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

[conuly]

Because he was blind?

I'm not saying no disabled person is suicidal, or that these suicidal tendancies aren't related to their disability (discounting when the disability is depression, because that really would skew my numbers). What I'm saying is that 1. you don't know what you'd do if you were disabled unless you are and 2. it's damn insulting to tell other people that, in their shoes, you'd kill yourself. Oh, if I were black, I'd kill myself. If I were male, I'd kill myself. If I had no life and all my friends were online... wait, no, that one's true.

[deceptica]

While I can't see myself saying that I'd rather be dead than disabled, I don't see how that necessarily has to be an insult. You'd understand it as, to quote from an earlier reply: "I think your life is worthless, and I can't imagine why you don't do us all the favor of killing yourself". My first thought was that it could actually be a compliment in the sense of: "I don't think I could cope with a situation like that. I admire the people who can." *shrugs*

[conuly]

"I don't think I could cope with a situation like that. I admire the people who can."

Which is still a stupid thing to say. Just trust me, anything which causes the amount of ranting that this does is NOT a good thing to say.

[deceptica]

Why is it stupid?

[conuly]

Because you're making an assumption that the person to whom you are speaking really IS brave, or struggling, or whatever. This may or may not be the case. Furthermore, it's stupid because it's offensive. I don't know how to explain it, I just know it is, and I know this is the case because people get offended by it. Saying things that you know (or know now) will offend people, deliberately, is either stupid or rude.