Scarcity vs. Abundance

[sasha_feather]

One cool thing I learned from disability activism (and jesse_the_k) is the idea of scarcity vs. abundance. This helps me make sense of my daily life.

For instance, when I go to get groceries I often bring my own bags. The store gives 5 cents credit for each bag and it's better for the planet, etc. The problem is, the cashiers seem to shift from an abundance mentality (limitless plastic bags) to a scarcity mentality (only 3 bags that I brought). And even though I say to them, use plastic for whatever doesn't fit, they seem to take pride in saying, "Oh, I think I can make it all fit into your bags!" So then they load up my tote bags and make them super heavy and difficult to carry. I haven't yet figured out a solution to this, except bringing a huge amount of bags with my every time (even though I'm not sure how much I will buy), or teaching/training the baggers little by little not to over load my bags. This store is not designed in a way that would let me bag the groceries myself. I'm sure I look able bodied to them, like someone who would have no trouble lifting really heavy bags.

In terms of disability, abundance does us much better than scarcity: let's believe that there can be enough elevators, enough pain medication, enough time to get where we need to go (and to rest), enough access to medical care, enough support from our friends and loved ones. More than enough.

I believe in abundance.

Comments

[whump]

Oh hell yes. Thank you.

[sasha_feather]

<3

[some_stars]

Baggers do this to me even when I don't bring my own bags. I don't understand how it became policy to use the fewest bags possible--I mean, I'm not as strong as I used to be, but I'm still fully able-bodied and young, and even so I'm not going to be able to lift a bag with a gallon of milk AND two liters of iced tea AND a half dozen soup cans. Especially if it's in one single paper bag, because even if I were freaking He-Man, that bag is going to rip. Split that shit up, come on.

--which has nothing to do with your actual point, just, it's a constant annoyance for me lately. They always give you this LOOK when you ask them to stop and make the bags less heavy, like it's some totally out-there request that no one else has ever made and you're totally ruining their day.

[sasha_feather]

IKR! They seem to want to load all my bottled beverages into the same bag, in some sort of sorting game.

[laceblade]

Agree with the commenter above me - people do this to me even when I don't bring my own bags and it is the WORST at the co-op. Asking them to split things (often heavy things!) into two bags is like asking them to murder a puppy, istg.

[sasha_feather]

You are a bad person for using more than your fair share of bags Jackie!! Even if you brought your own bags!

lol forever @ the co-op

[jesse_the_k]

<3

[sasha_feather]

<3

[j00j]

*hugs*

Yeah, I usually wind up re-sorting things when I leave the checkout (which of course doesn't help you if they're loading your bags so they're hard to lift from the counter!). I am mostly able-bodied these days, but most baggers do not configure things correctly for someone walking a longer distance. Some baggers do ask if I'm distributing things a certain way (for me it's heavier stuff in the backpack, as it's easier for me to have the weight there) and are mindful of the weight issue. So they can learn. Inconveniently, bringing more bags probably does serve as a reminder for them to use more (though you might also have to ask them to use them all).