Ian:

Yes Ian, my life story is one fuck-over after another . . . obviously, it has made me somewhat morose and bitter --- and you would probably react in much the same way I did, if even HALF of this shit happened to you.

I'll give you one example of IGNORANT SLOBS AT A CONCERT, which was for me the last straw of going to large-scale concerts.

Dave Matthews Band - 2001 (Buffalo, New York)

It was a SOLD-OUT show, and in the OBSTRUCTED VIEW WHEELCHAIR SEATING SECTION my wife and I were sitting in had myself, and one other guy next to me who was completely paralyzed --- he could not even move his head if someone stood in front of him.

The show starts --- and immediately --- directly in front of us are six teenage girls who were no older than 15 or 16 years of age. They get up, and STAND ON TOP OF THEIR SEATS for the entire show --- neither myself or the paralyzed guy could see anything on stage --- not even the video screens --- the seats were so horrible.

The paralyzed guy next to me asked my wife and the two people he was with --- to politely ask these people to sit down --- or at least to get down off the top of the seats, so we could see something. I was able to stretch and move quite a bit more than the paralyzed guy --- and I felt sorry for him, especially as he said DMB was his favorite band --- and that was his FIRST SHOW HE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE by the band. Myself, I had seen them several times before, at venues of varying size.

I asked these girls probably ten times to please sit down so we could see. There was no one standing in front of them, so there was no reason why they needed to do this. First of all, I get very upset when a little 15 year old tells me to go fuck myself. There was no reason for that rudeness --- and after that, I went to several people in the arena to get these people to sit down so we could see.

However --- most teens of today are self-involved, selfish, and care about nothing other than matters of import to their own little worlds --- if I would have showed disrespect like that --- my grandfather would have had me under some outrageous form of punishment. There is no longer any respect for elders --- most of the teens I know absolutely do fit into this category.

To make a long story short --- the director of security threatened to throw me out FOR CAUSING TROUBLE! I was doing nothing of the sort --- and neither was the paralyzed guy.

So, I paid $250 for tickets, parking, etc. for a concert that I did not even get to see --- even though I was in the same building!

The next morning, I wrote and faxed a letter to the General Manager of the Arena to tell him of my experience the night before. I was basically told that if I wanted to see the show, I should sit in a different section!

I am NOT KIDDING --- this guy actually said this to me when he called me back in response to my fax.

How the fuck am I supposed to sit SOMEPLACE ELSE when I am in a WHEELCHAIR?!?!?!?!?

So basically Ian, it's like this . . .

Society in general does not go out of their way to accomidate people like myself --- which is why we had to go to the extreme of suing the government to get the AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT passed ten years ago. This is also the reason why the wheelchair sections are always in out of the way places --- such as in OBSTRUCTED SEATING!

Also, I am not really into being humiliated every time I want to go someplace --- so, I and a lot of other disabled people simply don't even fucking bother to go to concerts anymore. If you ever wondered why you never see more than a couple wheelchairs at any given show, it is for this reason --- most people would rather not bother than to be completely humiliated just to participate in a public event such as a concert.

Also, your incredulousness over my statements regarding this matter show me that you have little or no concern for people in my situation --- either that, or you are making an ABSOLUTE ZERO EFFORT to understand what I am trying to explain to you about what it is like to live life as a disabled person.

I am not saying that the RED CARPET should be rolled out for me every time I go somewhere --- however --- I do not believe that COMMON COURTESY is too much for me to ask for or expect from my fellow human beings --- while in a common public situation such as a concert.

However --- this type of matter is endemic of the ALL FOR OURSELVES, NIHLISTIC, HEDONISTIC, and COMPLETELY SELFISH society that AmeriKa has become --- and this is why concepts such as courtesy and consideration toward others besides ourselves --- just might be the reason why you do not understand the point I was originally trying to get across.

I am sorry it fell on deaf ears --- but I am used to this type of a response by this time.

This is because at this time --- courtesy and respect of others is no longer honored nor practiced by the majority of people --- IGNORANT SLOBS --- I choose to call them.

Having a lack of understanding of something is not a crime --- however --- not even trying to make an effort at understanding is inexcusable to say the very least. I am very surprised and somewhat saddened that you have turned out to be one of the people who isn't trying very hard at the moment.

Also . . . one last thing . . .

Why do you insist on chastizing me for merely having a DIFFERENT OPINION THAN YOU? Who the fuck said we all had to agree 100% of the time?

Once again --- I call them as I see them --- and I offer NO APOLOGIES TO NO ONE --- not even to you.

Also --- going out and enjoying and supporting live music --- in my book --- never included ruining someone else's good time. I am quite frankly shocked that you seem to find no problem with it.

Finally --- if you cannot make the logical progression of what someone is saying in a posting --- then perhaps you should not respond next time --- what $100 ticket prices have to do with anything --- is that it happens to be what 85% of the greedy bands and entertainers are charging their loyal fans these days.

Sheesh!

P n' P = KDB