Needs more alliteration, subby.

"To say that autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these conditions are part of a criminal element," she said.

Congratulations, you are officially the stupidest motherf*cker on the planet.

Are parents really that stupid? How long before the lawsuits start?

1. It's truly amazing what can be done with autistic kids, as well as kids with other types of disabilities and so forth.

1A. If you can afford it.

2. When I was a kid, everyone who couldn't keep up--even people with polio, were referred to as "retarded." So even though I could read chapter books at age 4, the fact that I couldn't do simple arithmetic meant I was retarded.

In the Good Olden Days that the reactionaries worship with such abject zeal, an autistic kid would have been considered possessed by demons, a simpleton, or perhaps put to hideous tasks that no one else wished to do.

I just don't think these parents are thinking in terms of what could be, what things might be like, and what they once were.

"We have your son. We are destroying his ability for social interaction and driving him to a life of complete isolation. It's up to you now... Asperger's Syndrome"

I have Asperger's Syndrome, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies...


Seriously, AS hasn't "destroyed" my ability for social interaction nor has it lead me to a life of complete isolation. It just lead me to learn that I'm wired a bit differently than most everyone else. I gradually figured out social interaction much like how one would learn a foreign language and I put it into practice daily so I can handle basic interactions with people without them wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

Mine is a mild case, YMMV.

thats retarded

This one would be better:

"We have your daughter. She was dirty and touched our chair. It must be now cleaned, after which we shall scrub thoroughly and change out clothes....OCD"

K-Mart sucks.

"To say that autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these conditions are part of a criminal element," she said.

lol! missed the metaphor, did we? taking it a little too literally. maybe we can work with this. how about this ad:



"I'm Autism! I'm coming for your children! MUHAHAHAHAHA!"

kronicfeld: "To say that autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these conditions are part of a criminal element," she said.

Congratulations, you are officially the stupidest motherf*cker on the planet.

Snocones: Are parents really that stupid? How long before the lawsuits start?

Considering the parents of these kids are the target of the ads, I'd say it is the advertising agency that wins the stupid prize here. Haven't they ever heard of focus groups?

/think the parents are being too touchy
//this is to be anticipated in the demographic

First they biatch because there isn't enough awareness. Now they biatch because they are getting it.

ah3133: "I'm Autism! I'm coming for your children! MUHAHAHAHAHA Robble-robble-robble!"

FIFY

I'm going to officially change my name to Autism, kidnap a bunch of children in that area, and force them to learn to belch loudly and make randy jokes in public. That'll learn 'em.

wapner?

DistendedPendulusFrenulum: 1. It's truly amazing what can be done with autistic kids, as well as kids with other types of disabilities and so forth.

1A. If you can afford it.

2. When I was a kid, everyone who couldn't keep up--even people with polio, were referred to as "retarded." So even though I could read chapter books at age 4, the fact that I couldn't do simple arithmetic meant I was retarded.

In the Good Olden Days that the reactionaries worship with such abject zeal, an autistic kid would have been considered possessed by demons, a simpleton, or perhaps put to hideous tasks that no one else wished to do.

I just don't think these parents are thinking in terms of what could be, what things might be like, and what they once were.

Retard.

Kristina Chew -- the mother of an autistic child and founder of a blog
A blog, really? I wonder how hard that is to do. I wonder if I can do something like that. Sure would be nifty.

TheXerox: Seriously, AS hasn't "destroyed" my ability for social interaction nor has it lead me to a life of complete isolation. It just lead me to learn that I'm wired a bit differently than most everyone else. I gradually figured out social interaction much like how one would learn a foreign language and I put it into practice daily so I can handle basic interactions with people without them wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

Mine is a mild case, YMMV.

My story is similar. I have AS but I've never let it be a fallback or an excuse as to why I couldn't do something. It just means I'm kind of an oddball and the trickiest part is knowing when to put a stopper on that (I work in sales, 'nuff said).

kronicfeld: "To say that autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these conditions are part of a criminal element," she said.

Congratulations, you are officially the stupidest motherf*cker on the planet.

I'll second that!

Sir Roderick Glossop: Considering the parents of these kids are the target of the ads, I'd say it is the advertising agency that wins the stupid prize here. Haven't they ever heard of focus groups?

The ads are to bring attention/raise awareness.... do you think the parents are aware? I think a lot of people (like us) are aware now...

Parents with autistic kids need to be reminded of it more. Ask yourself: have they suffered enough? Clearly not.

Dear OCD,
We're exploiting your condition for a few laughs, which is infinitely better than pretending it didn't exist. --QC

/Questionable Content FTW

for good or for awesome: Parents with autistic kids need to be reminded of it more. Ask yourself: have they suffered enough? Clearly not.

Did you hear the great whooshing sound above your head just then?

That was the point...


/thinking you missed it...
//ABSOLUTELY agree that parents of Autism have a heavy burden to bear!!!
///Uncle of Autism...

watox: Sir Roderick Glossop: Considering the parents of these kids are the target of the ads, I'd say it is the advertising agency that wins the stupid prize here. Haven't they ever heard of focus groups?

