You Can Bet That ....

[Guest guest]

I posted this in the Family Forum.

You can bet that if this suicidal teen had a diagnosis of AS, the

media and the medical practitioners would be touting that as another

reason to be afraid of those with AS.

The fact is, an AS diagnosis alone will not make anyone do something

like this.

The next time you read a horrifying story in the news about violent

behaviour or poor choices and the person is identified as AS, think

twice before going along with the media slant that it's the AS

that's the cause of the violent behaviour or the poor choices.

http://ca.news./s/capress/061020/world/text_message_crash

Police say Atlanta teen text-messaged during suicide attempt that

killed woman

Fri Oct 20, 6:52 PM

ATLANTA (AP) - A lovesick 16-year-old girl crashed her car into an

oncoming vehicle in a suicide attempt, counting down the moments

before impact in text messages sent to the female classmate who

spurned her, authorities say. The girl survived; a woman in the

other car was killed.

The teenager, Louise Brunstad, was charged Thursday with murder in

the Oct. 4 wreck.

" There was what might be described as a countdown to the actual

event - 10, 9, 8 ... then the crash, " District Attorney

said.

said it was unclear whether the classmate the messages were

intended for responded to them or even read them, either as they

were sent or afterward.

Authorities said Brunstad rammed her family's Mercedes-Benz head-on

into a smaller car driven by 30-year-old Salado-Mayo, a mother

of three. Salado-Mayo was killed, and her six-year-old daughter

Lesly, who was in a child safety seat, suffered broken ribs and

other injuries.

Brunstad, who was treated for an ankle injury, had told friends she

planned to kill herself after another female student at Holy

Innocents Episcopal School refused to have sex with her,

said.

Witnesses told police the girl never slowed as she crossed over a

turning lane and into oncoming traffic on busy Roswell Road in

Atlanta's Buckhead neighbourhood on Oct. 4.

" She was travelling at a high rate of speed, " said. " This is

an intentional action. "

Prosecutors said they intend to try her as an adult. If convicted,

she faces an automatic life sentence.

The girl's lawyer, Drew Findling, declined to discuss the

allegations but expressed the family's sadness over the accident.

" This young lady and her parents are devastated by this horrible

accident and by the death of Mrs. Salado-Mayo and the injuries of

her daughter, " Findling said. " They are praying for the quick and

healthy recovery of her daughter and for the well-being of her

husband and other children. "

After a memorial service in Atlanta, Salado-Mayo's body was returned

to her native Mexico for burial. Her husband, Bibiano, a

steelworker, was unable to attend because he remained by his

daughter's bedside at an Atlanta hospital.

Brunstad was on crutches in court Thursday for a brief hearing. Her

lawyer said she was released on bail Friday. said the terms

of her bail require her to enter a mental health facility and wear

an electronic monitor around her ankle to prevent her from running

away.

[Guest guest]

She'll probably get a light sentence for any of a number of reasons I'm not going to go into here. In any case, the girl and her family should have to pay a wergild to the dead woman's family to make up for the loss. The Vikings used to do this in cases like murder, where the killed would pay a wergild to the victim's family, sometimes as much as 50% of their assets.

Still, she should be charged with first-degree, premeditated murder and be prosecuted to the hilt.

[Guest guest]

I agree that the tragedy isn't her pain that led her to act but the

fact that her actions took life, in addition it took a parent from 3

children further compounding the burden placed on the husband/father.

I agree with the idea of the wergird. She drove her mercedes into a

woman to make another girl feel bad. why not a tree? why another car

it seems a person would be driving the car. She wanted attention and

she got it. And now she should pay for it. the money should come

from her. Perhaps what william proposes is too light. she should

bear the responsibility of the loss and the debt should be paid.

[Guest guest]

My POINT for posting the article was to underscore that had this girl

been AS, the media would have focused on the FACT that she had AS.

That she had no identified medical condition meant that the article

was written in a tepid fashion, sticking to basic (and very basic)

facts, no more, no less. No interviews with school mates saying she

was 'weird'; no interviews with family members saying she

was 'impossible.' But if she had been dx'd AS, there would have been

all manner of dissing and justifications and pointing of fingers and

claims of violence due to AS.

