I was at a garage sale and the lady whose sale it was had her autistic son sitting in the garage with her. He looked about 16? 18 maybe? But he spoke loudly and more like a preschool-age child. They had a dog in a fenced off area near the garage and I asked the lady what his name was and if I could pet him (I can't help myself with animals, lol) and she said yes and that the dog's name was Charlie. As soon as her son heard the word 'Charlie' his eyes lit up and he was all 'I really like Charlie. Charlie's cute.' and stuff like that. So I was talking to the kid as I was petting the dog and he looked so happy to be talking to someone. Mom looked happy too. So I stood up after petting the dog and was looking around the garage sale and picked out some beads for jewelry-making to buy and as I'm waiting to buy them, another woman in front of me was paying and she kept throwing disgusted glances the poor kid's way and making irritated noises the whole time the lady was counting her change and then when she had her change, she mutters under her breath 'That kid should not be out here.' And my mouth drops open and I just stare as she walked away. I looked back at the kid's mom and she just shrugs her shoulders like she hears that kind of thing all the time. I was too shocked to really say anything, but I managed to thank her for my purchase and said bye to her son who waved like mad and smiled at me, and left.

What the ever-loving-fuck is wrong with people to say something like that?! I mean, yes he was a little loud and yes he's different, but whoopty-fucking-do lady, deal with it! Everyone has their differences and your dumb ass has to point his out to try and make his mom feel bad or something? Really? And the way the mom dealt with it with just a shrug? It makes me wonder what other horrible things she's heard about her son. People are so cruel to anyone who's different and I don't get it. I mean, we're all different, so WTF?! tears hair out and screams

Sadly, it is still "frowned upon" to have any kind of major difference (mental illness, physical condition, etc). A lot of people in society are afraid of difference and most of the time it's because they don't understand those people. There will always be cruelty and judging no matter what we do. I feel wounded for the child because it's such an innocent and pure mentality that he has, and then it's tainted by people laughing and being rude because they are afraid.

I work with every type of people. Some of them with bigger baggage, but we all have ours to carry around and it's my pleasure to always help people accept who they are. I wish for a more tolerant society, .. peharps someday.

That sort of thing makes me sad...

Ugh! I've been in those types of situations before and in the end I always end up fuming... People are so judgmental of others. >:/

what the fuck is wrong with people. What the hell does she think her stupid, judgmental comments are going to help? I hope to god she doesn't have kids, is she going to lock them in a dark room if there's something "wrong" with them?

aw man now I'm raging.

sadly their are ignorant people like that in this world that think being "special" is a bad thing is should be greatly frowned upon when in reality their way of thinking should be frowned upon especially when they are making those remarks about a child,though it is still bad when it is done to a adult as well but to a child? seriously are you that ignorant to say such a think to a child be it a 5 year old, 10, even a 16 year old it is still a horrible thing to do, and i feel sorry for the mother who has to deal with all that ignorance of the people who speak badly of her child.

spot on when saying differences are frowned upon. So, I live in this smallish town while I'm attending university (one more year- whoo!) and the general belief system is Church of Christ- a denomination of Christianity. Because of the conservative beliefs of this denomination, I get frowned up on.. daily. I have tattoos. I wear shorts. I dare to be single and 21. "Ring by Spring" is literally something that is said, understood, and generally accepted here- which for people who don't know refers to the pressure and belief that you must be engaged (at minimum, but most people think you should be married) by your final semester at university. It's really frustrating to be looked down upon by people in this town, and it's so ridiculous. Just the other day I was just sitting in the park, trying to get a break from my apartment when this old lady, who I've never met before sits down and starts a conversation with me. I'm not huge on talking to strangers, but I was trying to be polite. That is till the conversation turned to "are you engaged?" Ugh! Then she proceeded to tell me all the things I should change about myself so that a "respectable young man" might notice me and ask me to marry him. Shoot me now. And if you don't shoot me now, shoot me the day I change for a man.

I'm a Social Work major (will be an actual social worker in less than a year!) and I hear stuff like this a lot at the places I volunteer. My friend works at a grocery store in town, which frequently and proudly hires those who are disabled. Just because a person is disabled doesn't mean they can't work- and many of them really enjoy their job. One guy, Chris, is one of these people, and I genuinely enjoy getting to see him when I make a run to get groceries. But a couple weeks ago, a woman in line in front of me told me that I could go ahead of her- that she was going to find another line, because a "retard" couldn't possibly ring up her groceries correctly, and if I was smart I'd move lines too. I was so infuriated. I told her off then and there. She called a manager over- I guess expecting to get me kicked out, and of course, he sided with me. He told her that she could check out at customer service this time, but that she wouldn't be welcome back in the store again. People who are ignorant and prejudiced infuriate me.

