Apparently, people really do claim they'd rather be dead than disabled....

[conuly]

I can't imagine who, but I am assured that this actually happens. So, a word to the wise: If you EVER consider saying that, and aren't prepared to prove it on the spot, don't.

First off, it's fucking insulting. I'm not going to try explaining why, it just is. People do call me rude, or tactless, and they usually have a good reason. If I know that something's rude, there's no excuse for you.

More importantly, it's almost certainly not true. Don't argue, just accept that I'm probably right, because very few people really do prefer to die than live 1. in a wheelchair 2. deaf 3. blind 4. something else. If they did, there'd be far fewer disabled people in this world.

Comments

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

I'd rather NOT be blind or deaf or otherwise deprived of one of the nice abilities I've been blessed with, but I'd still want to live. Can't see horses? I can still feel them and hear them munching grass. Can't hear the music I love? I would still have memories of what I liked to listen to. Can't walk? I can still work on puzzles and draw and read books and work in crossword and puzzle books. Can't do any of them? Then I don't know at this moment but I'd find SOMETHING. *LOL*

The only "disability" I would want to just be "let go" from is if I'm hooked up to machines merely keeping my heart beating for the sake of keeping me "alive". If I'm an unconscious vegetable and won't be anything more than that, ever...then I think it would make sense to just pull the plug. It's not doing anybody any good if I'm not there anyway, and it's pumping money and resources into a person when they could be better helping someone else who DOES have a chance of survival.

[conuly]

I'd rather NOT be blind or deaf or otherwise deprived of one of the nice abilities I've been blessed with, but I'd still want to live.

I do assume most people would rather not be disabled. It's not insulting to say that, though, because saying "I like being able to do all the things I can do" isn't saying "I think your life is worthless, and I can't imagine why you don't do us all the favor of killing yourself".

I'm an unconscious vegetable and won't be anything more than that, ever...then I think it would make sense to just pull the plug. It's not doing anybody any good if I'm not there anyway, and it's pumping money and resources into a person when they could be better helping someone else who DOES have a chance of survival.

I tentatively agree. I'd appreciate a grace period, in case I wake up from whatever coma I'm in, if this ever happens, but I don't want to be hanging around for years with no hope of ever waking up. Not because I think it's a miserable life, I doubt I'd be conscious enough to know, but because I too don't like wasting money on nothing.