Maybe my POINT just isn't an important enough POINT to discuss.

Raven

>

> I agree that the tragedy isn't her pain that led her to act but the

> fact that her actions took life, in addition it took a parent from 3

> children further compounding the burden placed on the

husband/father.

> I agree with the idea of the wergird. She drove her mercedes into

a

> woman to make another girl feel bad. why not a tree? why another

car

> it seems a person would be driving the car. She wanted attention

and

> she got it. And now she should pay for it. the money should come

> from her. Perhaps what william proposes is too light. she should

> bear the responsibility of the loss and the debt should be paid.

>

[Guest guest]

> My POINT for posting the article was to underscore that had this

girl

> been AS, the media would have focused on the FACT that she had

AS.

The media wants to sell papers they don't care about people or points

> That she had no identified medical condition meant that the

article

> was written in a tepid fashion, sticking to basic (and very basic)

> facts, no more, no less. No interviews with school mates saying

she

> was 'weird'; no interviews with family members saying she

> was 'impossible.' But if she had been dx'd AS, there would have

been

> all manner of dissing and justifications and pointing of fingers

and

> claims of violence due to AS.

There are obviously lots of things wrong with this girl and what the

media didn't make a big deal of was the fact that she was GAY!! and

that somehow being denied sex was a reason to premeditate a disaster.

>

> Maybe my POINT just isn't an important enough POINT to discuss.

>

While you may be right about the media's desire to make an issue or

demonize a group may be true. I didn't understand that you would

want to engage in the either dissing or dramatization of such a

thing. And since to another Aspie who doesn't feel defined or

limited by AS it is somewhat of a moot point. The Media is the

media, who cares about them. Waht is important is that fact that

life is. people commit atrocities, AS or not, Gay or not. Society

should be educated as to intent. I guess I thought that was the

issue. What is the persons intention. Why does one act a

particulAR WAY AND HOW CAN THAT BE EXPLAINED IN ORDER TO FOSTER

understanding and comunication. My point in previous posts had been

that AS is a base line. A possible reason why, but that doesn't

mean it is non negotiable. Once you know why a thing happens

perhaps we can help that entity know what is expected, or accept

another persons reaction.

The facts are sometimes a person with AS does do something violent,

and the real thing is to examine why, not sell them off as expected

to harm. But many people with AS just as often never react, they

reverse violence. They absorb it, and never complain. Those whom

don't get in the news need consideration.

I am not sure what you are trying to state; that people as a whole

that are willing to designate AS people in a way are also willing to

treat them without emotion exaserbating the problem? Or are you

saying the media is misguided? Or are you just angry?

[Guest guest]

> My POINT for posting the article was to underscore that had this

girl

> been AS, the media would have focused on the FACT that she had

AS.

The media wants to sell papers they don't care about people or points

> That she had no identified medical condition meant that the

article

> was written in a tepid fashion, sticking to basic (and very basic)

> facts, no more, no less. No interviews with school mates saying

she

> was 'weird'; no interviews with family members saying she

> was 'impossible.' But if she had been dx'd AS, there would have

been

> all manner of dissing and justifications and pointing of fingers

and

> claims of violence due to AS.

There are obviously lots of things wrong with this girl and what the

media didn't make a big deal of was the fact that she was GAY!! and

that somehow being denied sex was a reason to premeditate a disaster.

>

> Maybe my POINT just isn't an important enough POINT to discuss.

>

While you may be right about the media's desire to make an issue or

demonize a group may be true. I didn't understand that you would

want to engage in the either dissing or dramatization of such a

thing. And since to another Aspie who doesn't feel defined or

limited by AS it is somewhat of a moot point. The Media is the

media, who cares about them. Waht is important is that fact that

life is. people commit atrocities, AS or not, Gay or not. Society

should be educated as to intent. I guess I thought that was the

issue. What is the persons intention. Why does one act a

particulAR WAY AND HOW CAN THAT BE EXPLAINED IN ORDER TO FOSTER

understanding and comunication. My point in previous posts had been

that AS is a base line. A possible reason why, but that doesn't

mean it is non negotiable. Once you know why a thing happens

perhaps we can help that entity know what is expected, or accept

another persons reaction.

