Societal Norms?

Beliefs and assumptions about mental illness affect the way people respond to someone who shows abnormal behavior. Those who behave in unusual ways or have been diagnosed as having a mental illness may be rejected by others. Many false beliefs exist about the causes and the outcome of mental illness. In general, what are your feelings concerning these issues? In addition to your response, be sure to respond to atleast two of your classmates. First off I'd like to say there is no such thing as normal as far as I am concerned. My normal day would look insane to most but it is my norm to say the least. Someone else may have a lighter load and that's their normalcy, not mine. So I dare each of us to attempt to define "normal" in this day and age! As for the topic at hand, I see the looks and snears for my son on a daily basis. Other kids laugh at him because his "voice" sounds funny. I hear things like "How come he acts so stupid like a baby" or "Jamie's a retard, look how he walks and acts". These things are cruel and unusual punishment for a child. Parents are to blame as well, not just the kids. I've had parents not allow their children around Jamie because he might hurt them etc. it's hard enough being a child, but when stereotypical mental illness assumptions are made by adults, it's quite enraging for this parent. When we come together as open_minded individuals with a common goal of understanding, then we will actually be a caring society.