I would've said "Of course! I am happily married to a wonderful plant, Jerry. He's a dose of fresh air!"

Oh my God, I literally shed a year. This is so sad and so horrible! I can't imagine the atrocities she gets told about his son. I bet that boy is better hearted and more loving than any other 'normal' child.

I am surprised of your reaction tho . I loose my temper too easily and I'd have said a bunch of bullshit to that woman while she was leaving. And that includes a lot of punches if she dares to lie a finger on me way too aggressive here

I'll make sure to tuck that away for the next time I'm asked, which will probably be in a couple days, seeing as I'm asked at least twice a week.

- I feel bad for that boy and her mom. That boy seems as sweet as can be, and it's not fair for others to treat him like less than human. I have to give kudos to the mom for not abandoning her kid and actually taking care of him.

Being intolerant of other people just because they're "not normal" is one of those things that makes me rage. What is normal anyway? Is it being rude to everyone who doesn't follow your norms? I don't know, but I refuse to be "normal".

- I don't know how you're able to stay in that town. That place seems like a total hell hole to me. Also, there's nothing wrong with being single and 21. I was, and I turned out fine. Sure, I'm 23 and happily dating a guy right now, but marriage is not something we care about. We just want to finish school. (1 more year for me too!)

The only reason I stay is because I've invested so much in my education. And about 40% of my credits wouldn't transfer to another university- I checked. It took me so long to be ok being single- because I was in a really close relationship for two years and it turned out he was a total liar. Like, we had plans to get engaged and everything. Turns out he had a criminal record and a child. So now when people ask if I'm engaged I want to laugh out loud- because I'm definitely not getting back on that bike for several years to come.

- I'm sorry to hear that. I know what it's like to be lied to and led on to think someone is something they're not. It hurts a lot.

I don't know why universities have to be so picky with transferring credits. I guess it's a way to trap students.

My 5 year old son is autistic and it breaks my heart when I hear stories like this or read in the news about people beating up autistic kids. My son is on the low end of the spectrum but I'm still worried for his future :(

oh my goodness, that just hurts my heart. it makes me sad that this woman was so openly ignorant and the mother just shrugged it off. i can't even begin to fathom how people like her can act that way towards other human beings and not feel the tiniest bit of shame.

It makes me so angry that people like that think they need to voice their opinions when certainly no one is asking for them. It breaks my heart and enrages me to know that she and especially her son probably hear that and a lot worse on a regular basis. People can be completely disgusting and inhumane towards autistic people. I always feel so helpless when I see people talking like that, I've even seen parents of autistic kids talk about them and treat them terribly in public. I've called people out a few times, but usually the worst perpetrators are parents and what can you even say to a parent to convince them to treat their kid with respect if they hardly see their kid as a person to begin with? It's terrible.

I'm a person who is uncomfortable around the mentally and physically handicapped, because my mother was a special needs worker and they always made me shy, being forcefully brought around so many disabilities so often, it was very overwhelming. So I never learned how to act around them, if I was supposed to act differently for some and the same as everyone else for others. I could never learn what the RIGHT thing to do was. So I started avoiding contact with them, just so I wouldn't end up doing something offensive or stupid or cause a scene or cause problems...

but to openly be so blatantly rude towards them..? I'd never even think of it. Even if someone like that makes you feel awkward or uncomfortable, you could still at least smile and try to act civilized!

It's not like autism makes you a bad person. He's still a person! Even if you don't know how to behave around him, like someone like me, at least remember he's a person :(

Ugh, that just makes me mad. Some friggin people are so rude. I dunno if I could have kept my thoughts to myself, if I'd been in your place. I tend to be way to opinionated for my own good.

- Oh I know, some parent's of ill/disabled/whathaveyou kids are just so horrible. It breaks my heart that they treat them like they aren't even human.

That's really sad. People are less tolerable today then ever before. People are more self-absorbed and into themselves and don't understand people with challenges. I grew up in the 60's (yes I'm old) in Southern California where people accepted each other more easily and didn't judge.

That is just pathetic. Unfortunately I see that almost every day. I work for a company that helps people with disabilities, ranging from mental to physical. I myself having one too. There are days where I wish I could just smack the crap out of people and shake them till they realize the hurt they inflict on others mentally. Sometime I have to sit in a chair as I cashier and I get alot of comments to me, which I just shrug off, but its seeing people get rude to other people in the store who are disabled or have their family or friends who are disabled to the point of needed help really makes me angry. I do my best to always make them feel as "normal" and cared about as possible. We just have to do what we can to counter act what others do. As they say "what comes around goes around".