Autism hyperbole and national hysteria

[Guest guest]

Front Page > Opinion

Tuesday April 8, 2008

Autism hyperbole and national hysteria

By Nick Jamison

Senior Staff Writer

The issues that carry national opinion and concern seem to come and go

in waves. Such topics have ranged from the depleting ozone to violent

video games and even to the Armageddon monster flop Y2K. These

bandwagons always paint the topic as the most pressing issue we will

ever have to face in our life until ultimately the people rallying

become bored and return home. Tranquility ensues for about a week

until these Columbos of caution find a new epidemic that is

threatening to kill everyone and everything you care about. While

global warming is still an issue, bitching about it was so 2007, so

meet this year’s headache, autism.

I always enjoy reading the ribbons that people place on the back of

their car because I believe all of them are just empty gestures that

serve little purpose. Around the beginning of this year, I began

seeing ribbons covered with puzzles that had ‘autism’ written across

it. I let out an expletive and quietly prepared myself for the

upcoming autism hysteria that would ensue. I pictured it would be like

Beatle’s Mania, just a lot less fun. Four months later, autism fest

‘08 is here and in full swing. CNN.com, the website where I usually go

for all of my -related info, was run amuck this week

with softball autism stories aimed to tug on the reader’s heartstrings

and make him/her shed a tear or two. While some were heart felt and

inspiring, I don’t see why this needs to be raised to level of nation

concern. Not to belittle the mental disease, but it is not an issue of

life or death and people with autism can live long and relatively

normal lives. On several of the videos CNN.com sponsored, the kids

suffering from autism seemed like your typical youngster. Maybe I am

not seeing the dark side of autism, but to me it appears to be just a

social illness and less of a crippling pandemic.

Now, I’m not saying that autism is something we shouldn’t try to

examine closer or that it is a faux disease. It is a very real issue

that affects a lot of people. McCarthy being upset is not

something I enjoy seeing; not during her Singled Out days and

especially not today. But do we really need to put autism at DEFCON 5

and make it so that everywhere you look autism is smacking you in the

face? For example, what is the purpose of putting up a billboard that

is telling me a child is born with autism every 20 minutes? What can I

possibly do other than sit in my car and mutter to myself, “Well that

sucks.†Maybe if there was a cure or even ways to help prevent autism,

it might make more sense to have a billboard. Then it would reinforce

concepts in people’s head that they could apply later like “only you

could prevent forest fires†or “don’t eat cheese before noon.†But

frankly, all this billboard is really saying is, “Beware, autistic

people are everywhere,†and I’m sure that isn’t the message they want

to get across. We already know autism exists; give us something we can

work with. If the autism front wants to put us through a year of sappy

ads and TV specials, than at least make it worth the time and money

and headache. Teach us something. I was on my way to New York City

this weekend and every toll booth was littered with autism propaganda.

Did I learn anything? No. There are more intelligent ways to get out a

message to the public.

And honestly, do we really need a national concern at the moment? We

have the war, the economy, the fuel crisis, and “The Office†is back

with new episodes. My schedule is booked. Autism should save their

money and put it towards research, or get the kids some Pokemon cards.

On a side note, that’s the second Pokemon reference to occur in the

opinion section since the beginning of April.

Copyright: The Retriever Weekly

Nick Jamison can be contacted by using our contact form and selecting

the section this article was written for.

http://www.retrieverweekly.com/?module=displaystory & story_id=3275 & format=html

[Guest guest]

God gave me 2 autistic kids to force me to grow up. This kid will

change his tune in about 20 years. His biggest worry is which kegger

to attend this weekend.

>

> Front Page > Opinion

>

> Tuesday April 8, 2008

> Autism hyperbole and national hysteria

>

> By Nick Jamison

> Senior Staff Writer

>

> The issues that carry national opinion and concern seem to come and

go

> in waves. Such topics have ranged from the depleting ozone to

violent

> video games and even to the Armageddon monster flop Y2K. These

> bandwagons always paint the topic as the most pressing issue we will

> ever have to face in our life until ultimately the people rallying

> become bored and return home. Tranquility ensues for about a week

> until these Columbos of caution find a new epidemic that is

> threatening to kill everyone and everything you care about. While

> global warming is still an issue, bitching about it was so 2007, so

> meet this year’s headache, autism.