The facts are sometimes a person with AS does do something violent,

and the real thing is to examine why, not sell them off as expected

to harm. But many people with AS just as often never react, they

reverse violence. They absorb it, and never complain. Those whom

don't get in the news need consideration.

I am not sure what you are trying to state; that people as a whole

that are willing to designate AS people in a way are also willing to

treat them without emotion exaserbating the problem? Or are you

saying the media is misguided? Or are you just angry?

[Guest guest]

Raven,

I understand your point. If the girl had been AS, the media probably would have made a huge deal about it, perhaps even implying that all people with AS were dangerous, as they have in some other cases.

Now, they could have made a story out of any of the following:

1.) The girl had been rejected romantically and did this because of that. The story could be that jilted girls are dangerous to others.

2.) The girl was rejected by another girl, thus implying that jilted homosexuals are dangerous to others.

3.) It could have been said that the girl was a spoiled rich kid who finally didn't get something she wanted and had a temper tantrum, thus spoiled rich kids are dangerous.

We didn't see any of this though. Why? 1 and 2 would be VERY politically incorrect and 3 would probably get a libel suit from the parents.

However, if she were AS, well that's autism and everyone knows autistic people aren't like the rest of us, so there is no telling what goes on in their minds. Because there is no big pressure group behind AS like there would be in cases 1 and 2 above, As would make an easy target. Now I'm not saying AS should get its own lobby, far from it. Such lobbies always turn on themselves as they swing away from their intended purpose and become fundraising machines, supporting the founders and their growing staffs. Besides, I can't help but think that if AS did get its own lobby that it would only serve as grist for late night comedians and would be laughed at making our plight even worse. For that matter, it would defeat what most of us on here want: to be seen as equals to everyone else.

But I do agree with you that if she had been AS, alcoholic, on drugs or had some other non-PC protected mental illness, that the media would have made a huge deal out of it. I also agree that the media isn't interested in truth. The media just wants hype to attract viewers and readers. Truth, unfortunately, doesn't often pass muster. Take Afghanistan. The media, especially in Europe, says things are terrible. Several NATO troopers are killed every week. What they don't say is that for every 1 or 2 NATO troops killed, around 100 Taliban are killed. Nor do they say that most people are glad the Taliban is gone and things are looking better for the average Afghani. The media could report on the good news, like schools being built, the freedoms people have now and so on, but because of political agendas and that doom and gloom sells, all most people get is the bad news.

I've read some of the stories saying people with AS and such are dangerous because of the actions of few people. The stories mentioned were not representative of us all because those stories in question were about people that were more classically autistic and most likely had other issues as well. As for the rest of us, I'd say we are like anyone else. Anyone is capable of violence and even murder under the right conditions. Push a person far enough and one shouldn't be surprised when they take a swing or kill someone. When this happens to the average Joe, people shrug it off. When it happens to someone with AS or some other condition, they are a psychopath and so is everyone else with that condition.

[Guest guest]

Raven,

I understand your point. If the girl had been AS, the media probably would have made a huge deal about it, perhaps even implying that all people with AS were dangerous, as they have in some other cases.

Now, they could have made a story out of any of the following:

1.) The girl had been rejected romantically and did this because of that. The story could be that jilted girls are dangerous to others.

2.) The girl was rejected by another girl, thus implying that jilted homosexuals are dangerous to others.

3.) It could have been said that the girl was a spoiled rich kid who finally didn't get something she wanted and had a temper tantrum, thus spoiled rich kids are dangerous.

We didn't see any of this though. Why? 1 and 2 would be VERY politically incorrect and 3 would probably get a libel suit from the parents.

