Comments on: Too disabled—or too abled—for the Olympics? http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:46:15 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Charlie Mitchell http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-593839 Charlie Mitchell Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:21:31 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-593839 This is a really emotive issue. We have to somehow divorce our emotions from the debate. The crux of the matter lies in what if any advantage a disabled athlete draws from a prosthetic device. If a runner draws the same speed with only 80% of the down force, the he/she receives an unfair advantage. If these limbs, also allow the athlete to gain a swifter leg movement, then again the answer as to whether the limb should be allowed, should be in the negative. The question of whether Oscar Pistorius is receiving an advantage, must also be looked at from another vantage point. Does the "Cheeter" blade allow him to meet able bodied athletes on level terms, or does it it give him an unfair advantage? What if Oscar is a sub-standard athlete who is now able to compete because of the blade? There may just be a whole load of talented disabled people, who if given the right training and technology, easily surpass his feats. What if that athlete, with the prosthetics ends up being several seconds up on the able bodied every 200m? There can be no doubt, man can devise devices to make the able bodied person do wonderful things. Run faster, jump higher etc. The disabled are not immune to science. They should only be allowed to compete, when and if there is certain proof that the able bodied are not being discriminated against. I am a severely disabled person, and have been since birth. This is a really emotive issue. We have to somehow divorce our emotions from the debate. The crux of the matter lies in what if any advantage a disabled athlete draws from a prosthetic device. If a runner draws the same speed with only 80% of the down force, the he/she receives an unfair advantage.
If these limbs, also allow the athlete to gain a swifter leg movement, then again the answer as to whether the limb should be allowed, should be in the negative.
The question of whether Oscar Pistorius is receiving an advantage, must also be looked at from another vantage point. Does the “Cheeter” blade allow him to meet able bodied athletes on level terms, or does it it give him an unfair advantage?
What if Oscar is a sub-standard athlete who is now able to compete because of the blade? There may just be a whole load of talented disabled people, who if given the right training and technology, easily surpass his feats.
What if that athlete, with the prosthetics ends up being several seconds up on the able bodied every 200m? There can be no doubt, man can devise devices to make the able bodied person do wonderful things. Run faster, jump higher etc. The disabled are not immune to science. They should only be allowed to compete, when and if there is certain proof that the able bodied are not being discriminated against.
I am a severely disabled person, and have been since birth.

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-560029 Regan Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:03:36 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-560029 Another Olympics swimmer story, <a href="http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/olympics/view/2008_08_20_Natalie_du_Toit_can_swim_better_with_one_leg_than_most_people_with_two/srvc=olympics&position=9"><b>Natalie du Toit can swim better with one leg than most people with two</b></a> Boston Herald August 20, 2008 Another Olympics swimmer story,
Natalie du Toit can swim better with one leg than most people with two
Boston Herald August 20, 2008

]]> By: Last Week’s Top Posts http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-556869 Last Week’s Top Posts Sun, 25 May 2008 17:01:43 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-556869 [...] Ok to be Disabled Until—- Oscar Pistorius, the runner from South Africa who is a double amputee, recently won a decision to be allowed to [...] [...] Ok to be Disabled Until—- Oscar Pistorius, the runner from South Africa who is a double amputee, recently won a decision to be allowed to [...]

]]> By: It’s Ok to be Disabled Until—- http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-552828 It’s Ok to be Disabled Until—- Thu, 22 May 2008 05:12:06 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-552828 [...] medals is the blurb on an article by William Saletan in the May 21st Slate. Saletan writes about Oscar Pistorius, the runner from South Africa who—he is a double amputee—runs on specially built [...] [...] medals is the blurb on an article by William Saletan in the May 21st Slate. Saletan writes about Oscar Pistorius, the runner from South Africa who—he is a double amputee—runs on specially built [...]

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-548823 Kristina Chew, PhD Fri, 16 May 2008 14:55:00 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-548823 May 16, 2008----Pistorius will be allowed to qualify for the Olympic Games; here's the story in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/17/sports/olympics/17runner.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin">New York Times</a>. May 16, 2008—-Pistorius will be allowed to qualify for the Olympic Games; here’s the story in the New York Times.