>

> I always enjoy reading the ribbons that people place on the back of

> their car because I believe all of them are just empty gestures that

> serve little purpose. Around the beginning of this year, I began

> seeing ribbons covered with puzzles that had ‘autism’ written

across

> it. I let out an expletive and quietly prepared myself for the

> upcoming autism hysteria that would ensue. I pictured it would be

like

> Beatle’s Mania, just a lot less fun. Four months later, autism

fest

> ‘08 is here and in full swing. CNN.com, the website where I

usually go

> for all of my -related info, was run amuck this week

> with softball autism stories aimed to tug on the reader’s

heartstrings

> and make him/her shed a tear or two. While some were heart felt and

> inspiring, I don’t see why this needs to be raised to level of

nation

> concern. Not to belittle the mental disease, but it is not an issue

of

> life or death and people with autism can live long and relatively

> normal lives. On several of the videos CNN.com sponsored, the kids

> suffering from autism seemed like your typical youngster. Maybe I am

> not seeing the dark side of autism, but to me it appears to be just

a

> social illness and less of a crippling pandemic.

>

> Now, I’m not saying that autism is something we shouldn’t try to

> examine closer or that it is a faux disease. It is a very real issue

> that affects a lot of people. McCarthy being upset is not

> something I enjoy seeing; not during her Singled Out days and

> especially not today. But do we really need to put autism at DEFCON

5

> and make it so that everywhere you look autism is smacking you in

the

> face? For example, what is the purpose of putting up a billboard

that

> is telling me a child is born with autism every 20 minutes? What

can I

> possibly do other than sit in my car and mutter to myself, “Well

that

> sucks.†Maybe if there was a cure or even ways to help prevent

autism,

> it might make more sense to have a billboard. Then it would

reinforce

> concepts in people’s head that they could apply later like

“only you

> could prevent forest fires†or “don’t eat cheese before

noon.†But

> frankly, all this billboard is really saying is, “Beware, autistic

> people are everywhere,†and I’m sure that isn’t the message

they want

> to get across. We already know autism exists; give us something we

can

> work with. If the autism front wants to put us through a year of

sappy

> ads and TV specials, than at least make it worth the time and money

> and headache. Teach us something. I was on my way to New York City

> this weekend and every toll booth was littered with autism

propaganda.

> Did I learn anything? No. There are more intelligent ways to get

out a

> message to the public.

>

> And honestly, do we really need a national concern at the moment? We

> have the war, the economy, the fuel crisis, and “The Office†is

back

> with new episodes. My schedule is booked. Autism should save their

> money and put it towards research, or get the kids some Pokemon

cards.

> On a side note, that’s the second Pokemon reference to occur in

the

> opinion section since the beginning of April.

>

> Copyright: The Retriever Weekly

>

> Nick Jamison can be contacted by using our contact form and

selecting

> the section this article was written for.

>

> http://www.retrieverweekly.com/?

module=displaystory & story_id=3275 & format=html

>

[Guest guest]

" Maybe if there was a cure or even ways to help prevent autism, it

might make more sense to have a billboard. " -- He does have a point

there, though clearly he's callow and doesn't dig deeply enough into

the issue to uncover that this IS the information which many people

are trying to provide.

But I have to agree with him (and agree for reasons he's clearly not

versed in) that, knowing what I do, the Autism Speaks ads and

softsell-without-real-information campaigns drive me nuts.

> >

> > Front Page > Opinion

> >

> > Tuesday April 8, 2008

> > Autism hyperbole and national hysteria

> >

> > By Nick Jamison

> > Senior Staff Writer

> >

> > The issues that carry national opinion and concern seem to come

and

> go

> > in waves. Such topics have ranged from the depleting ozone to

> violent

> > video games and even to the Armageddon monster flop Y2K. These

> > bandwagons always paint the topic as the most pressing issue we

will

> > ever have to face in our life until ultimately the people rallying

> > become bored and return home. Tranquility ensues for about a week

> > until these Columbos of caution find a new epidemic that is

> > threatening to kill everyone and everything you care about. While

> > global warming is still an issue, bitching about it was so 2007,

so

> > meet this year’s headache, autism.

> >

> > I always enjoy reading the ribbons that people place on the back

of

> > their car because I believe all of them are just empty gestures

that

> > serve little purpose. Around the beginning of this year, I began

> > seeing ribbons covered with puzzles that had ‘autism’ written

> across

> > it. I let out an expletive and quietly prepared myself for the

> > upcoming autism hysteria that would ensue. I pictured it would be

> like

> > Beatle’s Mania, just a lot less fun. Four months later, autism

> fest

> > ‘08 is here and in full swing. CNN.com, the website where I

> usually go

> > for all of my -related info, was run amuck this

week

> > with softball autism stories aimed to tug on the reader’s

> heartstrings

> > and make him/her shed a tear or two. While some were heart felt

and

> > inspiring, I don’t see why this needs to be raised to level of

> nation

> > concern. Not to belittle the mental disease, but it is not an

issue

> of

> > life or death and people with autism can live long and relatively

> > normal lives. On several of the videos CNN.com sponsored, the kids

> > suffering from autism seemed like your typical youngster. Maybe I

am

> > not seeing the dark side of autism, but to me it appears to be

just

> a

> > social illness and less of a crippling pandemic.