However, if she were AS, well that's autism and everyone knows autistic people aren't like the rest of us, so there is no telling what goes on in their minds. Because there is no big pressure group behind AS like there would be in cases 1 and 2 above, As would make an easy target. Now I'm not saying AS should get its own lobby, far from it. Such lobbies always turn on themselves as they swing away from their intended purpose and become fundraising machines, supporting the founders and their growing staffs. Besides, I can't help but think that if AS did get its own lobby that it would only serve as grist for late night comedians and would be laughed at making our plight even worse. For that matter, it would defeat what most of us on here want: to be seen as equals to everyone else.

But I do agree with you that if she had been AS, alcoholic, on drugs or had some other non-PC protected mental illness, that the media would have made a huge deal out of it. I also agree that the media isn't interested in truth. The media just wants hype to attract viewers and readers. Truth, unfortunately, doesn't often pass muster. Take Afghanistan. The media, especially in Europe, says things are terrible. Several NATO troopers are killed every week. What they don't say is that for every 1 or 2 NATO troops killed, around 100 Taliban are killed. Nor do they say that most people are glad the Taliban is gone and things are looking better for the average Afghani. The media could report on the good news, like schools being built, the freedoms people have now and so on, but because of political agendas and that doom and gloom sells, all most people get is the bad news.

I've read some of the stories saying people with AS and such are dangerous because of the actions of few people. The stories mentioned were not representative of us all because those stories in question were about people that were more classically autistic and most likely had other issues as well. As for the rest of us, I'd say we are like anyone else. Anyone is capable of violence and even murder under the right conditions. Push a person far enough and one shouldn't be surprised when they take a swing or kill someone. When this happens to the average Joe, people shrug it off. When it happens to someone with AS or some other condition, they are a psychopath and so is everyone else with that condition.

[Guest guest]

miminm wrote: " While you may be right about the media's desire to

make an issue or demonize a group may be true. I didn't understand

that you would want to engage in the either dissing or dramatization

of such a thing ... <snip> ... "

ARGH! My point is that HAD she had AS, the media would have made

this a three-ring circus. THAT is my point. But because she's teen

who made a very awful decision that destroyed other lives, the focus

becomes very ho-hum and uneventful.

In other words, there will no public outrage over how

dangerous " gay " people are. If she was AS, you can bet that there

would have been public outrage over how dangerous AS people are.

My point was that I am tired to tears over discrimination especially

when one's diagnosis is purposely misused as a way to stir up hatred

against another group.

I don't want to diss another group, miminm. I'm sick and tired of

people dissing people with AS and I'm sick and tired of people using

AS as an excuse for rotten choices that have nothing whatsoever to

do with AS and I'm sick and tired of defence lawyers trying to see

if they can get their client to secure an AS diagnosis between the

time they commit a crime and the time they arrive in court!

miminm wrote: " The Media is the media, who cares about them. "

Let me quote something for you -- a quote by Pastor Niemoller

with regards to World War II:

" First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was

not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak

out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade

unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade

unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak

out for me. "

The media carry messages to the public. The media oftentimes

carries misinformation to the public and has no problem whatsoever

with disseminating misinformation.

Who cares about the Media? I care about the Media.

Others may not care about the Media, but those same people will be

the ones that scream loudest when they are the focal point of

discrimination.

So rather than splinter my thoughts into little shards of

nothingness, consider the consequences of not remembering to take

into consideration how the little fact one's genetic make up can

either be ignored by the media because it is politically correct

(ie. not making a big deal of the homosexual aspect of the

offender's person) and making a disproportionate deal by the media

about one's genetic make-up by the media because it's ok to take

large swipes at people who are demonized (ie. making a big deal

about those with AS).

Yes, I'm angry but not with you, miminm. I'm angry that the media

chooses to abuse some and step lightly around others all in the name

of political correctness.

Raven

[Guest guest]

miminm wrote: " While you may be right about the media's desire to

make an issue or demonize a group may be true. I didn't understand

that you would want to engage in the either dissing or dramatization

of such a thing ... <snip> ... "

ARGH! My point is that HAD she had AS, the media would have made

this a three-ring circus. THAT is my point. But because she's teen

who made a very awful decision that destroyed other lives, the focus

becomes very ho-hum and uneventful.

