Rex Reed says it's "Lethal" to date an Aspie.

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In Rex Reed's review of the movie "Adam," he gave an extremely derogatory description of Asperger's. Among his crimes:

--He referred to Aspies as "Sufferers" of Asperger's.

--He gave an extreme description of Asperger's, saying that it "turns outwardly normal-looking people into high-class idiot savants," and that we are "Challenged by social interactions and given to obsessive routines that revolve around a single subject of interest, they do not like to be touched, they feel incapable of explaining things and they cannot cope with people in general."

--Worst of all, he claimed that "It is lethal to get involved romantically with any person with Asperger’s syndrome, since they care nothing about other people’s feelings, needs or priorities."

(All quotations are from Rex Reed's review, available at http://www.observer.com/2009/movies/hug ... perstardom)

Please comment on how inaccurate his portrayal of Asperger's is.

Jake Crosby of ageofautism.com has initiated a campaign to contact the editors of the New York Observer, where the offensive article appeared. (Yes, I know it's mostly a curebie site, but Jake has enough self-respect to speak out against Rex Reed.)

To send a letter to the editor, write to editorial@observer.com

To contact New York Observer Staff and Executives, check out http://www.observer.com/contact

There was a post previously, but it doesn't hurt to see it again! And this post has much more detail.

Have at him, y'all!

Have at him? I hope that means express your opinions. This isn't a platform for attacks; the man needs to be educated, not abused.


M.

It looks like an accurate description of many people with AS I've seen and heard of. It might not be you, but it isn't inaccurate.

My father being a good example, and he was diagnosed with "mild" AS by the people at Attwood's'; not an "extreme" case at all.

She picked the Aspie over the investment banker? That doesn't sound right either.

'--He gave an extreme description of Asperger's, saying that it "turns outwardly normal-looking people into high-class idiot savants,"'

Gee I wish I was outwardly normal looking. People pick up on my differences quickly.

'and that we are "Challenged by social interactions and given to obsessive routines that revolve around a single subject of interest,'

Yep, I'm happiest when I have an obsession to pursue and the means to pursue it.

'they do not like to be touched, they feel incapable of explaining things'

Not me, though I can't speak for others.

'and they cannot cope with people in general."'

I can cope, but for a limited time. The trick is to call a break when starting to become overwhelmed.

'--Worst of all, he claimed that "It is lethal to get involved romantically with any person with Asperger’s syndrome, since they care nothing about other people’s feelings, needs or priorities."'

Even if this were generally true, "Lethal" is hardly the word to use. I'm reluctant to become romantically involved because of my limited capacity for attention to other people, and questions about what compromises I would need to make if I did this. Don't expect too much from me and you won't be disappointed.

Yeah, there's already a thread about this trash.

Maybe not lethal, but sure being close to an NT is highly detrimental to an Aspie's health in 99,99% of cases.

True. The non-Aspe partner is likely to manipulate the Aspies feelings, and mess their head around.

What's the problem with having a special interest? All it is is a matter of focus, after all. Aspies just tend to focus in on one aspect more.

This is the kind of crap my wonderful, caring, and, yes, sensitive teenage aspie son is going to have to face, hell, is already facing, and it infuriates me. Thank you, FAAAS, your hate campaign is certainly working.

It's LETHAL to date an Aspie?

*turns around, sees a person dating an aspie literally head asplode*

I guess that sure showed me


The points have some factual grounds if taken as as lightweight generalisations, but to use such emotive language as 'lethal' and make such value judgments on people of different neurology?

I wish they wouldn't make movies raising the profile of AS if remarks like these going to be made and published. It feels damaging to the community.

Eh, you know how writers are. They love to use emotive terms to get the very reaction this thread shows.

Not even I, Daniel the literal taker, took it literally, but figuratively, it's lethal to be married/in a relationship with my father, and it's as if the article is pointing him out. It'd be "lethal" to anyone.

(I think the point people don't like it that it's directly attributed to AS in the cases mentioned. Hey, if you aren't like that, cool, but many are. Self-absorbed and lacking in empathy and emotional reciprocation does this.)

"Normal" people can be lethal to be married to too, and there's never a shortage of slander and sweeping generalisations against normal people, with some factual accuracy thrown in of course.

If you aske me, i care of some people's feelings but not all, the ones who have hurt me, and they too do not care about my feelings.

The lethal head asplode was a cheeky literal joke. Rexy was asking for it!

I'm annoyed because he takes the most negative attributes of the Aspergers stereotype and disseminates it to NTs who have little understanding of the Autistic spectrum.

We're not all self centered, or "idiot savants" posing as 'normal people'. For my next literal joke, I'm thinking of a word that means cough ... *cough* hack *cough*

I read the article, and though I can understand that he is ignorant of the true nature of the spectrum and what those on it are truly like, as the general public is still highly underinformed considering the prevalence, I am deeply hurt and regretful of the fact that this is the type of publicity we are getting. I hope to sweet god that people see the movie instead of read this hack's review. I need to see it myself.

I suppose he's just as judgmental as anyone else who doesn't know what I'm talking about.

It's lethal to get into a relationship with an NT if you ask me. I need to find me a nice Aspie girl and settle down into a satisfying and stimulating lifelong routine.

-p

And I'm real proud of the onslaught of scathing criticism that follows at the bottom of the page. I hope the author of the article has since come around!

That's right M! It would be pretty counter-productive to advocacy for us to "rail in silence" by posting here on this board or proving his point by being jerks.

And look at all those new well-thought-out comments on the review site. I think it speaks volumes about Aspie character (in general) that there are no base, name-calling posts there, but mostly rational and emotionally expressive messages. Very nice people.

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