History Main / KeepingTheHandicap

It may also be that their handicap makes them more appealing ''in the eyes of others'': for example, for an attractive LoveInterest, small imperfections like SexySpectacles, [[SpeechImpededLoveInterest speech impediments]], or a slight limp would often serve as an additional "turn-on".

-->'''Furel''', explaining why he chooses not to get a prosthetic arm, ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''

Compare CursedWithAwesome and DisabilitySuperpower (the disability/curse has benefits instead of the removal of the disability/curse having detriments); CantStayNormal; IChooseToStay. Contrast IJustWantToBeNormal.

* Taken UpToEleven with Chané Laforet from ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' who basically ''asked for a handicap''. Namely, she asked her father to make her mute, so that she would never betray his secrets.

* ''Disney/BrotherBear'': [[VillainProtagonist Kenai]], who was [[BalefulPolymorph magically turned into a bear]], ultimately opts to remain that way in order to stay with Koda, out of affection and also out of guilt, since [[spoiler:he caused the death of Koda's mother]].

'''Other dwarf:''' I don't know, strap a shield to it?\\

** During the second season, Dr. Pulaski offers ocular implants to Geordi as she has experience with that sort of surgery. He declines at the time, saying that he's not sure the technology could equal what his VISOR can do. He does eventually get them in ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact''.
*** This may be because his VISOR proved itself hackable, to the point of getting the ''Enterprise'' destroyed...

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' series, the Librarian was turned into an orangutan many years ago. While it has significantly reduced his intelligence (WordOfGod is that he can no longer even think in human languages), he has steadfastly refused and/or sabotaged any attempts to change him back, because he's found his new orangutan body beneficial to his job (for one thing, climbing bookshelves is much easier with feet that can grasp like hands.)

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* In the finale of the first ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'' anime, [[spoiler: Ed regains his lost arm and leg, only to give them up again to pull Al out of the Gate. In contrast with the manga and ''Brotherhood'', where while he gets his right arm back but his left leg is still metal and he gives up his ability to perform alchemy to restore Al's body.]]

* ''Disney/BrotherBear'': [[VillainProtagonist Kenai]], who was [[BalefulPolymorph magically turned into a bear]], ultimately opts to remain that way both to remain with Koda and out of guilt, since [[spoiler:he caused the death of Koda's mother]].

* Michael Corleone of ''Literature/TheGodfather'' initially chose to kept his jaw wounded by PoliceBrutality, distrusting the [[BackalleyDoctor doctor]] he lived with in Sicily and, even after, wanting to keep his image, until his wife Kay convinces him otherwise.

* Risa in the ''Literature/{{Unwind}}'' dystology second book. She could have regained the use of her legs with a replacement spine but since it would come from an unwound teen, she refuses it.
* In ''Literature/TheWaveAndTheFlame'', Dr Megan Levy wears glasses in an age where defective eyesight can always be corrected by surgery and glasses are considered obsolete, so that she can look disapprovingly at her students over the top of them.

** We've seen multiple Klingons in ''Franchise/StarTrek'' with eyepatches even though cloned implants are generally available. Martok in particular refuses Bashir's offer to replace his missing eye. This probably plays into their honor system, i.e. their "victory" would mean less if they could get back what it cost so easily.

* In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' Q tempts Riker by giving him the Q's godlike powers. He uses the power to grant some favors to the crew, such as giving the blind Geordi normal eyes, but they all ultimately refuse the gifts, saying that the price is too high.

*** This may be because his VISOR proved itself hackable, to the point of getting the Enterprise destroyed...

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Homer discovers that he has a crayon inside his brain that he stuck up his nose as a child, and after having it removed he becomes significantly more intelligent. Unfortunately, [[IntelligenceEqualsIsolation this intelligence comes at the cost of being ostracised by his friends and co-workers]], and at the end of the episode he asks for it to be put back in so he can go back to being his old, dumb, likeable self.

* A very significant proportion of real life disabled and neurodivergent people prefer being disabled to a hypothetical life without said disability and have stated that even if a cure was available, they wouldn't take it. For example, two communities that in general are rather united in this belief are the D/deaf and autistic communities.
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* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'': On fighting Magus, Frog (a human cursed into a giant bipedal frog) thanks Magus for it, as he claims his achievements would never have happened in his human form (several of his abilities make use of his tongue and jumping ability). [[UnexplainedRecovery However, the ending cutscene shows him as a human]].

!!Examples

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': Titan shifter's are able to suppress there HealingFactor to [[CoverBlowingSuperpower pretend to be normal people]]:
** [[spoiler:Reiner deliberately keeps his arm broken so he won't be exposed as the Armored Titan. Once he outs Bertolt and himself, he promptly fixes the wound]].

