Is this such a big deal?

[InnerRebellion]

My girlfriend's brother has numerous things "wrong" with him. The boy has severe autism, he had leukemia, and many other things I haven't been willing to ask about. Many people in the town are well aware of his condition, and have labeled him an "undesirable", or someone nobody should associate with.

When I first met my girlfriend's mother, her brother was there, and I had already known a few of the things that were bad in his life, and I knew he liked baseball, so I sat down with him and started talking to him about the Red Sox.

The next time I went over, her mother asks me if she can talk to me for a moment, and I'm thinking to myself, "Aw hell! But we haven't gotten up to any mischief whatsoever!" But no, she tells me that she had been afraid I was going to leave Autumn (my girlfriend) just because I'd met her brother, and she was so happy that I was nice to him.

A day later, I'm ignored all over town (well, that's the usual, but it was an eerie avoidance, nobody even looked at me). Now, is it such a big deal that I happen to see my girlfriend's ill brother as a person? Or is my town just full of prats?

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Sounds like a town full of prats all the way.

I have friends with Autism/ ADHD/ name a condition I probably know someone with it.

And I don't care about that, if they're nice I talk to them.

 

[Soulgaunt]

Well then, they sound like pricks. Ignore the one person who seems to be open to those who are handicapped? There must be something we're missing here. Did you happen to burn down any churches lately?

 

[Biosophilogical]

Okay, by 'town' do you mean 'everyone probably knows you so no looking is weird' or 'Just passing randoms in the street and it is entirely possible that I am being paranoid'?

If it's the former, then you are unlucky enough to live in one of those towns that has only progressed beyond witch-burning due to federal laws.

 

[Meemaimoh]

Your town is so full of prats that I'm struggling to believe it. What, exactly, is "wrong" with him that isn't an illness?

 

[SonicWaffle]

A day later, I'm ignored all over town (well, that's the usual, but it was an eerie avoidance, nobody even looked at me). Now, is it such a big deal that I happen to see my girlfriend's ill brother as a person? Or is my town just full of prats?

Uh...what the fuck? Are you sure you're not just being paranoid? You seriously think people would look down on you for being kind to a disabled kid? If so, you must live in the dickhead capital of the world.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

Use your newfound super powers for awesome.

I suggest banks, electronics boutiques and anywhere ladies are getting nekked.

Being invisible is awesome. I wish I had your power. T_T

 

[InnerRebellion]

Well then, they sound like pricks. Ignore the one person who seems to be open to those who are handicapped? There must be something we're missing here. Did you happen to burn down any churches lately?

I'm an outspoken atheist in a very Catholic town, and my family is generally disliked because none of us were born and raised here.

Okay, by 'town' do you mean 'everyone probably knows you so no looking is weird' or 'Just passing randoms in the street and it is entirely possible that I am being paranoid'?

If it's the former, then you are unlucky enough to live in one of those towns that has only progressed beyond witch-burning due to federal laws.

Yeah, it's the first one. The population is around 10,000...oh lookie, here's a Wiki page on our little place! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holbrook,_Massachusetts

 

[Brisingr]

Sounds like Pratsville to me. Ignore them and you'll be grand

 

[InnerRebellion]

A day later, I'm ignored all over town (well, that's the usual, but it was an eerie avoidance, nobody even looked at me). Now, is it such a big deal that I happen to see my girlfriend's ill brother as a person? Or is my town just full of prats?

Uh...what the fuck? Are you sure you're not just being paranoid? You seriously think people would look down on you for being kind to a disabled kid? If so, you must live in the dickhead capital of the world.

I'm not being paranoid, and that's the sad part of it all. I walked into the ice cream parlor and the place was silent until I left.

Your town is so full of prats that I'm struggling to believe it. What, exactly, is "wrong" with him that isn't an illness?

Well, many of the people in this place consider any illness "against the norm" and thus warrants a shunning of said "abnormal" person.

 

[comadorcrack]

Woa! That's a dick move by the town. If they're too stupid to realise that just because someone's Different it doesn't make them a lesser human, Than you don't want to be associated with them anyway...

 

[Glamorgan]

Now, is it such a big deal that I happen to see my girlfriend's ill brother as a person?

It seems that by liking her brother, you aren't a very good gossiper.
But firstly, who the hell wants to be one of those ...things? They're just bitches. Ignore them.
And secondly, if you didn't think he was a person, you wouldn't be much of a boyfriend, yet alone much of a human being.
You should be proud of yourself. You're the kind of person I'd want as a girlfriend. If you were a girl. And I had any chance with anyone.
Not calling you a girl. Or that I want to be with you. Just saying that... Ugh, never mind. You get what I mean.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[Meemaimoh]

Well, many of the people in this place consider any illness "against the norm" and thus warrants a shunning of said "abnormal" person.