In other words, there will no public outrage over how

dangerous " gay " people are. If she was AS, you can bet that there

would have been public outrage over how dangerous AS people are.

My point was that I am tired to tears over discrimination especially

when one's diagnosis is purposely misused as a way to stir up hatred

against another group.

I don't want to diss another group, miminm. I'm sick and tired of

people dissing people with AS and I'm sick and tired of people using

AS as an excuse for rotten choices that have nothing whatsoever to

do with AS and I'm sick and tired of defence lawyers trying to see

if they can get their client to secure an AS diagnosis between the

time they commit a crime and the time they arrive in court!

miminm wrote: " The Media is the media, who cares about them. "

Let me quote something for you -- a quote by Pastor Niemoller

with regards to World War II:

" First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was

not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak

out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade

unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade

unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak

out for me. "

The media carry messages to the public. The media oftentimes

carries misinformation to the public and has no problem whatsoever

with disseminating misinformation.

Who cares about the Media? I care about the Media.

Others may not care about the Media, but those same people will be

the ones that scream loudest when they are the focal point of

discrimination.

So rather than splinter my thoughts into little shards of

nothingness, consider the consequences of not remembering to take

into consideration how the little fact one's genetic make up can

either be ignored by the media because it is politically correct

(ie. not making a big deal of the homosexual aspect of the

offender's person) and making a disproportionate deal by the media

about one's genetic make-up by the media because it's ok to take

large swipes at people who are demonized (ie. making a big deal

about those with AS).

Yes, I'm angry but not with you, miminm. I'm angry that the media

chooses to abuse some and step lightly around others all in the name

of political correctness.

Raven

[Guest guest]

I understand your frustration and I guess that is why I agree with

you and believe that you are correct that AS people should be able

to be understood. Which requires communication to the outside

world that A dx of AS is neither a guarentee of amazing talents nor

a guarentee of violence. AS is hard to understand and describe as

everyone is individual. There is no story in that. It is suddenly

a " hot topic " and the media has no idea how to spin it. They are

working to write that it is either bad or good not complex and

individual, requiring attention, and yet not being invasive because

there is a desire to be left alone. I am ready how do you propose

to change the minds of the media?? I have spoken up written to

newspapers, spoken at an event to explain as a parent. Spoken to a

group to express the hope and difficulty of getting anyone " outside

to understand " I am also starting a support group for parents.

I tell people I have Aspergers I am honest, what else can we do. If

you know I will participate if I can?? baring outragous expense.

> In other words, there will no public outrage over how

> dangerous " gay " people are. Sometimes " gay " people can be

dangerous and sometimes so can people with AS, as can cute 88 year

old men and woman behind the wheel of a car.

I think what you are saying is you are tired of people being

opportunist and using a thing not for someone else's best intrest

but their own and that it irks you that children may be portrayed in

this light to sell anything. I certainly agree with that.

I'm sick and tired of defence lawyers trying to see

> if they can get their client to secure an AS diagnosis between the

> time they commit a crime and the time they arrive in court!

Well Lawyers make many people sick tired and destitute, all with a

smile on their face and a tune in their heart

> miminm wrote: " The Media is the media, who cares about them. "

I wrote that and I should have explained, that we as a group have to

show and work by example, and speak to work on the communication. I

am unsure whom to start with. First I have educated myself then

whomever I can speak to to educate them. Primarily the schools,

sometimes in court, even with the state representative where I

reside. Opinions change but the media is a fickle twisted demonic

friend. Often the people with the power to effect the lives of

others don't have any perspective or even desire to learn. Really

as stated by others in other posts, people go to a job and collect a

check. As I said, how do you give someone else a conscience??

> with regards to World War II:

>

> " First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I

was

> not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak

> out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade

> unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade

> unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to

speak

> out for me. "

I am a Jew and know the quote. " They " will always come for " us "

it depends who they and us are

> The media carry messages to the public.

Who is the public?

>The media oftentimes

> carries misinformation to the public and has no problem whatsoever

> with disseminating misinformation.

>

> Who cares about the Media? I care about the Media.