]]> By: jim dahl http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-537011 jim dahl Sun, 22 Jul 2007 20:15:23 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-537011 Please send me information regarding competing in handicapped olympics Please send me information regarding competing in handicapped olympics

]]> By: Reason http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-534613 Reason Thu, 31 May 2007 03:24:30 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-534613 if he is allowed to use equipment (in this case the Cheetahs) to help him over compensate, then in this case it is an extra advantage. Also, many believe that Cheetahs he uses are too long, allowing him to cover an unfair amount of ground. Again I ask, why not run on what legs he has? (Keep in mind, the rules of track and field are meant to make sure everyone has an equal chance...the rules are designed so that the fastest person, using no special equipment or other advantages, wins the race. if he is allowed to use equipment (in this case the Cheetahs) to help him over compensate, then in this case it is an extra advantage. Also, many believe that Cheetahs he uses are too long, allowing him to cover an unfair amount of ground. Again I ask, why not run on what legs he has? (Keep in mind, the rules of track and field are meant to make sure everyone has an equal chance…the rules are designed so that the fastest person, using no special equipment or other advantages, wins the race.

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-534740 Kristina Chew, PhD Wed, 30 May 2007 05:58:20 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-534740 Not having part of one's legs seems to be something less than an "extra advantage"......... Not having part of one’s legs seems to be something less than an “extra advantage”………

]]> By: Reason http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-534741 Reason Wed, 30 May 2007 05:52:59 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-534741 No he shouldn't be allowed to run because he's using special equipment in the race that other runners aren't allowed to use. This may seem cruel, but why not let him run on the legs that he does have. If it is truly him, and not the equipment, who does the work then I think he should run without the benefit of the equipment. I would also like to point out that the idea that he is at a disadvantage but still manages to run faster that 99.9% of the people on this planet is absurd; also if spring legs only return 1/3 of the power of normal legs, is the good doctor saying that the Pistorius fellow has over 300% times the leg power of an "abled bodied person"?...clearly the legs are an advantage. Personally I think you people (especially Caron Gilbert) are so far in the woods that you can't see the trees. You are so pro-disability rights that you are willing to give them an extra advantage over "normal" people...I believe that is called discrimination. No he shouldn’t be allowed to run because he’s using special equipment in the race that other runners aren’t allowed to use. This may seem cruel, but why not let him run on the legs that he does have. If it is truly him, and not the equipment, who does the work then I think he should run without the benefit of the equipment. I would also like to point out that the idea that he is at a disadvantage but still manages to run faster that 99.9% of the people on this planet is absurd; also if spring legs only return 1/3 of the power of normal legs, is the good doctor saying that the Pistorius fellow has over 300% times the leg power of an “abled bodied person”?…clearly the legs are an advantage.

Personally I think you people (especially Caron Gilbert) are so far in the woods that you can’t see the trees. You are so pro-disability rights that you are willing to give them an extra advantage over “normal” people…I believe that is called discrimination.

]]> By: Caron Gilbert http://www.blisstree.com/articles/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-534895 Caron Gilbert Sat, 26 May 2007 11:44:59 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/too-disabled-or-too-abled-for-the-olympics/#comment-534895 While we have assertained that Oscar Pistorius isn't the ugliest man in the world it is not the issue here. The issue is his qualification for the able bodied Olympics and whether the IAAF will let him run if he qualifies. I think they should let him run, because I think it is not the cheetahs but his upper legs that do all the work. He doesn't have any advantage over other runners. He is a brave and courageous young man and should be let run in next years Olympic Games. While we have assertained that Oscar Pistorius isn’t the ugliest man in the world it is not the issue here. The issue is his qualification for the able bodied Olympics and whether the IAAF will let him run if he qualifies.
I think they should let him run, because I think it is not the cheetahs but his upper legs that do all the work. He doesn’t have any advantage over other runners. He is a brave and courageous young man and should be let run in next years Olympic Games.

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