The ads are to bring attention/raise awareness.... do you think the parents are aware? I think a lot of people (like us) are aware now...

The ads were sponsored by the NYU Child Study Center which offers treatment for these conditions and conducts research as well.

They're raising awareness about the presence of their services. The ads are so scant on details about the diagnoses that it takes for granted that some parents know or suspect their children have these conditions.

This is NYU advertising as much as it is a PSA.

/not that there is anything wrong with that

Hey, whad'ya expect for free? You have to pay big bucks to get quality advertising, even for nonprofits. They probably gave the assignment to some ADD intern in the mailroom...

Oooh, an autism flamewar!

HURRRRRR THIMEROSAL

Sir Roderick Glossop: They're raising awareness about the presence of their services.

That info is not in the article. If that is true then your point is valid!

/the more you know...

kronicfeld: "To say that autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these conditions are part of a criminal element," she said.

Congratulations, you are officially the stupidest motherf*cker on the planet.

I lol'ed. Thanks

TheXerox: "We have your son. We are destroying his ability for social interaction and driving him to a life of complete isolation. It's up to you now... Asperger's Syndrome"

I have Asperger's Syndrome, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies...


Seriously, AS hasn't "destroyed" my ability for social interaction nor has it lead me to a life of complete isolation. It just lead me to learn that I'm wired a bit differently than most everyone else. I gradually figured out social interaction much like how one would learn a foreign language and I put it into practice daily so I can handle basic interactions with people without them wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

Mine is a mild case, YMMV.

Count me as another Aspie who is getting a huge kick out of all of this.

That parent should be angry...but for a different reason. That ad is fostering a victim mentality and keeping up the stereotypes.

"Your daughter is with us. She will reject the teenybopper culture and actually learn more than her peers. Although she will endure the slings and arrows of rejection, you will help her get over it so she can be successful on her own terms."

--Autism

PS: Although the People's Court is decent entertainment, we prefer shows on Sci-Fi. Thank you.

I remember this mental ill kid at summer camp who would shout out
"sec-ca-dees-bubble" for seconds at dinner

//still can't get that out my mind 15 years later

My youngest son has Asperger's. I remember his diagnosis in 1998. They said 'at least he's not retarded'. Then my brain shut down and I stopped listening. I did hear something about having to quit my job because finding resources would take all my waking hours.

We were lucky enough to get him into a school paid therapy/daycare place that did wonders with him. It was tough on us to get him there and he had therapy hours a day, year round for 3 years before starting kindergarten. They taught him sign language, then he started talking.

Fast forward 10 years - he's an A student in 7th grade, always on the Honor Roll, won a Presidential education award in 5th grade (though he didn't really want it, as it was 'signed' by President Bush). He has so many gifts that he brings to our lives, I can't imagine life any other way. He is a challenge to play Scrabble with. He played 'poult' the other day. I had no idea it was a single turkey/baby bird. He remembers EVERYTHING.

We know we are very lucky to have him.

If I said what I was thinking, not only would I go to hell, but the rest of you would be sucked in by my vortex of evil, and so, I will just...

/chortle.

The parents are likely upset because of the scare-tactic, OMG ONOZ tone of the ads. Just because a kid has one of these disorders doesn't mean EVERYBODY PANIC, but that's how it's played.

Painting all kids with one of these disorders with a common extreme brush is just way too reactionary.

Quote about the "criminal element" crap also sounds selected out of context. Not that journalists are guilty of that, oh no.

We have your son. We don't want him.

'Autism'

Sir Roderick Glossop: kronicfeld: "To say that autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these conditions are part of a criminal element," she said.

Congratulations, you are officially the stupidest motherf*cker on the planet.

Snocones: Are parents really that stupid? How long before the lawsuits start?

Considering the parents of these kids are the target of the ads, I'd say it is the advertising agency that wins the stupid prize here. Haven't they ever heard of focus groups?

/think the parents are being too touchy
//this is to be anticipated in the demographic

Nope, the parent are still the stupidest motherfarkers on the planet.

nanna banana: My youngest son has Asperger's. I remember his diagnosis in 1998. They said 'at least he's not retarded'. Then my brain shut down and I stopped listening. I did hear something about having to quit my job because finding resources would take all my waking hours.

We were lucky enough to get him into a school paid therapy/daycare place that did wonders with him. It was tough on us to get him there and he had therapy hours a day, year round for 3 years before starting kindergarten. They taught him sign language, then he started talking.

Fast forward 10 years - he's an A student in 7th grade, always on the Honor Roll, won a Presidential education award in 5th grade (though he didn't really want it, as it was 'signed' by President Bush). He has so many gifts that he brings to our lives, I can't imagine life any other way. He is a challenge to play Scrabble with. He played 'poult' the other day. I had no idea it was a single turkey/baby bird. He remembers EVERYTHING.

We know we are very lucky to have him.

