"Make me normal"

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No, not a request. This is a 'programme' that is on BBC1 later tonight. I quoted the review below. Frankly, I am offended by this review, and am Considering writing in to complain. Do you think I should?






THURSDAY 02 JUNE



Documentary

Make Me Normal

9:00pm - 10:00pm

Channel 4




VIDEO Plus+: 1937
Subtitled, Audio-described





1/3

The word "autism" is flung around a lot today, though few people know what it means. This sad, touching documentary should help everyone understand what it is to be trapped by social isolation, inappropriate, obsessive behaviour and a lack of empathy with your fellow human beings. The programme focuses on London's Spa School, one of the UK's largest state schools for children with autism. Headteacher Jude Ragan and her staff work hard to help their pupils try to come to terms with their condition.

Roy, 18, has an obsessive interest in EastEnders. He's desperate for a girlfriend, but if she asked him out, and the date coincided with the EastEnders omnibus, what should he do?

Roxanne, 12, is baffled by the real world, and she's desperate for a friend. But her behaviour drives away potential companions. And there's Star Wars-obsessed Moneer. What a sad little boy he is. He's 12, and has Asperger's syndrome. His mother has died recently, but, because of his autism, Moneer cannot express his grief.

It's a remarkable film, full of insight into a condition that is shrouded in myth and suspicion.

The basic idea I got from the review was 'a bunch of sad, sorry kids with a mental illness who need help', etc.
That sort of portrayal of Autism has always personally offended me, as is evidenced by an incident I'll never forget in which some idiot asked me to 'tell him about my disease'. So, yes, I think you should write in to complain.

Fascinating, Chief Engineer Blackliger!

Hmmmm? Mr.Ghosthunter, Science Officer

Stardate 06022005:
We recieved a unique channel from this
place called the BBC. Apparently they
have a topic that is related to our own.
I will address it to Chief Engineer
Blackliger since he once stressed
in a borrowed book from one of the
emoticon visitors aboard our ship,
and it gave how they would describe
us a name.

I greatly suspect that it has been part
of their evolutionary process that
this overemotional thing would eventually
ride it's course, and what we are
categorized as will come to light.

Mr.Ghosthunters alter ego(Ghosthunter)
shall give a surmizing of this material.




This is true, it was just recently that
I went to Borders and found that this
topic for a book caused much bafflement
to the young, but smart clerk.



I can say this is true, I lack I-Physically,
or physical world empathy to a degree.
It is quite more common in the Asperger's
strain.



This school being researched online may
make a good thread to further evaluate
the character and reality of this school,
otherwise not enough data to work with.



Hmmmmm? I don't know about the sex life,
and opposite relations issue being AS/HFA.
I do know it has other profound effects
not being addressed in this perhaps?
Sympathetic? Unsympathetic? Realistic?
view.



Very true, or as I would say, "The curse
of being Ghosthunter". Here's a example
since it affects me everyday.

"Hi!", I would say,
"Ummm? Okayyyy? "Hi?" back but undertoned
in mystery and clouded in mixed emotions
of to whom or what is speaking to me.



Again this is too broad until I have full
details of it's limitations, or broadness.
Is it, upon being seen on TV a fair,
sympathetic, or unrealistic viewer scenerio?

Hmmmmm? Fascinating?
Mr.Ghosthunter returns to this page and
say's "Let events ride their course"
Chief Engineer Blackliger? And Oh! Don't
be so truamatized, it is just emoticon's TV
and we are here to learn about them.

Mr.Ghosthunter Out!

Complain.

if the programme is as patronising as the review suggests it might be, then yes - i think we should complain all together ("we the undersigned" sort of thing). especially mentioning that at least of us manage to function relatively well in the world, although, obviously, it's still difficult. we don't need pity, we need people to be educated and to understand.

however, i haven't got a telly, and so can't watch the programme, so don't want to pre-empt something, or have an opinion on something i haven't seen. i'd love to hear what people who saw it thought of it, though. if anyone, DID watch it, then please post what you thought it was like.

I just watched it and I didn't find it patronising in the slightest. The slight worry I did have with it was the fact that the 3 particular subjects featured in it all dealt with their problems with violence to a greater or lesser degree which might have potential to be misconstrued by the casual viewer ("autism" = "violence" ). At the end of the day though, violence is a part and parcel of autistic symptoms in a lot of people so..... The telling thing I found watching it was how unified all of the kids were in hating their condition and wanting rid of it - no doubt, in years to come when they reach adulthood they will have developed defence mechanisms against this, and some of them will start proclaiming how "proud" they are to be aspie, and how NTs are the problem or whatever it is that the AS extremists want us all to believe. Don't anybody dare tell me that AS isn't a "problem".

Another thing that chilled me was the 12-year old AS kid who lost his mother to cancer and his reaction to it - it was so cold and analytical and (at least) outwardly unemotional and exactly the same as I'd react to something like that....

ta for that, sweetling. looks like i won't be complaining, then...

I will, but about the review....

good point.

I don't think it's extreme in the slightest to protest that we are not defective and don't require or need a cure. And personally, there are a lot of autistic success stories...why aren't these ever publicized? WHY are we always portrayed as miserable, pathetic creatures desperatel in need of salvation from ourselves?

I disagree - we are defective: that is just the way it is... Deal with it, I'm afraid..... The program could certainly be seen as portraying autism as a big problem, but that's because it is. All the documentary did was basically just stick cameras in front of 3 kids whose lives are completely wrecked by autism and just let what happened happen. The kids would certainly have appeared as "freaks" with massive problems to the NT viewer because, well, they are..... we all are.....

I am very much one of the "success stories" of which you speak I reckon (by normal standards I earn tons of money, am completely independent etc. etc.), but I'm still, underneath it all, "a miserable, pathetic creature", or however you want to put it. Believe you me, I don't want to be publicised or made a poster child.....

Deleted

Last edited by Ante on 09 Nov 2005, 4:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Thats right but the makers chose those to portray. At the opening the voice over said that the school contained a wide variety of children. They obviously picked those who could express themselves in a way the audience could understand but, as always with these things, the other criteria would have been 'will these kids make interesting TV'.

I have more of a problem with the school.

On the face of it they seemed caring but a large part of their curriculum seemed to be about teaching the kids how 'awful' their condition is. The kids seemed trained into understanding only the negative aspects of their condition.

They should do more work on self esteem ~ that's important for everybody.

Diversity is the rule, not the exception. Species which lack diversity tend to become very specialized and limited and to die out when conditions change. Aspies play an active and necessary role in the human species.



Well, fine, if you want to feel that way; that's your perogative. But I think that it's inaccurate and unfair to say that we are are all unhappy. I like who I am and I don't mind being this way.

---------------------------------------
And I can't help wondering if the school itself played any role in the self esteem and lack of happiness among the students.

Me too!

Except when I'm expected to try and socialise with people.

Autism is not "natural" in humans - the fact they don't tend to reproduce is alone proof of the "natural selection" argument.

I personally only saw the school as confronting the kids' problems and trying to prepare them for some kind of a "normal" life in the real world. (it is a little sad that at least 2 of the featured subjects seemed to have little chance of ever being able to having such a life, no matter what the school did....)

I think I may be arguing from a high-functioning perspective and am unable to see things from a low-functioning perspective..... Maybe if I were lower functioning I could be happier.... whatever... If you could see things from my perspective you'd have a different opinion - or maybe you already do but are under the protection of a defense-mechanism?