Are these people unsuitable for public speaking endeavours?
shulamith
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 12 Jan 2009
Gender: Female
Posts: 34
Location: Wall Street, in spirit
To anneurysm:
First: It seems like if these people are as unsuitable as you say, people won't want to hire them, and they won't book many gigs. I don't usually care for the free market, but it may be best to let it sort this one out.
Second: You say you want to portray individuals on the spectrum in a positive light, but these not-so-positive individuals are also part of the autistic community. You may not like their interests or habits, but the fact is that there are autistic people who are more like them than you or other "inspirational" figures. Having the public see us as saints is not much better in the long run than having them see us as victims. We should not portray ourselves as objects of pity OR praise, but as human beings. And many human beings like things like slacking off, weed, porn, and (of course) having sex.
Anyway, my current dilemma is not about excluding people who have communication difficulties, but more to do with protecting the image of people on the spectrum. The scenario is this: because I am a well-known public speaker, I bump into many people on the spectrum who aspire to do this too. However, I have recently met two people who may be a little unsuitable for this job, but I would like to ask the members of the forum whether they agree with me, since I am only one person with one opinion.
Here are the two people I am currently torn about.
#2 - Have never met him but know a lot about him through a friend on the spectrum. This friend told me that he is immature, a slacker, and his special interest is weed. I also smoke occasionally, but I am *very* discreet about it and I am not obsessed with it. I take a look at his facebook and that is also the impression I got from him Almost all his comments are about weed, drugs, drinking and antisocial behaviour and there is lots of profanity. He called someone an a**hole, told someone to f--- off, said that a friend 'likes penis up his a--' and wrote 'suck my d--k you f-----g f----t' on justin bieber's page. He even got a pot leaf tattoo and is telling everyone about it. So, he sends me an email asking about how he could become a public speaker as he has aspergers (confirmed by my friend) and apparently got 98% on a project about it. I have not responded back for obvious reasons.
I don't like rejecting anyone, and I am not going to tell them they are unsuitable, but perhaps they should work on these things. Either way, I am paranoid about how autistics are portrayed and I do not want these guys to embarrass themselves.
What does everyone think? How do I deal with people like these? Any input is appreciated.
Hey its #2, Dr. Evils deadly assassin.
Seriously I do want to help people with autism and other disabiltys.
I'd even like to take a person out too mabey a bar or a smoke shop in TO if there of age and try to have a good time with persons with disabiltys or mabey even go paintballing with them or if they don't like that I'll try to have fun with them in any way possible. We only live once lets make the best out of it.
I am starting to make postive changes in my life by being nice to others in real life but if I don't like somthing about someone I can be a complete ass to them. For example there is this girl who I go to this program and she likes me but I don't becuase she is very annoying and likes things that piss me off such as Justin Beiber I really hope she dosent start to dislike the music she likes just so she can get me to like her becuase I would feel totally creeped out I dont know if she has AS or not becuase with females its hard to tell unlike with males but I would try to be more of a better person to her when I go to my program for learning.
Also I look forword to meeting you in person and we can talk if this is really what I want to do.
#2, check your email. I also encourage you to stay on this forum...you could learn a lot from the people here.
_________________
Given a “tentative” diagnosis as a child as I needed services at school for what was later correctly discovered to be a major anxiety disorder.
This misdiagnosis caused me significant stress, which lessened upon finding out the truth about myself from my current and past long-term therapists - that I am an anxious and highly sensitive person but do not have an autism spectrum disorder.
My diagnoses - social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
I’m no longer involved with the ASD world.
CockneyRebel
Veteran

Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Posts: 118,414
Location: In my little Olympic World of peace and love
Annie I need you to reply to my email. ASAP
Back on topic I'm only good at speaking when I know what I have to say and what I'm talking about I cannot really be put on the spot and make things up from my ass like a comedian I tried last night being a comedian and I just couldnt do it very well. =/
^ I PMed you through my Paisley facebook.
_________________
Given a “tentative” diagnosis as a child as I needed services at school for what was later correctly discovered to be a major anxiety disorder.
This misdiagnosis caused me significant stress, which lessened upon finding out the truth about myself from my current and past long-term therapists - that I am an anxious and highly sensitive person but do not have an autism spectrum disorder.
My diagnoses - social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
I’m no longer involved with the ASD world.
Yeah I know there's something else I want to tell you but I don't know if I should =/
You can tell me anything. PM me. Just click on my profile name and click the PM button.
_________________
Given a “tentative” diagnosis as a child as I needed services at school for what was later correctly discovered to be a major anxiety disorder.
This misdiagnosis caused me significant stress, which lessened upon finding out the truth about myself from my current and past long-term therapists - that I am an anxious and highly sensitive person but do not have an autism spectrum disorder.
My diagnoses - social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
I’m no longer involved with the ASD world.
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