meow85 said:

Sowhat said:

Uh, no, It's not at all reasonable. People with Down's Syndrome, as this boy obviously has, often do strange and innapropriate things without provocation. How ignorant does a person have to be to assume that a person with DS, who is with his parent or guardian, would be high or be carrying a weapon?

I suggest you go spend some time with people who have Down's Syndrome befor eyou go spouting off about so-called attacks.

If the date on the video is accurate, there should have been subsequent legal action around this. I'd like to know what happened afterward.

suppose the guy with down syndrome was a perv acting bad around a child...he's still going to get punched to worse.

As a mom of a kid who has hit someone for no other reason than his disability, I would have had angry dad locked up. I bet he didn't even fucking apologize.

The problem with our society is we react first and ask questions later.

Vendetta1 said:

Absolutely.

peacenlovealways said:

Does anyone actually think or try to find out truth before they post dumb shit like this?

peacenlovealways said:

suppose he's not?

Vendetta1 said:

just saying...if he was... people wouldn't mind him getting beaten. The father was thinking his son was in danger...so he had a right to smash his damn face into the ground. the man learned his lesson...to keep his f-ing hand to his damn self or else.

ZombieKitten said:

Then he shouldn't be hit...maybe shoved to the ground... not punched to the ground. I don't know...maybe I'm crazy.

peacenlovealways said:

Oh ya? People with mental disabilities learn lessons this way?

peacenlovealways said:

Sexual inappropriateness is one of the ways some disabilities manifest themselves. Just as there are special accomodations for the mentally disabled when they kill someone, there would be for one acting sexually inappropriate so...come again.

Anyone ever put MY kid's face into the ground has a supersized asswhooping and jailtime coming. What people on this thread are failing to do is put themselves in the place of the mom with the disabled kid.

Vendetta1 said:

I've thought about that and, geez, it's such a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you want your special-needs child to live in a world where they're treated with a certain parity. On the other hand, that parity -- not just in policy, but in day-to-day social engagement -- comes along with hardcore stuff like this. Must be hell.

Lammastide said:

It is hell. I don't take my son to restaurants or ride public transportation because people don't want to try to understand.

peacenlovealways said:

It was his foot


Just sayin.....



Smooches;)

Vendetta1 said:

i understand and respect you ivy

ehuffnsd said:

I think you make a very important and overlooked point, Ivy, about none of us putting ourselves in the shoes of the disabled kid's mom.
[Edited 4/16/09 21:43pm]

alwayslate said:

No, i would look at the danger my child was in. The kid with DS had backed away and was way out of range, the father wasnt protecting he was exacting revenge. 2 different emotions. Protect is one, revenge is another.First thing is protect, or remove my offspring from the situation. This meat head didnt do that , he went PAST his son, didnt give his son a glance and whacked the kid. That is revenge not protection.
If you feel revenge is ok then that is on you. The world is in a sorry state because of reactions like this.

Oh yeah and if this is about how it is ok to react like this then i guess you are ok with the (hypothetical) DS kids huge Dad who is just out of shot now beating the shit out of this thug?
[Edited 4/16/09 23:13pm]

As a father of three, if some random stranger approached my child (as this man did) and even gestured to physically harming him, my protective side would have kicked in immnediately and I would have most likely done the same thing... maybe not a strike at the person, but pushed him away, whatever. And, I'm a relatively peaceful person.

If I found out later that the person had Down's Syndrome, initially I would have felt bad, then I would have told his caregiver/parent that he/she needs to be more aware of what their charge/child is doing... especially if he's prone to directing kicking gestures to random children.

Bottom line: No one kicks my child. No. One.

'nuff said.

peacenlovealways said:

This post is pretty ironic considering your user name

This affects me personally,because I have a uncle that has downs syndrome,and what alot of people do not understand,that people like my uncle that are not high functioning downs,really are child like. I agree with the others on here that think that this father should,and could have dealt with this situation SO much better than he did. Yes,the child should have not been kicked,but two wrongs do not make a right.

From the video,it looks like he is trying to talk on the phone,and the child comes in,probably making noise,and he reacted the way A CHILD would,still not right,but the fathers reaction was over the top,especially since the kid does not seem effected or hurt at all.
[Edited 4/16/09 23:45pm]

EmeraldSkies said:

I have two first cousins who have DS. One is highly functional, the other needs constant supervision. Neither would ever randomly kick a stranger. Ever.

Having DS in this clip is NOT the issue. The issue here is a parent's instant reaction to a perception that his child is being attacked physically. Did he overreact? Maybe. But, a reaction was in order.

DS comes into play after the fact...

June7 said:

True,and my uncle also would not randomly kick a stranger either,but the father definately could of handled the situation better.
[Edited 4/16/09 23:50pm]

EmeraldSkies said:

No doubt

I wish I had been there in person to witness all the nuances of the actual event. And totally steal all the napkins/condiments when everyone was a fussing afterwards.

I'd never have to buy another straw!

mdiver said:

Exactly!

Phil, if you and Val ever come to Finland, you guys should definitely look me up.
You are one of the most sensible orgers on the site.

FuNkeNsteiN said:

OHHHHH we will look you up if we ever get out there...for sure!
Ya know that ppl will think you are crazy now, don't ya?

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Cheers bro and that is a deal