Strange Use Of The Word Autistic

[cyberseraphim]

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/04/france-autistic-tories-castrated-uk?CMP=AFCYAH

I suppose most words become de valued through constant use

[cyberseraphim]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1224710/French-Minister-Europe-Pierre-Lellouche-calls-Tories-autist ic-pathetic.html?ITO=1490&referrer=yahoo

Another one

[Seuss]

I guess it is a case of the word being de-valued and I suppose in some ways it means people are more aware of autistic behaviours BUT I think on the whole it's a damaging to use the word in this situation with negative conotations.

[saadia]

I thought it was really inappropriate.

[mygiddyaunt]

"autistic and Pathetic" in the same headline. Makes me shudder. I thought at first perhaps something has been lost in translation or perhaps wrongly translated however I am pretty sure the French use l'autisme so no excuse really.

[PerryPlatypus]

I thought I'd mis-heard this. The DM article is equally weird:

"He accused Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague of 'autism' in their talks."

How can you 'accuse' someone of having an SN? It makes it sound as though autism is a crim or something.

[2shoeshissbangwhoosh]

I was when I heard it

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I was so shocked when I read this absolutely outrageous!

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Am more shocked even by someone's comment that "social autism" means people are idiots or morally vacant!!

[pagwatch]

I contacted 5live at about 8.00 this morning I was so fucking angry when I heard this.
The appropraition of terms describing disability as smart arse insults is childish and dispicable.

It is the equivalent of someone who thinks they are intelligent calling someone a 'retard' or a 'spaz'
It is why the debate about abuse always annoys me. People who wish to be PC are just as foul about disability but try to use the socially acceptable terms to cover their revolting prejudices.

Personally I have more respect for the uneduacted man who shouts retard at my sons bus than the educated one who throws autism or special needs around when they wish to be offensive.
One of them ought to know better

[pagwatch]

and [sigh] that I spell uneducated wrongly...

[Bodeniiites]

here here or is it hear hear pagwatch and thats why i was so incessed sp? in earlier thread this moring about that tube Chris Moyles calling someone a moron its just not on it just encourages other people to do the same

[qwertpoiuy]

I'm still trying to come to terms with my DD1 having been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and to hear somebody using this word in a derogatory fashion is upsetting.