Something that confuses me...

[exor674]

I apologize if this offends anyone, it is not meant that way, I promise...

Why is there an expectation to avoid subjects that might bring up somebodies disability?

If someone has chronic pain, why is it expected to avoid slang like "it won't hurt to..."
If someone can't walk, why is it expected to avoid subjects like "I took a long walk in the rain today"
If someone is deaf, why is it expected to not talk about the new music artist you found or the concert you went to last night?

If somebody has a disability, why is it expected to treat them differently in the way you would converse with them? (by converse I mean communicate in a way the person in question can parse and understand)
Why is it expected to treat them differently? (yaknow, except accommodations like not requesting somebody in a wheelchair to grab a box off the top shelf -- that kinda "treat differently" makes sense)

It seems to *me* that this kinda a form of discrimination against people with "disabilities"... Treating them differently just because they have X. I get if the specific person asks you to avoid the subject... I just don't get it as an up-front expectation.

Comments

[nihlaeth]

It's not treating differently, it's people being afraid of talking about a disability, wanting to avoid that at all costs. Not wanting a confrontation with their own limitations or the fact that life isn't always great. It's for that same reason that I tend to lose friends. They don't know what to say, are afraid to bring it up and don't want to ask how I'm doing because they don't want to hear I'm in pain. My experience is that only people who have gone through something like this themselves can interact like 'normal' people with me, a few exceptions aside.

anyhow, that's how I see it

[nihlaeth]

yeah, it's me again, I read again and I think I understood wrong, you were actually talking about if those subjects should be avoided or not. ehhm, oops?

[exor674]

I quote above -- If someone is deaf, why is it expected to not talk about the new music artist you found or the concert you went to last night?

Stuff like that...

eta: Assuming this person is, say, a friend -- not like some random person on the street.