[kyebosh]

> it's very unlikely that his son would have ever been a contributing member of society.

I'm having trouble getting past this comment. I don't wish to malign you debacle - I'm sure you're not being malicious - but it seems like a very unkind & privileged mindset. I hope this isn't representative of the community.

Paul Gionfriddo certainly doesn't consider his son to lack contribution.

[THE_PUN_STOPS]

My brother is mentally disabled. I love him dearly, and I've fight tooth and nail for him to have as normal a life as possible. However, I would not describe him as being a likely candidate for being a "contributing member of society." His affliction fundamentally prevents him from doing almost any job. That's just the reality of it.

[prodigal_erik]

I don't see any argument that his son with "no job prospects and a debilitating mental illness" is currently capable of doing work that benefits society. He's rightly only concerned with his son's survival in the crude conditions we provide, and how he might have turned out differently.

[Camillo]

> but it seems like a very unkind & privileged mindset.

You think being of sound mental health is a privilege? In Europe we think health is a right, which is why we have public health systems. It may sound a bit strange at first, but it works quite well.

[cynest]

In this context, privilege is being used in the sense of, "he was a child of privilege."