Shame on BBC for victim blaming and stigmatising ASD

[Gloriarty]

Shame on you BBC - what a triumph of victim blaming and stigmatising

Wow

Man kills woman. She enjoyed spa days and lavish treats while they were dating - and then she was hard to live with while she was grieving close family suicides. And she was an escort. A very expensive one. BBC, what conclusions are you looking for me to draw here?

And then let's explore Aspergers Syndrome as a driver for murder. Because an interest in fixing motorbikes is the crucial factor here, rather than being a mysogynist arsehole who murders the woman he loved. Because you need to lean on a condition the perpetrator wasn't even diagnosed with - and not just call him yet another (yet another) hate-filled man who'd rather kill his loved one than let them free.

Georgina Symonds deserves a better tribute. Additionally, it is unsubstantiated and deeply harmful for a major news outlet to cover Asperger's syndrome framed in these terms.

I've lodged my complaint here

[HerodZackHunt]

I didn't read it like that. His defence used it to mitigate what he'd done but it didn't work. It's the first time it's been used as a defence against murder hence the explanation.
Being diagnosed is just a stage. You'vYou've always acted the same, diagnosis or not.

[Manumission]

It's the first time it's been used as a defence against murder hence the explanation.

It's mentiones in mitigation all the time (frequently post-arrest diagnoses I notice) and BBC reporters repeatedly stand outside rainsweptvregional courts and refer to it as a "mental illness". The BBC have an entirely reprehensible track record on this subject; Inaccurate, stigmatising but disinterested outside of criminal court reporting.

[Gloriarty]

He was diagnosed on remand. And even so described as 'mild'. It's a horrible piece of opportunism trying to rush ASD in as a loophole to get a reduced sentence based on 'diminished responsibility'.

The BBC really should not have validated it by framing the story as a 'public information piece'.

[HerodZackHunt]

Yes manu but for murder? I only hear it for IT related prosecutions.

[bialystockandbloom]

Well said OP

[Manumission]

I've heard it mentioned for violent crime, certainly and I'm pretty sure for manslaughter at least.

I've been really, really angry about the way BBC have reported Aspergers mitigation for violent crime on multiple previous occasions.

I don't see this as a big new development, anyway.

[HerodZackHunt]

But the BBC isn't prompting its use. It's reporting on the use.

[NiceFalafels]

ASD is very interesting. With some people it's like being on a train track going a certain direction and being unable to change direction. I can see that it could be used in deference. And yes someone can be diagnosed as a middle aged adult.

[Manumission]

But the BBC isn't prompting its use. It's reporting on the use.


When a BBC journalist is doing the background/contextualising spiel (as I have heard several times) and insists on calling autism mental illness - quite incorrectly- they are responsible for perpetuating incorrect information. (Various broadsheets have repeatedly made the same mistake and I notice the BBC havent made that particular mistake today on that link).

Lots of mistakes like that are common. The 'mild' thing is another bugbear.

Editors also have a responsibility when they decide not to cover various other autism related stories.

[Manumission]

I can see that it could be used in deference. And yes someone can be diagnosed as a middle aged adult.

Well of course it could and of course it can. That's hardly the issue.

[Manumission]

And the reason accuracy and balanced coverage matter herod (not sure if I was clear) is because of the stigma.

It is depressing to be raising lovely autistic children who are battling so hard against various obstacles and look up and see that the majority of references in the media to your childrens' developmental condition is in the context of crime.

Furthermore, the journalist is using his organisational gravitas to (mis)inform the world that your children's condition is NOT development, it's a mental illness.

Fabulous. Because having autism isn't hard enough already.

[HerodZackHunt]

Yes I agree it's often described as a mental illness when it isn't but as you say, not here. I understand why 'mild' is used though. It's lazy shorthand for HFA. And that's for the people who think all ASD is the old fashioned diagnosis.
Deciding not to cover other stories is a minefield. Not every child death in an RTA is covered.

[Gloriarty]

The defendant pleaded diminished responsibility manslaughter on the grounds of his McDonalds being cold.

The jury disagreed and returned a verdict that cold McDonalds was not a significant factor.

McDonalds is an international chain of fast food restaurants [inset logo]. Although they sometimes deliver lukewarm food, it has not been previously linked to murder. However, lukewarm Mcdonalds has been used as a defence for road rage [inset rage picture] LUkewarm McDonalds is characterised by congealed fat and soggy bag. Victims of lukewarm McDonalds may be identified by an exaggerated gag reflex.

We interviewed several fast food experts, and none of them could report a causal link between lukewarm McDonalds and murder. However, Professor Bai Me ADrink-Andill-Say'an'think speculated "Lukewarm McDonalds is deeply disappointing. In susceptible individuals it may lead to feelings of rage and powerlessness which may conceivably spill over into violent action".

[Manumission]

Charming.

[HerodZackHunt]

Thanks for playing top trumps though.

[Manumission]

We interviewed several fast food experts, and none of them could report a causal link between lukewarm McDonalds and murder. However, Professor Bai Me ADrink-Andill-Say'an'think speculated "Lukewarm McDonalds is deeply disappointing. In susceptible individuals it may lead to feelings of rage and powerlessness which may conceivably spill over into violent action".

Yes ISWYM

It's a really tabloid urge that makes the news organisations happy to lap the courtroom speculation up and report it isn't it?

But it's worse from the BBC somehow.

[Gloriarty]

Fancy a burger?

The facts of my spoof are that jury and experts did not find lukewarm McDonalds to be a significant factor in the crime.

But by dressing this up as an expose of McDonalds, and just putting 'lukewarm McDonalds' and 'murder' repeatedly side by side I'm subliminally suggesting that actually I find the connection important.

Difference is that McDonalds would sue your arse off if you reported about it like that ....

[Manumission]

What the feck are you on about herod?

I'm not psychic. I don't know who you or your DC are.

I was just making sure the point was clear.

[JellyFishFingers]

Why has Manu upset you all? She has t said anything unkind or unfair? Is it because she acknowledged caring for children with autism was difficult?

[Gloriarty]

I'm only upset about the BBC for reporting the dead woman's lifestyle in a disrespectful way that seemed to be targeted to justify the murderer's actions - and angry at the BBC for validating a cheap, nasty and discredited lawyer trick by reporting it so fulsomely - and even rehashing the news story as a factual information piece.

[Gloriarty]

Bump for morning crowd

[BeckerLleytonNever]

It is depressing to be raising lovely autistic children who are battling so hard against various obstacles and look up and see that the majority of references in the media to your childrens' developmental condition is in the context of crime.

Furthermore, the journalist is using his organisational gravitas to (mis)inform the world that your children's condition is NOT development, it's a mental illness.

Fabulous. Because having autism isn't hard enough already

^^ spot on.

[Gloriarty]

Exactly.

[Gloriarty]

It kind of makes me understand why my MIL was so worried about DS getting diagnosed.

At the time, I dismissed her as out of date and out of touch with modern attitudes to autism. With this article I'm not so sure.