Wow. Your town is stuck in the Dark Ages or something, isn't it? I thought those places only existed in lame horror flicks.

 

[gbemery]

A day later, I'm ignored all over town (well, that's the usual, but it was an eerie avoidance, nobody even looked at me). Now, is it such a big deal that I happen to see my girlfriend's ill brother as a person? Or is my town just full of prats?

Uh...what the fuck? Are you sure you're not just being paranoid? You seriously think people would look down on you for being kind to a disabled kid? If so, you must live in the dickhead capital of the world.

not too mention how fucking small is this town that everyone knew to 'stay the unclean' just a day later? Either it is a town of 4 people (Your gf, her brother, their mom, you and the grumpy old lady next door), a town full of nothing but gossips who mingle at the one hair salon in town, or you are just over reacting...and i am leaning towards the paranoia.

 

[SonicWaffle]

I'm not being paranoid, and that's the sad part of it all. I walked into the ice cream parlor and the place was silent until I left.

You have an ice cream parlour? Where is this town of yours located, in the 50's? ;-)

OK, look at this logicaly; how would everyone in town be aware that you'd been nice to the kid? Who'd tell them, your girlfriend? Her mum? Hell, why would they all care? If you have 10K people living there, most of them have probably never even heard of you, your girlfriend, or her brother.

Well, many of the people in this place consider any illness "against the norm" and thus warrants a shunning of said "abnormal" person.

Statistically, in a town with a population of 10,000 there are going to be lots of people with various illnesses, mental or physical, and so a lot of the people you think were ignoring you will be related to or know someone with a disability. Also, generally people are pretty decent, and to sneer at someone for being friendly with disabled children - an activity that is almost universally praised - would mean being an absolute cuntbucket. I find that unlikely. None of this is adding up. Are you sure you haven't done something else that would upset people, like setting a homeless guy on fire? We've all been there, man...

 

[Cody211282]

Wow your town sorta sucks, what did that kid ever do to them?

 

[InnerRebellion]

I'm not being paranoid, and that's the sad part of it all. I walked into the ice cream parlor and the place was silent until I left.

You have an ice cream parlour? Where is this town of yours located, in the 50's? ;-)

OK, look at this logicaly; how would everyone in town be aware that you'd been nice to the kid? Who'd tell them, your girlfriend? Her mum? Hell, why would they all care? If you have 10K people living there, most of them have probably never even heard of you, your girlfriend, or her brother.

Well, many of the people in this place consider any illness "against the norm" and thus warrants a shunning of said "abnormal" person.

Statistically, in a town with a population of 10,000 there are going to be lots of people with various illnesses, mental or physical, and so a lot of the people you think were ignoring you will be related to or know someone with a disability. Also, generally people are pretty decent, and to sneer at someone for being friendly with disabled children - an activity that is almost universally praised - would mean being an absolute cuntbucket. I find that unlikely. None of this is adding up. Are you sure you haven't done something else that would upset people, like setting a homeless guy on fire? We've all been there, man...

It is an odd thing to try an understand. You have to actually live here to understand half of the crap that goes on. Almost every single person I know in town, and that Wiki stat is a lie, because many of those people have moved away since 2000. I'm not a very liked person around town, having fought the local rich boy in court numerous times, and causing a few corrupt but liked teachers to lose their jobs. It's a very confusing tale, but I don't have the time to explain the entire town. My questions really were is it a big deal, or does my town suck?

 

[w-Jinksy]

hold on but WHAT THE FUCK?

Seriously why would people act this way he's ill its not like hes the antichrist or a murder or something i mean fuck... i gotta be honest thats knocked me for six how can people act this way i mean seriously.

But you know what fuck the rest of the town continue being nice to that kid sounds like he deserves to be treated like a human by someone outside of his family.

i really want to know what the towns problem is with him i'm sorry if im ranting a bit but this is ridiculous.

 

[KindOfnElf]

Regrettably, I understand you cause I grew up in a town like that: small number of population, where everyone knows everyone, and when someone is not from the place (my mom for instance is not from THE town) that is rubbed in ones face ALL THE TIME. It's like... we live in prehistory and we took someones cave dammit! I don't have the words, it just sucks big time!
Ignore them, seriously. At least that's how I got by while growing up, that made me stronger person, and ummm maybe a little paranoid cause I grew up with a general opinion that people are pretty much evil things.
Just be yourself, and do what you want to need to do, and blind yourself for the prejudice coming your way. And good luck, really really good luck.