Content
Is it really fair? I read a lot about people who get very upset or offended when they are "unintentionally mocked" or when someone who is ignorant makes a big deal out stuttering. I am one of those as well sometimes. I get super defensive. I have also noticed a lot of people who say that people who "don't understand immediately/ or don't accept" that they stammer or stutter are trash. I, again, am often one of those. But now I am wondering: 2 days ago, I met a guy, easily in his 30's, who seemed perfectly "neurotypical". He had a broken foot that I was redressing. We were talking, I thought he had a weird accent but whatever, and he told me that he broke his foot, jumping out of a tree house. I asked why, and he said that his mom called him and he jumped. I asked how high the treehouse was and he said 20 feet. I laughed. I didn't say anything, I just laughed because wtf jumps out of a 20 foot tree coz their mom called them? I didn't laugh at him, in fact I fully expected him to laugh with me. When I looked up, dude was enraged. He wanted to kill me I think. I asked him what was wrong and he claimed, that I thought it was funny that he broke his foot and I was laughing at him while he was in pain. Now I speak English and he was American and the story was funny but somewhere our wires had crossed and this guy thought I was laughing at him for breaking his foot. He wasn't just miffed tho, I was legit afraid for my life for a second. He started shouting and almost threatened me, his mom came in and told him him to shut it. Thats kinda when I realized that he suffered from severe autism and had totally misunderstood me. I had to explain to both him and his mother the entire situation. Once he understood the hilarity of jumping out of a tree (especially when there was ladder), he laughed and was fucking fine! Anyway, I think of all the people who have laughed (seemingly at me), or given me strange look, or even asked whether I have forgotten my name. I think of how shabbily/cold/ or offended I have acted afterward and I am mortified. I have vowed this year to be more understanding and patient with people, and maybe a little less defensive. . Some people are legit trash, but it really helps to give people the benefit of the doubt for at least some time. Meanwhile, Dude and I became pretty good friends and I am now invited to his birthday party this weekend. I am definitely gonna go even if for only 5 minutes.