Making fun of disabilities.

How can people do that? How can they lack that kind of empathy or emotional connection to those that suffer? Is that not what makes us human?

I ask this because a GameFAQ member (surprise, surprise) made light of my Asperger's. I don't take it personaly these days but it makes me think of the other people that do it to those more seriously disabled than myself and it makes me just a tad angry.

I remember reading a story on a forum once about someone who was randomly kicked by a person with a mental disability (he didn't specify what it was, tourettes maybe) who wanted to cut in front of him while waiting in a lunch line. He argued that being disabled doesn't give you the right to treat others like jerks and that's what makes people treat the disabled with less respect. I saw people poking fun at disabled (behind their backs of course) all the time at my college but I feel that kind of thinking is maybe a product of the uneducated. I don't know.

I can tolerate people with disabilities making fun of themselves. Like Josh Blue. But mocking Disabillities is the biggest no.

Don't we basically do it every time we call someone dumb?Nude_Dude

Not unless the person is trully retarded, mentally disabled if you will. If someone has a measured IQ of 80, 90, whatever, or if they are acting stupid, then it's not making fun of a disabled person, just a dumb person.

As for making fun of actual disabilities, people that do that ought to get b**** slapped a few times to wake up.

Its absolutely horrible to do. People who do that are ignorant, shallow and highly lack knowledge to function in life.

Being disabled sucks.

Depends what you mean by making fun. Obviously going 'that guy is disabled lolololol' is pretty damn rude and offensive.

On the other hand, do you laugh at racial jokes? or the general crude type that come out of Sickipedia? They may or may not be about disabilities but I tend to find a lot of them are in good nature, but just hit near the knuckle.

Sometimes you've gotta laugh things off, but being obnoxious about it just isn't fair. I should know, my brother's had a lot of crap about being autistic whilst going through school.

Immaturity, plus having not spent a second of their lives suffering.

Whatever, Wilford Brimley is the one that made it funny. "If you has bein livin with this here die- a -beet- isscall mutual liberty for your teststing supplies. Mutual liberty understands you have die - a -beet - iss. (ASTOUNDING)Unlike those other insurers that keep sending you die- a -beet - iss testing supplies for your ingrown toe nails. You see mutal libertly understands you have ingrown toe nails due to improper toe nailcare. So mutual liberty sends you die- a -beet - iss testing supplies for your die - a - beet - iss. Now, please let me out of here. I want socome back inside. Funny things, I hear funny things out hear. I'm not gonna harm anyone and there's nothing wrong with me, and if there was I'm all better now. I 'd like to come back inside now. I'm sorry I smashed the comm center,my die - a - beet - iss was acting up.I just want tofinish building my space ship so I can travel back to the die - a - beet - iss solar system.

I ask myself this quite often. How can people be so rude to people they know nothing about? Though this applies to people without disabilities as well.

My guess is that they just don't realize what they are doing can bother other people. They are just trying to be cute or funny, and don't realize that what they say may get to other people. They are just insensitive. Or they just don't care. Plus people act differently in different places. A lot of people say things online that they wouldn't in real life. And I know people that are the nicest people when they are alone, but as soon as they get together with certain friends they are complete jerks.

It really gets on my nerves sometimes, though.

Because people have been rude since the dawn of man. Do people not realise that there are people who don't care about others at all?
Some people feel better about themselves when they make fun of people; or they grew up with people who do the same thing and the cycle continues.

i have no respect for people who hold the percieved right to not be offended. if im going to joke about one thing. ill joke about anything. everyone has disabilities of some sort, if you cant laugh than you have bigger things to worry about than your disability

i have no respect for people who hold the percieved right to not be offended. if im going to joke about one thing. ill joke about anything. everyone has disabilities of some sort, if you cant laugh than you have bigger things to worry about than your disability

blackacidevil96

i have no respect for people who hold the percieved right to not be offended. if im going to joke about one thing. ill joke about anything. everyone has disabilities of some sort, if you cant laugh than you have bigger things to worry about than your disability

blackacidevil96

We're not talking about jokes, we're talking about flat out making fun of someone, I.E Mocking someone with a disabilities. Jokes are fine, but flat out mocking is cruel.

