to say "Well, I guess appearances are deceiving because you don't look rude." Works most of the time.

Sorry that happened to your friend.

[Patiod]

11. I'm sending that one to my friend!

Great reply!