I have absolutely no tolerance for rude people, especially when they're rude to the handicapped. There is really no excuse for them.
Here is an example of what drives me absolutely batty:
Mom and I were at a store and she needed to use the ladies' room. Okay, not a problem. Since mom uses a walker, we head straight for the handicapped stall where she can have more room to maneuver her walking aid.
Only this time, the stall was locked. It was in use. There were still three other stalls that were vacant.
I heard a voice coming from the handicapped stall indicating someone was using their cell phone.
Okay, again, not a major dilemma. It happens. Leaving the walker outside the tiny stall, I helped mom inside then turned away to block the door and give her some privacy.
Mom was almost done with “her business” when I heard the lock click in the door of the handicapped stall.
Out walks a girl who looked about 16 years old, talking on a cell phone and absolutely no handicap.
I stared at her and said, “Really? You used the handicapped stall when there is clearly nothing wrong with you?”
She looked at me as if I had 5 heads and said, “I wanted to make a phone call. I wanted my privacy.”
I told her everyone in the restroom could hear her so what was the point.
Again, she looked at me as if I were crazy and left the room.
Now, the way I look at it, these stalls were made bigger to accommodate people with wheelchairs, walkers, mothers with small children that need assistance and mothers with infants that need changing on the installed changing table. They are not made for kids who want to use their cell phones for what they think is a bit of privacy.
I can't tell you how angry I was to know that my mom had to be so inconvenienced by someone so inconsiderate.
And what if she was in a wheelchair and need me to help her from the wheelchair to the toilet? She would have ended up messing herself. And for what? For the use of a teen using her cell phone?
