Would you buy this politically incorrect book or be offended by it?

I personally don’t think I would buy it. I’m not offended by the idea of it, just not interested in the content from the description you gave.

That’s the kind of book I would buy and read to my child every night. I’m not saying your version won’t suck (I say tongue-in-cheek)...but I think the idea is AWESOME and think you should write and illustrate it right now before I steal it.

I think your concerns are merited, but once we move beyond the P.C. BS and start being able to talk to each other both honestly and with respect, we’re going to be generally happy, happy people.

Absolutely yes, I’d buy a copy. And if it were well-written, I’d consider using it as a tool/resource for facilitating a workshop on people with disabilities. A bit of humor won’t hurt and will keep people reading. If you want to brain-storm on some hotel scenarios, let me know.

Neither. I don’t get why it has to be either or.

I think the idea of the book is good, but not knowing what the context is about is confusing to me right now. “hey you took my parking spot! I’m crippled you know. Is that directed toward a person who the ‘crippled’ person perceived not to be crippled and parked in a spot ‘crippled’ person felt should have been their parking spot?

I think that’s a great idea for a book! Yeah, you’ll make some people feel uncomfortable, that that’s what you WANT to accomplish :-/

I wouldn’t find it offensive, but I don’t know if I’d buy it. Just don’t put in a section about using the handicapped bathroom stall if you aren’t handicapped. Then I’d feel guilty. ;)

I wouldn’t buy it.

My stepfather was on disability, and I heard enough of “I’m Crippled You Know…” the whole time I was growing up. Like, to the point of causing a scene in Sears because a mother with child was using the handicapped stall in the changing room. How dare they.

I’m not saying that it’s not a great idea for a book – it really is! – but it’s personally not for me.

I’d be annoyed. Why would some have to remind me that someone is disabled or something? Not trying to be mean, but people can figure out people are disabled and realize the problems they have to face without a book. It’s common sense.

I would have to see it or get more of the idea and intent behind it before deciding. “Tongue in cheek” could be a difficult tone to use if the book were aimed at children. On the other hand, bringing some humor to the discussion of disabilities – or any other topic – is not a bad idea.

I think it’s a point worth making, but I’d have my doubts about this particular approach. Why would I spend money and time to buy and read a book that scolds and berates me for my insensitivity and tells me what my social obligations are? I think I am very sensitive to those issues, but if I weren’t, it’s an even bigger “why would I?”

(I’ve also met people with disabilities who took offense at attempts to lend a hand, saying indignantly, “I don’t need any help.” I think it would be a mistake for any one member of any group to try to speak for all members.)

Also, to tell you the perfect truth, if there were no comma before “you know” (“I’m crippled, you know”), I wouldn’t touch it just because the omission would bug me on every page.

@all this is totally the kind of input I was looking for. We see the whole thing as pretty lighthearted and our initial goal was to make people laugh. But because we both deal with his disability every day (him of course much more than I do) our perspective tends to be skewed – which is why I asked this question.

@Seek_Kolinahr and @Jeruba yours are two points of view I that hadn’t even crossed my mind. The tone was meant to be goofy but @Jeruba, your point about it coming across as “scolding” is a good one that makes perfect sense. He doesn’t have any kind of a chip on his shoulder about this stuff and rolls with it, pun intended so it never occurred to me that it might come across as berating people, just as a list of silly things

It doesn’t offend me. (but i wouldn’t buy it either, but only because it’s not something i’m personally interested in reading).