Look Galen!

As feetle says, there's no hint of malice in the picture - and the 'visually impaired' chap walking behind the lady on the scooter perhaps didn't want to carry it (he may have been with her) as he needed to be aware of his immediate surroundings - and carrying a washing basket might have been difficult! Anyway - I'll bet Galen liked feetle's reference to her pearls - clutched or not!

Maybe I'll have a go. Can you taste the Guiness in it? Seems a weird combination really.

Far too delicious Dragonfly!!! My house still smelt of chocolate cake when I got out of bed at 7.30, and it called to me.

How did the choc-o-Guiness cake turn out then, Jingle?

Anyway, it was a really good tip! Excellent!

I have total use of legs and arms, but when I bought a bargain set of plastic storage boxes from Poundstretcher and had to get the home via bus and Shanks's Pony, it would have been quite useful to upend them over my head and steady them with one hand while using the other to carry the bag of other stuff.

Unfortunately, the weather was beautiful and sunny.

Women in African villages carry full containers on their heads. They would wonder what the * we are objecting to.

I am not going to apologise. No flippin' way.

As soon as I saw the pic I thought of Galen. She's one of my mates on here. (I knew she would get a slight dig in, back. ) Love ya Galen! [chocolate cake] (because I've got a lot of that at the moment)

If something is posted on a public forum even if it's flagged up for the attention of one person as it's available for all to see we are surely entitled to an opinion? I'm disabled but I don't as yet need a mobility scooter. I don't find it funny. I see the wheelchair, the lady at the controls and the man with the guide dog as being central to the 'joke.' I'm not offended but a tad depressed by this type of humour. It does not float my boat but just one gransnetter's opinion.

if *of

Nellie, your recounted tale if the interview in the dark has made me laugh! Oops!

Galens' reply has two . I would assume she was not insulted. I occasionally have to use a scooter too and thought it was funny.

I could see that she probably could not carry that basket on a scooter any other way and she was showing good resolve to solve the problem as best she could.
What if it was a non disabled person with bags of shopping in their both hands wanting to get their new laundry basket home would anyone have the same reaction to that? I cannot quite see why this image might be "disablelist."

It's a very delicate line but we do have to be careful not to patronise disabled people by being "too PC."

A blind guy I worked with had a tremendous sense of humour about the effects of his total lack of sight, including interviewing a family in a completely dark enclosed interview room as he had not realised that the light was not on. He thoroughly enjoyed recounting that story and enjoyed every one else's laughter.

There are more and more disabled people who do not worry about making light of some aspects of their disability. It helps make them feel normal and highlights to others that they are.
There was recently a group of young people with Tourettes syndrome who did a stand up comedy routine about themselves.

Radio 4s Peter White once got slammed by a listener for making a program called "Blind Man on the Rampage" as it was thought he was making fun of the blind. (He is blind.)

feetle isn't that somewhat offensive and sexist in itself? Smacks of "calm down dear "

Galen, were you upset or offended, or did you chuckle? I think the rest of us should shush a little till we know whether to be amused or indignant on your behalf.

'Pursed lips and clutched pearls'. That's offensive too.

Yes, lighten up, folks. It made me smile and think "lateral thinking" not mock the wearer. Have you never been caught out in the rain and held over your head whatever came to hand? When both hands are needed for the scooter, they can't hold something up, so a bit of ingenuity has been used.

The laundry basket looks new. Maybe it is also being carried home as efficiently as possible, and doubling as an umbrella on the way?

Maybe Jingle could come back and explain why she chose Galen to be on the receiving end, then? I can't for the life of me see how it shows a friendly gesture towards Galen, who has this week been speaking publicly about poor attitudes towards people with a disability. If Galen had started a thread entitied Look Jingle it would have a different meaning, and that's her prerogative. Cheap joke!

My thoughts exactly Feetle

I can't believe the pursed lips and clutched pearls being flaunted here, over a simple amusing observed moment... There is not a hint of malice in the picture. It arouses compassion as well as laughter...

It is the washing basket that is the joke. It's a photograph not a cartoon. I would think anyone using the basket in this way would raise a laugh and probably join in the laughter.

Exactly, Gagagran.

Oh lighetn up people - it was a light hearted joke and Galen accepted it as such. It's getting very mealy-mouthed on here recently.

If the joke was the washing basket, why would the mobility scooter be in the cartoon? I think Jingle should ask for this thread to be removed before this gets out of hand.

Surely the joke is the washing basket put to brilliant use, not the disability scooter.

It made me laugh anyway

I think an apology due jingle - if people who need to use mobility aids want to make a joke of it, that is their privilege but for those of us lucky enough to be able to walk to the shops ourselves, more than a bit insensitive.