There was a kid in my neighborhood growing up that had Tourette Syndrome. He was very socially awkward and had no idea how to communicate with people. He irritated the crap out of just about everyone. He obviously was suffering from multiple disorders and would garner attention any way he could, even though 99% of it was negative.
He aggravated people to the point that other kids in the neighborhood would throw rocks at him as he walked home from school. He got beaten up a few times. I never could figure out why no one seemed to empathize or cut him a break, but I figured maybe I could help. I started walking home from school with him every day. I knew I couldn't shield him from the world but at least the rocks stopped flying. He used to annoy me too, make no mistake, but at least he wasn't being hit by rocks any more.
I don't know what ever happened to that kid, he moved a year later and I never saw or heard from him again, and to be honest I wasn't entirely sad about that, he was really grating. But I hope he's alive and happy now. I don't know if he even remembers me, but it's not really important. It may not have been a boon to my popularity to align myself with this kid, but if one less ####ing rock bounced off of his skull as a result, it was worth it to me, even if his behavior is what prompted it. Even though I was widely derided and often verbally abused for taking up for this kid, if I could go back in time, I'd do it again in a minute.
You asked why I go out of my way to have his back, I guess this is why. For better or worse, it's who I've always been. I'm comfortable with that. I guess I still just don't understand why some people can't just put the rock down and go inside.