Visible deformities as appearential clues often appear to have a rather different effect. As a number of sociologists have pointed out, some persons in America appear to feel that a handicap renders its bearer totally incompetent. … As such, they feel no hesitation in approaching total strangers to offer unneeded help or to express unwanted curiosity. … This willingness on the part of "normals" to intrude themselves into the affairs of the "stigmatized" (unless the latter is viewed as threatening, a condition we shall consider in a later chapter) most certainly adds to the burden of an already burdensome life

Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order a…, loc. 488