GoTeamKate
  • GoTeamKate
  • MomBeast (Couch to Crossfit)
  • Entertainment/Shopping
  • Contact Us
  • Writing Services
  • Basic Bitch Baking
  • Photos by Kate
  • Photo Gallery
  • Diary of a Dad
  • The Diagnosis
  • Shanell's Portfolio
  • Shop
  • Help and Advice

I talk about Autism, a lot

Thomas the Tank Engine Doesn't Love Kids with Autism?

12/22/2012

7 Comments

 
Picture
I don't know whose idea this was but it has sufficiently pissed me off.  I don't even know who to be angry at.  The quote below comes from an article in the Onion, which I realize is a satirical publication.  It is meant to be the words of Thomas himself and it reaches a new low in perpetuating dangerous autism myths and picking on a population that needs to focus on treatment and recovery and not protecting itself from assholes like this:


Thomas The Tank Engine A Little Uneasy With His Broad Autistic Following NEWS IN BRIEF • Our Annual Year 2012 • Entertainment • Children • ISSUE 48•21 • May 25, 2012 read the article here  http://www.theonion.com/articles/thomas-the-tank-engine-a-little-uneasy-with-his-br,28298/

"Don't get me wrong—I'm grateful that these kids enjoy me so much, but I think the way they're enjoying me is not really so healthy, and honestly not the way I would choose to be appreciated, personally," the anthropomorphic locomotive said between stops on his Mystery On The Rails tour, where he observed that children with autism "outnumber the normal kids by at least three to one." "It would be nice to have some indication that my messages about friendship and sharing are being heard rather than have a pack of totally silent, open-mouthed 6-year-olds stare unblinkingly at my shiny wheels for an hour. It creeps me out."

7 Comments
Lucy LeBlanc
12/22/2012 02:32:55 am

The folks at The Onion should be ashamed. This is not satire, it is ignorance. Shame on them.

Reply
Shanell
12/22/2012 07:51:33 am

I don't know who they are appealing to, Lucy? It boggles my mind.

Reply
Grama
12/22/2012 10:02:47 am

This article needs to be pulled and the editor fired !!!

Reply
Benison O'Reilly link
12/23/2012 05:38:44 am

That's offensive and not even funny. The Thomas I know and love would never say this. Rev W Awdry would be spinning in his grave.

Yes, my son on the spectrum was a Thomas fan (as was my eldest, typically developing son) but he never stared 'open-mouthed' at the wheels. He's moved on now but I retain a genuine affection for the books and TV program.

Reply
Shanell
12/23/2012 07:31:54 pm

Benison, thank you for commenting. The article is foul and I sincerely hope people do not lose their affinity for a wonderful toy.

Reply
Phil
6/27/2015 01:58:20 pm

You do realize this is clearly a joke, right? And you do realize The Onion constantly does this sort of stuff, right? To blatantly state THE EDITOR SHOULD BE FIRED is asinine. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? You've got as much a right to complain about it as they have to joke about it, so calm down.

Reply
luisa
8/12/2015 10:27:46 am

Just because the onion constantly does this kind of stuff does not mean it's ok. The problem is that this is no joke. Autism is not being taken as seriously as it should be taken as it is, and jokes like these are not helping. They may be funny to you if it doesn't directly affect your world but to those who have worked hard, struggled and shed tears because of autism it is extremely offensive. There are certain things you just do not joke about. The same way you think her comment about the author is asinine, we think the article the author wrote is as well.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Click Here to support my Patreon
    Happy Mail to:
    GoTeamKate

    27 Wellington Row
    Saint John, NB
    E2L 4S1
    I've been a tad overwhelmed with teaching Kindergarten during a pandemic (masks and all) butttttttt, I have not forgotten my sweet patr https://www.patreon.com/sunnyandsinclair
    https://www.patreon.com/sunnyandsinclair
    Click to Browse ETsy Shop
    Patreon
    Email Me

    Archives

    April 2022
    October 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Author

    Grace and Kate's mom. (Shanell)

    RSS Feed

Contacts for Team Kate
Shanell Mouland
Alex Mouland

Blogs We Like
Rockstar Ronan


Links We Like
National Autism Centre
  The Greenspan Floortime Approach
  • GoTeamKate
  • MomBeast (Couch to Crossfit)
  • Entertainment/Shopping
  • Contact Us
  • Writing Services
  • Basic Bitch Baking
  • Photos by Kate
  • Photo Gallery
  • Diary of a Dad
  • The Diagnosis
  • Shanell's Portfolio
  • Shop
  • Help and Advice