RR.NET Forums

Elmo · Joined: 31 May 2005 Posts: 614 Location: Sesame Street

It is one thing, to express your thoughts and opinions about an issue under "freedom of speech." But it is another thing if you degrade a person, or a specific group of people, in a such careless manner... in which case is an incorrect use of "freedom of speech."

Michael Savage, a popular radio commentator, has COMPLETELY disrespected children with autism by calling it a fraud! He proceeded to, on nationally syndicated radio show, claim that autistic kids are just not disciplined well, to put it nicely, and showed how absolutely careless he was about these poor children.

Listen to this to hear what he has to say... or read, whatever floats your boat.

People so disrespectful, and clueless about serious topics should NOT be any sort of commentator, and therefore he needs to be fired!

So it would be GREATLY appreciated if you could sign this petition... it doesn't matter if you think it will work or not, it's damn well worth a shot. It's one step closer towards opening up the eyes of the public over autism. If you don't know what autism is, you better go look it up and find out what it is, because 1 in every 150 children in the world today suffer from it, and that number is only getting worse.

Show you have a heart and sign it, 'kay? You obviously have time to do it since you're sitting on here! 30 seconds, that's all it takes...
Go sign it, NOOOW!

If you did it, thanks guys, love you! <3

If you didn't... then you completely suck, have no heart, and need to gtfo!

TMBpower · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:12 am Post subject:

I'm really shocked someone like Michael Savage would say this, I didn't listen to him on a regular basis or anything, but when I did he seemed like someone with his head on straight (most of the time).

My dad listens to him regularly, and I'm going to pass this on to him.

I wonder how Savage would feel if he had a kid with autism. I know people who are/have kids with this disability. I'm so pissed.

Glenn Leider · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 112 Location: Carlsbad, CA

Signed. As I've stated once or twice before in rr.net, I am autistic myself and have worked with others who are likewise.

Tifu · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Scotland

O__o what the hell? How can anyone think that? Is he some crazy person who has never met another human being or something?

*edit*
Of course, if he's a radio person, it's very possible he knows this is wrong and is just stirring up controversey to get attention and call-ins.

DarkGunn · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 1230 Location: London

Online petitions will make no difference at all.

Elmo · Joined: 31 May 2005 Posts: 614 Location: Sesame Street

^ Are you kidding me? Like I said before, it's still one step closer towards putting a stop to discrimination towards autism. Don't be ridiculous and go sign it anyway.

Thanks to those who did so far. =]

TMB: I was INCREDIBLY angry when I heard this! I have two little brothers suffering from autism, and it breaks my heart when people put them down for something they cannot control.

Glenn Leider: I never knew you did! I want to work with kids with autism when I'm older... I used to volunteer and help with them (it didn't work out this summer..) and I'm interning with a class next school year.

Tifu: If he was trying to stir up controversy, a disability is literally the LAST thing to start a big fiasco over! If that was his intention, to grab attention and call-ins, then that just makes him look even more horrible. It is extremely unprofessional for a radio commentator, or anyone to do on their job.

Dream~Rose · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject:

Signed =P

James Sunderland · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:

What did he just say? D<

"...In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out"???

Idiot! You absolutely know nothing about autism and you dont even have the capacity behavior to talk about it! So STFU and GTFO!!! D<

SIGNED!!!

Kandi · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject:

That's just sad that some grown man that would know better to talk trash about kids who have problems. I know a dude with autism. He's very smart and polite, he just has those........."glitches" Id think thats rude to say that a sickness (or whatever you want to call it) is a fruad. God, dies he even KNOW anyone thats autistic? (did I say that right?)

I SHALL SIGHN IT!

Torch · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 506 Location: Centerfield

both me and my little brother have autism. It's not surprising to hear this from this guy really as he is a fraud.

I only listen to one radio show and that is Coast To Coast AM!

Gopher · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 2994 Location: In a hole....

My mother was just insulted by an autistic kid this weekend. Swear to God. Sorry if I don't get all pissy about this. BTW, Savage isn't mainstream so don't worry about him making an impression; it's like complaining about some random stranger calling autism a fraud. Don't worry about it. I'm more concerned over discrimination against black people than I am against autistic kids.

*Looks back at Imus*

Elmo · Joined: 31 May 2005 Posts: 614 Location: Sesame Street

^ So because one autistic kid insulted your mother, you automatically put autistic children below black people? That's exactly how you just made it sound right there. Keep in mind, there are all different kinds of autism, and maybe that kid in particular has a more mild type of autism (especially since he's apparently verbal..).

And yes, I along with thousands of other parents, siblings, relatives, friends, teachers, etc, will be concerned about the effect of Savage's remarks, simply because people who don't know what autism is will end up believing him. I'm sure we all know how incredibly naive society can be. This isn't my main concern about Savage's remarks though, it's the thoughtlessness behind them, and his discrimination towards autistic kids. They don't deserve it, it's not their fault, and they don't understand if they do something wrong... which brings me back to your mother being insulted, depending on what happened and how severe his autism is, he may not have realized what he said was wrong.

