Dating a mentally challenged/ill person

quietgrl · 12-01-2006, 10:01 PM

Has anyone every dated a person who was mentally slow and ill? I was talking to an acquaintance on the phone today and he was telling me that one of the guys i wanted to ask out.He thinks he's "kinda" mentally slow and he also talks to himself.My acquaintance told me not to give this guy a dating chance.Would you?

Eva:Gina · 12-01-2006, 10:03 PM

So... is he ~actually~ retarded or is he just a bit strange?
There is a difference. If the guy needs help or assistance, then dating him may not be the best idea. However, if he is just strange, then whats the harm?

Caterina · 12-01-2006, 10:06 PM

If I liked his aura. Some people aren't intelligent but they have a wise spirit about them that is warming/therapuetic. Although, I tend to be attracted to men I find interesting and intelligent.

Also, if he was hot.

laboheme · 12-01-2006, 10:08 PM

I think you shouldn't rule the guy out based on solely what your friend said. Just because your friend thinks that the guy is "kinda slow" doesn't mean that you'll find him to be that way. Maybe your friend is just impatient, who knows? And talking to himself doesn't necessarily indicate any kind of mental disability. I know plenty of people who will mutter something to themselves if they are under stress, or thinking out loud, or just trying to be funny. Yes, there is the possibility that he can't control his talking to himself, or that he does it in a creepy way (a friend once tried to set me up with someone who muttered spells under his breath!!!). But unless you get convincing evidence, I don't see why you shouldn't at least meet the guy and decide for yourself if he deserves a dating chance.

Cloud802 · 12-01-2006, 10:39 PM

Yeah, just give him a chance, try not to worry about what your friend said.

AwdreeHpburn · 12-01-2006, 10:42 PM

why not find out for yourself?

Dako · 12-01-2006, 10:46 PM

I talk to myself all the time.

He might not be slow, but just different.
Without meeting him, how can you tell?

Lion-Guy · 12-01-2006, 10:47 PM

This sounds like a good situation for a coffee date. Not too much involved and you get to talk a lot. I agree with laboheme, don't rule him out just based on what your friend thinks of him. IF you go there with those thoughts in your head, you will prob find fault in him someway. Keep an open mind.

skyjuice · 12-01-2006, 11:21 PM

Hi

I talk to myself too. Part of the positive self talk practice.

quietgrl · 12-02-2006, 01:15 AM

I might as well reintroduce myself and see what happens.

12-01-2006, 10:01 PM	#1
quietgrl Offline Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: finally moving from Ca. Yes!!! Gender: Female Posts: 1,299	Dating a mentally challenged/ill person Has anyone every dated a person who was mentally slow and ill? I was talking to an acquaintance on the phone today and he was telling me that one of the guys i wanted to ask out.He thinks he's "kinda" mentally slow and he also talks to himself.My acquaintance told me not to give this guy a dating chance.Would you?

12-01-2006, 10:03 PM	#2
Eva:Gina Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Aotearoa Gender: Female Age: 25 Posts: 3,473	So... is he ~actually~ retarded or is he just a bit strange? There is a difference. If the guy needs help or assistance, then dating him may not be the best idea. However, if he is just strange, then whats the harm? __________________ Dont let the self-rightous dictate your own mind to you...

12-01-2006, 10:06 PM	#3
Caterina Offline Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,100	If I liked his aura. Some people aren't intelligent but they have a wise spirit about them that is warming/therapuetic. Although, I tend to be attracted to men I find interesting and intelligent. Also, if he was hot. __________________ How do they do it, the ones who make love without love? These are the true religious, the purists, the pros, the ones who will not accept a false Messiah, love the priest instead of the God. -- Sharon Olds

12-01-2006, 10:42 PM	#6
AwdreeHpburn Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tiffany's Gender: Female Age: 37 Posts: 4,639	why not find out for yourself? __________________ What i really meant to say, is that I'm sorry for the way I am......

12-01-2006, 10:08 PM	#4
laboheme Offline Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Gender: Female Age: 23 Posts: 837	I think you shouldn't rule the guy out based on solely what your friend said. Just because your friend thinks that the guy is "kinda slow" doesn't mean that you'll find him to be that way. Maybe your friend is just impatient, who knows? And talking to himself doesn't necessarily indicate any kind of mental disability. I know plenty of people who will mutter something to themselves if they are under stress, or thinking out loud, or just trying to be funny. Yes, there is the possibility that he can't control his talking to himself, or that he does it in a creepy way (a friend once tried to set me up with someone who muttered spells under his breath!!!). But unless you get convincing evidence, I don't see why you shouldn't at least meet the guy and decide for yourself if he deserves a dating chance.

12-01-2006, 10:39 PM	#5
Cloud802 Offline Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Washington Gender: Male Age: 20 Posts: 363	Yeah, just give him a chance, try not to worry about what your friend said.

12-01-2006, 10:46 PM	#7
Dako Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Gender: None Specified Posts: 9,115	I talk to myself all the time. He might not be slow, but just different. Without meeting him, how can you tell?

12-01-2006, 10:47 PM	#8
Lion-Guy Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 277	This sounds like a good situation for a coffee date. Not too much involved and you get to talk a lot. I agree with laboheme, don't rule him out just based on what your friend thinks of him. IF you go there with those thoughts in your head, you will prob find fault in him someway. Keep an open mind.

12-01-2006, 11:21 PM	#9
skyjuice Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,168	Hi I talk to myself too. Part of the positive self talk practice.

12-02-2006, 01:15 AM	#10
quietgrl Offline Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: finally moving from Ca. Yes!!! Gender: Female Posts: 1,299	I might as well reintroduce myself and see what happens.