Is there anything wrong with having a friend who is disabled?

Question

I have a friend who is mentally ill and whenever i'm outside with him, people stare as usual but when some people pass by, they look at me and say " you're retarded" or give me a dirty look. what should I do?

Answer 1

No, there's absolutley nothing wrong in having a disabled friend. Of course it's not a normal common relationship with normal communication, but you can offer him suppport and he can suppport you in his own way.

Just ignore those kind of negative reactions. I know it's hard to just ignore them and brush them off because they do hurt, but once you realize they don't matter, you don't pay attention to them anymore.
You know you're not 'retared' and you know you're not doing anything wrong by befriending a disabled person. If anything, you're only helping him. And that's all you need to know, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Answer 2

Your rights and the rights of others end at the tip of my nose....so, said John Stewart Mills, an English parliamentarian around the 1850's.

Having said that, for you to be a true friend, keep your other mentally ill friend from harming or annoying anyone else. The jails are loaded with people who are mentally ill and if you think serial killers are normal, you're crazy.

The point is, nobody has the right to abuse anyone else under any and all circumstances. Mental illness is not and answer to a question, but, asks the questions after the answer.

Be a true friend and do not allow your other friend to annoy, threaten or bother anyone. Matters and actions too often escalate and become the responsibility of the criminal or civil judicial/court system.

Definitely be friends, but, be a good and responsible friend and do not feed off of your other friend.

Answer 3

Don't give into your urges to react violently or rudely. They are the people being rude. If you stoop to their level you are just giving them the reaction they want. Instead, perhaps you could politely remind them that your friend is a person and understands what they are saying.

I work with mentally handicapped people so when I take them out in public people often stare. Usually, I just ignore the stares, but if someone seems to be extremely rude about it, I will often stare back at them or say, "I noticed you were looking at us. Is there something I can help you with?" This puts them on the spot and usually stops their rude behavior.

Answer 4

The looks and whispers come from being ignorant and dumb. It only takes 1 person to change that. You could be that person. There is nothing wrong w/ having a disabled friend. Keep on, keeping on. Go places and have fun. Don't hide or be ashamed of your friendship. Be brave. Maybe the next time you are out, someone who once laughed at your friend will see there isn't anything to laugh at. They might take it to heart that you two are people, living and loving life. At any rate, just ignore them. They have nothing better do than to belittle others and show their stupidity. Good luck.

Answer 5

There is definetly NOTHING wrong with being friends with someone that is disables. Ignore the jerks that are making fun of you.. seriously. Think about how your friend must feel, don't just drop your friendship just because of what some people say. Just think of it this way, the ones who give you dirty looks are the ones who will never understand, and will never succeed in life. Being disabled is not anything bad, so don't be ashamed because your friend is.

Answer 6

They are the ones who are retarded. I sincerely wish everyone were like you. Everyone needs a friend no matter what and sometimes its hard for the mentally ill to get friends because of how all these screwed up people think and how they turn up their nose. I'd personally like to thank you for being such a good person. Stay true to your friend, ignore the rest.

Answer 7

There is nothing wrong with having a friend who is disabled. If they give you a dirty look just smile right back at them to show you are proud of having them as your friend. If they keep staring, I would wave at them until they star away or go over and talk to them to see if they have any questions. But mainly they turn away when they notice you looking back at them.

Answer 8

NO and who gives if he is 'retarded' I work with ppl as the word you just used and they are not better or worse than you are or anyone else . It is weird we like in a world were it is now wrong to use the n word and other icky things but we can say retard and thats ok .umm?
I think we need to be kind to all and good for you and your friendship !
keep it up and to heck with the others

Answer 9

Ignoring them is best, but I wonder how they would know he is "mentally ill" unless you are in a "socially contained" situation such as high school (especially if people actually are making an effort to give you looks and call you rude names). Just be yourself. If you are in school, whatever the grade level, try to remember that it will end in a few short years. In 10 years, it won't matter one bit.

Stay true to yourself, and what you know to be good.

Hope that helps.

Answer 10

Stay friends with the person. I have a friend in New York whose husband was a very successful businessman and left her a lot of money. She is absolutely fine in every regard but SWEARS that little green men are invading her penthouse flat at night and shocking her; she also thinks the Co-op where she lives has people stalking her trying to killl her - and she has made those claims for about 20 years now. I know she can't help herself so I have no problem with it - but face it, most people are shallow. Stick to your guns. You're in the right, not they.