* Barbara Gordon aka ComicBook/{{Oracle}}, Franchise/TheDCU's MissionControl and KnowledgeBroker extraordinaire, had access to several potential cures to her paraplegia because of her association with superheroes. However, she refused to use these as she felt it was unfair that [[ReedRichardsIsUseless she could use these technologies and normal people couldn't]]. In the ''ComicBook/New52'', Barbara [[ThrowingOffTheDisability gets surgery to fix it]] and becomes active as ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2011}}'' again.

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* Risa in the ''{{Literature/Unwind}}'' dystology second book. She could have regained the use of her legs with a replacement spine but since it would come from an unwound teen, she refuses it.

--> '''Ishabal:''' "If you may correct your vision as you like, why do you wear spectacles?"
--> '''Tris:''' "Because I like them. Because I have better things to do with my magic than fixing my vision when ordinary glass will do.

* ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'' In the climax of the [=StrexCorp=] arc Kevin tries to turn Steve Carlsburg to his side by saying [[MegaCorp StrexCorp]] can "fix" his paraplegic daughter. Steve vehemently shouts that she is not "broken" while suplexing Kevin into a dimensional portal.

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Durkon's mother Sigdi lost her arm years ago. When she joins the party in battle, wielding an axe, [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1162.html she's questioned]] why she didn't let Durkon regenerate her arm with a spell before the fight. She explains that Durkon needs all the high-level spell slots he can get for the fight, then touches upon this trope:
-->'''Sigdi:''' Plus, I been like this fer fifty years an' change. I'm na sure I'd know what ta do wit two hands right away!\\
'''Other dwarf:''' I don't know, strap a shield to it?
-->'''Sigdi:''' It's OK, lass. It took Durkon a while ta unnerstand, too.

-->'''Xykon:''' You're not regenerating anything. That eye? That's your individual Idiot Tax. That's what this fiasco costs you personally. I want you to remember every moment of every day what happens if we sit on our lazy ASSES and rearrange the furniture in a ruined city instead of moving on to the next target. If I ever see you with more eyes than assholes, [[AssShove I'm going to shove one in the other]].

* A very significant proportion of real life disabled and neurodivergent people prefer being disabled to a hypothetical life without said disability and have stated that even if a cure was available, they wouldn't take it. For example, two communities that in general, are rather united in this belief are the D/deaf and autistic communities.
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* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': One of Kira's Bajoran friends, Furel, lost his arm while a member of the Resistance. He says that he prayed to the Prophets offering to exchange his life for those of some friends who were captured at the time. He feels that surviving with only a missing arm is an act of mercy by the Prophets, and getting a new arm would be ungrateful. Of course his girlfriend (?) is quick to joke that he avoids a new arm just to avoid having to put in a full day's work.
** We've seen multiple Klingons in Series/StarTrek with eyepatches even though cloned implants are generally available. Martok in particular refuses Bashir's offer to replace his missing eye. This probably plays into their honor system, i.e. their "victory" would mean less if they could get back what it cost so easily.

* In ''Literature/Messenger'', after Matty discovers his power of Main/HealingHands, he offers to heal his friend Kira's lame leg. She refuses because her disability is intrinsic to who she is.

* Literature/TheWillOfTheEmpress: When Ishabal brings up the possibility of Tris using her magic to correct her vision at need:

* Countershade from ''Videogame/MightyNo9'' is a one-armed sniper who lost his missing arm in a battle, and has opted not to have it replaced because [[HandicappedBadass he enjoys the extra challenge his handicap brings to combat]].

-->'''Sigdi:''' Plus, I been like this fer fifty years an' change. I'm na sure I'd know what ta do wit two hands right away!
-->'''Other dwarf:''' I don't know, strap a shield to it?

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' One of Kira's Bajoran friends, Furel, lost his arm while a member of the Resistance. He says that he prayed to the Prophets offering to exchange his life for those of some friends who were captured at the time. He feels that surviving with only a missing arm is an act of mercy by the Prophets, and getting a new arm would be ungrateful. Of course his girlfriend (?) Furel is quick to joke that he avoids a new arm just to avoid having to put in a full day's work.
** We've seen multiple Klingons in Series/StarTrek with eyepatches even though cloned implants are generally available. Martok in particular refuses Bashir's offer to replace his missing eye. This probably plays into their honor system, i.e. their "victory" would mean less if they could get back what it cost so easily.

* In the finale of the first ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'' anime, [[spoiler: Ed regains his lost arm and leg, only to give them up again to pull Al out of the Gate. In contrast with the manga and ''Brotherhood'', where he gives up his ability to perform alchemy to restore Al's body.]]