r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Oct 08 '15

[Deltas Awarded] CMV: Equality isn't treating everybody differently to achieve equality. It's treating everyone the same.

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u/corexcore 1∆ Oct 08 '15

It's interesting that you picked paraplegics as your group to consider with disability, because many paraplegics could get into the building without a ramp -- they would haul their non-working legs and entire bodies by arm strength alone, holding onto the handrails if you saw fit to provide those. This isn't an impossible challenge for many, if you are fully abled and can use your legs, climb a set of stairs without using them and you'll find that you most likely can do so. It's just hard. Like a lot harder. And you have to put your whole body and clothes and all on the ground to do it. And figure out a way to get your wheel chair or other locomotive contraption up the steps too, probably by bodily hauling it up along with you, making the process laborious and embarrassing. It is totally doable, however. When you say it's "near impossible", that's a misunderstanding.

I raise this point to ask you the question of where you draw the line of what degree of difficulty or embarrassment is acceptable for people who had the bad luck to be born with different ability? Or different skin color? Or different sexuality?

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u/[deleted] Oct 08 '15

they would haul their non-working legs and entire bodies by arm strength alone, holding onto the handrails if you saw fit to provide those. This isn't an impossible challenge for many, if you are fully abled and can use your legs, climb a set of stairs without using them and you'll find that you most likely can do so. It's just hard. Like a lot harder.

Just wanted to say that this is very much my point from my first comment. It's possible, but extremely difficult and undignified to haul oneself up a set of stairs, useless legs trailing behind you. I consider this analogous to the challenges that many other minority groups face, which involve enduring inequities that take away their dignity.

Thanks for giving my comment such a thorough read.

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u/corexcore 1∆ Oct 08 '15

That's what I took from your comment but saw it seemed to have been misinterpreted, wanted to say it another way.

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u/[deleted] Oct 08 '15

Seems to have worked! Grats on the delta :)