Jason Calacanis and his derogatory use of the term Aspergers

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Anyone read this guys Rant about Facebook and Zuckerberg. He uses the Term Aspergers in a derogatory manner as if it's some form of evil. Am I wrong to feel that this is out of line and irresponsible journalism that could lead to misconceptions about Aspergers?

http://calacanis.com/2010/05/12/the-big ... your-hand/

I believe you are correct.

Unfortunately, this kind of thing is already creeping into the lexicon. It's mainly internet-based for now, but the worst is yet to come. I would suggest you write

What the hell does the writer even think he means by that? That's the irrational ranting of a child using grownup words whose definitions he cannot comprehend to make himself appear more mature. I swear people are doing that just because ASS BURGERS sounds like an insult. What a moron.

I notice he was careful to write "Asperger's-like" rather than just "Asperger's," but I think your point is still valid. Maybe he knew he shouldn't have been making that comparison. And, yeah, IMO it seems right to see what he wrote was improper. It's no different than if he wrote "Zucker is a ret*d." (Of course, it may be hard to make the point to people that particular example.)

It's like using "schizophrenic" to mean "crazy," "bipolar" to mean "unstable," or "ret*d" to mean "dumb." Instead of latching onto labels that have specific definitions, they ought to write what they mean.

I guess I've been living under a rock -- I know he means it in a negative way, but I can't figure out exactly what he thinks "Asperger's-like" means. Amoral? "No empathy"? (Ugh)

I'm of the opinion that we Aspies need to stand up against these types of assaults in the media. Maybe we are and I'm just not in touch with what's is going on to fight these kinds of things. I had an email round with this guy and he is definitely defensive about it. Here is his email if you want to give him your thoughts on his public words. [email protected]

We should be more aggressive against this kind of thing. I won't go into all the drivel we sent back and forth but this is how he concluded his last email. It really shows who he is.

Here is an older rant where he goes on about everything that's wrong about the internet being like Aspergers. He even tries to coin a phrase. Internet Asperger’s Syndrome (IAS)

http://calacanis.com/2009/01/29/we-live ... f-empathy/

His twitter rant.

What a fuckter. He doesn't even understand the word. He's like a teenager calling his computer "gay" because it crashed.

Obviously his freedom to use words has effects on people.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=59a_1247115195

Perhaps I'm the odd one out here, but my interpretation of the term in question is it is a reference to the against the grain, out of the box type thinking that has been prominent and driving factor in the "dot com" boom in silicon valley.

Perhaps the author did also imply it in the sense of a lack of business ethics though.

It seems the source of this twisted view is his own psychiatrist.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/jus ... not-anyone

http://thisweekinstartups.com/2009/10/t ... n-bonus-3/

Interesting

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1559

i just tweeted this thread. take that jason

If you think about it, his behavior is really weird. He makes all these rants about how people behave on the internet but he does they same thing. Is it a cry for help? One thing I have learned in life is words are a two edged sword. You have to be careful what you say especially on the internet. People get hurt down the line.

And I have to be careful that he doesn't become my new obsession. LOL

I can't believe that guy is 38. Sounds like he's 8.

Ah yes, only people with a label cause the world's problems. If it weren't for AS, the internet would be a peaceful and loving. It's not like normal people would ever be as*holes. And it's not as if marginalized people get singled out for abuse and... well, marginalization. It's not as if someone seizing upon a label for a neurological condition could ever cause any harm by equating with evil.

Labels can help people get the help they need to survive, and it can also be used to make their lives much, much harder. That's what Mr. Writer is doing.

This is not trivial stuff. It is not "I am a writer and I get to use 'my' words as I like." You do get to say what you like, but if you publish it you also get to be called on on your BS. You are part of the human community, you don't exist seperately from your readers. Your words affect the lives of others. Try to put more thought into it (and marginalization, and disability, and life) than "us vs. them." If you had child with AS, would you so glibly equate it with evil behavior? Would you consider the words of people with the condition rather than reading about "regards people as object," or "lacks empathy"? Perhaps there is more to it, as there was more to drosophilia, or womens' uteri shrivelling up if they used their brains too much.

But most of all, understand that an ASD is NOT a personality type. And if you see someone excusing bad behavior that way, call them on it using AS an an excuse.