Should I be worried about my friends children?

[Anonymous]

We've been friends for almost 20 years. He's never been very bright. In fact he once told me that he's medically retarded. I kind of believe it honestly. He is able to hold a job though. Well I talk to him a lot on playstation. He works at Walmart so he's around all sorts of people all day. He has a 6-7 year old daughter, and his girlfriend has a 14 year old daughter. They all live together. So anyways, he told me that he's sick, along with everyone in the house. I asked him if it's covid. He said he thinks it is. I asked if he's vaccinated against covid. He said "no I don't believe in it". I just thought "to each their own i guess". This just now popped into my head, but If he doesn't believe in vaccines then he probably doesn't have his children vaccinated. Not only for covid, but things like polio. Maybe his girlfriend thinks differently than him, and got them vaccinated, but what if she hasn't? Then their children may be suffering needlessly. What do you think? Should I be concerned? I would say something to him, but back when we were teens, he would get pissed off pretty easily. I can tell he's changed a LOT, all though I do remember walking through Walmart, and I over heard a conversation between him and his boss. My friend was like "im gonna hit somebody". His boss was like "you need to calm down". I just walked off before he saw me, because I didn't want to get involved" so it's obvious he still has some anger problems. I don't know what to do.

[Oliverlogan263]

Dude, that's a really tough situation. I totally understand your concerns about your friend's kids not being vaccinated, especially with him saying he doesn't believe in it. That's some really concerning stuff, for real.

The fact that he's still having anger issues and threatening to "hit somebody" is also super worrying. I can see why you wouldn't want to get directly involved, since he seems like he could still have a pretty short fuse. That's a risky situation to step into.

At the same time, the safety and wellbeing of those kids has to be the top priority here. Not being vaccinated, especially for critical things like polio, leaves them really vulnerable. And with him being sick with what sounds like COVID, that's just asking for something terrible to happen.

Honestly, I think you need to find a way to voice your concerns, even if it's a delicate conversation. Those kids don't deserve to be put at risk like that, especially if the girlfriend isn't stepping up to get them vaccinated either. Maybe try reaching out to her separately and see if she's aware of the situation and willing to do something about it.

I know it's a risky move and your friend might not react well. But if you really care about those kids, you gotta at least try to get them some help, you know? Even if it's just reaching out to child services anonymously or something to get the authorities involved. Those kids' lives could be in danger.

It's a tough call, for sure. But at the end of the day, you might have to put your friendship aside a little bit to do the right thing. Just tread carefully and be prepared for some blowback. Hopefully your friend will come around and realize he needs to prioritize his kids' health and safety. But if not, you may have to take more drastic measures. Those kids need protecting, man.

[DryGermanGuy]

It's somewhat related to the Darwin award or simply the price of being an uneducated idiot.

[Anonymous]

So basically you just have an all around problem with him being a parent because you think he’s on the spectrum. Ridiculous.

[Asker]

As I said, it's because he doesn't believe in vaccines.

[Opinion Owner]

If that was your genuine concern you wouldn’t have opened up your entire statement saying he’s medically regarded. From there on you act as if his parenting decisions are questionable or concerning, tossing in that vaccine bs for some razzle dazzle. And I know it was razzle dazzle because THEN you went on to mention he could be potentially violent based off a comment you overheard.

[Opinion Owner]

*retarded

[Asker]

You're right. Sorry

[Abbycado]

It is his family and their choices. Just leave it be.

[Anonymous]

Just another dumb American, obviously.