And while you mentioned "discrimination against black people" and Imus, this situation is just as bad. Kids with autism don't deserve to be discriminated against just as much as black people don't deserve to be discriminated against: they both didn't do anything wrong in the first place.

Gopher · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 2994 Location: In a hole....

Elmo wrote: ^ So because one autistic kid insulted your mother, you automatically put autistic children below black people? That's exactly how you just made it sound right there.

So you're saying black people should be below autistic kids? That's how YOU made it sound there.

....

And no, I don't think more or less of one or the other. Obviously. I'm just saying, "who gives a fuck?" Why is everyone so quick to jump into a huge shit-fit when some second-rate radio jockey makes an ignorant comment? Recession, war in Iraq, people dying every day....who cares, everyone is more concerned about getting their feelings hurt. I'm not insulting anyone here, I'm just saying that there are more atrocious things to get worked up over. And you know what? Sure, there will be people who are just as ignorant who might believe autism is fake. Then again, I'm pretty certain that people will get so pissed over this that a HUMONGOUS awareness campaign will be slapped together, everyone will know what it is, and Savage will lose his job. JUST LIKE IMUS. That's usually how it works.

"Booohooo, autism is a fraud." That's why doctors and medical studies are entirely dedicated to it, right? That's why it's such a huge and serious issue that hospitals all around the world have tools and procedures to screen, diagnose and help treat people with it, right? Calling it a fraud is so stupid and uninformed that it might as well be calling dentistry a fraud. It's not worth getting angry about. Savage is a conspiracy-nut, a nobody, and doctors know better.

Elmo · Joined: 31 May 2005 Posts: 614 Location: Sesame Street

Gopher wrote: So you're saying black people should be below autistic kids? That's how YOU made it sound there.

Elmo wrote: And while you mentioned "discrimination against black people" and Imus, this situation is just as bad. Kids with autism don't deserve to be discriminated against just as much as black people don't deserve to be discriminated against: they both didn't do anything wrong in the first place. is my response to that.

To be honest, it kinda came off as if you were putting one above the other, by saying, "My mother was just insulted by an autistic kid this weekend." By saying that, and afterwards saying "I'm more concerned over the discrimination against black people than I am the discrimination over autistic kids," you're classifying all autistic kids as insulting when you talk about one autistic child and then go into talking about all autistic children. That's honestly, what bothered me the most about your post. So I'm just let you know... there are many different kinds of autism, and not all autistic kids are going to be outspoken like that, since some aren't even verbal on their own, or at all. (Some people here know that my brothers, who have severe autism, are very hard to understand and only know how to make sounds when they want something, and only speak actual words on command. They've heard it on skype before)

And yes, there are more "atrocious things to get worked up over," in your eyes. I'm more concerned about my little brothers being discriminated against as of now. So you can't really say that for other people to believe that same concept, it's like telling an animal lover he needs to worry more about people rather than animals. Every person believes in a different cause, and in my case, I focus on autism the most.

Gopher · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 2994 Location: In a hole....

Well you're making the mistake that by my smug comment about one kid I mean to condemn the entire race. I never said I hated autistic kids, I never said they're worthless. Yes, fine. You have autistic siblings. I understand that. I'm not stopping you from fighting the good fight, I'm just saying that you're all making a bigger deal out of this than it is. How many autistic kids did Michael Savage kill? Was it Six million? Did he put them in a holocaust with shooting squads and gas chambers? No? Then excuse me for not hating him like he's Hitler. He made some smartass comment about how he feels some doctors and parents are using autism as an excuse to justify bad behavior, that's all. He's just talking about it like it's ADD or something. You hear about how some people think ADD is a fraud and a medical excuse to be hyperactive, but you don't see me getting all angry about it.

And yea, now that I think about it, I do put one over the other. Not blacks over autistics, mind you, but offensiveness of such. Calling someone a nappy-headed hoe is a lot more offensive than claiming some medical disorder is fake. So I disagree with you; it wasn't just as bad....it was worse. Savage didn't make a racial slur against autistics did he? He didn't say they're all useless fuck-ups did he? He didn't insult the way they looked or dressed, did he? No, he didn't. At least Imus was being insulting to the people he was referring to; Savage was just throwing out a conspiracy theory of his. But you're all offended by this so fine, be offended. if the thoughtlessness of Savage's remarks are enough to get the entire forum angry, then get ready to be offended ALL THE TIME because thoughtlessness happens everywhere. Savage can be heard because he's on a radio, but there are millions of people who you will meet who will be just as thoughtless. Are you gonna sign a petition each time you hear something offensive? Ask yourself that.

....

I just wanna point out that a couple of days ago, people like King Powerpuff couldn't go 30 seconds without the entire forum harassing, trolling and insulting the shit out of him. Everyone did it. No, shut up. You can't defend yourselves. EVERYONE DID IT. Even I did it. Now you're all getting worked up because some talkshow host that none of us listen to thinks a medical disorder is a fraud. I'm just saying that if we all have the balls to be so mean to some kid (whose mentality was so questionable I wouldn't be surprised if he himself is an autistic), then the very least we can do is have the guts to not be so easily offended by something as dumb as this.

Your lives won't be turned upside down over this, unless you yourselves allow it. Elmo, I respect your beliefs. I' just disagree with some of them.