Well, you shouldn't have.

Please don't do it again.

I'm not going to defend myself, my motives or this article anymore.

This is supposed to be a dialogue. I asked some questions. I got some answers. Anyone who wants to ask some more questions is welcome to.

Or, you can discontinue the dialogue and keep venting.

I did exactly what I intended to do.

I will no longer take part in this conversation, so feel free to say whatever you want about me.

Here in record, I am whatever you say I am.

In reality and at the end of the day I'm just an autistic kid who did a bit of writing.

This post was last modified: 09-22-2011 10:04 PM by tambourine-man.

Tambourine-man took action, and he didn't do it on his own.  He invited people here to contribute questions, which we did, and he then took those questions to Autism Speaks.

If you don't like the answers, have doubts about their veracity or want to enquire more deeply into any of the issues touched upon in the interview Tam set up, then stop moaning and backbiting, and do something!

Thanks to Tam, contact has been established, and a dialogue commenced.  

Why not take this to the next stage and, based on what has already been done and what members have said on this thread, ask another round of questions?

This post was last modified: 09-22-2011 10:09 PM by Marcia.

In reality and at the end of the day you are just an autistic kid who managed to get a massive advert for ASpeaks on the front page of AFF. that's some feat - do not belittle yourself or your achievement.

You say you did exactly what you intended to do so why did you change the font size of the heading Autism Speaks from tiny at the beginning of this thread to huge on the front page?

hey heterodox, it's good to see you back again

I do think it is best to engage autism speaks in open dialogue and put forward our own agenda  at the same time. One catches far more flies with honey than with vinegar.

hetero - just want to point out that as far as I know any moderator here can change the front page any time.  I think the procedure is we PM a mod and they change it. Have you PM'd someone?

I did post somewhere that I wish the wording was edited - Is there an editor for stuff that goes on the front page?? I would think there would be, but we all know Gareth does not seem to like censorship.

Perhaps the issue is really that a new /er person on this forum had carte blanche on the home page? No this fault or choice, he asked apparently. Does someone else want to be an "article writer"? I bet if they asked they could too. Maybe "articles" could be on a different page - named articles? Doesn't bother me. I think the "owners" here are quite democratic - if we make a thread and take a poll, we'll have an answer.

This post was last modified: 09-22-2011 10:30 PM by windy.

I say do a follow up interview. Ask more questions. I would ask the founders if the world would be a better place if their autistic grandchild had been aborted. Do they regret having an autistic grandchild? Why do they pay their employees such high salaries? Why can't that money be used to help more autistic people? And everyone here has their own questions.

Why don't each one of us that has a (follow up or otherwise) question email Dana and await a response?

I could try. I am so shy and timid. I hate it. I wish I was outgoing like tamman.

I used to be very against the fundamentals that Autism Speaks seems to have established. I think that autism is one of the most beneficial and enlightening aspects to life. Through tambourine-man's research and determination to reveal the truth, I now have come to the conclusion that Autism Speaks isn't looking to make autism an extinct "disorder". Autism Speaks knows the value in each autistic individual. This organization is wanting to amplify all of these great peoples' talents and enable your abilities by making life a little easier. ADHD kids take adderall to help with hyper-active symptoms... How is that different than treating potentially impairing symptoms of autism? Don't autistics, like ADHD people, want more of a positive recognition in society. Stand up... Make yourselves know as the brilliant compliment to society you all are.  

I used to be very against the fundamentals that Autism Speaks seems to have established. I think that autism is one of the most beneficial and enlightening aspects to life. Through tambourine-man's research and determination to reveal the truth, I now have come to the conclusion that Autism Speaks isn't looking to make autism an extinct "disorder". Autism Speaks knows the value in each autistic individual. This organization is wanting to amplify all of these great peoples' talents and enable your abilities by making life a little easier. ADHD kids take adderall to help with hyper-active symptoms... How is that different than treating potentially impairing symptoms of autism? Don't autistics, like ADHD people, want more of a positive recognition in society. Stand up... Make yourselves know as the brilliant compliment to society you all are.  

What is this, the Holman family AutSpks cheerleading squad?
Have you really, REALLY looked into AutSpks or just read your brothers writings?

I used to be very against the fundamentals that Autism Speaks seems to have established. I think that autism is one of the most beneficial and enlightening aspects to life. Through tambourine-man's research and determination to reveal the truth, I now have come to the conclusion that Autism Speaks isn't looking to make autism an extinct "disorder". Autism Speaks knows the value in each autistic individual. This organization is wanting to amplify all of these great peoples' talents and enable your abilities by making life a little easier. ADHD kids take adderall to help with hyper-active symptoms... How is that different than treating potentially impairing symptoms of autism? Don't autistics, like ADHD people, want more of a positive recognition in society. Stand up... Make yourselves know as the brilliant compliment to society you all are.  

This reads like a press release.

Ken G, your reply was brilliant and well thought out. All of it, especially this bit.

Here is a thought: Ken G has shown us autism at its best. Rational, thoughtful, balanced, intelligent, reasoned.

Many of the posts on this thread are autism at its worst. Spiteful, derogatory.

Have a think about how you want the world to view autism.

This post was last modified: 09-22-2011 11:47 PM by 142857.