> >

> > Now, I’m not saying that autism is something we shouldn’t try

to

> > examine closer or that it is a faux disease. It is a very real

issue

> > that affects a lot of people. McCarthy being upset is not

> > something I enjoy seeing; not during her Singled Out days and

> > especially not today. But do we really need to put autism at

DEFCON

> 5

> > and make it so that everywhere you look autism is smacking you in

> the

> > face? For example, what is the purpose of putting up a billboard

> that

> > is telling me a child is born with autism every 20 minutes? What

> can I

> > possibly do other than sit in my car and mutter to myself,

“Well

> that

> > sucks.†Maybe if there was a cure or even ways to help prevent

> autism,

> > it might make more sense to have a billboard. Then it would

> reinforce

> > concepts in people’s head that they could apply later like

> “only you

> > could prevent forest fires†or “don’t eat cheese before

> noon.†But

> > frankly, all this billboard is really saying is, “Beware,

autistic

> > people are everywhere,†and I’m sure that isn’t the message

> they want

> > to get across. We already know autism exists; give us something

we

> can

> > work with. If the autism front wants to put us through a year of

> sappy

> > ads and TV specials, than at least make it worth the time and

money

> > and headache. Teach us something. I was on my way to New York City

> > this weekend and every toll booth was littered with autism

> propaganda.

> > Did I learn anything? No. There are more intelligent ways to get

> out a

> > message to the public.

> >

> > And honestly, do we really need a national concern at the moment?

We

> > have the war, the economy, the fuel crisis, and “The Officeâ€

is

> back

> > with new episodes. My schedule is booked. Autism should save their

> > money and put it towards research, or get the kids some Pokemon

> cards.

> > On a side note, that’s the second Pokemon reference to occur in

> the

> > opinion section since the beginning of April.

> >

> > Copyright: The Retriever Weekly

> >

> > Nick Jamison can be contacted by using our contact form and

> selecting

> > the section this article was written for.

> >

> > http://www.retrieverweekly.com/?

> module=displaystory & story_id=3275 & format=html

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The guy probably does deserve somewhat of a break for being so naive

since he's most likely in his late teens or early 20s. Because of his

likely age - he was born before the huge onslaught of kids with

autism yet to age out of public schools. Any people with autism he's

been exposed to at college are likely more Aspergian. I can't imagine

that he'd think kids with autism seem like typical kids if he had

ever been exposed to severely affected kids or adults.

I also tend to agree with him that awareness does little to address

the issue.

> > >

> > > Front Page > Opinion

> > >

> > > Tuesday April 8, 2008

> > > Autism hyperbole and national hysteria

> > >

> > > By Nick Jamison

> > > Senior Staff Writer

> > >

> > > The issues that carry national opinion and concern seem to come

> and

> > go

> > > in waves. Such topics have ranged from the depleting ozone to

> > violent

> > > video games and even to the Armageddon monster flop Y2K. These

> > > bandwagons always paint the topic as the most pressing issue we

> will

> > > ever have to face in our life until ultimately the people

rallying

> > > become bored and return home. Tranquility ensues for about a

week

> > > until these Columbos of caution find a new epidemic that is

> > > threatening to kill everyone and everything you care about.

While

> > > global warming is still an issue, bitching about it was so

2007,

> so

> > > meet this year’s headache, autism.

> > >

> > > I always enjoy reading the ribbons that people place on the

back

> of

> > > their car because I believe all of them are just empty gestures

> that

> > > serve little purpose. Around the beginning of this year, I began

> > > seeing ribbons covered with puzzles that had ‘autism’

written

> > across

> > > it. I let out an expletive and quietly prepared myself for the

> > > upcoming autism hysteria that would ensue. I pictured it would

be

> > like

> > > Beatle’s Mania, just a lot less fun. Four months later,

autism

> > fest

> > > ‘08 is here and in full swing. CNN.com, the website where I

> > usually go

> > > for all of my -related info, was run amuck this

> week

> > > with softball autism stories aimed to tug on the reader’s

> > heartstrings

> > > and make him/her shed a tear or two. While some were heart felt

> and

> > > inspiring, I don’t see why this needs to be raised to level

of

> > nation

> > > concern. Not to belittle the mental disease, but it is not an

> issue

> > of

> > > life or death and people with autism can live long and

relatively

> > > normal lives. On several of the videos CNN.com sponsored, the

kids

> > > suffering from autism seemed like your typical youngster. Maybe

I

> am

> > > not seeing the dark side of autism, but to me it appears to be

> just

> > a

> > > social illness and less of a crippling pandemic.

