Aspies For Freedom

I have to tell you, the lawsuit coming from me would be so gigantic, the school district would pay for Harvard for my kid.

Well that makes sense. One of their own has been accussed of doing something against every sensibility or code of conduct. They will try to come up with a lame excuse to downplay the severity of it.

Her conduct was bad and inexcusable. Her ideas were out of whack with what is acceptable in the community. She needs to be attack (no not physically) for these beliefs and the attacks on her character ought to be supported.

Kind of reminds me about a situation on a forum one time Zed, something about supporting the wrong position....sorry I digress.

I think there should be as much pressure as possible on ANY situations like this if people like us have a chance to integrate intact in society.

You would agree Zed?

I agree Ivar. We can excuse poor conduct and when people are displaying abhorent attitudes, we can overlook it. We can cast aspersions at those who seek to vilify such behaviour as being unjust.

I tend to think that in the arena of autistic rights that failure to condemn strongly, such views that fly in the face of what we represent as minimum standards, is not acceptable.

I think strong opposition towards individuals and organisations and as well as media outlets is a must and theh time it takes to forward an email or letter is well worth the effort.

Zed has been instrumental in providing information to us including the email of this woman. I think we ought to be thankful for this and use these resources.

Zed does say though "... don't insult and demean the person just because you don't like what she said or did. That is what Wendy Portillo did."

I believe this is naive. Personally I think not only is this counter productive and play nice to people who stomp on our values and discrimate against us blatantly but she rightly does demean Wendy Portillo in her very well written letter to her.

"Ms Portillo

Your behaviour toward Alex and the rest of your class was deliberately and selfishly cruel. The psychological abuse of children is not acceptable in any circumstances or environment. As an adult, as a teacher, and as a person in a position of authority, your actions breached your duty of care.

I hope that this will haunt you for the rest of your (probably short) career. However, the children including Alex will feel the impact of your choices for the rest of their lives.

I suggest that you undergo both counselling and remedial classes before you ever have contact with a child again.

"Should this reach court, I presume that twelve people will stand up and tell you what they think of you. If not, I am sure that an email campaign can be arranged. A couple of thousand messages to the school and school board should do the trick"

Excellant and as I say rightly demeaning and justifiably insulting.

My attempt was not nearly as well written and sent to both the Headmaster and her personal email account.

"I am a father of a boy diagnosed with Autism and have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome myself.
Wendy you have no place being a teacher. You are a danger to children and as a rolemodel, have shown the children under your responsibility how to hate, discriminate, bully and made it an accept way of dealuing with someone who is different. Perhaps for an encore you could tip people in wheelchairs, push over blind people or take your students to a special school to tease the children there.
What? That would be nasty, cruel, and an abuse of power?
No right to do what you did nor excuse.
I hope to God those kids are able to unlearn the lessons you have given them on your warped version of humatity and compassion. I hope that little boy is not scarred from his exposure to you.
I hope that karma pays you back in life - you deserve it"

Subtle? Bah Humbug!

I would love to see more email responses and names on petitions.

This sad incident highlights the need for Teachers to be trained
about Autism. There is a lot of general ignorance in the Teaching Profession about A.S.Ds, I think, that has to be addressed.

Pika and Tigger are two of my favorites here.  I was a little hurt that they took the time to dis my country  because some administrators were grasping for an excuse.  Wendy was wrong for what she did.  I sure hope she has no intentions of using  911 as an excuse if she wants sympathy.  She wont find it here.
Has Ms Portillo even apologized to Alex and his family?  I would assume she has not and it would most likely come from the cold void where her heart should be.

Ok. Tigger I'm sorry. I read more into it.  As far as  Piki. I can see your point. Although most  Americans don't  resort to the 911 excuse. Why the admin. was even brought it up is beyond me.

It's the media... they don't even know how to cover a news story anymore - who , what, when, where, why... it's all "human interest" and we are not interested.  
Just the facts jack!

Silky wrote,

Since, as the news service surmised, it IS an emotion packed topic, perhaps we should drop the 9/11 part of the discussion before the thread turns into a brawl.  A suggestion.
[/quote]
I agree.

OK. Thanks for that point of reference Zed. I appreciate this is respect to this particular issue (not your perception of my behaviour to Louise). What you are saying is that in relation to Wendy Portillo, condemning her behaviour is good but insulting/abusing her is bad.

