Would you date someone with a disability?

Medusa22

I have been thinking about this after watching Channel4's ''The Undateables''.

Synopsis:
''Looking for love can be tricky, but some find it harder than others. Add disability to the equation and it can sometimes seem almost impossible. This uplifting three-part series follows the journeys of several extraordinary singletons as they enter the dating circuit in pursuit of love.
From a stand-up comedian with Tourettes and a trapeze artist with brittle bones, to a media student with Down's Syndrome, an amateur poet with a learning disability, and a skateboarder with a facial disfigurement, the series follows them as they enter the world of blind dates, matchmakers and speed dating.
With the help of Searchmate, one of the UK's leading personal introductions agencies, and Stars in the Sky, a specialist dating agency for people with learning difficulties, The Undateables explores the realities of looking for love in an image-obsessed world, where too many people make snap judgements based on first impressions - and even consider some to be 'undateable'.''


I find it to be a little too close to a 19th century freak show for my liking, but perhaps I am just too cynical to believe what the producers claimed. Apparently they want to dispel the myths about people with disabilities being undateable. This question is particularly interesting for me because I am technically in the ''undateable'' bracket because I have Cystic Fibrosis but I have never had any relationship issues because of it,in fact I'm in a happy relationship. So, what are other boardsies opinions? By the way, I would date someone with a disability but it would depend on the severity and nature of the condition.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Honest answer no.

AngryBollix

Are we actually allowed say what we think?

MugMugs

Personally I found that Blonde lass a bit stuck up and the dude Luke did well with his catch. The other geezer with his mammy in tow was funny demolishing his dates dinner..... Would I date any of them? No, but Id give yer man Lukes missus a go....

Generally, I'd have no issue dating somebody with a disability....

tonycascarino

No

antodeco

It would depend on the disability and whether or not it is hereditary.

MugMugs

AngryBollix wrote: »

Are we actually allowed say what we think?

I'd say there's a fine line tbh

AngryBollix

MugMugs wrote: »

I'd say there's a fine line tbh

Best avoided then

MugMugs

AngryBollix wrote: »

MugMugs wrote: »

I'd say there's a fine line tbh

Best avoided then

Probably.

the keen edge

I watched that show, the funny thing was that undateables seemed to be doing the majority of the dumping.

Jesus did they not read the script!
Very unprofessional, Adam Sandler would of put in a better performance.

Duggys Housemate

WEll, am told by friends I should try date a blind woman.

Kidchameleon

Id feel like I was taking advantage of them every time we done the business, like some kind of sick pervert... So no I wouldn't.

byhookorbycrook

Have MS and am happily married.

GarIT

Maybe its mean but I just wouldn't.

Medusa22

I think that everyone should say what they think, as I am interested in people's opinions.

byhookorbycrook

I'd prefer people to be honest with this, not pretend PC.:p

MadYaker

I suppose it would depend on the disability, but being honest probably not.

Logical Fallacy

The majority of people will have a gut wrench reaction of "no" because the word "disabled" comes with some extreme connotations.

There are all kinds of levels of disability that have a greater or lesser impact on a person's life, their loved ones and families.

The best quote I can possibly give is from the deaf student I was working with a couple of years ago..."I'd rather be deaf than ugly".

It should be noted his girlfriend was a scorching hot Asian lass who spoke 5 languages and could sign in 3 different dialects. So he was on to something.

Medusa22

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

The majority of people will have a gut wrench reaction of "no" because the word "disabled" comes with some extreme connotations.

There are all kinds of levels of disability that have a greater or lesser impact on a person's life, their loved ones and families.

The best quote I can possibly give is from the deaf student I was working with a couple of years ago..."I'd rather be deaf than ugly".

It should be noted his girlfriend was a scorching hot Asian lass who spoke 5 languages and could sign in 3 different dialects. So he was on to something.

Your story reminds me of the time that my sister asked me would I rather be ginger or have CF, I chose having CF (by the way, my sister is ginger and she maintains that she has her own genetic defect )

Pherekydes

I'm lucky. I'm married.

My disability:

I'm male.

grindle

GarIT wrote: »

Maybe its mean but I just wouldn't.

It's not mean, it's just aesthetics.

I wouldn't date a girl with permanent scowl-lines or a pleathery oompa-loompa face. They're not officially disabled, but I view them as if they must be.
Doubt they'd want a lash off my scrawny arse, and I don't feel put out by it, so just own the feeling, walk up to the nearest horny disabled person and say "Thanks, but no thanks, sausage."

Links234

Yes, I would.

Richard Hillman

Probably not. Im very shallow like that. I just want a trophy, something i can show off to my peers.

Mr.Biscuits

Of course.

I think that people that would answer a flat no to such a question - is just a little immature tbh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6kJ1ZJbFZo

ElleEm

I would have always said no.

I am in a relationship the last 6 years, but was diagnosed with MS in 2010.
It scares the sh!t out of me that some day I may be obviously disabled.

It has definitely changed my mind to how I view disabled people. I would be scared sh!tless to have to tackle this MS thing while trying to date.

grindle

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Probably not. Im very shallow like that. I just want a trophy, something i can show off to my peers.

