Yeah, I understand that staring is a double-edged sword. That just came first in my list because the lengths people have to go to avoid even catching a glimpse at my chair (or crutches) make it so obvious that that's what they're doing (while I'm right in front of them, trying to talk to them, even more so), so they might as well stare, and get it over with.

And yeah. I think there is a difference between judgemental staring, and the "What is that?" staring. Of course, a wheelchair is more rare in public, so I've just come to accept that kids, especially, will be curious (babies still in strollers get all wide-eyed seeing a grown-up in a stroller -- you can tell they want one like mine).