03-23-2008, 08:27 AM
Tigger_the_Wing Wrote:
Excellent poem, Bob!
Tigger, DigiModify, and Luai_lashire,
Thanks for the kind words! 
-BobB
03-24-2008, 04:04 AM
Tigger_the_Wing Wrote:
The turtle story is good!
And, of course it is a good analogy in another way.
It isn't actually feasible to separate a turtle from its shell - it is an integral part of the animal.
Just as it isn't feasible to separate the autism from the person - will we ever be able to get through to people that autism isn't a removable shell with a neurotypical person 'trapped' inside, desperate to get out!
And, of course it is a good analogy in another way.
It isn't actually feasible to separate a turtle from its shell - it is an integral part of the animal.
Just as it isn't feasible to separate the autism from the person - will we ever be able to get through to people that autism isn't a removable shell with a neurotypical person 'trapped' inside, desperate to get out!
Tigger,
Which is *exactly* the point!
But with Autism Speaks, they're *never* going to give up the 'shell game'; it makes money for them to promote that fallacy, so *we* have to be the ones to *subtly* destroy the myth.
Most people probably *don't* realize that the turtle's shell is an integral part of it; they've seen cartoons where a turtle slips out of its shell, so they probably think it works that way for *real* turtles, too.
Same with us. People have been conned by the 'shell game', so they don't realize that it's a Big Lie; thus, *we* have to educate people about the *truth*!
-BobB
03-24-2008, 05:20 AM
TheZach Wrote:
aspiemama Wrote:
You don't think that we should send them writings that show a positive view of neurodiversity, and not bash Autism Speaks? I am not a fan of that organization, but it seems like they might be finally recognizing the voice of those on the spectrum, so we should send them genuine submissions. However, I am also worried about how they may select and edit the submissions. A website where they can be posted in their original form seems like a good idea. However, we know that they are not going to post anything that bashes an organization, so what will that accomplish?. Am I just being naieve?
No, neurodiversity is less positive then Autism Speaks. Its filled with people with the attitude were better then NTs because were autistic.
TheZach,
You've taken the art of self-loathing to an *astonishing* degree, haven't you? 
Imagine having been Jewish and living in Nazi Germany during WW II. Imagine having been sent to Auschwitz, Dachau, Belsen, etc., and being one of the lucky few who survived.
After all that, would you be wrong for thinking you were *better* than the Nazis?
It's a psychological defense mechanism; it's also the result of being irrationally hated by people simply because of who or what you are!
Autism Speaks isn't exactly bending over backwards to promote neurodiversity; to the contrary, they're going out of their way to work *against* us!
"Autism Every Day" is Autism Speaks's counterpart to Leni Reifenstahl's "Triumph Of The Will" (although Lauren Thierry isn't fit to lick dog doo off Reifenstahl's shoes); it's a propaganda piece. Period. Thierry *deliberately* showed autistics in the *worst* possible light, to the sickening degree of having Alison Tepper Singer - a Senior VP of Autism Speaks, no less - say that the *only* reason she didn't kill her autistic child by driving off a bridge was because she had a *normal* child to worry about!
Wrap your brain around *that* one, TheZach: An *executive* of Autism Speaks wanting to kill her own child, but *not* doing so because she cares too much about her *normal* child!!!
To put it into perspective, imagine Jerry Lewis coming out during the MDA Labor Day Telethon and saying, "Kids with muscular dystrophy are an intolerable burden to parents and should be killed!"
Can you imagine the public outcry?
Yet, it seems to be *perfectly acceptable* for Autism Speaks to do *exactly that*!!!
A couple months ago, Autism Speaks threatened abscout with a lawsuit because of her NT Speaks parody website.
From the comments (#68):
"If you have read the information autism speaks puts out or their wehsite or look at their information they are out to eradicate autism. Just like the Nazi’s were out to eradicate anyone that wasn’t like them.
I am Jewish My husband is German his mother lived in Germany during the Nazi regime Her father helped Jews get out of the country. The first time I showed my husband and mother in law the Autims Speaks website and some of their information My mother- in- law said, its Hitler all over again. This is comming from a german woman who lived there in those times." (quoted verbatim)
"It's Hitler all over again."
This from someone who experienced it *firsthand*!
Now, TheZach, would you please be so kind as to explain *exactly* how those of us who believe in neurodiversity *could* be "less positive than Autism Speaks"?
-BobB
03-24-2008, 11:04 AM
Pakrat Wrote:
BobB, I really like your poem and story.
Pakrat,
Thank you very much!
-BobB
03-25-2008, 08:05 PM
Luai_lashire Wrote:
Breeze Wrote:
Gareth,
For once I have to disagree with you, I dont think Autism Speaks would alter a submission.
For once I have to disagree with you, I dont think Autism Speaks would alter a submission.
BobB Wrote:
Autism Speaks reserves the right to edit contributions for space, style and content.
No ifs, ands, or buts about it, AutSp can and probably will alter submissions as they see fit. The important bit there is the part that says Content. Many magazines reserve the right to copy edit submitted pieces if the wording is off, etc. However, "right to edit content" means AutSp can change anything they want to about the piece, up to and including changing it from something positive to something negative. They may not, but they've given us plenty of reason to be suspicious and no reason at all to trust them, so I would be wary.
Of course, this means if you send your pieces to them you have to be prepared for the eventuality that they will be changed. You cannot sue, you cannot threaten, there's nothing you can do about it; they've reserved that right and by sending it in you've agreed to it.
That's why I suggested the website, so that if things do get changed we can show people the original versions.
Luai_lashire,
I second your suggestion!
The 'right to edit' language is pretty much standard for *any* newspaper, magazine, newsletter, etc.; for example, if a newspaper's limit on letters to the editor is 200 words, and you send in a 350-word missive, you can expect it to be edited, or returned with a suggestion to cut it down to proper size. If a particular story generates a *lot* of responses, most of them being fairly similar, an editor will often just include unique quotes, instead of printing *every* letter in its entirety.
Autism Speaks is going to be walking somewhat of a fine line with this showcase; they want to present works by autistic writers, but if it comes out that they're hacking and slashing to suit their *own* agenda, it's going to make them look like a bunch of jerks (who'da thunk it?). They'll be more likely to just not print something that doesn't kiss their asses, to be honest.
Of course, that gives us the opportunity to accuse them of censoring *some* autistic writers, so it's a win either way!
-BobB
03-26-2008, 06:35 AM
erkolos Wrote:
Deviant Art?
erkolos,
From deviantART's FAQ: What is deviantART?
Does that help?
-BobB
03-26-2008, 09:20 AM
erkolos Wrote:
Luai is/or has been obsessed with Deviant Art, so she knows what it is.
I was asking if the submissions that we send should be posted on a Deviant Art group.
I was asking if the submissions that we send should be posted on a Deviant Art group.
erkolos,
My bad; it wasn't clear from the way you posted...
-BobB
P.S. Can I borrow your sig quote for an op-ed that I'm writing for my local newspaper?