I have often wondered whether people are rude because what they see instills some sort of fear in them. Or perhaps they aren't being rude, just ignorant or misinformed. My brother was born severely autisic, profoundly retarded,scizophrenic, and non verbal, the later means no talking, but could yell and scream. He looked perfectly normal... yes.. no signs of any retardation on his face. Obviously he wasn't like everyone else, but he did LOOK like everyone else. We would get such stares, because of his mannerisms(ie rocking, or any other repeative motion, but his behavior as well). My parents believed because he was 'special' he should NOT be cooped up all the time in the house, and made it a point of taking him with us everywhere. There are many funny stories as I look back.. but quite honestly he would really be hard for people not.. NOT to stare. Imagine this.. My brother 16 years old.. in Sears.. walking past the bathroom displays... UNAWARE to him.. that they are DISPLAYS... decide he needs to USE the bathroom... yes.. you all can guess the rest.. In the middle of bed and bath.. pants down, and on the toilet! WHO wouldn't stare!AND if you know anything about Autism... just try and make him stop what he's doing! ha ha! So.. I truely understood people when they stared, gawked or were really upset. We did Alot of explaining! Most of the time people were afraid of him.. because he LOOKED normal but was not behavior that way.