joking about adults who rely on their parents (you know, the classic "grown men who live in their mom's basement" joke) does harm disabled people, by the way. it doesn't matter if you don't think you're targeting us. you are.
i'm getting my own living space for the first time ever in two weeks. it's in my mom's basement in a new house. i'm physically and psychologically disabled, i have multiple severe mental health conditions, multiple physical disorders, i use a powerchair, i have to spend most of my time in bed, etc... of course its in my mom's basement. i'm lucky to have a mom who cares for my support needs.
you know why i cant live fully on my own? sometimes im in so much pain or so sick i cant get out of bed for days, and if i was alone, i'd starve. i can't go outside much, and on top of my mental health issues, living in total isolation would destroy me. i can't manage appointments or finances or any of that on my own. i wasn't able to finish high school due to my physical and mental issues. i can't get a job, it takes all of my energy to do so much as take care of my hygiene, and i'm terrified of people. living on my own is dangerous for me.
this is a dream come true. we're getting a house where i can try to be independent, but if i can't, i'm safe.
and yet, i have to fear all of the implications that will have for my social life, if i'm ever able to get one. i'll have to tell people to go around back to get into my house, and when they ask why, i'll have to tell them i'm in my mom's basement. and it doesn't help that people frequently see my autistic traits and deem me a creep - great, im a creep in my moms basement, this is going to do wonders. and i'm sure all of my other mental issues will make that even better. /s
like, i dont care if youre joking about the neurotypical able-bodied people who "leech" off of their parents - first off, if you really were, i don't know where the creepy part of the joke comes in, and secondly... people have their reasons. i dont know of many people who willingly decide to keep living with their parents in a basement if they had the ability to go to their own apartment. it is not a moral failing to struggle with independence as an adult. stop acting like it is