>

> Others may not care about the Media, but those same people will be

> the ones that scream loudest when they are the focal point of

> discrimination.

Many of us have been the focal point of discrimiation since our

birth. Perpetrated by our own families as many have written. AS in

many cases is actually an excuse for those with it to be abused. My

first sexual experience was a rape. My parents took me to the

athorities, they told me not to prosecute because I would " ruin " the

life of another, My own life was already forefit. This was due in

part to my Naive asperger's mind, misreading a situation, and then

when it was too late realizing that I was small and easy to

overpower. So the next time it happened I didn't even report it. I

instead learned to avoid people because people are non-thinking

group of brutes. It would only be en-masse that a " group would have

any hope of fostering understanding " So I am ready to join your

group. Although I fight I fight alone as do most of us. The Rape

taught me 1. people don't have a problem harming another person and

2. I am small and can be overpowered. these are facts I can cry

fight and get a gun but my physical qualities will remain the same.

> So rather than splinter my thoughts into little shards of

> nothingness, consider the consequences of not remembering to take

> into consideration how the little fact one's genetic make up can

> either be ignored by the media because it is politically correct

> (ie. not making a big deal of the homosexual aspect of the

> offender's person) and making a disproportionate deal by the media

> about one's genetic make-up by the media because it's ok to take

> large swipes at people who are demonized (ie. making a big deal

> about those with AS).

>

> Yes, I'm angry but not with you, miminm. I'm angry that the media

> chooses to abuse some and step lightly around others all in the

name

> of political correctness.

>

> Raven

>

Raven your point is important and necessary but I think we need some

type of action. Issue a statement as a group? Call a conference?

This Friday I go to the state house as part of a group saying that

parents of developmentally effected children

don't want to see adults in secluded institions. Medicated and

left like ghosts to haunt one building without hope of parole(their

crime) genetics. So we need to work to end fear. Your words are

eloquent but only this group sees them. Maybe what I should have

said is the media doesn't care about us or the truth,it as an entity

wants to sell media. mimi

[Guest guest]

I understand your frustration and I guess that is why I agree with

you and believe that you are correct that AS people should be able

to be understood. Which requires communication to the outside

world that A dx of AS is neither a guarentee of amazing talents nor

a guarentee of violence. AS is hard to understand and describe as

everyone is individual. There is no story in that. It is suddenly

a " hot topic " and the media has no idea how to spin it. They are

working to write that it is either bad or good not complex and

individual, requiring attention, and yet not being invasive because

there is a desire to be left alone. I am ready how do you propose

to change the minds of the media?? I have spoken up written to

newspapers, spoken at an event to explain as a parent. Spoken to a

group to express the hope and difficulty of getting anyone " outside

to understand " I am also starting a support group for parents.

I tell people I have Aspergers I am honest, what else can we do. If

you know I will participate if I can?? baring outragous expense.

> In other words, there will no public outrage over how

> dangerous " gay " people are. Sometimes " gay " people can be

dangerous and sometimes so can people with AS, as can cute 88 year

old men and woman behind the wheel of a car.

I think what you are saying is you are tired of people being

opportunist and using a thing not for someone else's best intrest

but their own and that it irks you that children may be portrayed in

this light to sell anything. I certainly agree with that.

I'm sick and tired of defence lawyers trying to see

> if they can get their client to secure an AS diagnosis between the

> time they commit a crime and the time they arrive in court!

Well Lawyers make many people sick tired and destitute, all with a

smile on their face and a tune in their heart

> miminm wrote: " The Media is the media, who cares about them. "

I wrote that and I should have explained, that we as a group have to

show and work by example, and speak to work on the communication. I

am unsure whom to start with. First I have educated myself then

whomever I can speak to to educate them. Primarily the schools,

sometimes in court, even with the state representative where I

reside. Opinions change but the media is a fickle twisted demonic

friend. Often the people with the power to effect the lives of

others don't have any perspective or even desire to learn. Really

as stated by others in other posts, people go to a job and collect a

check. As I said, how do you give someone else a conscience??

