Why Microsoft Should Fear Intel Macs" 529

That's an interesting question. As an exercise for a socialogy clbutt, I had to "become" handicapped for an afternoon.

Some of my clbuttmates became "blind," others had crutches, and some had wheelchairs. I got a wheelchair.

It was amazing how, as I attempted to move around the campus, people treated me completely differently than they usually would. What really struck me is that people avoided looking at me if they could, as if I didn't exist if they just didn't see me. I could see their eyes light on me and then skitter off in any other direction. I also had people shove me, let doors close in my face, etc.

So, from one perspective at least, you do become "handicapped" once you sit in a wheelchair.

That afternoon certainly taught me to have great respect for any handicapped person. It's not easy to be in their shoes. I don't really know how I'd handle it. One afternoon still gives you the safety valve of being able to walk away from it at the end, so I can't completely empathize with someone whose life is lived that way.

I also learned that I had sometimes been avoiding looking at handicapped people. I sort of went from the "don't stare" that your parents teach you all the way to not looking at all. I was avoiding looking at them because it made me uncomfortable.

I have tried to change my behavior since then.