[eugenebrooks]

I suppose that my concern about someone's eyes being poked, with the potential for serious injury that could result, could be interpreted as lack of sensitivity on my part, but certainly not a lack of maturity.

I take eye safety very seriously. Faux poking can result in serious eye injury, an injury that we seek to avoid by requiring safety glasses in the pits and on the competition field.

One could take the view that a person who is not wearing safety glasses deserves to get his/her eyes injured, I do not. Anyone failing to wear the safety glasses deserves to be notified of the infraction and should be ejected from the pit if they fail to wear the safety glasses repeatedly. Getting poked in the eyes, for any reason, or by any person, is not acceptable and all required means should be used to prevent it.

If the person doing the poking is disabled, and therefore not responsible for their actions, I can understand that. If serious injury occurs, the responsible party may find that an apology is not sufficient, with the injured party seeking legal remedy. We can only hope that we remain lucky, and a serious injury does not occur.

I concur with Jane, every safe means should be offered to engage disabled people in our activity. I applaud this, but I do put the emphasis on the word safe.

Eugene