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Dec 13, 2011, 08:26 PM
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Someone on another forum made the statement that he envies the mentally handicapped, because they seem so happy, carefree, and totally oblivious to life's problems. This prompted people to tell stories about how their autistic family members aren't necessarily happy and carefree. And one person, the one referred to as "Username" in my quote here, where I edited his name out, was of the opinion that life is hard enough without having to depend on others to wipe your butt for you.
Well, my reply might earn me some hate points, but I was only being honest.
This is what I had to say:
Quote:
I make a distinction between the autistic (who can have very high IQ's) and the intellectually delayed. Both fall under the category of "mentally handicapped," and both get derisively called "retard" by mean-spirited creeps, but there is a ginormous difference between the two. Although (Username) makes a powerful case, I actually agree with the OP. I envy those who are intellectually delayed, the ones who have the mentality of children. I test within the autism/asperger's spectrum myself, as do several members of my family, and I have actually been told by a psychiatrist that I might be a significantly happier person "if we could find a valve and drain off some of your IQ points." As a child I was getting the best grades in my class, but I was the slowest runner, and the last to learn to climb a tree, throw a ball, jump rope, or ride a bicycle. Never mind my intelligence, it was the physical delay that earned me the dreaded label of "retard" and guaranteed that my classmates would despise me.
And don't think the intelligence ever balanced anything out. Any time I was the only one in the class to get an A on a test, I was a "nerd," a "geek," a "weirdo," and paradoxically "dumb," "stupid," and STILL a "retard."
Besides this, I had an aunt who was intellectually delayed. She never developed past the mental age of about 10 or 11. She was a bedwetter her entire life. Although for many years she held a job in the family business, and was good at it, her job involved simple, repetitious tasks and nothing more. She could never live a fully functional adult life, always had to be supervised, and remained totally dependent on her mother, who outlived her.
The doctor had told my grandparents she could not become stressed out, or she might slip into seizures. Therefore, any time there was a conflict between her and another child, they'd intervene and make sure she got things done the way she wanted it. Back in the days before cable and VCR's, if there was a disagreement over what to watch on TV, everyone had to watch what she chose, so she wouldn't be upset. She always had to be humored and told she was right. People did NOT call her "stupid" and "retard" as they did me. They were too polite. And she was always the center of attention. Any family gathering or activity catered to her special needs, and ran on her timetable--ie, the rest of us were always waiting for her to catch up. Any game, race, or contest, the others froze in their tracks and let her "win" so she'd feel good about herself. Those of us who were "normal" were the ones asked to make the sacrifices.
So yeah, I envied her.
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