Are there any disabilities or afflictions you are uncomfortable around?

I feel like a bit of a jerk about something. I like to think I am a good person, but there is something that makes me so uncomfortable.

The situation is that one of the "big" things my son's dad and I are at odds about at the moment is his new adoration of this one small little tavern. He likes to stop out there. Long story why I despise it...

Anyway, in effort to maybe show some solidarity, I agreed to go over there with him. I dislike him going there for many reasons that do not involve the owner. But the thing is, the owner had some sort of affliction (not sure what, probably cancer?) that has left him with a voice box thing.

I have been there four times and twice the owner has been there. I am entirely uncomfortable with it. I don't feel comfortable around that. He has to push on the thing on his neck (forgive me for not wording that better) to talk.

I feel like I am such a jerk for feeling this way.

So, did you ever have a time you felt uncomfortable due to another's condition?

No.

I think those voice-boxes make lots of people uncomfortable because there are so few of them.

I think my biggest issue is being confronted with a stubborn bipolar person who's obviously off the dose, and it's happened more than a few times. They can get very obnoxious and hard to deal with, then I lose my patience and the war is on.

Yeah, and like RB, I do feel like a jerk (among other things) for this, but in our town there's this one guy we see around who has no legs, and gets around in a motorized chair. I don't know his story, I have never met him, but I do see him around and when I do, I generally try to avoid bumping into him because you're not always aware of how physically you react to something and I keep thinking about if you stare, or if you look away, either way it can come off as damn disrespectful.

I understand you feeling uncomfortable, but when I am around people with disabilities I thank God for keeping me healthy and my heart goes out to them. Don't beat yourself up about it some people just have higher tolerance than others.

I'm probably uncomfortable around any that are obvious, but I try not to show it.

I think having a special needs child has really made me immune to just about everything. Having been constantly exposed to it on a regular basis, I don't even blink anymore.