Not many people know this, but I have a pretty severe disability. And no, I am not "differently abled" or "gifted in a special way," especially since both of those phrases make it seem like I can function normally within my disabled arena.
The truth is... I suffer from something called Zig-Zag Dysplasia. It has yet to me recognized by the DSM-IV (similar to Dr. Tobias Funke's "Never-Nude Phenomenon," though I assure you it is a real and debilitating disorder.
In the simpelest terms I can conjure, Zig-Zag Dysplasia is a condition where the afflicted person cannot seem to void running into people. This may occur in hallways, doorways, along crowded and even uncrowded avenues, boulevards and walking paths. Indoors, outdoors-- it doesn't matter. Usually one is able to avoid bumping into another person at least some of the time. If you are walking towards someone who is also walking towards you and your paths will eventually meet, it makes sense that even if you both guess as to witch way the other person will veer that you should be right about 1/2 of the time (assuming no verbal cues, i.e. hip movements, are picked up on).
I, on the other hand, have about a 16% rate of moving in the right direction. This puts me in the Category 4 range of Zig-Zag Dysplasia. See the following chart for the conditions of each category:
Category 1: Zig-Zag success rate of 35-41%
Category 2: " " " " 28-34%
Category 3: " " " " 21-27%
Category 4: " " " " 14-20%
Category 5: " " " " below 14%
As you can see, I am nearly in the most dibilitated grouping. As such, please take special note to give me ample indications as to whether you plan to zig (move to the left) or zag (move to the right). I am not known for being lucky and will run into you... plus, my fake tooth is sharp and part metal.
