I've been thinking quite a bit about two disparate and unconnected topics lately:- Society's perception and treatment of pedophiles in relation to the new X-Files movie, and
- Codependency in relation to recent news articles and talk show commentary about the apparent crime of being autistic in public.
Yes, these are the actual types of thoughts that fill my actual real life head. I know, you'll be shocked -- shocked! -- to find I wasn't the most popular girl in junior high. (What?! Just because I thought Tiger Beat was boring. Sheesh!)
But before I can write about either, I may need to write a few posts to lay down some groundwork around:
- The language of abuse: "victim," "pity," "excuse," "blame"
- A definition of codependency
- The criminal justice system
- A comment an anonymous reader left about conservative perception of behavior
- Personal boundaries and compassion
- Picking sides: a public dialog that reduces shades of grey to either black or white
Maybe more, maybe less, but it all ties in in my mind, and I have to sort it out before I can write. So, I thought writing some of it down here might help.
Damn, my head is still too full. Anyone know where I can buy a Pensieve?
Personally I find the contents of your head much more interesting than all the other girls in junior high put together.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're funnier!
Looking forward to ALL of those posts...
Tease.
ReplyDeleteI want all those posts now.
Well?
I look forward to your thoughts on topic #2. I stick my head in the sand as far as news goes, but my experiences lately with Owen in public leave me.... confused. Frustrated. Deflated... He is doing so remarkably well and he is so amazing and wonderful and all these people see is his "autisticness". The behavior of other adults, other parents no less, is so discouraging. "Apparent crime of being autistic in public" indeed.
ReplyDeleteShake out those thoughts soon - I can't wait to hear them. :)
Oooooh! oooooh! oooooh! I want a pensieve!
ReplyDeleteWhen you find one, please let me know, so I can get one.
And then, let me in to yours. :)
MPJ, speaking of weird, seemingly unrelated ideas that pop into a person's head: Today I was watching my husband numb out and sort of go into this trance that I always associate with his addiction. All of a sudden, it occured to me that his behavior often reminds me of an autistic person's. Do you think there could be a link between addiction and autism or even mild autism? Forgive me if you've already covered this on your blog, but I wanted to share this strange thought that popped into my head.
ReplyDeleteMargaux, I don't have a specific post about the links between autism and addiction, but I have been meaning to write one because I do think there are parallels: primarily in the use of routine or compulsive behavior as a way of coping with anxiety. And both involve differences in perception of the world, although I, personally, think of autism as a difference in perceiving and addiction as a distortion in perceiving.
ReplyDeleteI also suspect there's a genetic link, because the two seem (based on my anecdotal observations) to run in families together.