> with regards to World War II:

>

> " First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I

was

> not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak

> out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade

> unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade

> unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to

speak

> out for me. "

I am a Jew and know the quote. " They " will always come for " us "

it depends who they and us are

> The media carry messages to the public.

Who is the public?

>The media oftentimes

> carries misinformation to the public and has no problem whatsoever

> with disseminating misinformation.

>

> Who cares about the Media? I care about the Media.

>

> Others may not care about the Media, but those same people will be

> the ones that scream loudest when they are the focal point of

> discrimination.

Many of us have been the focal point of discrimiation since our

birth. Perpetrated by our own families as many have written. AS in

many cases is actually an excuse for those with it to be abused. My

first sexual experience was a rape. My parents took me to the

athorities, they told me not to prosecute because I would " ruin " the

life of another, My own life was already forefit. This was due in

part to my Naive asperger's mind, misreading a situation, and then

when it was too late realizing that I was small and easy to

overpower. So the next time it happened I didn't even report it. I

instead learned to avoid people because people are non-thinking

group of brutes. It would only be en-masse that a " group would have

any hope of fostering understanding " So I am ready to join your

group. Although I fight I fight alone as do most of us. The Rape

taught me 1. people don't have a problem harming another person and

2. I am small and can be overpowered. these are facts I can cry

fight and get a gun but my physical qualities will remain the same.

> So rather than splinter my thoughts into little shards of

> nothingness, consider the consequences of not remembering to take

> into consideration how the little fact one's genetic make up can

> either be ignored by the media because it is politically correct

> (ie. not making a big deal of the homosexual aspect of the

> offender's person) and making a disproportionate deal by the media

> about one's genetic make-up by the media because it's ok to take

> large swipes at people who are demonized (ie. making a big deal

> about those with AS).

>

> Yes, I'm angry but not with you, miminm. I'm angry that the media

> chooses to abuse some and step lightly around others all in the

name

> of political correctness.

>

> Raven

>

Raven your point is important and necessary but I think we need some

type of action. Issue a statement as a group? Call a conference?

This Friday I go to the state house as part of a group saying that

parents of developmentally effected children

don't want to see adults in secluded institions. Medicated and

left like ghosts to haunt one building without hope of parole(their

crime) genetics. So we need to work to end fear. Your words are

eloquent but only this group sees them. Maybe what I should have

said is the media doesn't care about us or the truth,it as an entity

wants to sell media. mimi

[Guest guest]

mimi wrote: " Raven your point is important and necessary but I think

we need some type of action. Issue a statement as a group? Call a

conference? This Friday I go to the state house as part of a group

saying that parents of developmentally effected children don't want to

see adults in secluded institions. Medicated and left like ghosts to

haunt one building without hope of parole(their crime) genetics. So

we need to work to end fear. Your words are eloquent but only this

group sees them. Maybe what I should have said is the media doesn't

care about us or the truth,it as an entity wants to sell media. "

Please let us know how your presentation at the State House goes,

mimi, and I applaud you for standing up for what you believe to be

right.

Thank you for saying my words are eloquent. I speak from the heart

and sometimes my passion for defending what is right is very intense.

But this group is not the only group that sees them. I do not make my

real life self known in this group for a number of reasons, some

personal, some business, some to shield my child.

But I speak out and I speak out loudly and I speak out with the same

passion and eloquence as I do here. I create projects that bring

about awareness and that raise funds for research and/or programs. I

volunteer on boards, advocating for understanding and inclusion.

My child has been in profiled in numerous news articles (broadcast and

print) where he is an excellent advocate for other children with AS,

proving that children with AS are children first and foremost and to

be cherished for their uniqueness and individuality rather than

segregated and discriminated against for their diagnosis.

And I see so much of HIS hard work undone to a large degree each time

a news bite here or there is reported, where someone uses AS as a

crutch to justify illegal -- and sometimes fatal -- life choices as an

excuse for their own behaviour ... behaviour that has nothing to do

with AS.

I will fight to the very end to defeat discrimination. I do not using

any excuse for poor life choices. If a person makes a poor decision,

that person needs to hold himself or herself accountable for those

actions and make appropriate decisions to make things right again.

