I don't understand why people are so upset by the handicap spot episode. Here's a plot summary:
1) George does a stupid thing. 2) Someone else is harmed because of his stupidity (like his mother or Susan). 3) Kramer meets the woman harmed by George, finds her very attractive, and wants to start seeing her. 4) Kramer talks George into chipping in (yes the dreaded chip in) to buy this woman a present. 5) The woman dumps Kramer because he isn't attractive enough. 6) As it happens, the present they bought this fickle beauty is defective, and she is injured because of it.
What's offensive in that? This beautiful and manipulative woman has taken advantage of George and Kramer and fate has stepped to balance the scales. I really don't see what her being in a wheelchair has to do with it, other than that it is easier to contrive the original accident. One of the best things about Seinfeld is its realistic representation of minorities. Remember the Bubble Boy? Do you think his crudeness was a swipe at sick people? I think these less than ideal representations are true-to-life and allow you to empathise and understand these characters. Most sitcoms never show handicapped people at all, or when they do show them treat them like living saints. Handicapped people are like anybody else. The bubble boy and the wheelchair woman are pretty unpleasant, but so are a lot of the nonhandicapped characters on Seinfeld.
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