Posted on 11/24/2024 1:54:31 AM PST by RandFan
As a guide dog handler of 25 and a half years, I’ve had hundreds of experiences of being refused service - but online threats and increasing hostility towards disabled people mean I’m giving up on asking publicly for equality and respect.
The last straw came about a week ago. I was already reeling from a number of refusals by restaurants and shops when, once again, I was refused entry because I have a guide dog.
I visited the restaurant, which I have chosen not to name, but was told I couldn’t enter as people could have allergies. This, by the way, is unlawful.
They later changed their reason - saying they simply had no space.
It’s difficult to describe how this feels.
I don’t think you can understand it unless you know what it is like to face daily discrimination.
I compare the feeling to December 2022 when I was briefly robbed of my smartphone near the BBC building in central London.
Unlike street robberies, refusals are rarely violent or physical, but the feeling of being slugged in the gut is identical.
I argue refusals feel worse - because at least I can understand the motivation of robbers.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Great story.
Username fits.
I could not be in more disagreement with you, bert.
Allowing real service dogs is an accommodation made by a civil society, which we used to be.
That we do it for people who have lost their sight by some method other than warfare shows a side of us that I like and appreciate.
To make that accommodation for those who have lost their sight fighting in war in defense of this nation is an accommodation I feel we are obliged to do (and should be grateful to do) in order to avoid being rightfully damned.
He is a good and admirable man in my eyes.
That used to be a problem with Airlines as well but all or most most US Airlines did away with the esa’s. Emotional support animals.
It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your stupid mouth and remove all doubt. SMH.
“I argue refusals feel worse - because at least I can understand the motivation of robbers.”
I’ll bet that most of the businesses refusing him entry are owned by muzzies.
L
We definitely need more of them in the world.
And as someone with allergies, I agree wholeheartedly.
People need to thank God that they are not in a position where they need a Seeing Eye Dog.
When I lived in England - 1990s - it was fairly common for a pet dog to accompany their owner into pubs or lower scale restaurants. Just because the Brits love dogs. But in the last 30 years, many parts of Britain have become muslim-majority - and muslims hate dogs. IIRC, Oxford was around 5% foreign born in 1990. Now? 35%!
THIRTYFIVE PERCENT!
It isn’t “England” anymore. Just a cold, wet Syria...
Too many have gotten “service/emotional support” papers for their pets and abused the system to the point where valid folks are suffering....if it was me, I’d ask them to please call the authorities to help settle the dispute - it is illegal to deny service for someone who requires a guide dog.
I have to agree...by the way, I did not say that I do understand the tenor of your previous post even if I disagree with it.
Some years ago, I got into a heated argument with a fellow Freeper regarding the ubiquitous presence of peanuts in our environment, and how dangerous it was to those with peanut allergies. (It involved a woman who became hysterical at some other woman who had given her child a peanut butter cracker as the child sat in a shopping cart, which the hysterical woman had made the observation that if her child contacted any trace of that peanut butter, it could die)
The other Freeper had argued that society as a whole had to buckle down to accommodate those with peanut allergies, and I argued vehemently against that woman who gave her child that cracker.
It was (and still is) my contention that if a child has a peanut allergy, it is the responsibility of the parents to instruct the child on how to live his or her life in this environment, and adjust to it.
In other words, to take responsibility for their own well being by avoiding exposure where possible, to having drugs on hand to counter the allergy if it is provoked to the surface, and I further opined that the hysterical parent had failed in her duty as a parent if she was going to demand all things peanut-related had to be removed from society.
I was pretty angry at that mind set, and as sometimes happens, I took the extremity view that if someone can’t exist in that environment due to allergies, and they succumb to them, then they are the ones who have failed.
On my part, it was a hard-hearted argument, one of which I am not proud, though my fundamental viewpoint is not changed, though how I argue it, might well be.
It does seem to be an issue: incredible! You never know on FR when you post but 70 replies to this does show it.
The emotional support thing not so much an issue in the UK but as I said the parking badges are abused
I agree. See my post above where I discuss an argument in the past with a fellow Freeper on this kind of thing where I don’t think I covered myself in glory, even if my views haven’t changed.
I agree with you regarding being in a position where a Seeing-Eye Dog is needed.
I have to say that anyone who gives a child they don’t know something with peanuts in it is foolish.
And while people can control some of their environment, they cannot control everything someone else does. The woman who gave the kid the food was wrong.
And while it is the responsibility of the parents to watch out, why is it all on them. That’s a big problem I have with much the libertarian mindset. It completely excludes any common courtesy for others as some people demand the freedom to do whatever they want but don’t extend the same courtesy towards others. They expect others to rearrange their lives around them, but refuse to accommodate others themselves.
It’s very selfish and society will not work well when everyone is demanding their rights and trampling on other’s.
Not everyone can live as they please all the time, the hell with others, they can rearrange their lives around them. It’s completely contrary to the Christian mindset, as well.
Agree so many take them into food store sit them in a the cart and they why and they say oh it’s a service dog so I tell not it isn’t no sign on it so it’s just a flea tick and lice transporter.
They need to carry papers to do such an act it’s unhealthy for them to be in a food store.
People see a dog dumping and pissing they don’t even call for a manager.
Love your tagline.
When all you have is a hammer, everything else looks like a nail.
Why say that? Because, apparently, this handler probably has centered his whole life on the accommodation ‘owed’ to him by society because of whatever causes him to need a guide dog. Other peoples’ sensibilities and needs are of no import.
OK..
How does the establishment know if the animal is real or fake?
You are not permitted to ask.
Same in uk
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