Furthermore, mimi, I have to agree with you when you say that the

media doesn't care about the truth. The media cares about

sensationalism and creating an atmosphere of fear wherever it can do

so. This, they feel, guarantees that they will always be looked upon

as a necessary part of everyone's life.

I'd rather have truth.

Raven

[Guest guest]

" Because there is no big pressure group behind AS like there would be

in cases 1 and 2 above, AS would make an easy target. Now I'm not

saying AS should get its own lobby, far from it. Such lobbies always

turn on themselves as they swing away from their intended purpose and

become fundraising machines, supporting the founders and their growing

staffs. "

Actually , there are already two big AS lobbies acting in

concert with one another to flood the net with sites, forums and

movements that rope in autistics from the earliest childhood to the

latest adulthood. These groups already control Wikipedia and no

alternate view of autism is permitted to be posted there because the

people who moderate those portions of Wikipedia come from the groups

that started the movement.

Thus this movement which does NOT represent all autistics is now

influencing anyone who uses Wikipedia as a reference and is gathering

in people from a huge portion of the net to their boards.

" Besides, I can't help but think that if AS did get its own lobby that

it would only serve as grist for late night comedians and would be

laughed at making our plight even worse. For that matter, it would

defeat what most of us on here want: to be seen as equals to everyone

else. "

It is already working. No reputable autistic organization started by

either NTs or by autistics takes these groups seriously and pans these

groups left and right. But unsuspecting people and people who are

ignorant of AS do regard these silly groups as serious groups and lend

them full support and thus " credence. "

Thus AS people are increasingly being regarded as radicals and this is

being reflected through disrespectful media stories.

Tom

Administrator

[Guest guest]

" Because there is no big pressure group behind AS like there would be

in cases 1 and 2 above, AS would make an easy target. Now I'm not

saying AS should get its own lobby, far from it. Such lobbies always

turn on themselves as they swing away from their intended purpose and

become fundraising machines, supporting the founders and their growing

staffs. "

Actually , there are already two big AS lobbies acting in

concert with one another to flood the net with sites, forums and

movements that rope in autistics from the earliest childhood to the

latest adulthood. These groups already control Wikipedia and no

alternate view of autism is permitted to be posted there because the

people who moderate those portions of Wikipedia come from the groups

that started the movement.

Thus this movement which does NOT represent all autistics is now

influencing anyone who uses Wikipedia as a reference and is gathering

in people from a huge portion of the net to their boards.

" Besides, I can't help but think that if AS did get its own lobby that

it would only serve as grist for late night comedians and would be

laughed at making our plight even worse. For that matter, it would

defeat what most of us on here want: to be seen as equals to everyone

else. "

It is already working. No reputable autistic organization started by

either NTs or by autistics takes these groups seriously and pans these

groups left and right. But unsuspecting people and people who are

ignorant of AS do regard these silly groups as serious groups and lend

them full support and thus " credence. "

Thus AS people are increasingly being regarded as radicals and this is

being reflected through disrespectful media stories.

Tom

Administrator

[Guest guest]

wrote: " ... <snip> ... Anyone is capable of violence and

even murder under the right conditions. Push a person far enough and

one shouldn't be surprised when they take a swing or kill someone.

When this happens to the average Joe, people shrug it off. When it

happens to someone with AS or some other condition, they are a

psychopath and so is everyone else with that condition. "

Exactly what my point was, . Thank you for stating it so much

better -- and clearer -- than I.

Raven

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/23/2006 9:47:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, ravenmagic2003@... writes:

Exactly what my point was, . Thank you for stating it so much better -- and clearer -- than I.Raven

You're welcome. I can't claim full credit for it though. Even though this is something that is very obvious, I have heard it most plainly stated on several real life police shows and sometimes on Law and Order and the CSI franchise. Still, it amazes me how so many people think that they can just push people around and then act surprised when they get assaulted by someone one day. It is like the kids that used to bully me: they would harass and push me but then would get scared and complain to their parents when I struck back.