How exactly are the spots "handicapped"?

"The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123" (mattp123)
12/23/2013 at 12:02 • Filed to: None

You know, as much as we like to stick up for the folks who need those spots, "handicapped spots" is both a grammatical folly, and the "handicapped" word itself is a bit outdated and disrespectful to those who need those spots. I'm not one to be overly politically correct, but people with disabilities don't like the term. It's like saying "Sure, let them queers get married," or "I believe those colored kids should go to any school they want." Not sure what they call them outside of the US, but the technical term !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (Americans with Disabilities Act) is "accessible parking spaces".

DISCUSSION (10)

Nibbles > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:04

Calling them "accessible parking spaces" is not a good idea. I hear "accessible space" and I think "accessible? Well I sure could use an accessible spot, since all the other ones with a 5 minute walk of the storefront are taken, otherwise known as 'inaccessible'".

thebigbossyboss > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:05

In my ignorant opinion, accessible spaces means any parking space that isn't blocked by something.

Tom McParland > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:09

Not to pull the "I have a black friend so I know what is and is not racist" move...but, my wife is disabled we know many members of the disabled community all of them refer to those spaces as "handicapped spaces." Not once have I heard anyone take offence to it. They are way more offended that too many people are not respectful of those spaces and not some semantics. The ADA can say a lot of things but without enforcement and action it is pointless.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:13

I think this is more of a situation of "let's not overthink it and just call a spade, a spade".

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Nibbles
12/23/2013 at 12:14

It makes a hell of a lot more sense than "handicapped spot".

Context. If you are capable of walking, then the ones with a 5 minute walk are accessible. Walking isn't a luxury for some people. If you need to unload a wheelchair out of a van, then you need more space around you, and a spot that is a 5 minute walk away is suddenly not accessible.

Leadbull > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:20

If you're not the state of Washington, it's pretty pointless to go and change such a thing. That's just the way it is. No one cares. No one's offended.

Nibbles > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:22

Seeing a handicapped spot, I know that's not for me. Yeah I have some issues walking, but not nearly as bad as a lot of other people. My wife's knee regularly gives out on her, forcing her to use crutches or not walk at all, and we've never gone for a handicapped placard because we can soldier through that whereas others may not

"Accessible spot" plays on the asshole tendencies of people. Hey, they don't specify who should be accessing the spot, so it's accessible to me, right? I mean it's there, I'm there, I could easily access this spot

There are enough assholes who improperly use handicapped spots as it is. Remove that qualifier, and the nonspecific nature of the word "accessible" opens it up to a shitload of individual definitions of the word "accessible"

Grindintosecond > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:45

You mean that cripple parkin'?

Jk.

jariten1781 > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:47

Uh...every so often when my knees give out from old injuries I use handicapped spots. I call them handicapped. I'm not insulted by the term. I've never met someone who is. People shouldn't be so sensitive.

It's not like they're calling them "Parking spots for lame cripples" or something.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
12/23/2013 at 12:48

Er, "handicapped spots" if referring to "the handicapped" is no more a grammatical problem than "car spaces" or "bus spaces" are grammatically wrong in referring to spots for, specifically, cars or buses. It's not using "handicapped" as an adjective, but a noun. Now, if you think the word "handicapped" is a problem, use another word to refer to the disabled, like, say, (the) disabled (collective noun), which would present the same adjectival/verb root characteristic but still not be wrong. I'm sure you'll find almost any synonym to be the same, actually.

As to "accessible parking spaces", trying to claim "accessible" as a limited-use adjective to refer only to "(disabled person) accessible" is a thousand times the grammatical farce an adjectival noun is. The ADA's purported mastery of the English language can blow me.