> > >

> > > Now, I’m not saying that autism is something we shouldn’t

try

> to

> > > examine closer or that it is a faux disease. It is a very real

> issue

> > > that affects a lot of people. McCarthy being upset is not

> > > something I enjoy seeing; not during her Singled Out days and

> > > especially not today. But do we really need to put autism at

> DEFCON

> > 5

> > > and make it so that everywhere you look autism is smacking you

in

> > the

> > > face? For example, what is the purpose of putting up a

billboard

> > that

> > > is telling me a child is born with autism every 20 minutes?

What

> > can I

> > > possibly do other than sit in my car and mutter to myself,

> “Well

> > that

> > > sucks.†Maybe if there was a cure or even ways to help

prevent

> > autism,

> > > it might make more sense to have a billboard. Then it would

> > reinforce

> > > concepts in people’s head that they could apply later like

> > “only you

> > > could prevent forest fires†or “don’t eat cheese before

> > noon.†But

> > > frankly, all this billboard is really saying is, “Beware,

> autistic

> > > people are everywhere,†and I’m sure that isn’t the

message

> > they want

> > > to get across. We already know autism exists; give us something

> we

> > can

> > > work with. If the autism front wants to put us through a year

of

> > sappy

> > > ads and TV specials, than at least make it worth the time and

> money

> > > and headache. Teach us something. I was on my way to New York

City

> > > this weekend and every toll booth was littered with autism

> > propaganda.

> > > Did I learn anything? No. There are more intelligent ways to

get

> > out a

> > > message to the public.

> > >

> > > And honestly, do we really need a national concern at the

moment?

> We

> > > have the war, the economy, the fuel crisis, and “The

Officeâ€

> is

> > back

> > > with new episodes. My schedule is booked. Autism should save

their

> > > money and put it towards research, or get the kids some Pokemon

> > cards.

> > > On a side note, that’s the second Pokemon reference to occur

in

> > the

> > > opinion section since the beginning of April.

> > >

> > > Copyright: The Retriever Weekly

> > >

> > > Nick Jamison can be contacted by using our contact form and

> > selecting

> > > the section this article was written for.

> > >

> > > http://www.retrieverweekly.com/?

> > module=displaystory & story_id=3275 & format=html

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Maybe what he wrote could inspire a very interesting awareness

campaign with his gen's audience in mind, something sort of " mush-o-

clastic " that addresses young people's naturally impatient response

to all the disinformative, touchy-feely-empty AS ads.

It's not just his generation either-- it's " hip " twenty-something

professionals and beyond who don't get it because they haven't had

kids yet.

> > > >

> > > > Front Page > Opinion

> > > >

> > > > Tuesday April 8, 2008

> > > > Autism hyperbole and national hysteria

> > > >

> > > > By Nick Jamison

> > > > Senior Staff Writer

> > > >

> > > > The issues that carry national opinion and concern seem to

come

> > and

> > > go

> > > > in waves. Such topics have ranged from the depleting ozone to

> > > violent

> > > > video games and even to the Armageddon monster flop Y2K. These

> > > > bandwagons always paint the topic as the most pressing issue

we

> > will

> > > > ever have to face in our life until ultimately the people

> rallying

> > > > become bored and return home. Tranquility ensues for about a

> week

> > > > until these Columbos of caution find a new epidemic that is

> > > > threatening to kill everyone and everything you care about.

> While

> > > > global warming is still an issue, bitching about it was so

> 2007,

> > so

> > > > meet this year’s headache, autism.

> > > >

> > > > I always enjoy reading the ribbons that people place on the

> back

> > of

> > > > their car because I believe all of them are just empty

gestures

> > that

> > > > serve little purpose. Around the beginning of this year, I

began

> > > > seeing ribbons covered with puzzles that had ‘autism’

> written

> > > across

> > > > it. I let out an expletive and quietly prepared myself for the

> > > > upcoming autism hysteria that would ensue. I pictured it

would

> be

> > > like

> > > > Beatle’s Mania, just a lot less fun. Four months later,

> autism

> > > fest

> > > > ‘08 is here and in full swing. CNN.com, the website where I

> > > usually go

> > > > for all of my -related info, was run amuck

this

> > week

> > > > with softball autism stories aimed to tug on the reader’s

> > > heartstrings

> > > > and make him/her shed a tear or two. While some were heart

felt

> > and

> > > > inspiring, I don’t see why this needs to be raised to level

> of

> > > nation

> > > > concern. Not to belittle the mental disease, but it is not an

> > issue

> > > of

> > > > life or death and people with autism can live long and

> relatively

> > > > normal lives. On several of the videos CNN.com sponsored, the

> kids

> > > > suffering from autism seemed like your typical youngster.

