Mentally Disabled - Hopefully a thoughtful discussion

[Peter Quill]

No that wasn't a pun FYI.

As a person that has grown up with a mentally disabled sister for all his life I guess the best way to put in my perculiar position is odd. Generally we all know these people can't actually help the way they act, they try their best to fit in and they get brutally shot down in the process. Do people seriously have nothing better to do then be weak and pick on the people that can't help themselves?

Like I said, I live with a person like this at the moment. Then the sudden realisation picked into me, she acts diffrent and people talk about her behind her back. Yes I know she can't help herself it still kinda picks at me though. It doesn't help when somebody went up to me and said that she was creepy, almost punched the kid out.

It seems to generally strike to me that people don't actually tend to think about the things they say/do/think that are actually harmful to people.

Either way, do people that are weak and generally defenceless deserve this kind of harrasment towards them? How do you act around people like this? Nobody is perfect, I realise this even through all my bias towards people like this even I have acted out of control.

So basically we should discuss.

 

[The Thrashmeister]

Of course they don't deserve that kind of harassment. It's not their fault. But then again, humans are superficial idiots.

As for the way I act around such people, I generally refrain from making any sort of distasteful comment about their disability or any humor it might instill. To be honest, I don't even have that desire, really. But when I am in the presence of a mentally disabled person, I find myself extremely self conscious... I become really worried that I might say or do something wrong and end up offending somebody. So my actions become really deliberate and very careful...

Also... debate forum maybe?

 

[Sapphiredragon929]

this shouldn't be in a debate forum. Unless there is a seriously crel person here.

I am not mentally delayed, but I do have depression and several times went off the rail, and even to a point of suicide a couple of times. this of course attracts malice to a person because you aren't as pefect as them, of course it is not justified. I mean, homosexuals are not allowed to be dicsriminated against them because of their sexuality (along with Heteroes).

The sentence above is that, if homosexuality is kinda not allowed to be insulted for that sole reason, and if it does there's a severe penalty. Maybe we can do the same with the Meantally Disabled.

 

[zipzap713]

No, mentally handicapped people shouldn't be talked bad about. Its not their fault their bad about. But people can be jerks, so of course there will be those who talk bad about those that are mentally handicapped.

 

[InfamousMrJ]

At work, a group of people in such conditions often come by, and when they do, I make sure to treat each of them as an average person.
Sadly, the stupidity of youths past had moments of ridicule of such people. Now, don't bash me, as I said it was stupidity, and I do know better, and take the higher path with such circumstances.
At any rate, as I said, I treat them the same. I even go out of my way to be even more friendly than normal when they enter.
Too, I look down on those that mock such individuals for something completely out of their control. Distasteful and ignorant, and very unbecoming.

 

[PartyPokemon]

Yeah... that's no different from racism. Discrimination for no good reason. Making fun of someone because of how they were born (or maybe they developed it). They didn't CHOOSE to be disabled, did they? So why say stuff like that. People can be so horrible sometimes. If only the world was like SPPf...

 

[(s.i.e)]

these people can't actually help the way they act, they try their best to fit in and they get brutally shot down in the process

i know that, it's very fustrating, most people start ignoring you after a while and some even tell you to piss off.

Do people seriously have nothing better to do then be weak and pick on the people that can't help themselves?

that's basically what schoolbullies like to do, my childhood has been ruined by it.

she acts diffrent and people talk about her behind her back. Yes I know she can't help herself it still kinda picks at me though. It doesn't help when somebody went up to me and said that she was creepy, almost punched the kid out.

not very advisable, that kid is not used to see people in a condition like that, a kid once asked me if my handicap is contacius for other people, patience & explaining helps in this situation.

It seems to generally strike to me that people don't actually tend to think about the things they say/do/think that are actually harmful to people.

if they don't know what it is then they cannot be taken serious.


Moogles4ever, any handicap with both body and mind is like bearing a heavy burden but people like your sister and even me don't know better, we have it since we were born and we'll die with it, the best solution is to create more understandment about this in the world to prevent misunderstoodments, and that is already what alot of people do, the world is much more open and understandable towards handicapped people like it used to be, when i was a kid myself it was normal to hurt handicapped people by twisting their hands to force them to do what they are asked, 5 years later it will cost a man's job if they try that.

people say negative things about your sister because they don't know what it is,
try to explain them about your sister's condition will help in most of the cases.

 

[mew801]

Of course not. This is a person with feelings too, and even though they are a little different, doesn't mean that people have the right to shoot them down. One of my best friends sisters has Down Syndrome, and she is one of the sweetest kids you will ever meet in your life. She is 13 and goes to my school, and I sometimes see her being harassed by people and talked about behind her back, and they get an earful from me because I get so mad and angry at them.

But some people will just take any chance they can to harass someone, especially someone who can't really stand up for themselves.

 

[Sadib]

Abortion is killing a potential baby. People with mental disabilities have no potential to become anything more. I don't see how abortion is legal, but getting rid of them isn't.

 

[ArmorAndonomon]

Abortion is killing a potential baby. People with mental disabilities have no potential to become anything more. I don't see how abortion is legal, but getting rid of them isn't.

False.
EXTREMELY false.

I know quite a few people with mental disabilities, from Mental Retardation to Mental Issues (myself). I personally have severe Bipolar and was recently diagnosed with severe clinical Depression. My school district has many programs that help those with mental retardation, and there's proof that it works. I remember a girl who graduated last year, in particular. She walked oddly, and couldn't speak well, and she had mental retardation. However, she overcame all this and was bloody brilliant. She graduated in the top 10% of the class. She went on to a college around here that's helping her now.