[QUOTE="blackacidevil96"]

i have no respect for people who hold the percieved right to not be offended. if im going to joke about one thing. ill joke about anything. everyone has disabilities of some sort, if you cant laugh than you have bigger things to worry about than your disability

ABCarmine

We're not talking about jokes, we're talking about flat out making fun of someone, I.E Mocking someone with a disabilities. Jokes are fine, but flat out mocking is cruel.

aaaaaah ok. i see where youre coming from. no thats not cool to do to anyone.

People with asperger's lack empathy and other emotional capabilities. If you find this person's behavior so disturbing and upsetting, I dont think you really have Asperger's. Most people with aspergers would not be interacting in social forums.

sonicare

Well that is just untrue and ridiculous. There are entire forums for people with Aspergers syndrome and they are very active. Is everyone there lying?

And not all people with Apergers syndrome lack all emotional capabilities. They might not always be able to effectively express their emotions the way "normal" people do, but they don't lack them completely.

People with asperger's lack empathy and other emotional capabilities. If you find this person's behavior so disturbing and upsetting, I dont think you really have Asperger's. Most people with aspergers would not be interacting in social forums.sonicare

That's not what empathy means and I think I know myself, mate.

It's true that Asperger's often lack a certain amount of empathy but not completely and this is a broad condition that operates on a scale of severity. I'm lucky, my case is based around a difficulty in communication when talking to people face to face which is precisely the reason why i'm on internet forums instead of interacting with people in the real world. Other cases resemble OCD with obsessive attention to detail.

So, Asperger's is not a disability that can be defined by one symptom alone. Some have empathy, others less depending on the severity of their case but those that are lacking you can rest assured suffer in other ways in their day to day life. Or, they would not have been diagnosed with Asperger's to begin with. You clearly don't understand this particular disability.

Also, I never said I found this person's behaviour 'disturbing and upsetting'. In fact, I believe I actually said I didn't take it personaly. The point of this thread is to get people's opinion of the treatment of people with any disability - not just Asperger's.

People with asperger's lack empathy and other emotional capabilities. If you find this person's behavior so disturbing and upsetting, I dont think you really have Asperger's. Most people with aspergers would not be interacting in social forums.

sonicare

[QUOTE="sonicare"]People with asperger's lack empathy and other emotional capabilities. If you find this person's behavior so disturbing and upsetting, I dont think you really have Asperger's. Most people with aspergers would not be interacting in social forums.Starshine_M2A2

That's not what empathy means and I think I know myself, mate.

It's true that Asperger's often lack a certain amount of empathy but not completely and this is a broad condition that operates on a scale of severity. I'm lucky, my case is based around a difficulty in communication when talking to people face to face which is precisely the reason why i'm on internet forums instead of interacting with people in the real world. Other cases resemble OCD with obsessive attention to detail.

So, Asperger's is not a disability that can be defined by one symptom alone. Some have empathy, others less depending on the severity of their case but those that are lacking you can rest assured suffer in other ways in their day to day life. Or, they would not have been diagnosed with Asperger's to begin with. You clearly don't understand this particular disability.

Also, I never said I found this person's behaviour 'disturbing and upsetting'. In fact, I believe I actually said I didn't take it personaly. The point of this thread is to get people's opinion of the treatment of people with any disability - not just Asperger's.

[QUOTE="Nude_Dude"]Don't we basically do it every time we call someone dumb?Sunfyre7896

Not unless the person is trully retarded, mentally disabled if you will. If someone has a measured IQ of 80, 90, whatever, or if they are acting stupid, then it's not making fun of a disabled person, just a dumb person.

As for making fun of actual disabilities, people that do that ought to get b**** slapped a few times to wake up.

Dumb means mute. That'swhat NudeDude was saying.

On topic, I really don't think it's that bad to crack a joke or two, but bullying someone with disabilities is wrong.

Wow, not even 2 pages yet, and there has already been alot of ignorant things posted...

Asperger's is NOT a recognized mental disability.

Wow, not even 2 pages yet, and there has already been alot of ignorant things posted...

