The Onion ridicules people with autism.

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Go and ask the US Customs and Border Protection how many fags you can bring into the United States.

Recipe for good times?

It was funny.

Both South Park and the Onion skewer folks. It can be VERY offensive. But this wasn't, it was a bit stereotyped, but within a certian degree of accuracy, I have met autistic guys like this reporter.

If you cannot laugh at yourself, there really is very little to laugh at. And maybe these strange behavioral quirks that we have will no longer be judged to be offensive when they happen, just different.

I am going to echo basically everyone else - I thought it was funny! I wasn't sure what to expect, so I was a little nervous - I am a huge fan of The Onion, so I was hoping that it wouldn't be offensive, but thankfully, it wasn't. I think the actor playing that reporter did a really good job; some of it was a bit stereotypical, but I think that was partly the point - and some bits even reminded my of myself!

LMAOOOO!! The Onion may be a satire, but it also speaks truths that others are too afraid to.

I don't see why that particular skit is funny. There were several stereotypes in it. Stereotypes that too many people mistakingly believe anyway. A video like that reinforces them.
Instead of labeling the reporter "autistic," why not just give him a name so he becomes a character? That's what the video represented to me. A characterization.

I seen better and I have seen worse Stereotypes. This one just reminds me of the book curious incident of the dog in the nighttime.

In the comic-book series Wormwood (basic plot throughline - the Antichrist, son of Satan, is on Earth, but realizes he likes the place and doesn't want to start Armageddon; besides, turns out the current incarnation of Christ is a good friend of his), the main characters undertake a trip through Heaven and Hell in an effort to stop the coming war. While going through Heaven, they find that if you think that's where you're going, that's where you go, all right - but God has a sense of humor. They run across one of the 9/11 terrorists, who is living in despair with his 72 virgins - all under the age of 10 months. (Nobody ever said how old they were going to be, either, and in Heaven nobody ever ages...) He's going insane trying to keep up with bottles and diapers.

In the words of Adam Ant - "ridicule is nothing to be scared of".

I'd much rather see a funny stereotype that makes auties look harmless and a bit odd than an unfunny one that makes us look like kiddy fiddlers or school shooters.

People already believe a whole host of crazy things about reality without looking at the facts. I don't think this video will break any significant new thresholds of ignorance.

Last edited by Moog on 01 Feb 2011, 3:00 pm, edited 4 times in total.

In the UK, yes - but it has more malicious undertones elsewhere.

Excellent!

Only if you don't get satire. But hey, whatever - that's Ok too.

We all get it because we understand autism and autism stereotypes, to a greater or lesser degree.

I'm not at all sure how well this skit will translate to people who a) aren't autistic b) don't work with autistic people c) haven't read the curious dog in the night.

My (NT) nephew nearly fell off his chair laughing at it - but not in any cruel way. He could see that it was just a satirical send-up.
Although he has read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (and he knows me, of course) - so maybe that wasn't a very fair example.

I can guess that my dad wouldn't get it, and if he isn't on the spectrum, I'll eat my shoes.

Would you like pepper with that?

If I were to eat my shoes, I'd take whatever condiments you may have.