People can overcome any form of adversity, even mental issues. You just need to let them.

 

[Blue Snover]

I have a cousin with severe autism, but i don't act any differently with him than i would the rest of my family.

I remember about 12 years ago i was walking with him and he had hold of my hand, because he was comfrotable like that, anyway a group of kids from my school started making fun of him, calling him stupid and gay.

That's what annoys me, because if they took the time to get to know him, they'd see he's a really sweet person.

People with mental disabilties seem to be ok around me, and not as self conscious.

I have a co-ordination problem, and i was sent to a place that could help me, and i met loads of other kids there, and they all had mental disabilities, but one i remember in particular was a kid with downs syndrome, because he was really nice.

I remember one particular day he asked if he could make something in the kitchen, and one of the women who worked there jus tsaid no straight out with no explanation, so he got angry and trashed the kitchen, they just ignored him, but i went in and sat on the kitchen floor talking to him and i explained to him that the reason they wouldn't let him was because they hadn't got any stuff ready and that we would be making stuff tomorrow.

He calmed down more or less straight away, the woman who told him no just stared at me, and then asked me how i managed to calm him down.

I just told her that if she'd explained to him he would have responded to her answer a little better, but she just tutted at me and walked away.

So basically what i'm saying is a little patience and understanding goes a long way.

 

[Peter Quill]

Abortion is killing a potential baby. People with mental disabilities have no potential to become anything more. I don't see how abortion is legal, but getting rid of them isn't.

Do you want a bunch of people with possibilities? Considering the fact that with a little understanding and patience people like this have potential to become much more. My sister has a friend who could barely talk she was so shy, eventually she came out of her shell and was able to become alot better in social aspects. (Yes this person had a disability.)

Basically what it boils down to, is that people need to get into more situations with people with disabilities, and also learn a little bit more understanding and patience. Unfortunately it takes a very mature person to do so, and I wouldn't expect finding one in my local high school anytime soon.

 

[Tokin]

Abortion is killing a potential baby. People with mental disabilities have no potential to become anything more. I don't see how abortion is legal, but getting rid of them isn't.

no, you don't know that, have you heard of savantism? it is a condition that affects nearly any mentally disabled person, while their normal capabilities are crippled, they have at least one skill that has developed beyond normal limits, someone who can't talk, write, or read because of a mental illness can very well be a fantastic artist or musician for example

 

[Jhonny]

Babylon said something in another forum something like the worst insults coming from the people that actually take what they're saying seriously. I think this applies quite a lot here, apart from people being much more protective over a disabled buddy. To be honest though, people who seriously assert that cruel things they say about mentally disabled people should be ignored or flogged.

As to the difference between abortion and killing mentally ill people, even without specific skills, there is still a quality of life that mentally people might hold. My cousin is wayyyyyyy mentally disabled, but she freakin' loves technicolor and enjoys music.

 

[Raiburuto]

Abortion is killing a potential baby. People with mental disabilities have no potential to become anything more. I don't see how abortion is legal, but getting rid of them isn't.

Wha...? I'm offended...

You are kidding right? People with any mental disability have just as much potential as anyone else.

My brother with Autism is a very talented artist, and will probably go on to do freelance work.

no, you don't know that, have you heard of savantism? it is a condition that affects nearly any mentally disabled person, while their normal capabilities are crippled, they have at least one skill that has developed beyond normal limits, someone who can't talk, write, or read because of a mental illness can very well be a fantastic artist or musician for example

Quoted for emaphasis. My brother definitely falls into that catagory

 

[Jhonny]

I'm not gonna lie, I do have a hard time not smiling when I see them.

We're really that obvious?

 

[dark rift]

I act neutral with them. I've had a friend who's brother was autistic, but I treated him like anyone else, although I didn't socialise with him much.


I've been to, and still a hospital with many mentally disabled people (no I'm not mentally disabled) and I know they can't do anything about it.

 

[cbiesra]

Having a 1 year old cousin with downes syndrome, I'm afraid these kinds of things are going to happen to him. I see enough of it with one of my friends who does have downes. Or one of my mom's close friend's daughter has autism.

The thing is though, it's going to happen. There's jerks everywhere that don't care about that kid that's retarded or the one that has to go to his own classes...
But these days it seems to have gotten a lot worse. Like this one girl who bumped into my friend with downes and got all mad and acted like a jerk saying things like eww or he's so ugly. (She shouldn't have been talking either)
So anyway, putting down people with mental disabilities or something worse like abortion, doesn't have any need. The retarded, and autisitic and whatever should be treated as normal. Not as outcasts.

 

[Riversong]

I always feel kind of awkward around people like that, because I don't know what to say. That being said, I understand it's not their fault, so I try to be the way I usually am: friendly. I have a few relatives that have some form of metal retardation, and one of them, my cousin Nathan, I get along with pretty well now (after like 11 years of misunderstanding...). When I was little I didn't understand why he acted the way he does, and me and my cousins weren't that nice >.> But these past few years have been better since we've all grown up.

 

[Alex-A-La-Mode]

Well my sister did this Special Olympics thing were they helped kids like that.

For myself though, I can't help but stare. I remember when I was in third grade, I was walking home and passing by was a woman with one arm! I felt terrible, but I couldn't stop looking, and all she did was smile.

Personally, I think those mentally disabled people are kinda cute. They have a very cute speech, it's kind of...enviable. I think it would be interesting to trade places with someone like that. They must be incredible people to get to know.