I particularly liked your telling Wendy Portillo: "I hope this haunts you for the rest of your (probably short) career........ I suggest you undergo counselling and remedial classes before you have contact with children again".

Why? Well it is not because it was condemning her behaviour (which it wasn't), it was because you were insulting her with well thought out and justified abuse. The fact of the matter is I agree in this instance with your targeting of this abuse. Naturally I am not as thrilled about you abusing me and insulting me by condesending and patronising me on the other thread that you complain about my behaviour to.

Wendy Porillo  has upset your sensibilities and made you feel cross about the way she views and about her behaviour towards autistic children. You were inflamed and incensed. Therefore your abusive comments were applicable. Right?

Uh-Oh. Abuse = Bad?
Perhaps I am missing something. You are the Grad Student, Zed. You are an "Activist". You seem to have the answers as to what is appropriate.

I guess what I am saying is whilst I love your email and the efforts you have put in to make us aware of this situation, you seem to be a tad inconsistent or hypocritical in showing who it is OK to be offended by, to what extent, what is or is not insulting, who makes the decision on what constitutes flaming and disagreeing and where to draw the line between condemnation and abuse?

I don't like what this lady has done and am happy to support anyone not supporting her (as we should do to people who attack our values), I will even support or lend my help to your efforts against her. She has not though personally insulted or abused me or those I love which I feel Louise did. If you examine YOUR behaviour toward Wendy Portillo, YOUR behaviour towards me and MY Behaviour towards Louise and MINE towards you referenced to what you have explained as acceptable or not, you will see the inconsistency and hypocricy I am talking about.

I believe this place ought to support action in combatting anti-autism issues like the Wendy Portillo issue. The enthusiasm for individuals embracing the "Activist" member class is excellent and I hope this enthusiasm lasts and accomplishes big things. I know straight talkers and honest people like Tigger and Ocampo and trust in their word and consistent language. I don't trust you Zed. I hope in time you prove to me from YOUR BEHAVIOUR that you are worth trusting and going to treat members fairly and take a rational, sensible and even-handed, consistent approach to your Activist activities on the forum. I will probably give you some support but I do not trust you.

....and yet you asked all those questions?

Yes and I do. How do I deal with behaviour I do not like? Anyone on this forum probably would agree I generally tackle it head on with tactless honesty and the subtley of a pregnant hippopotamus.

Ah the truth is, like any abstract concept, there is no clear dividing line and what we individually equate to the term is very different between ourselves and collectively. You have been defining what is right and wrong in very definate terms and what is or isn't flaming, condemnation, abuse, etc. The truth is you are judging not "as a moderator" nor as a representative of the forum attitudes. You are representing your opinions. So rather than try to allude to a collective understanding or appreciation of what I ought to know or what is or isn't acceptable, why not admit you are the one being rude, condesending and patronising off your own bat because you are rude. I will understand.

I don't think I have said you did call me names? Did I say that? Pretty sure I didn't? What I did say is that you were rude, patronising and condesending.

"Louise18 does not attack people. Grumpy, you do. (If you can't play nicely in your chosen sandpit, then perhaps you need a little nap.)

*I* think that you, Grumpy, should leave character assassination in the 'showing off' box, "

This is what you said to me which was in response to me saying what exactly to you? That is right....nothing.
If you are looking to say that you can not insult or abuse anyone unless you call them a name then you are not convincing anyone. An insult is an insult regardless of whether it it a crass swear word or a clever allusion or subtle dig. You meant to be insulting and I was insulted.

Not in the slightest. I have been asked to become an activist and declined as I am not interested in pursuing pro-autistic rights actively. So thank you for extending the offer again but no.

As I have said I think that the concept of an Activist class here is a good one and as mentioned there are people here who have become Activists who can talk honestly, straight up and with inconsistency and they will be very capable in this role. As Activists they will filter information through this pro-autism rights forum to other members and need therefore to provide such relevant information very concisely and straight forwardly.

I was merely saying that you seem to me to change points of reference as to what is and is not acceptable behaviour and in what circumstance to fit in with what suits you. This very subjective approach when looking at something like pro-autism rights is a concern. Level-heads and rational, sensible, even-handed and consistent approaches I believe is necessary. I don't trust from what I have seen of your interactions and view that you can deliver this. I would back members like Ocampo, Tigger and Pikajedi, but.....

