A mentally retarded kid hates me and i dont know why?

Question

Ok, so in gym class, they mix the normal kids with the mentally ill kids, i have no problem with it, until today. Well for you to totally understand the story ill have to describe myself. I am a senior at my high school, i am 6 foot 8 and 350 lbs, i have hair that engulfs my face (if youve seen the new halloween movie, i look like michael without the mask, with all that hair lol) i ussually wear a biker vest, a black tshirt, camo pants, and combat boots, but i am nice as i can be to everyone i meet, i hold doors open for everyone, i let other people go in front of me, etc. and in my gym glass there is a mentally ill kid, hes a freshman kinda small, and has a voice that sounds like a toddler (if that sounds offensive in anyway i am sorry), well today we got our locks to put on our lockers, so i put mine on my gym locker and while walking out the kid says something that i couldnt understand, something about his lock, all i could understand was something about turning it full last time, and i said " no man, you just go right to the last number" and then he said something i couldnt even begin to make out, and i said "i am sorry man, i cant help you, i gotta go" (and i did have to leave and go back to the gymnasium) so then he gave me this death stare for a few seconds, so i just said "ill see you man" and i glanced at him and he was still looking at me. So about 5 minutes later, hes walks back into the gym were everyone else is, and about every 15 seconds hed look at me, then he walked over to the teacher , and walked back and about 20 seconds later the gym teacher called me over to him, and said hey man, "do you have an ipod", at first i was like what? and completely confused, and he said "One of the kids said you were listening to an ipod, idont really care though ill let you off this time" and i dont even have an ipod, and also i dont think the PE teacher cared, I think he just didnt want to upset the kid, so all day ive been thinking "why does that kid hate me"

if there is anybody who could help me that would great also could you tell me how to get along with this kid, i really dont want him to think i am a mean kid, because i am not

Also please excuse my spelling and grammatical errors, i typed this very very fast

Answer 1

he was maybe imaginging the ipod, or got you mistaken with someone else?

I don't know.. maybe he's just holding a grudge and he'll get over it.

Answer 2

You might not have understood what was said, and the way you ran off from him when he needed your help was a little rude. Calling him a mentally retarded kid is also rude. Handicapped maybe, but no one likes to be called r****d, got it.

Answer 3

mentally ill and r****d are not terms that are used for poeople with a learning diffuculty these days please be kinder when you describle these people you may of not meant to be hurtful, you could ask this persons mentor/parent about them and the extent of their disability,you know that your voice,height and manner and those such things might remind them of someone who has previously (hurt) them

Answer 4

if he is mentally ill maybe he has anger issues and is deciding to take them out on you because he might of thought you were being rude with the whole "sorry dude i gotta go" thing.By the way,you can ask the kid why he told the teacher you had an ipod when you didnt but i suggest not because that would most likely make him think your mean to him and cause more trouble

Answer 5

I'm thinking simple misunderstanding.  He probably is always having troubles at school, and the amount that go unnoticed is much great that you may think.

Perhaps his ipod was stolen from his locker/coat/etc. and you were seen as someone in on the "conspiricy" in his mind.

Perhaps confront him and ask that - or just ask him if there something you can clear up - you seem like the type that'd be okay.  

I'm not sure on his speech level and what you understand, but if your serious to take the time to tell the world about it, maybe write down your questions on paper and slip it in his locked locker.

Perhaps someone as a complete jerk to him and he saw you happen to be talking to that person even in passing, and the misunderstanding is you are an enemy by association.  I dunno.

Nobody may know this answer, but we hope it works for you.

Answer 6

If you use terms like "retarded" and "mentally ill" all the time, that might be part of the reason you get this reaction from the student. You may not mean it this way but these terms are very derogatory and demeaning to students who have developmental disabilities.  Mental illness is a totally inaccurate term for most students who are in special education. Yes, there are students with emotional disabilities but that does not necessarily mean they are mentally ill.  Even a nice person, using these terms, will come across as rude.  

I work with special ed kids and I have been called in to the principal to help him understand what one of my kids was telling him, because of speech problems.  It takes some effort but you can figure out what such students are trying to say. You may already have tried this but trying to be supportive and attentive instead of blowing him off might go a long way toward a better relationship.

Answer 7

maybe the kid doesn't really hate you, maybe he just finds you 'threatening' based on how you describe yourself. you know that feeling that you get bad vibes about somebody?  not that you are threatening or whatever, but the way you use 'mentally ill' and 'mentally retarded', i would find that really scary,too. i have a feeling that you don't totally understand the concept.

just take time to understand the 'mentally challenged' kid.. maybe, smile a little if you see him.. then gradually get to know him a little better.. who knows you might end up like best friend!s :)