cleveland free times

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I sent a letter to the Cleveland Free Times. It is a little local free paper that's distributed here, usually in the record or music stores, and such. Not very family friendly, aimed more at the young single crowd. But I didn't notice a lot of pharmaceutical ads when I was leafing thru it (actually most of the ads look like they're for strip clubs or head shops, but oh well...), so I said to myself, hmm, why not send them a letter. I got an email back from the editor, saying that he would be happy to tell my story, and wanting to know if we can meet. Ack. I'm not really so sure that I’m interested in telling my story. I wrote the letter with lots of personal information, hoping that it would spark more interest than if I'd just pasted lots of urls for studies. But I asked them to please not publish the letter, as I don't want my name out and about with regards to all of this. Which makes me feel kind of

bad, but I have four children, three of whom would much prefer that I not be involved with this at all, and that isn't even taking into account the husband. Who absolutely freaked when he did a google on my name and learned that I think I'm self diagnosed with Aspergers. My oldest child says that I should ignore them and just do what I have to do, but I can't do that. It seems kind of silly to try hiding in the shadows, now, after seeing what shows up when I google my own name. But I really want to respect the rest of the families wishes on this. Also, there is this. I think that maybe I was never diagnosed not because I don't meet the criteria, but because I believe that a lot of people thought that this would be better for me, and tho I sometimes wonder whether they were right or wrong, I find that I don't want the names of my children to be associated with something that unfortunately, even for the highest functioning, has a stigma attached. I am sorry. (For

the neurodiverse crowd, I will be doubly so, although I don’t suppose that will make them feel any better...) What I was hoping he would do would be to just look into the matter and publish something about it. Something positive for us. It's not Oprah, but apparently the editor of the Cleveland Free Times isn't so very afraid as she is. And so I'd like to meet with this man, but at the same time I'm very leery. I turned down an interview with the LA Times some months back because I knew little about the newspaper other than that it was a sister paper to the NY Times. And I certainly won't ever forget what they did when reporting on this. And I was very afraid that whatever I said might get all twisted around, and I'm afraid that the same thing might happen no matter who I'm talking to. But perhaps I should stop being so paranoid. Also, I'm wonder if there is really much point to talking with him, if I'm going

to insist that he not use my name in anything he publishes. Do reporters have to respect a request like this? They do, don't they? Have some sort of ethical if not legal obligation to honor the wishes of their sources? I guess I am going to write back and tell him that I would like to meet. But since the kids are all off school for spring break and I would want to wait til next week to do that, anyway, I thought I would write to you all and see what you all might think about this. (If I do speak with him, I promise I will not say anything about wanting to put a pipe thru certain guilty parties heads'. And I will try not to say anything else your average person might find similarly disturbing. Altho I am somewhat PC challenged...)