DaJuicyMan

I'm not making fun of the OP. I'm just saying that he seems to have a level of emotional understanding and insight that is much higher and developerdthan someone with Aspergers.

[QUOTE="Starshine_M2A2"]

[QUOTE="sonicare"]People with asperger's lack empathy and other emotional capabilities. If you find this person's behavior so disturbing and upsetting, I dont think you really have Asperger's. Most people with aspergers would not be interacting in social forums.sonicare

That's not what empathy means and I think I know myself, mate.

It's true that Asperger's often lack a certain amount of empathy but not completely and this is a broad condition that operates on a scale of severity. I'm lucky, my case is based around a difficulty in communication when talking to people face to face which is precisely the reason why i'm on internet forums instead of interacting with people in the real world. Other cases resemble OCD with obsessive attention to detail.

So, Asperger's is not a disability that can be defined by one symptom alone. Some have empathy, others less depending on the severity of their case but those that are lacking you can rest assured suffer in other ways in their day to day life. Or, they would not have been diagnosed with Asperger's to begin with. You clearly don't understand this particular disability.

Also, I never said I found this person's behaviour 'disturbing and upsetting'. In fact, I believe I actually said I didn't take it personaly. The point of this thread is to get people's opinion of the treatment of people with any disability - not just Asperger's.

As for making fun of this and making fun of that. Most people don't mean anything by it. You make it sound like everyone has nothing else better to do than torment others.

Some people are too sensitive. Emos. They dig their very own emotional dramas. Nobody cares. Some people have diabetes, so what, nobody really cares.

As for making fun of this and making fun of that. Most people don't mean anything by it. You make it sound like everyone has nothing else better to do than torment others.

Some people are too sensitive. Emos. They dig their very own emotional dramas. Nobody cares. Some people have diabetes, so what, nobody really cares.

MagnumPI

I lol'd at this. It's true, no one really does care.

I'm not making fun of the OP. I'm just saying that he seems to have a level of emotional understanding and insight that is much higher and developerdthan someone with Aspergers.sonicare

Well, it's gotten me moderated several times for misunderstanding someone that sparked an argument and my best friend is my pet Yorkie. Hope that helps.

Asperger's is NOT a recognized mental disability.

garathe_den

[QUOTE="sonicare"]

I'm not making fun of the OP. I'm just saying that he seems to have a level of emotional understanding and insight that is much higher and developerdthan someone with Aspergers.

Starshine_M2A2

Raspberry Ripple Awards

This is in, and of itself, distasteful.

Political correctness gone awry.

Let's all feel sorry for ourselves.

I'm not making fun of the OP. I'm just saying that he seems to have a level of emotional understanding and insight that is much higher and developerdthan someone with Aspergers.

topic creator, i am autistic myself and i feel you totally.

all thoughtout my life, i've been pushed aside and made fun of because of it. always being deemed as weird, creepy, and just awkward in general. This has led to me living a rather anti social life. and to be honest, i don't think it's entirely autism's fault for making us have restricted social and communication skills. there are far too many arrogant, rude, and judgemental people in the world who can't get off their high horses long enough to look past things like this in order to discover one on the inside. people like this are just as much to blame for autism being a problem as the mental illness itself.

i think the worst was when Napoleon dynamite came out (i fully believe that movie mocks autistic people. say what you want). much of the main character's behavior is very similar to that of autistic people. and as a result. people have told me that i remind them of him. even though we look nothing alike. i can't tell you how insulting it is when people say things like "hey, you kinda ask and talk like that one character from that movie John Hieder was in". Then i have to tell them i'm autistic and the feel bad for making fun of me.

Lack of empathy, perhaps they are uneducated. I also believe media makes it easier for people to be less empathised to people with disabilities and make the harmful jokes they make.

As for me I'm legally blind, I can't see anything clearly unless it's six feet in front of me. When I was in elementary/middle school I got made fun of a lot. Now I don't so much and I hardly ever did in High School. Although I still get the occasional person who thinks they're cute by handing me a pair of glasses with a sarcastic smile. I hate it when people make fun of me. But i've learned that if your able to laugh on the outside it doesn't hurt so bad on the inside. I don't mind it when people who know me and I'm close to crack jokes but when it's a complete stranger it sucks. I had a dental assistant who told me that my teeth looked horrible and rambled on about it. When I told him I couldn't see my teeth so well when I brushed them he said that the whole "legally blind excuse" was the best he heard.

