A friend suggested I do this. To put my thoughts on paper about an incident that happened back in Nov of 2014. And so I'm going to post something that might seem political, but it's just my perception and experience, pure anecdote, no facts. At least nothing scientific. This is likely going to be a long post, so without further ado.

Back in Nov. I got banned off a forum that I enjoyed over a rather hot-button topic (Gamergate) and in the process I got accused of a few nasty things, but that is neither here nor there. Because frankly, those types of accusations are hard to defend against without outside help. Still, that's not the point.

The point was that in part of the dialog, I was told that I had to 'learn sympathy for minority' groups, immediately assuming that I was the majority. Now on the surface I am. I'm white and male. But I am also a minority: I'm crippled, my back is literally fusing itself together, and because it's a form of rheumatoid arthritis, it's never getting better (barring a medical treatment or miracle.) I also have some mental issues, but really, I gloss over those as that it's darn tootin' hard to prove.

At first I was admittedly miffed that I was accused of not understanding the minority side, then I thought about it, and what it really meant. And why they would say that I don't have any sympathy. They never knew. Simply because I never made a big deal out of it.

And that's the crux of it. Despite being a 'minority', I don't want to be treated any different than anyone else. So I don't generally tell people don't know that I have to walk everywhere with a cane on good days, an actual walker on the really bad ones that I have to leave the house with (and in a Canadian winter like this one, that's outright hell on the legs and spine. Which is why I haven't been able to leave the house much.)

I could go on and on about how limiting it all is, or whatnot. And really, given my brain, anyone who asks, I tell. And often give too much information, but at the same time, I never actually ask for help. I will accept it if offered, but I rarely ask for it when it comes to the bigger things. Like moving, which I really should have, looking back on this last month. Simply because I see that everyone has their own issues to deal with, which might be more important than mine.

Here's an example, because I'm literally not allowed to drive, I take the bus everywhere (which has been no different for most of my life anyway) and in Ontario and Quebec, they have buses that 'kneel' for ease of access. What that means is that there's a system that lowers the front end, so that the doors are closer to the curb, for those people who can't lift their legs high enough.

Thing is, I've never actually asked for a bus driver to do it, despite the fact that I am legally allowed to, because I need to. Not to mention that there are bench seats up front for disabled and elderly people, and that they even fold up for those who have children in strollers.

But I never ask. I don't feel like I should be treated any differently than anyone else. If someone does give me their seat? I thank them, genuinely. If someone needs my seat, I give it to them, no questions asked. The bus driver lowers the edge of the door? I thank them too. In fact, I thank the bus driver when I get off the bus no matter what, because he or she is doing me a service. Whether or not they've been paid to means nothing to me. They helped me get from point A to B, that deserves something from little old me, an acknowledgment may not really mean anything in the grand scheme of things, but what does it harm to thank someone that helped me?

Again, though, at the same because I don't feel the need to be treated differently, I don't see why all these special interest groups should either. Yes, I get that some have had it rough, I know, I have a lot of difficulty doing every day things that others take for granted. I get that, for some people it's social for others it's physical limitations, but again, everyone I've ever seen, encountered or talked to, has had their own issues that complicates their life.

I guess what I'm saying is, I don't get why people like me should be clamouring for more, everyone has problems. Everyone. Some have it worse than others, yes, but no one escapes life without problems in their lives. And I guess I see all these 'reparations' that are being asked for as inconveniencing others. Are they legit? I don't know. In the past, perhaps, but I didn't live back then, so I have no idea what it was really like, and most people nowadays, haven't either, I would guess.

This has not been meant to change anyone's mind, just give a sense of where I come from. Thank you for reading.