Autistic Highschool basketball player.

[Sean of the Thread]

This story is a few days old but I think it is an awesome one worth sharing.

"McElwain, who's autistic, was added to the roster by coach Jim Johnson so he could be given a jersey and get to sit on the bench in the team's last game of the year. "

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/23/earlyshow/main1339324.shtml

[StrayRogue]

So?

I've lived with an autistic guy and he was as normal as anyone else. He didn't even have a physical impairment. There is a huge variety of severity within autism, ranging from the shambling (or rolling) spastics which is typically the image we all get when you say autistic, to normal everyday people.

[Sean of the Thread]

So?

I've lived with an autistic guy and he was as normal as anyone else. He didn't even have a physical impairment. There is a huge variety of severity within autism, ranging from the shambling (or rolling) spastics which is typically the image we all get when you say autistic, to normal everyday people.

No shit.

[Things2Come]

I saw this story on tv and it made me tear up.

When they brought him into the game and he scored 20 some points within a few minutes and the school crowd goes crazy and carries him on their shoulders. It just made me happy to the point of almost crying.

[Czeska]

Friend told me about this last night, and I watched the video/interview on espn.com. It's a great story.

[Jahira]

ESPN did a much better job. CBS's story was subpar in my opinion.

[Krendeli]

Whoopdie doo. This shit is almost as bad as giving a retarded kid the ball in a football game and letting him score.

Vote for legalized euthanasia!

[Alfster]

I have a very hard time seeing a retard and not snickering

[Soulpieced]

There's a big difference between giving a retarded kid a football and letting him score and making 6 fucking 3 pointers in 4 minutes (even though I'm sure the scrubs were in at the time for both teams). Try making 6 of 9 3's without anyone guarding you, let alone in front of an auditorium full of people during an actual game.

[Skirmisher]

Whoopdie doo. This shit is almost as bad as giving a retarded kid the ball in a football game and letting him score.

Vote for legalized euthanasia!

I guess it's possible for you to be more of a jerk, but it would require substantial effort and planning.

[Stumper]

What's wrong with killing those people that can not contribute to society? This is not a rant against the handicapped, retarded, slow folks because I know of a good many of them that do work and give something back society.

Society would do itself a favor by getting rid of the folks that can't contribute, ie habitual, non-rehabable criminals, comatose patients with no chance of survival, mentally/physically retard folks who can't do anything but sit there and dribble.

All these folks drain from society with no chance at ever giving anything back. Habitual criminals crowd up prisons and slow or eliminate the possibility of rehab for one/few-time criminals. Comatose patients help increase health care costs by simply hanging on to virtually no chance of decent recovery. Slow/retarded people help drain out the social security system hurting those folks that do work and have earned that right to collect from it.

[Skirmisher]

What's wrong with killing those people that can not contribute to society? This is not a rant against the handicapped, retarded, slow folks because I know of a good many of them that do work and give something back society.

Society would do itself a favor by getting rid of the folks that can't contribute, ie habitual, non-rehabable criminals, comatose patients with no chance of survival, mentally/physically retard folks who can't do anything but sit there and dribble.

All these folks drain from society with no chance at ever giving anything back. Habitual criminals crowd up prisons and slow or eliminate the possibility of rehab for one/few-time criminals. Comatose patients help increase health care costs by simply hanging on to virtually no chance of decent recovery. Slow/retarded people help drain out the social security system hurting those folks that do work and have earned that right to collect from it.

I would jump in this little debate with you if I did not think that you were taking this stance to merely be provocative.

And people wonder where Nazi party members came from.

[Stumper]

I'm not trying to be provocative. This is truely a stance I've had for a very long long time.

Think of it as thinning out the herd. This planet has way too many people on it.

[Some Rogue]

Can we start with morons like you?

[Satira]

Can we start with morons like you?

I second this plan.

[Latrinsorm]

What's wrong with killing those people that can not contribute to society?All persons have inherent worth as persons, regardless of their ability to "contribute to society", therefore killing them is wrong.

As to the physically irreparable, I direct you to Dr. McCoy's experiences in Star Trek V. As to the morally irredeemable, I suggest that society's lack of effort and/or tools does not constitute a moral bankruptcy on the part of criminals.

edit: His mother's comments suggest the young man was a bit worse off than your roommate, Stray.

[SpunGirl]

The school Jake teaches at has a large number of "inclusion" kids in their PE classes. Most of them are autistic, and at different levels of functioning autism. For example, one of the kids is someone they have to watch constantly because if they don't, he'll go hide in a corner and masturbate 20 x daily.

One of the nice things, though, is that physical activity offers these kids a place to fit in with the rest of the students, where otherwise they normally might not. I think it's nice that this kid did so well. I don't see what the "thinning the herd" speeches have to do with this, because regardless of your stance, this kid is clearly not someone who has no contribution to make.

-K

[Stumper]

I didn't put down a blanket assumption that ALL autistic/retarded/crippled kids be removed. Just the ones that will sit in a wheelchair and babble and dribble all day and never know what they are doing.

[SpunGirl]

I got you there, Stumper. My question is, what does it have to do with the kid we're discussing in this thread? Clearly nothing.

-K

[Stumper]

I got you there, Stumper. My question is, what does it have to do with the kid we're discussing in this thread? -K

Side tangent this discussion is seemingly headed on.

[Snapp]

Side tangent this discussion is seemingly headed on.
Well it's stopping now. Feel free to start a new topic about it.

[SpunGirl]

Snapp ftw.

-K

[Skeeter]

High School kid = Great story

Stumper = douchebag that requires a kick to the groin so to not contaminate the genepool with more elitist nazi bullshit.

[Warriorbird]

"Nazis. I hate these guys."

-Indiana Jones

[Skirmisher]

Elwood: Illinois Nazis.
Jake: I hate Illinois Nazis.

[Souzy]

I saw it on the news last night and thought it was great. They said his dad was getting offers for the story to make it into a movie. I'd watch it. Who ever makes fun of the mentally challenged should be shot. It's not their fault.

[Skeeter]

Disney offered to buy the rights to the story. I think I might take their offer