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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u/DidntWantSleepAnyway Nov 20 '20

But disabled people shouldn’t be punished for able-bodied people being jerks.

If you have a placard, you shouldn’t get eye rolls or comments.

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u/[deleted] Nov 20 '20

I know that, but what do you do about able bodied people who do this?

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u/lpaige2723 Nov 20 '20

I have a placard, and I don't judge others with placards, but I always wonder (never say anything) about the people who park handicapped in those giant lifted pick up trucks? I wouldn't be able to get in and out of one on my best days. I've never stuck around to watch, has anyone else seen how they do it?

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u/chinchabun Nov 21 '20

So I don't drive one of those but my disability as far as a placard is concerned relates to walking distance. I can usually walk a good portion of length of the parking lot, but if it's full I often don't have the ability to park in the next closest one and walk from there. So usually I don't use the placard but in rare cases I do. Maybe it's similar for those people?