In response to the mass-shooting in Santa Barbara, California and then the media's usual publication of misleading and abusive untruths about the Autistic Community, the noted Sci-Fi author David Gerrold posted the following piece on his Facebook page in support of Autistics. I applaud Mr. Gerrold's statement and support. Thank you David Gerrold for expressing what you truly believe, yours is the sort of support and positive attention we need. From all of us to you, thank you!! As you know, Autistics are not predisposed to violence against others, in fact we are more than likely to be the victims of violence and self-harm than anything else.
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May 26, 2014, by David Gerrold, Facebook
I am not an expert on Asperger's Syndrome. I am not qualified to make any assertions about it. I do know some people who identify as Aspies and I am aware of the way they sometimes communicate from a different mind-set than mine. That's it.
However, I am appalled that there are so many self-appointed experts talking about Asperger's with so little knowledge. The real experts are the Aspies (their term, not mine) and their families -- the ones who deal with it on a day-to-day basis.
But my point is that whether or not the Isla Vista shooter had Asperger's, the rest of us should not use our ignorance as a jumping off point for assertions about Autism or Asperger's or the mental health of someone we'd never heard about three days ago.
Generalizations encourage ignorance and prejudice. Generalizations about Asperger's, coming from people who do not know what they're talking about, hurts those who live with it every day because it adds to the burden of misinformation and misunderstanding.
That's the long version.
Here's the short version: Please do your fucking research before typing anything.
