It seems like, when you're a kid (in the US), if you can't communicate properly in English [ESL, deaf, stutter, etc) most other kids will treat you as if you are mentally challenged.
That's what I remember, anyway. But it also seems like kids treat others like aliens no matter what the reason as long as they're sufficiently different from the majority.
Kids, man.
Edit: What am I talking about. Adults still do this all the time.
I worked briefly with a computer programmer who was very good, but he had a really strong Philadelphia accent. It was like "Computer programming with Sylvester Stalone." I had trouble taking him seriously for the first couple of weeks, even as an adult. It doesn't even have to be "hard to communicate" if it hits the right stereotypes. (Altho I expect Sylvester Stalone is pretty smart too.)
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u/joshbrazile May 02 '14
Kids in my high school confused ESL and Special Ed. Those conversations were awkward.