Maybe

> I

> > am

> > > > not seeing the dark side of autism, but to me it appears to

be

> > just

> > > a

> > > > social illness and less of a crippling pandemic.

> > > >

> > > > Now, I’m not saying that autism is something we shouldn’t

> try

> > to

> > > > examine closer or that it is a faux disease. It is a very

real

> > issue

> > > > that affects a lot of people. McCarthy being upset is

not

> > > > something I enjoy seeing; not during her Singled Out days and

> > > > especially not today. But do we really need to put autism at

> > DEFCON

> > > 5

> > > > and make it so that everywhere you look autism is smacking

you

> in

> > > the

> > > > face? For example, what is the purpose of putting up a

> billboard

> > > that

> > > > is telling me a child is born with autism every 20 minutes?

> What

> > > can I

> > > > possibly do other than sit in my car and mutter to myself,

> > “Well

> > > that

> > > > sucks.†Maybe if there was a cure or even ways to help

> prevent

> > > autism,

> > > > it might make more sense to have a billboard. Then it would

> > > reinforce

> > > > concepts in people’s head that they could apply later like

> > > “only you

> > > > could prevent forest fires†or “don’t eat cheese before

> > > noon.†But

> > > > frankly, all this billboard is really saying is, “Beware,

> > autistic

> > > > people are everywhere,†and I’m sure that isn’t the

> message

> > > they want

> > > > to get across. We already know autism exists; give us

something

> > we

> > > can

> > > > work with. If the autism front wants to put us through a year

> of

> > > sappy

> > > > ads and TV specials, than at least make it worth the time and

> > money

> > > > and headache. Teach us something. I was on my way to New York

> City

> > > > this weekend and every toll booth was littered with autism

> > > propaganda.

> > > > Did I learn anything? No. There are more intelligent ways to

> get

> > > out a

> > > > message to the public.

> > > >

> > > > And honestly, do we really need a national concern at the

> moment?

> > We

> > > > have the war, the economy, the fuel crisis, and “The

> Officeâ€

> > is

> > > back

> > > > with new episodes. My schedule is booked. Autism should save

> their

> > > > money and put it towards research, or get the kids some

Pokemon

> > > cards.

> > > > On a side note, that’s the second Pokemon reference to

occur

> in

> > > the

> > > > opinion section since the beginning of April.

> > > >

> > > > Copyright: The Retriever Weekly

> > > >

> > > > Nick Jamison can be contacted by using our contact form and

> > > selecting

> > > > the section this article was written for.

> > > >

> > > > http://www.retrieverweekly.com/?

> > > module=displaystory & story_id=3275 & format=html

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> It's not just his generation either-- it's " hip " twenty-something

> professionals and beyond who don't get it because they haven't had

> kids yet.

They'd have cousins, nieces, nephews, if not siblings or the next door

neighbor's kid.

Lenny

[Guest guest]

Raising " autism awareness " is little more than code for raising public

awareness of a particular autism organization.

> I also tend to agree with him that awareness does little to address

> the issue.

[Guest guest]

True, but it's amazing how far removed some youngish urban social

stratas are from the families-with-kids scene and how far in the dark

so many people are kept. I think that's going to change because of the

concession but I'm not sure how quickly.

Our teenage babysitters knew NOTHING of the controversy until we told

them. They'd been fed a line of bull, almost as if the school was using

disinformation to caulk up the gaps in curiosity which might lead some

to seek more information. I have to say that caulk-job works for most.

Not to mention that the issue, for a lot of people who don't children

yet, is fearfully repellant. Many think, " Eeek " and don't want to know

more. They're led to believe that it's a helpless situation which makes

them turn off even more. Just a thought.

>

> > It's not just his generation either-- it's " hip " twenty-something

> > professionals and beyond who don't get it because they haven't had

> > kids yet.

>

> They'd have cousins, nieces, nephews, if not siblings or the next door

> neighbor's kid.

>

> Lenny

>

[Guest guest]

Are you kidding me?

Autism hyperbole and national hysteria

Front Page > Opinion

Tuesday April 8, 2008

Autism hyperbole and national hysteria

By Nick Jamison

Senior Staff Writer