usvi-on-line
silly Q but where is Vicki......
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Pete (Mr. Marcia)
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:48 pm
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Setting aside that it is absolutely pathetic that someone would take offense to a reference to "Rain Man," the movie was not at all offensive to the autistic. To the contrary, it tried, as best Hollywood can, to explain the condition and the impact it has on the caregiver.
There is a line in the movie when the doctor who has cared for Raymond explains the condition to Charlie. He says words to the effect that, "we used to call them idiot savants." That is true, unfortunately, with all of the negative connotations that went along with it. Now, we do not. I'm not saying that the movie changed our perception and understanding, but it helped, rather than hurt.
The sun has re-emerged from the clouds so I gotta go...'cause the pool is looking sparkely, very sparkely.
There is a line in the movie when the doctor who has cared for Raymond explains the condition to Charlie. He says words to the effect that, "we used to call them idiot savants." That is true, unfortunately, with all of the negative connotations that went along with it. Now, we do not. I'm not saying that the movie changed our perception and understanding, but it helped, rather than hurt.
The sun has re-emerged from the clouds so I gotta go...'cause the pool is looking sparkely, very sparkely.
Wisconsin, smell the dairy air
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Teresa_Rae
- Posts: 2053
- Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:44 pm
- Location: Downstate IL
I also got a negative PM yesterday, apparently because I replied to Vicki’s comments. Basically the PM stated that Vicki’s comments were rude and offensive. I guess I’ll just respond to the PM here.
I understand that autism is a very real and potentially devastating thing for families involved, but at the same time I agree with what Vicki said about choosing to either laugh or cry about it.
My mom taught special ed for 20 years and her kids meant the world to her. She eventually got her master’s and became a reading teacher, but she still talks fondly of her handicapped students and is thrilled when she seems them around town. She had kids with such severe autism that they could not walk or talk and had to use diapers. So for my entire life I’ve been very aware of autism and mental retardation and I thought that Vicki’s “Rainman” comment was funny. And I think my mom would laugh too.
I also have a cousin with Down Syndrome who is the funniest person in our family; she is too severely afflicted to understand why she’s funny, but we laugh anyway and she likes it when we do. She’s nearly 40 but since turning 30 she has been telling everybody that she’s only 29. She also pinches my husband’s butt whenever she gets a chance. And she is convinced that my mom is good friends with Paul McCartney because she gave her a Beatles CD once. She is quite entertaining.
Then there’s my husband who has a severely handicapped younger sister. She is in her twenties but is basically an 80-pound infant. She can’t walk or talk, she has to wear a diaper, and she can’t chew so anything she eats has to go through the food processor first and then be spoon-fed to her. She can make grunting noises and clap but she can do little else. My in-laws have had to dedicate their lives to taking care of her but they still have a sense of humor about the whole thing.
So please just know that comments like the one about Rainman are not meant to be mean or callous or insensitive or offensive. Vicki has mentioned her nephew before and obviously loves him dearly. I have been offended before when people have made offensive comments about handicapped people, however that is not the case this time.
I understand that autism is a very real and potentially devastating thing for families involved, but at the same time I agree with what Vicki said about choosing to either laugh or cry about it.
My mom taught special ed for 20 years and her kids meant the world to her. She eventually got her master’s and became a reading teacher, but she still talks fondly of her handicapped students and is thrilled when she seems them around town. She had kids with such severe autism that they could not walk or talk and had to use diapers. So for my entire life I’ve been very aware of autism and mental retardation and I thought that Vicki’s “Rainman” comment was funny. And I think my mom would laugh too.
I also have a cousin with Down Syndrome who is the funniest person in our family; she is too severely afflicted to understand why she’s funny, but we laugh anyway and she likes it when we do. She’s nearly 40 but since turning 30 she has been telling everybody that she’s only 29. She also pinches my husband’s butt whenever she gets a chance. And she is convinced that my mom is good friends with Paul McCartney because she gave her a Beatles CD once. She is quite entertaining.
Then there’s my husband who has a severely handicapped younger sister. She is in her twenties but is basically an 80-pound infant. She can’t walk or talk, she has to wear a diaper, and she can’t chew so anything she eats has to go through the food processor first and then be spoon-fed to her. She can make grunting noises and clap but she can do little else. My in-laws have had to dedicate their lives to taking care of her but they still have a sense of humor about the whole thing.
So please just know that comments like the one about Rainman are not meant to be mean or callous or insensitive or offensive. Vicki has mentioned her nephew before and obviously loves him dearly. I have been offended before when people have made offensive comments about handicapped people, however that is not the case this time.
