# Down's Syndrome kid "Climbs Everest"!!! No he didn't. Fark you, People Magazine and daddy. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 31, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-kid-climbs-everest-no-he-didnt-fark-you-people-magazine-and-daddy/654452 "2013-03-31T18:54:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![OleOneEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f14d63/32.png) [@OleOneEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OleOneEye)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-kid-climbs-everest-no-he-didnt-fark-you-people-magazine-and-daddy/654452/141 "2013-04-05T07:31:57Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Hello. Hi. ? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-kid-climbs-everest-no-he-didnt-fark-you-people-magazine-and-daddy/654452/142 "2013-04-05T16:43:27Z")
the thing is about this whole kerfluffle, is, getting to base camp was an achievement _personally_ for the kid and dad and probably a very unique and enriching life experience. It was not an achievement _objectively_ if you understand that people with Down’s Syndrome are perfectly capable of walking uphill unassisted. Plenty of disabled people have actually summitted Everest, including a single amputee, a double amputee and a totally blind guy. Other actual summitteers include a 13 year old kid, a two men over 75, and a woman who summitted twice in one weekend. Considering all that, “I got to base camp!”… well, it’s a little comical trying to make it out as more than it is - - a great _personal accomplishment_ but one within the grasp of almost anyone who wants to do it. Hopefully they made some money for their cause - that’s great. People with Down’s Syndrome are very capable, it’s almost insulting to act like this is the most impressive physical feat a person with DS could accomplish. He probably could have summitted if he wanted to. I don’t fault him for not wanting to, I do fault the media – ad his father – for puffing the story and making a good kid out to be a [supercrip](http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/sensitive-news-topics/the-super-crip-stereotype/) as if that’s the only way he can be any good at all. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-kid-climbs-everest-no-he-didnt-fark-you-people-magazine-and-daddy/654452/143 "2013-04-05T19:59:57Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Plenty of disabled people have actually summitted Everest, including a single amputee, a double amputee and a totally blind guy. Actually they ripped off the blind guy. He never actually summitted - they just left him on a treadmill in the freezer for the weekend, and then lied to him. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-kid-climbs-everest-no-he-didnt-fark-you-people-magazine-and-daddy/654452/144 "2013-04-06T03:04:16Z")
> [@OleOneEye](#): > > Hi. > > ? LOL, yeah sorry, posting fail. I had edited out my original response and by the time I did, I only had a few seconds left to type anything in its place. I was hoping a simple “Hello” would be enough to convey my point but I guess y’all aint mind readers. My point was that my presence here at the Dope is a reminder that such beliefs regarding the disabled are complete nonsense. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-kid-climbs-everest-no-he-didnt-fark-you-people-magazine-and-daddy/654452/145 "2013-04-06T10:22:55Z")
> [@Snow\_Pea](#): > > Agree. He went the distance - I would definitely consider that a legitimate marathon completion. Exactly. Now if **Gangster Octopus** had quit at Mile 16 and had told people anyway that he ran the marathon, that would have been analogous to describing this kid’s feat as climbing Mt. Everest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-kid-climbs-everest-no-he-didnt-fark-you-people-magazine-and-daddy/654452.md?page=7)