I know a couple with a youngest child with some pretty severe Asperger's. They're having a really hard time finding proper care for him. The local school system is refusing to help, saying that he's coping fine, though the battery of doctors are all saying he's unable to function.

Their other kids are all OK, no problems, so it was the first time they ever had to witness how hard it is to get proper care for a kid in the public school system.

Even the teachers are saying the kid is brilliant but has a hard time coping with standard filtering (that most people do normally)...the school system admins aren't listening.

There's plenty of stupid to go around here. The ads seem like something a junior copywriter and a washed up CD would team up to do with visions of getting his work into CA and winning a Gold Lion at Cannes. Unfortuneately, it down not seem to have a lot of regard for the target they should hoping to help. He's not the first. After 18 months of writing technical manuals and web copy for a new server, you're willing to push things a little to see if you can break out...

The parents may have legit concerns about the ads, but I sure hope the one articulated isn't the most common one. It sounded pretty lame.

The ads may have been initially well intentioned, but really, they are in bad taste and almost as annoying as those big tobacco "truth" ads. It's not really helping anyone and only seems to make those with severely autistic children feel worse.

You can get people to act on such things without turning your platform into a badly produced episode of CSI.

TheXerox: Seriously, AS hasn't "destroyed" my ability for social interaction nor has it lead me to a life of complete isolation. It just lead me to learn that I'm wired a bit differently than most everyone else. I gradually figured out social interaction much like how one would learn a foreign language and I put it into practice daily so I can handle basic interactions with people without them wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

My story is similar. I have AS but I've never let it be a fallback or an excuse as to why I couldn't do something. It just means I'm kind of an oddball and the trickiest part is knowing when to put a stopper on that (I work in sales, 'nuff said).

THIS sounds all to familiar. Ever wonder about my handle? Well know you know. Seriously, I have ADHD and was labeled 'emotionally disturbed' in elementary school. (What ever the hell that means.) And a doctor my mother met while on vacation in another state once told her based on her description of my behavior I might have mild AS but I never saw a specialist so was never diagnosed with that.

Life has been difficult, but I wouldn't say it was ruined by these conditions, just that they are yet more things I had to cope with. Interacting with others can be a bit tricky some times. I sometimes miss more subtle jokes. And when some one uses a metaphor I sometimes miss it and take it literally. And I can't stand still to save my life. Can be awkward but not the end of the world.

I've got this friend with a very mild autistic spectrum disorder. One time I had a pair of optical polarizers and was stretching Saran Wrap between them to make colors. Gave him a turn. If the GF hadn't interrupted him, he would never have stopped.

//Good with
//engine repair, 'though.

I suspect several of the high achievers I know have a mild case of AS...

TheXerox
whitefalcon79
MadTheologian
Another Aspie here (fairly socially-acclimated but still prefer being alone) with an Aspie son. He had a horrible time in high school (and I guess I did too in my day,) until we were both diagnosed just after he left the public school system clinically depressed. Just knowing why we are 'the-way-we-are' changed everything, and it all made sense. So now he is playing to his strengths and working on his socialization skills.
nanna banana
Agreed, same feelings here. Great kids. It's not something wrong with us, just something different.

"Your daughter is with us. She will reject the teenybopper culture and actually learn more than her peers. Although she will endure the slings and arrows of rejection, you will help her get over it so she can be successful on her own terms."

--Autism

PS: Although the People's Court is decent entertainment, we prefer shows on Sci-Fi. Thank you.

I can has Animal Planet?
I asked Santa for a crystal growing kit, a chemistry set, a microscope and an Easy Bake oven when I was nine. I got a bicycle and Barbie instead. May Barbie's plastic blond soul rest in pieces.

Use to read mom's medical texts and the encyclopedias for fun. then In high school I hunted down ever book on ancient civilizations, mythology, psychology, zoology, botany, and metaphysics.

My boy friend asked Santa for a globe when he was five and made a toy helicopter with a turning propeller and a working light in 2nd grade.

Definitely.

I have Asperger's so I'm getting a kick out of these replies...

/no really

Sir Roderick Glossop: kronicfeld: "To say that autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these conditions are part of a criminal element," she said.

Congratulations, you are officially the stupidest motherf*cker on the planet.

Snocones: Are parents really that stupid? How long before the lawsuits start?

Considering the parents of these kids are the target of the ads, I'd say it is the advertising agency that wins the stupid prize here. Haven't they ever heard of focus groups?

/think the parents are being too touchy
//this is to be anticipated in the demographic

Looks to me like they did talk wih focus groups.
FTFA: Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, director of the center, said the ads were developed after conversations with parents who said they felt that their children had been stolen by disorders like autism and depression.

dh2: Just knowing why we are 'the-way-we-are' changed everything, and it all made sense.

Same here. I spent years depressed because I was "different" and had no reason for it. Somehow, having a reason helped things make sense and the depression went away. The more you know, I guess.

/diagnosed at 17

Khazar-Khum: Looks to me like they did talk wih focus groups.

do you really think this is the right thread to make fun of the rtfa-impaired? seems a bit insensitive to me

Wapner's parents are alive?