u/GenZedsMother

I was talking to an old school friend who was telling me stories about the small town he grew up in.

He said that it was well known in the community, that there were disabled adults, living independently (with carers) because their wealthy parents, wanted to avoid the shame of having a disabled child.

My own mother was sent to one of those “love child” homes, out of town for 6 months, to have her illegitimate child, so I’m gobsmacked hearing it may have happened to disabled children.

Is there any truth to this?

Insomnia has me watching reruns of Skippy because it’s on at this time of the morning, and I’ve noticed twice now, that a male kangaroo was used to play her!

What’s your knowledge of Skippy? Anyone got any other fun facts? A favourite episode?

I’ve got to say, what a fantastic kids show it still is!

One thing I’ve noticed, when debating topics with MJ defenders, they get overwhelmed with emotion, and resort to gaslighting, which muddies the water, and the point of the debate gets lost.

Gaslighting can be a natural reaction, especially when you’re young and not an experienced communicator, so I’m not saying all gaslighters are abusers.

I’m saying it’s a tactic abusers get very experienced with employing, because it’s so effective and almost normalised these days.

Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic used to make someone question their own memory, perception, or sanity. The goal is to shift blame and maintain control.

In online arguments, gaslighting is used to distort reality, deflect blame, and make the victim question their own sanity or memory. The goal is to avoid accountability by discrediting the other person's perspective.

Here are common examples categorized by how they are used:

Denying Reality

• "That never happened."
• "You're imagining things."
• "I never said that."
• "You must have dreamed it."

Minimizing Feelings

• "You're way too sensitive."
• "You're overreacting."
• "It was just a joke, stop taking everything so seriously."
• "You're overthinking it."

Shifting Blame & Deflecting

• "You made me do this."
• "I wouldn't act this way if you didn't treat me like that."
• "Why are you always trying to start an argument?"

Undermining Credibility

• "You're crazy."
• "Everyone else agrees with me."
• "You have a terrible memory."
• “Grow up!”
• “Cool story bro”
• “Insert personal insult about your appearance”
• “You’re obsessed with this topic”
• “You never shut up”

Once you recognise these tactics for what they are, stop, breathe and and repeat your statement again, and ask them to address the criticism, not you personally.

Hope this helps!

Edit to add further important information, regarding all victims of gaslighting, especially MJ’s victims.

Gaslighting has a direct and devastating impact on mental health.

By continuously manipulating a victim into doubting their own memories, perceptions, and sanity, this form of psychological abuse frequently leads to severe, long-lasting anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Why Gaslighting Causes Mental Health Issues

Erosion of Self-Trust: When a manipulator constantly denies reality, victims begin to internalize these lies.

This relentless second-guessing destroys self-confidence and leaves the victim feeling incapable of making basic decisions.

Hypervigilance and Anxiety: Victims often "walk on eggshells," anticipating the next attack or manipulation. This chronic stress triggers prolonged anxiety, panic, and a constant state of fight-or-flight.

Feelings of Helplessness: As victims accommodate the abuser's false reality to avoid conflict, they become disconnected from their own feelings.

This loss of personal agency frequently progresses into feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and depression.

Profound Isolation: Gaslighters often warp the truth to make the victim look unstable to others, which discredits them when they try to seek support. This forces victims into self-doubt and social withdrawal.

I’m not going to make this complicated, because it’s not.

The percentage of people who have devastating childhoods, that still turn out ok, is higher than those that don’t. That’s facts.

Does that mean the abuse of the 60’s - 90’s was ok? NO. Does it mean it helps people to become great? NO!!

It means that there are no excuses for abusing children mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally none!!!!!!

There are mitigating circumstances that can bring understanding as to what motivates offenders, but there are no excuses. Offenders must be held accountable.

Human beings are resilient, intelligent, and wired for survival. They have the ability for self awareness, that’s why the majority turn out ok.

Edit to add: Narcissists lack empathy. They use that lack of empathy, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, they use YOUR EMPATHY AGAINST YOU to groom and manipulate. Their depth of feeling, is only related to SELF.

I believe MJ was also a narcissist.

My parents took us to a park in the 70’s, that had life sized rocking horses in it, and I can’t for the life of me even remember which state it could have possibly been in. I’ve tried googling it, asking my parents (80+ no idea lol) but can’t find any info. Does anyone remember such a park?

I just became a statistic and about to start living in my car. I’m 56, divorced, with only a car, super and a wfh sole trader business (that doesn’t earn anything atm because of stress / anxiety etc ) left.

I’m definitely not depressed yet though (probably should be lol) and had a thought that because over 55 women are the new biggest demographic of homeless people, there might be some communities of other people who are in a similar situation? Before I contact all the ones in Nimbin area, I was hoping someone could give me some information / advice, on what you need to be accepted or information about other communities out there for those of us homeless without a mental health or drug / alcohol issue?

I’m looking to buy a 2013 VW Golf TDI and its last service was in 2024, because the lady has only done 5000 klm since then. It’s only got 130klm odo.

How bad is this? Is this just as bad as if it had never been serviced?