If someone gains a permanent disability such as diabetes or amputation, do you think that was a result of their own choices?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I saw something today that said, “A lot of people genuinely believe that permanent disability isn’t a thing that happens to good people who work hard and make responsible choices. A lot of people genuinely think that we get the life we work for and deserve. And this is definitely part of the explanation for why ableism is so present.”

Yes, in a majority of cases, it’s because of their choices and lifestyle

No, it’s not something they inadvertently chose

[emeraldsaphire]

I mean there is some nuance here. People with Type one Diabetes are born with it. People with type 2 typically obtain it by life style decisions, but those decisions are often times impacted by eating disorders and life factors. A Truck driver sits in a chair for often 6-10 hours a day, and with out careful planning (which isn't always possible) has very few healthy eating options. Footless jo chose to have her foot amputated, but that was after years of being in constant pain.

Saying life is only the outcome of your actions is inaccurate, but if we deny people there autonomy you shrink their Locus of control which is unhealthy.

It's far more healthy for individuals to think that life is 100% a result of their own actions then the alternative.

Regardless you are not entitled to someone else's labor, that's called slavery and is wrong. I'm all for helping out the less fortunate but when you add force to make people help others you only hurt everyone involved. That is in large part the reason for the stigma around disability.

We do a lot of other things that hurt disable people that we think "helps them" Like making it almost impossible for them to find work, making things that can help them illegal or making them super expensive. Making things in general extremely expensive.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

The point of this is to say that it’s wrong to blame people for not seeing the unexpected in the form if a permanent disability. It’s assigning a moral value to the disabled and able-bodied

[Purpleronnie]

I’d say it could be because of their own choices or even lack of for diabetes type 2 and as a result amputation could actually follow after infections brought on by poor circulation and nerve damage. I’ve witnessed this with relatives unfortunately


However Diabetes ( type 1 ) can also follow from auto-immune disorder , the body basically kills its ability to produce insulin or even be a genetic disorder , so not really through just but diabetes either type generally doesn’t just happen without any pre-cursor

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I don’t think you realize you kinda just proved my point

[Purpleronnie]

Not sure I follow?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

You have that same ableism that says a lot of disabilities were earned by the people that have them, assigning a moral value to the disabled and able-bodied.

[Purpleronnie]

My response was factual , nothing to do with discrimination

[Genie23]

No, I don't think so. Other factors plays a role, too. Genetics, old age, limited access to healthy food, and underlying health conditions all play a role in diabetes and complications. I mean , even accidents or injuries can lead to amputations, so I don't think it is the result of their own choices.