> 04-29-05  18:54, Barbara Mcnay told James Bradley
 > about Cope With Helpers?

 >  How do, Barbara?

 >>>>  BM> How do those of you who can't walk normally, cope with
 >>>>  BM> people who rush up and inadvertently interfere with your
 >>>>  BM> progress through a door, or worse, threaten your safety by
 >>>>  BM> yanking or pushing the door that you were leaning on?

 >>>> That's a good question! You know they have good in
 >>>> their heart right?

 >>>> How I deal with it, is usually hand signals, and maybe
 >>>> a sharp "NO, thanks."

 >>>  BM> I have to learn to be a little sharper, sometimes, when
 >>>  BM> people persist.  I occasionally tell them that I need the
 >>>  BM> exercise, which is true.

 >>> LOL! I've used that one too, but even that didn't give
 >>> them the hint. For me, when I can - and like to - haul
 >>> my own. Even when I mentioned that carrying weight on
 >>> my left, gives my right leg a break... NADA! /-:

 >>  BM> Yes.  When I was using a cane, people sometimes tried to
"help" by
 >>  BM> taking my  large tote bag, but their doing that removed a
 >>  BM> counterbalance that I depended on, and made me much more
 >>  BM> insecure walking in open areas.

 >> Even if they have "POLICE" or "FBI" on their sweaters,
 >> they might just be a thief trying to make off with
 >> your bag! 

 >  BM> That's perfectly true, unfortunately.  And having "POLICE"
 >  BM> on the back of a sweater, if the encounter is legitimate,
 >  BM> isn't very helpful to the person in front.

 > Watching Cops, I wonder what I'd do if swarmed by some
 > of those guys. No markings in the front, no verbal
 > indications of who they are... Uniformed; OK, but when
 > in plain-clothes!

 > I'd likely end up with one bent cane, and a new set of
 > bracelets before I had a chance to take stock.


Yes, and that might very well be the purpose of the ID in back.  I had
never before seen a police officer in the flesh wearing that type of
outfit.  Rather inappropriate, perhaps, for ordinary non-assault purposes.

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