Thread by @annieelainey

I can't believe I probably have to make a video about goddamn plastic straws because ableds don't know how to be environmentally friendly without being assholes to disabled people and denying them access while telling them to "calm down and find other ways"

If someone has already made this video, lemme know.

I cannot damn believe.

And BET these die-hards will not even listen to the whole thing without going into the comments offering alternatives that WILL NOT WORK, especially for disabled people who may take quite long to drink (paper straws) or who might be allergic to metals and silicone.

I truly don't understand why you need to literally "ban" straws so badly, something disabled people are telling you they NEED.

There are certainly other more harmful things to focus on in regards to environment but this feels like taking a bone away from a dog. Why???

Someone went "what did disabled people do before straws?"

The answer is actually pretty grim.

Ask that about ANY current accessibility resource (elevators, ramps, etc) we have today and the answer is either "We died", "We didn't participate" or "Life was A LOT more difficult"

And here is something else, I encourage dialogue of how we can all do our part to be more environmentally friendly...

EXCLUDING DISABLED PEOPLE AND DENYING THEM ACCESS IS NOT ONE OF THE SACRIFICES WE ARE GOING TO MAKE.

Shaming people who need accessibility, a la, "Do we need straws today or would we rather save the turtles?" and similar language is NOT something we are going to normalize!

And just as I predicted people have already started yelling "Alternatives!!!" without reading the thread, without thinking about the costs, without thinking about diverse disabilities and how they won't work.

All to cling on to this irrational focus on banning plastic straws.

It's really so hard to make your work into:

"Just so you know, fam. Plastic straws are not the most environmentally friendly so if you don't really need them try to avoid requesting/using them."

"Servers, ask if your guests need straws and if they do, don't be an ass about it"

Shaming people who need them is not a necessary part of the dialogue.

Entirely BANNING plastic straws, as opposed to decreasing their use, when people are telling you they NEED (not want, NEED them) is not a necessary part of environmental preservation.