Aspies For Freedom

This isn't the same thing as some guy murdering someone and then trying to blame autism to get off easy. The fact is, many of us can be convinced to go along with something we don't know is wrong. I wouldn't have any idea that this would be illegal.

A lot of times I have been led to going places and doing things not allowed, but I didn't know it. Especially if it's part of being in a group that does something, there should be some alternative to jail or deportation.

Does your son have a lawyer? If he does, talk to that lawyer about your son's problems and he or she could talk to the assistant district attorney about working on a solution or may even file a motion of dismissing the charges. A prosecuting attorney may not listen to a family member, but would listen to another attorney.

The assistant DA isn't doing his job if he's ignoring a medical diagnosis that is entirely relevant to the case in hand.

For that reason a good lawyer on your side can really rip the case apart purely because the Spectrum DX is being ignored by the prosecution. It's up to the judge to make the decision in that regard, not the assistan DA.

I agree. Especially since teenagers are known to do dumb things like this anyway (not to say that it should be excused entirely, but that it shouldn't be elevated to a felony - that's just absurd; they weren't bringing explosives into a building or anything and is clearly not related to terrorism).

And I think the timing of the legal action is rather cynical. Why couldn't they have dealt with it at the same time as the other lad? Seems to me that the authorities were waiting until the second boy turned 18 but I would have thought they couldn't try him as an adult if he were a juvenile when he was involved in blowing up the stumps.

Yes, I agree that a good behaviour bond and volunteer work in the forest would be far preferable to a jail sentence (which is clearly overkill for a first offence and particularly when the lad was not legally an adult AND he didn't understand the consequences of his actions).

He could be told that blowing up stumps destroys native habitats for creatures of the forest and shown how to care for the forest. It might even lead into a job vocation for him in the future.

By treating a youthful prank the same as a major heinous crime is to me, utter stupidity! Putting this lad in jail is hardly going to help him become a productive member of society. It will only traumatise him and lead to more problems.

This should have been treated as a misdemeanor right from the very start!
It is hardly on the same order of heinousness as a crime such as bombing a building.

The Zach,

It is a FACT that an Aspie does not understand consequential actions. It's not an excuse, it's a FACT. The way to get around that is to educate. What you have said does not educate at all - it assumes the boy involved should know when INHERENTLY he did not. Now instead of attacking the condition (Aspergers) if you are going to attack anything, go for the education side of matters instead.

Otherwise don't get involved in something that I'm not sure you really understand.

That's YOU, Zach. It's not every Aspie. I happen to know of at least one case down here which involved an Aspie who didn't understand consequences. He and some friends were tossing rocks at moving trains. He saw the fun in it - but did NOT see that rocks could break windows and hurt people on the other side. He had to have this explained to him specifically - otherwise he would not have known.

The boy got off by the way because of his Aspergers - and because he now understood why it was wrong and showed remorse for it.

It is perfectly feasible for an Aspie who doesn't understand consequences to see blowing up stumps as fun - but not realise it was wrong for whatever the reason. Unless he was TOLD (as you have been and as I have been - and probably many other Aspies as well).

Get it now?

I wish many parents would realise that trying to push social connections with their Spectrum kids is just asking for trouble. Your case, Marie, is a great example of why one shouldn't push it - because it fails to recognise the child for who they are. I'm glad you've realised the folly of that now - I hope many other parents reading this follow suit.

Of course that doesn't exactly help the current situation. I have an awful feeling your son is going to fall foul of the terrorist BS (which he shouldn't). Maybe it would be worth (being an election year in the US) to get the federal political structure in your area involved? Just a thought.

Exactly, Ethel. Zach, you have no respect for the range of issues Aspies have with consequences - therefore I question your understanding of the effects of the condition. Do you - for example - understand the consequences of posting what you have?

Normally Impaired - did you read this?

Understand the first paragraph - and you'll see why what happened happened. Yes, he shouldn't have been with those kids - but.....

Do you understand now?

Crikey did this thread go mad overnight!!

Not on instinct, Gareth. If we are educated, then that's different. You, The Zach, and I have that advantage. If we aren't told it's wrong, we don't know until we experience it - as Marieway's boy is now, and the boy I spoke of did as well.

The defence is not so much Aspergers - but the poor state of the education system or (and Marieway has admitted to stuffing up in this respect) upbringing. And there could be other factors as well.

It depends on how that idea manifests itself, Normally. Put it this way - some Aspies may see trying to be NT as bad because they have experienced the consequences of that decision and they don't like it so they back off. Usually because they can't handle it. Now if an NT should try to push them back again - that IS discrimination.

Also - if there are inherent limitations on certain aspects of an activity, and an NT insists that an Aspie adhere to those aspects without limitation - that is also discrimination. For example, being made to do things on instinct 100 percent of the time instead of being allowed a base routine - and being made to work with a team instead of on your own in the metaphorical sense (as opposed to the physical sense).

Of course - it entirely depends on one's experience. If you can find a niche, no problem. Trouble is that niche is a lot harder to find nowadays.

I didn't know blowing up tree stumps was a felony until now. So not all aspies know it's wrong because I certinally didn't know till know.


I didn't understand the consequences of my actions as a kid but I think I have gotten better at it. If that isn't an aspie issue, then maybe I have something else that gave me that problem.

my thoughts -- he was attacked for his attitude.

zac seems to carry anger - i think he was offended by the O.P.--these feelings influenced his responses.

preaching the bible at each other sickens me --- but here's one anyway - let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Erthun0Pauc

scuse my interruption