Last night, Paul sent me a link to a blog entitled People Who Sit In The Disability Seats When I’m Standing On My Crutches, wherein a man with a broken foot takes and posts photos of people who are sitting in the "priority" seating section of the subway train while he stands on his crutches.

Paul and I had very different takes on this somewhat short-lived blog (it hasn't been updated in six months, so I'm guessing that the person on crutches is no longer on them). I spent the evening turning over my thoughts about it, but I wanted to throw it out there to see what you all thought about it.

From the "about" section:

I don’t take pictures of anyone if there’s an open seat within sight — except for a few of those listed under the “Hall of Shame” tag. I also don’t take pictures of elderly people, visibly pregnant women, or anyone who looks like they might have a disability. Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that there’s no way of knowing whether someone has a disability just by looking at them...

I have mixed feelings.

Reasons Why I Think This Blog Has the Right Idea

1. Able-bodied folks not giving up the priority seating for the disabled is a huge, huge problem that isn't addressed enough. I've been with consumers on buses when we've had to get the bus driver to get up and tell people to get up from the folding seats (so that my client in their wheelchair can be safely strapped in), after they've refused to do it when we asked.

2. Like The Deal with Disability (the blog of a client that I used to work for), this gives visibility to a serious problem.

3. Paul said that the blogger posted comments where he claimed that he didn't ask people to get up. I went through a bunch of comments, and while I didn't see "manoncrutches" stating that, I did see a lot of people asking "Well, why didn't you ask them to get up?" So, I'm not certain if he did ask them or he didn't. Regardless, I'm not sure how much it matters - if you see someone who clearly needs that seat, and you don't, I think that it's common courtesy to offer your seat to them. On the other hand, if someone is sleeping, or doesn't notice... do they deserve the same berating as people who do notice but don't give a shit? Mixed feelings, mixed feelings. (Another perspective: while there's nothing wrong with sleeping on the subway, maybe you should make a point of being awake and alert when in the priority seating in case someone who needs the spot gets on the train.)

4. How is this unlike calling out people w/o handicapped placards who park in handicapped parking spots?

Reasons Why This Blog Might Be Problematic

1. Even though he does mention it in the "About" section, there's no real way to know if someone has an invisible disability - so it's possible that some people weren't getting up because they have a condition not visible to the naked eye.

2. Taking pictures of people and posting them on the internet without their consent, even if they *are* being assholes - morally dubious, oui? But this technique has been effective with blogs like Hollaback, so... I don't know. Mixed feelings.

3. Not clear if he's asked them to stand and they've refused. Also not sure if it matters. Mixed feelings.

4. Also, as rm has pointed out, some of his headers are assholish. "We're just girls", WTF?

Thoughts?

Hey everyone! My friend natbrat is working with the Kinsey Institute and she needs some help. If you have a moment, please go to her LJ and let her know what sex/gender blogs you're reading! Thanks! :D

My famous and lovely friend/roommate/angel Rebekah has started a blog called Another World is Probable (http://anotherworldisprobable.blogspot.com/).

It's all about not how another world is possible, but probable. She started it in an effort to inspire others and showcase how the world is becoming a better place. Check it out!

(And she wants me to say that she loves - LOVES - comments. So comment away!)