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California Girl
Wow Teresa Rae - I'm absolutely flabbergasted that anyone would send you a nasty PM! I went back through all the posts and yours was about as benign as they come!
Whoever is sending these PMs is the one who is offensive and rude. This person is also a coward to PM people instead of coming out and posting their comments publicly.
Come out, come out whoever you are so we can see what a real coward looks like! Then go home!
Whoever is sending these PMs is the one who is offensive and rude. This person is also a coward to PM people instead of coming out and posting their comments publicly.
Come out, come out whoever you are so we can see what a real coward looks like! Then go home!
Let's keep the self-righteous haranguing public where we all can enjoy it!
Maybe its time to ask the "What restaurants allow cigar smoking?" question on the on-topic forum?
Cheers, RickG
Maybe its time to ask the "What restaurants allow cigar smoking?" question on the on-topic forum?
Cheers, RickG
Last edited by RickG on Thu May 08, 2008 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
This has nothing to do with the original topic, but how can you pm someone anonymously? Isn't there always a sender's forum name attached to a message? I'm still learning how all this works.
And, I think VickiH is an angel to take her M and MIL on such a wonderful trip. There was nothing offensive about her reference to Rainman. There were many funny moments in that movie as there are in real life. I think folks need to relax and think a bit before being so quick to judge other people's actions or comments.
And, I think VickiH is an angel to take her M and MIL on such a wonderful trip. There was nothing offensive about her reference to Rainman. There were many funny moments in that movie as there are in real life. I think folks need to relax and think a bit before being so quick to judge other people's actions or comments.
When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Kentucky, because everything there happens 20 years after it happens anywhere else. – Mark Twain
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California Girl
I don't think you can send anonymously. The negative PMer would have to identify themself to the person they're sending to. This person should be thankful that Vicki and Teresa Rae have seen fit not to publish their name.pjayer wrote:This has nothing to do with the original topic, but how can you pm someone anonymously? Isn't there always a sender's forum name attached to a message?
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
RickG wrote:Let's keep the self-righteous haranguing public where we all can enjoy it!
LOL!
Vicki, the PMer is no doubt jealous that you have so much going for you, including a great sense of humor. Of course, I laugh out loud at Monty Python sketches, so maybe they will PM me about my non-PC humor. Oh well. (They should also know that I have a nephew with autism and a niece with Down's, whom I love dearly, but I can still find the humor in a Rainman reference.)
Have a great time in STJ with those 2 very special ladies!
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Jan&MikeVa
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:32 pm
- Location: The Chesapeake Bay
Wow Vicki, I am really sorry that you received a negative PM.......... WHAT IS GOING ON FOLKS? I APPLAUD you for taking the Mom and Mom-in Law with you, a good daughter and daughter-in-law you are! If I didn't have my sisters to share a laugh with over some of the wacked out things my aging mother comes up with I don't know what I'd do. We HAVE to have a sense of humor................
I took my 88 year old mother out shopping yesterday; she was looking for a new purse. She spent what seemed like hours looking inside of them, pulling out stuffing, zipping, unzipping. It was like she'd never seen the inside of a purse. Rainman, yes it could've come to mind........absolutely.
Good for your Mom Vicki to try an MP3 player! Mine is still trying to figure out a cordless phone! God love their sense of humors though. This BAD person was not familiar with the "blue bucket" and your trip report. The love comes through gal............don't you worry!!!!
You sneaky little PM'er you
.........Come out and show yourself, what's up?
Have a GREAT time Vicki(know ya will), will look forward to a trip report and especially more of your beautiful pictures!
I took my 88 year old mother out shopping yesterday; she was looking for a new purse. She spent what seemed like hours looking inside of them, pulling out stuffing, zipping, unzipping. It was like she'd never seen the inside of a purse. Rainman, yes it could've come to mind........absolutely.
Good for your Mom Vicki to try an MP3 player! Mine is still trying to figure out a cordless phone! God love their sense of humors though. This BAD person was not familiar with the "blue bucket" and your trip report. The love comes through gal............don't you worry!!!!
You sneaky little PM'er you
.........Come out and show yourself, what's up?Have a GREAT time Vicki(know ya will), will look forward to a trip report and especially more of your beautiful pictures!
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
I still laugh when I think about bringing my mom out to buy her first computer. Oh my, pass the Advil.Jan&MikeVa wrote:...I took my 88 year old mother out shopping yesterday...
This was topped by a recent trip with both my mom and 11 y.o. daughter; Mom wanted to buy Delaney some clothes, and knowing that she (11 y.o.) can be particular, I said I'd better go too. 2+ hours and several stores later we left with... one headband and a tube of lip gloss.
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StJohnRuth
- Posts: 1989
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- Location: St. John, VI