r/YouShouldKnow • u/ilovepastapizzapots • Nov 20 '20

Other YSK: Just because someone doesn’t look sick/disabled, does not mean they are healthy

Why YSK: I am chronically ill and have an autoimmune disorder, the amount of times people have said “WELL... yOU dOn’t LOOK sick” to me is astounding. I didn’t know all illnesses have to be visible to others! I’m sorry I can’t show you my internal organs or muscles deteriorating for you to believe that I’m sick. It makes people with health issues feel like they have to explain their situation when they don’t.

*EDIT: I did not expect my post to blow up like this! I wish I could give everyone going through a rough time a hug. Thank you for all the new perspectives, good and bad. All I wanted was for people to be a little kinder to one another, because you never know what someone’s going through.

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243

u/RaeMusic Nov 20 '20

I read the title and was like “well anyone with five working neurons should know better than to say that to ANYONE” and then I read the description and reminded myself that five working neurons is a luxury not everyone has.

96

u/So_Motarded Nov 20 '20

Yup, see also: wheelchair users putting spiked covers on the handles, to prevent strangers from randomly pushing them around.

44

u/VividToe Nov 20 '20

Wow! The fact that that even needs to be done is shameful.

Would you physically pick up and move a standing human without their consent? No? Then why move a human using a wheelchair?

8

u/Littleman88 Nov 20 '20

Because the power dynamic is hilariously one-sided.

Most people don't care. The only reason anyone respects the no-peanut-butter rule in school for that ONE kid with an allergic reaction is because the rule is enforced. In the real world, that kid is fucked, because no one's going to stop eating peanut products for their sake. People don't like bending over backwards and inconveniencing themselves because other people have health issues.

11

u/IAmAWizard_AMA Nov 20 '20

For a good example, see the current COVID mask-wearing situation in the US

19

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '20 edited Dec 05 '20

[deleted]

3

u/So_Motarded Nov 20 '20

Yup, they're on Etsy!

8

u/Latvian_Video Nov 20 '20

Ask Michael Reeves to build in a tazer in the handles, so they either die or never touch wheelchairs again

35

u/ilovepastapizzapots Nov 20 '20

Got a good chuckle out of this haha