Text 186, 97 rader
Skriven 2005-11-26 22:20:11 av Ardith Hinton (1:153/716.0)
     Kommentar till en text av James Bradley (1:134/77.0)
Ärende: Accessibility
=====================
Hi, James!  Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

JB>  They're just smart enough to know you know the
JB>  shortcuts. <ROTF>

AH>  Phooey!  I was hoping they'd noticed other
AH>  attributes too....  ;-)))

JB>  L!!! You have many attributes to which I can
JB>  attest to.


          Yes, I also know the location of various benches & large rocks & low-
lying walls & where one can sit for awhile... [grin].  To some folks a cane may
indicate you have something in common with them, while to other folks it may be
a turnoff.  I'll have more to say about that later.  Meanwhile, thanks....  :-)



JB>  I saw two hard-hat wearers outside, that didn't have
JB>  a speck of dust on them. I pointed to the stick, and
JB>  voiced my complaint about the distance I had to travel
JB>  to get my milk, where the business-casual, paused his
JB>  conversation with his contractor-general to laugh, and
JB>  say "It's all a part of a plan."


          Sure.  The idea is to force the customers to walk past a whole lot of
other stuff to get to what they came for, in case they might add something else
on impulse!  We have a large chain store in our neighbourhood like that.  While
its name seems to mean it's a drugstore, the pharmacy is in a discreetly hidden
corner at the back.  Go straight ahead through seasonal merchandise, turn right
... continue on past the groceries & the baby needs... then hang a left between
the vitamins & the weight loss products.  Or make a hard right past the candy &
pop, turn left at cosmetics & continue straight on through personal care to the
desk behind vitamins.  All of their stores are laid out the same way... (sigh).



JB>  "Next time I need milk, I'm going to call you to go
JB>  fetch it."

JB>  I think they both realized it wasn't that funny at
JB>  that point.


          Yes, I find myself doing a lot of consciousness-raising as well.  One
of my standard lines is "Will you move [surplus furniture you've stashed in the
hallway between here & the washroom]... or shall I do it?"  I'm sure they won't
like what I'd choose to do with the stuff, and they usually recognize that!  In
most cases they're willing to help when they understand the problem.  They just
haven't thought things through.  Or the person who designed the building didn't
allow enough storage space or whatever & they're caught in the middle.  You may
find as I do that you often have to be quite direct about such matters....  :-)



JB>  Just because they have one more handicapped stall in
JB>  their parking lot than is mandated, they think they
JB>  are the best citizens to walk the earth?


          Well, it's a start.  The number of mandated spaces is only about half
the number which seems to be required... Dallas checked out the facts & figures
recently, so I know this isn't just a figment of my imagination.  They may have
a lot to learn as yet.  But there's an indication they may be educable....  :-)



JB>  A) I broached the subject as a good humoured yuck.


          There's many a true word spoken in jest, and like you I prefer not to
haul out the heavy artillery unless it's really necessary.  :-)



JB>  B) I asked how dare they laugh.


          I find the disapproving stare useful in some cases too....  ;-)



JB>  C) Good thing I don't get to "C" too often.


          Uh-huh.  I've torn a few strips off people I barely knew & found they
actually respected me for it... but in general, I wouldn't recommend that!  You
may have to shake others up in order to get their attention.  At the same time,
however, people tend to learn better if they're not feeling threatened....  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver BC, CANADA [604-266-5271] (1:153/716)