Again, it doesn't bother me at all. Though I would expect that someone who has gone through Uni to be able to be able to establish a point of reference and to be consistent in presenting a point of view.

This consistency is necessary when presenting issues to members or if contacting individuals (Like Wendy Porvillo), instiutions or media.

Again with the "where did I call names"rubbish! You insulted and abused Wendy in your email and it was the right thing to do. I inwardly cheered when I saw it and it was not false praise. I liked her getting her bum kicked. She deserved it.

Now downplaying it or explaining away that you really meant it in a different light or what have you, is crap. She was a bully and a creature feature teacher and you get no argument from any of us that you blasting her was a job well done. What it wasn't, was an attempt at doing anything less than abusing and shaming her for being the abhorent person she was that day.

Sure I never personally attacked you and that post you made to me was rude, condesending and patronising. You did it unprovoked and unapologetically. You did not contact me me your gripe and as far as I can recall I never crossed paths with you before. So......*** oath I think it was unfair.

Ah so you got the title just for the pretty stars? You are putting your hand up to help drive this forum towards more pro-active approach to autism rights. You know this so what is this further bulldust about Activist activities are off the forum?

C'mon Zed. You are reasonably bright. How are you so far off the mark with just about every one of your replies to me. Are you trying to be vague and confused deliberately?

I want to be able to believe that you can contribute consistently, sensibly, logically and rationally but you don't seem to be too aware of what is going on nor be able to stick to one solid viewpoint. You don't even seem to take the idea of being an Activist here very seriously......maybe you did just apply for the pretty gold stars? Sigh!

I agree with your what you say here, for the most part.

As perspective I disagree. What am I personally more offended by? So perspective is purely that, perspective.

As to its relevance here? Very little. I have in this thread sought to:

Praise efforts to get the word out

Encourage efforts to support this cause by email or letter

Internally looking at what approach to information distribution on issues like this is needed by the members who seek to lead on pro-autism rights ("Activists") and the need and importance for consistency for a solid point of view.

I have written in emails myself and shared this with the members here.

I have signed petitions.

I have also informed why I believe it is important for members to fight hard against this discrimination and bullying and why a soft approach in ALL matters that go again the minimum standards of respect and decency for autistic people is wrong.

I don't believe you or anyone here would disagree or argue any of those points.

Why drag up other threads? Because for some reason it was being cast up in one way or form after each post I posted on the above points until I - as I do and in the straightforward way I do - addressed each and every point.

Am I happy to drop it. I was trying to address some important points above and perhaps they have not been taken in the light they were written. I am happy to keep contributing to this thread or staying out. I personally think all points were relevant to this thread until I basically had enough and responded to the allusions to other threads.

Yes!

No worries Ethel.

Well so far over 1000 signatures in two petitions.
I think this is an example of successfully and co-operative effort.
Again I think a strong, hard, consistent, honest, straight forward and message and delivery, ought to apply for any similar issue.
I remember Max the Bear and Woman from Mars used to quite often bring up many similarly abhorent examples of unacceptable behaviour against people on the spectrum and for the most part nothing externally was done. This shows what a little pro-active approach can accomplish.

This is why the Activists are here and I believe those who take that role seriously and can be consistent and represent AFF appropriately ought to look to expanding efforts here and use this example as both encouragement and a springboard to more activism.

Now there is probably other threads that are mopre applicable to this and I am happy to share my thoughts in this more generalise issue rather than the specific abhorent behaviour of that Wendy person.

Anyone know of an applicble thread to share ideas?

Hope no one finds anything too offensive in this post. (Disclaimer: This post relates solely to this post)

Thanks EZ I am reallly appreciative of the offer.

As much as I have pointed out the genuine concerns as to why I think Zed is not the right type of person to be an Activist for AFF and why her inability to define her point of view well is an encumberance to Activism, the truth of the matter is I do not think I am the type of person best placed for this role. In fact as bad as I think Zed would be, I am worse.

I do have ideas and passion and hope this could be utilised.

I do have my uses. There are members here who will attest to my use at chasing away trolls on their blogs and members who will agree the I can defend them well. These CAN be useful skills but......there are other far more important skills such as diplomacy, compromise, tact and so forth which (Let's be brutally honest) are not my strong points.

For the most part though I see some great people in these roles and it gives me great enthuisasm thinking what they can accomplish and think they may be best placed in these roles.

I support, endorse and would love to help them.