Lack of empathy, perhaps they are uneducated. I also believe media makes it easier for people to be less empathised to people with disabilities and make the harmful jokes they make.

As for me I'm legally blind, I can't see anything clearly unless it's six feet in front of me. When I was in elementary/middle school I got made fun of a lot. Now I don't so much and I hardly ever did in High School. Although I still get the occasional person who thinks they're cute by handing me a pair of glasses with a sarcastic smile. I hate it when people make fun of me. But i've learned that if your able to laugh on the outside it doesn't hurt so bad on the inside. I don't mind it when people who know me and I'm close to crack jokes but when it's a complete stranger it sucks. I had a dental assistant who told me that my teeth looked horrible and rambled on about it. When I told him I couldn't see my teeth so well when I brushed them he said that the whole "legally blind excuse" was the best he heard.

X-The-Doctor-X

Obviously their glasses wouldn't help but wouldn't a pair for yourself (withthe proper subscription)let you see a little bit farther?

[QUOTE="Starshine_M2A2"][QUOTE="sonicare"]

I'm not making fun of the OP. I'm just saying that he seems to have a level of emotional understanding and insight that is much higher and developerdthan someone with Aspergers.

sonicare

[QUOTE="X-The-Doctor-X"]

Lack of empathy, perhaps they are uneducated. I also believe media makes it easier for people to be less empathised to people with disabilities and make the harmful jokes they make.

As for me I'm legally blind, I can't see anything clearly unless it's six feet in front of me. When I was in elementary/middle school I got made fun of a lot. Now I don't so much and I hardly ever did in High School. Although I still get the occasional person who thinks they're cute by handing me a pair of glasses with a sarcastic smile. I hate it when people make fun of me. But i've learned that if your able to laugh on the outside it doesn't hurt so bad on the inside. I don't mind it when people who know me and I'm close to crack jokes but when it's a complete stranger it sucks. I had a dental assistant who told me that my teeth looked horrible and rambled on about it. When I told him I couldn't see my teeth so well when I brushed them he said that the whole "legally blind excuse" was the best he heard.

ROFLCOPTER603

Obviously their glasses wouldn't help but wouldn't a pair for yourself (withthe proper subscription)let you see a little bit farther?

No, I need a pair for distance more then I do clarity. And if they can make binocular type glasses (without the mounted binocular) then I'd be set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ny6tiH_GTE

i blame show business for the insensitivity of society

albeit i did find it somewhat funny, all the "grab my strong hand" quotes from this movie made me supremely misanthropic throughout high school when it first came out.

I give no credence to anyone who vilifies making fun of disabilities but not making fun of race, sexuality, etc. There's a fine line between poking fun at something and picking on someone for said something. I'm all for anti-bullying causes and such, but to stop all jokes about anything in the process is ludicrous. People need to be able to laugh at themselves.scorch-62

The reason is simple: laugh at it, or cry. I'd rather poke (gentle) fun at a disabled person than pity them, since it seems to irritate most of the disabled people I know.

Before I get the "but bullying them is wrong" bit... I'm a short guy. I'm an adult, and I'm only 5' 5". I got pushed around a lot in school. When I pushed back, the bullying stopped. When the target fights back, it stops being fun. Instead of standing up for the disabled, stand with them, but let them fight their own battles.

(By the way... on that Raspberry Ripple Awards page... 1 in 8 people are disabled?!? Their definition must be pretty ******* loose.)

As a fan of humor and comedy, I feel there should be absolutely no bounds when it comes to subject matter.

Blatant mocking and/or ignorance is just annoying though.

This also depends on what you mean by "make fun".

It is one thing for a comedic television show or movie (or comedian) that makes fun of absolutely everything to make fun of a disability, or for friends to make light of a situation. That's fine. But it is entirely different for a complete stranger to come up to you and insult you for no reason other than your so-called disability (or race, sex, etc).