Gail Platt?

Duggys Housemate

Mr.Biscuits wrote: »

Of course.

I think that anyone that answers no, is just immature tbh.

And I think we can never know if your claim you would is true, or not. Best to judge people by their actions, words being easy. Have you?

My name is URL

I would. If Freddy Got Fingered has thought me anything it's that chicks in wheelchairs are kinky.. and aren't averse to having rockets propel them at high speeds.

Jezek

Of course, but she would have to be smart and attractive. But I wouldn't mind one bit dating someone who was blind or deaf or had some other disability.

Satts

Yes, especially if the disability was sex addiction.

hairyprincess

In all honesty it would depend on the disability and the impact it would have on or relationship and day to day lives, our ability to have and bring up children in a secure environment.

hairyprincess

Satts wrote: »

Yes, especially if the disability was sex addiction.

Well that goes without saying ;-)

If the person was blind to all my faults that would definitely be a winner

Mr.Biscuits

Duggys Housemate wrote: »

And I think we can never know if your claim you would is true, or not. Best to judge people by their actions, words being easy. Have you?

Well, if I lied in my post (as you are implying) then why would you ask me a question that I could just as easily answer with yet another lie, where that my inclination? Seems odd.

Mickey Dazzler

As much as I would like to say I would.....I know I wouldn't. Then again I'm a pretty amazing guy.

stripysocks85

It would depend on the disability. I'm not going to say a blank 'NO' because everyone is different and it would come down to personality & attraction [obviously!]

stupidusername

I don't get how anybody could say a definite no,or yes. It completely depends on the disability.

I wouldn't consider someone with Down Syndrome,but with Tourettes,yes. It'd come down to mental capacity,maturity,difficulty to deal with,and attraction.

carfiosaoorl

I watched the show the other night and didnt like it at all. It felt to me like they were being exploited for the general publics entertainment kind of sick.
I wouldnt say I would never date someone with a physical disability. If I fell for them a disability wouldnt matter to me. I dont think I could date someone with an intellectual disability though. I would feel like I was taking advantage of them.
I have a 4 yr old with autism and the thought of her wanting to date when she is older scares the crap out of me. I will track down and hurt badly anyone who takes advantage of her.

pconn062

I do already, my OH is from Monaghan.

admiralofthefleet

fiance is blind in her left eye and has limited vision in her right eye; born premature at 27 weeks.
we will be getting married in 7 weeks and i couldnt be happier

BaconZombie

I've dated a Ginger before, does that count?

guitarzero

It would depend on the disability. Also, when you have a disability it may alter how you live your life so having things in common may be quite hard as you've both had quite different experiences.

biko

A poll added.

R.D. aka MR.D

A friend who has a physical disability recently declared his feelings for me and honestly i couldn't see myself ever accepting because it is just too much of issue for me. I think he also has quite a hang up about it (which is probably fair enough) and lets that dictate a lot of who he is which is far more unattractive than the disability almost.

PrincessLola

I would. And I am not being dishonest or PC, I honestly would.

I say this because I have grown up with friends and family with varying disabilities so it has never put me off or scared me away.

Although, I'm assuming you're excluding mental disability from this? Because I wouldn't in that case for obvious reasons

RoboClam

Depends on the person.

boomkatalog

Have dated a guy with CF, that didn't bother me.

I'm gonna be honest and say physical disability, it would depend. I am shallow to a certain extent. I'd rather be with someone in a wheelchair then someone who was mentally very immature though.

Medusa22

PrincessLola wrote: »

I would. And I am not being dishonest or PC, I honestly would.

I say this because I have grown up with friends and family with varying disabilities so it has never put me off or scared me away.

Although, I'm assuming you're excluding mental disability from this? Because I wouldn't in that case for obvious reasons

I am excluding mental disabilities from this. I wouldn't consider going out with someone with a mental disability because I don't think that they can fully consent. For me, my illness is physical but invisible, my organs are affected but you wouldn't realise it from looking at me, which means that I can choose if and when I tell someone

EuropeanSon

Of course I would. Depending on the disability, it would probably be a negative mark against them, to be completely honest, but that wouldn't mean it would be a dealbreaker. Everyone has flaws, after all. If you expect somebody to be perfect you'll probably be searching forever.

saa

Already am.

Giselle

All mental disabilities are excluded on the basis of consent/intellectual ability.

Someone with a disability such as an amputated limb, or an adaptable disability like that, it would be no problem. The more difficult the disability makes everyday life, the less I would be attracted to the person, which sounds awful but is the absolute truth. It depends on the person, the disability, the compromises.


Someone with a Cork accent? Absolutely not under any circumstances.*





*joke.:)

Grayson

I saw an article in the onion recently along the lines of

68% of Americans would not vote for a Mormon, if the Mormon happens to be Mitt Romney.

72% of Americans would vote for a philandering cheat, but not if that cheat is Newt Gingrich

So yeah, most people would date someone disabled. But only if the person isn't a cnut.