Comments on: On knowing people a long time.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:09:53 +0000

I should just keep my proverbial mouth shut.

By: ballastexistenz

ballastexistenz — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:58:56 +0000

Well, Kev and Larry are both ND, but, yeah.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:43:03 +0000

that was lame. never mind.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:34:51 +0000

right, ND on ND too. That seems somehow more acceptable between them (in this case Michelle and Larry) than if it is NT on ND (in which case, one might get seen as being attacked by “the enemy”) Forgive me for continuing on this. It is just my first time around being in this sort of mix. I am used to the petty cat-fights of strictly NT-zones. I wonder if the “depersonalization” of blogs/comments (as bullet replied to your next blog) is somehow leveling the playing field so we can all misinterpret and act like A-holes equally.
I’m KIDDING! I don’t like fighting here OR there. I do not like it anywhere.

By: ballastexistenz

ballastexistenz — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:14:59 +0000

Well… some of the interactions are between ND and ND, too.

I can’t always understand Larry, but I tend to know there’s something behind what he’s saying even when I don’t understand it. Same as anyone else I know who uses language unusually, or for that matter people whose language is typical but whose speech is hard to understand.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:08:42 +0000

What we have here, is a failure to communicate. What is interesting to me is the interaction between NDs and NTs and I wonder if one set is more prone to misunderstanding or twisting someone else’s thoughts into something they Can understand. I wonder if one set is more likely to feel attacked. I wonder if one set is more likely to continue arguing, versus letting the squabble drop. Personally, I find Mr Arnold difficult to read. But I certainly don’t reinterpret his statements till they make sense to me. I just read someone else. That is the best thing about The Hub, there are a variety of writers to learn from.

By: Philip

Philip — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:09:24 +0000

I didn’t know about the crisis on the Autism Hub until today and have not read everything that has been written on the crisis.

I have read Larry Arnold’s resignation statement on his blog. I disagree with his reason for resigning from the Hub. It’s not an organization with a party line which rejects dissent, but a loose network of autistics and non-autistics who believe in the worth and value of all autistics, and are against a cure for autism. It doesn’t have any leaders, and certainly should not be restricted to autistic people.

But I hate the way this argument has degenerated into petty bickering with all the pointless exchange of insults. Two hundred years ago Larry and Kevin Leitch would have settled their differences with a pistol duel in the dawn mist. One or both of them may have shot in the air, or only to slightly wound his opponent. Now if there could be a virtual reality duel. I hope I’m not being facetious here.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:30:55 +0000

I have not yet read all that’s been written on this. But I have read several comments that show people appearing to misread what others have said.

I did not understand why Larry was complaining, because I thought of the autism hub as merely a collection of blogs by a variety of writers each with a different focus. There are blogs that I don’t like so I don’t read them often. I didn’t witness anyone attempting to set themselves up as a leader; I saw a facilitator, who was willing to use his expertise, and to give of his time, to set up various groupings.

What Joel has written in a few places, has made me think. There are issues that need to be addressed, Perhaps the blog writers who make up this small corner of the online autism world, have a duty to be more careful about what they write. Certainly, it should be emphasised, that autistic people must be the leaders in advocacy.

It has been irritating to read several comments along the lines of,’well, are you telling me I can’t advocate for my child? Are you saying I’m shouldn’t have any say in autism discussions?’ because I have not heard anyone say that. Also, I have not read any of the non autistic parents disagree that the thrust of the advocacy message has to come from autistic people themselves, but I may have missed that.

I know I want to be an ally. I may not be able to do much to help, and I may make mistakes, though I am careful to only claim to represent myself and my family. I would very much appreciate it if autistic people will correct me if I write anything that is incorrect, makes assumptions or sends the wrong message.

By: bullet

bullet — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:28:51 +0000

I hope that things can be resolved and differences settled. As both a parent and someone who is on the autistic spectrum herself I find myself straddling both camps. I want both my lads (I have an autistic child and a non autistic child) to grow up being proud of who they are and accepting of the variety of characters in the world. I do not see a gloomy prognosis for either of them because I know that it is perfectly possible to live outside the “norms” of typical behaviour and social interaction and manage.

By: laurel

laurel — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 03:48:00 +0000

Its so sad that autistic people argue like this!

Larry is right and Michelle is right and Amamda is right

Three rights = a wrong lol