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

12/22/2012

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.

Shanell

12/22/2012 07:51:33 am

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

Grama

12/22/2012 10:02:47 am

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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I talk about Autism, a lot

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

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