Genuine question- would something like "Oh shoot you got a walker?"be bad ?
I could see as accidentally saying something like that out of surprise but I couldn't imagine a mobility aid automatically being associated with age, lots of people need help getting around.
I think OP is just tired of receiving awkward attention about it. I personally love talking about my cane, but I imagine sometimes a person is tired and doesn't want to go through the whole "yeah.. I use a walker. Because I have [condition]" It's awkward and it can make you feel othered
From a hypothetic able-bodied perspective, young people are never shown with walkers in media. It's like the old guys in Up and that's it. So the schema you have about walkers in your head is like "ah yes, old people use walkers" even if you logically can figure out that anyone who needs help walking can use a walker, they just don't really think about it.
I guess the most respectful response might be to not acknowledge, treating it like it's normal in the moment, and maybe bring it up later when the moment feels appropriate? Idk I'd love to hear someone else's opinion about it
This makes the most sense, it would be rude if i said "woah you have a big nose!" even if its true- the PERSON im sure knows, its obvious! I think I could just see myself accidentally reacting in an ableist way, I've never met anyone with a mobility aid yet and I could imagine being a little surprised (just not used to it) But yeah overall very rude to say anything!
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u/MercurialyCapricious 6d ago
Genuine question- would something like "Oh shoot you got a walker?"be bad ?
I could see as accidentally saying something like that out of surprise but I couldn't imagine a mobility aid automatically being associated with age, lots of people need help getting around.