The sort of critical comments below really make one question the motives for devotee/wannabe behaviour especially when it clearly offends some disabled people.

However, as we know, these feelings exist despite being fully aware of all that disability means to those affected.

A comment from someone with polio since 1952 who has really suffered badly as a result.

If any of you can fantasize of leg braces on a person then as a polio victim from 1952 please, let me encourage you to have some real fantasies of the life that I have lived.  My life has been filled with dissapointments of not being able to run, play sports, keep a home on a daily basis, I have had children but now suffer with more loss of mobility after 47 years of leg braces and have fun with my grandchildren in a wheelchair.  Now let's do fantasize about a wheelchair, and the coldness of always having to sit in it with my leg brace right there, and needing help to go to the store, to the doctor, to the bathroom (to pee)  AND please, do not leave out the pain.  It is very real, to you must include it and feel it every day and every night TWENTY-FOUR hours a day.  Now also, do not forget how much money, it will take to have you new braces, (about $1,700.00 per leg).  Sort of leaves you short on cash.  Then, your wheelchair will take more out of your pocket (Are you dates getting kind of hard to get?) Your insurance will no longer be good so I sure hope Medicare will cover any coverage that you need!  How does that all look to you now?  Your models that look sexy in leg braces, I wonder if they have the fortitude that it takes to get up each and every day and face that day riddled with pain and suffering.  Oh of course they can, because they can slip out of that brace any time that they want to.  And those pix of the children from the 1952's with their leg braces and crutches are priceless and should not be associated with any of your garbage.

Please, let me tell you, I am a very well adjusted and pleasant person but this kind of garbage should be just that and thrown away.  You can destroy a persons confidience with your thoughts.  Keep them to yourself and remove this trash from any link with polio, disabilities, etc.

The following guestbook posting was received from a person with polio who is extremely unhappy with devotees and wannabes. His reaction is to some extent understandable. No doubt it will cause some self-questioning.

This is what "polio survivor" said .....

This site was posted as a warning on a polio line. And I am glad it was. I have HAD to wear braces, and build up boots all my life. I hate them. Now I have learned that there are people who actually want to wear them. Now when people look at me I will know that it is not with concern or "normal interest" but with a sick attitude. Why would any person want to be crippled. Do you need attention that much! Tell you what, you, can have my life and I will take yours for as long as you want. How great it must be to decide to put on a brace, because it gives you warm, comfy feelings instead of pain and discomfort. To just on a whim decide," Oh I will wear my brace today, so people will feel sorry for me, and I can fool them into pitying poor little me." I do not have that choice. Grow up!

In context, these are the only negative comments that I can recall in 14 years of running this site. Most people with polio and other disabilities who have e-mailed me can't understand why we should be so fascinated by leg-braces. However, they are prepared to be open minded.

What do you think about these comments? Why not give me your views on the guest page.

• If you are a disabled person, do you agree?
• If you are a devotee do you think our interest is about self pity, feeling sorry for ourselves, or attention seeking?