I have noticed a somewhat puzzling, and frankly disturbing fad: those in one area of the spectrum tend to discredit others in the area of the spectrum. Why don’t people who are advocating for needs on the spectrum quit attacking each other – it discredits everyone involved, and is just frankly counter-productive.An example is a well known parent who goes by the name John Best, who wrote in a blog post recently about someone he disagreed with being featured in the New York Times:
This young man is not autistic. He has Asperger’s syndrome, maybe. Being diagnosed at age 12 means there is virtually nothing wrong with him or it would have been noted at a much younger age.
After seeing Mr. Best’s antics for a few years, even being attacked myself I recognize this as it is, throwing a temper tantrum for attention. What Mr. Best does not realize is that this temper tantrum is in fact getting him attention, but the exact type of attention he does not want. John Best has become the laughing stock of the online Autism Community and the definition of the worst kind of online troll in the Autism Community. Mr Best at this time is actively encouraging the United States Military to overthrow the Government.
People like Mr. Best need to consider the damage they are doing to the autism community, future autistic people, and themselves. The temper tantrums they are throwing because they disagree that Autistic people should be respected and encouraged to live out as normal lives as possible hurt us, and in the long run hurt themselves.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
How many other ASD organizations are “throwing a temper tantrum for attention”? What has the ASD community done to address the issues that Mr. Best advocates for?
“People like Mr. Best need to consider the damage they are doing to the autism community, future autistic people, and themselves. “
If Mr. Best believes that he is advocating for his child’s needs, why should he care about the opinion of other organizations that he does not value. Do you advocate based on the consensus or all existing ASD organizations and communities?
If Mr. Best achieves what he advocates for his child and that is contrary to another organizations goals, then that would be a zero net gain. If an ASD organization achieves a goal and that goal hinders the well being of Mr. Best’s child, then that is also a zero net gain. Which is worse?
The last time I checked, there is not one single ASD organization that can claim it has a consensus of a majority of the ASD population.
I don’t believe John Best cares what the community thinks of him.
Look Zach he is a curbie and a sensationalist what you are talking about is a serious issue but by focusing on such an extreme example you detract from your point
Zach,
Would you care to discuss this intelligently or are you just going to keep deleting my comments?
“Would you care to discuss this intelligently or are you just going to keep deleting my comments?”
If I were him, I’d do both.