Whack, Wack, Quack
Maybe it’s because, for the past several years, my husband has been writing a book about the port of New Jersey and New York and about the 1954 film On the Waterfront, which is about how broken-down boxer/longshoreman Terry Malloy finds redemption when he stands up to the corrupt union bosses who control the docks (and who have some shady, underworld connections)—–maybe it’s because we were (with apologies to Brett) living in Missouri and homesick for New Jersey when The Sopranos first aired on HBO, and the sight of Tony driving down the Turnpike through the Meadowlands, past Pizzaland, and onto his mobster McMansion made us feel very out of place living as we were in the Show-Me State—-but, I have to confess, the word “whacked” is heard occasionally around here, in reference to either fictional TV characters (the capo “Rusty” played by Frankie Valli who, as Jim pointed out to me, was “whacked off screen”—because hey, he’s Frankie Valli!) or what happens to certain, real-life longshoreman, who got it from the likes of Cockeye Dunn. “Whacked,” in these usages, would mean “to strike; [slang] to kill deliberately,” as distinguished from the “wack” of “wacky,” which of course means “eccentric, irrational; crazy, silly.”
So I’m wondering: As of the writing of this post (5pm EST on the afternoon Monday, 4th February, 2008), is (quoting Age of Autism Editor at Large Mark Blaxill) the “dynamic and democratizing force” of the blogosphere indeed a “Wackosphere” (as in this post on Autism, Serious Scientists, and the Wackosphere by Blaxill) or a “Whackosphere” (as in this post on “Attacking” My Amish Coverage by Age of Autism editor, Dan Olmsted)? Olmsted adds the “h” in referring to Blaxill’s post: Is the blogosphere a careening Web of Fools—or something a bit more sinister—-or is it, according to Blaxill (as noted in a Left Brain/Right Brain) just plain “mean”?
I do know the difference an /h/ can make. It was only when he was 6 1/2 that my son Charlie could say that /ch/ sound and so, when asked “what’s your name?”, was able to respond “Charlie!” instead of “Carlie.” And I also know I’m not immune to spelling errors, typos, and mistakes in my html coding (for instance, I initially spelled “thimerosal” wrong in this post). If I may quote the final words of the 1959 film Some Like It Hot, “Nobody’s perfect.”
Especially on a website that, in most puzzling fashion, proclaims a fictional TV lawyer the “patron saint of autism” and various other fantastic, dare I say wacky?, theories about autism—or maybe I should say “whacky” as this game Charlie and I used to play. Or, just downright “quacky” as in quack science and like this game, which Charlie and I also used to play, and play, and play—definitely wacky, and all in good fun.
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism spectrum disorder, children, Family, film, mob, Movies, on the waterfront, pdd-nos, Psychology, some like it hot, sopranos, spelling, Weblogs
17 opinions for Whack, Wack, Quack
Regan
Feb 4, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Well. I just read Mark Blaxill’s article, and I have some thoughts.
His rough translation of “wackosphere” appears to be “those who do not agree with us”.
I believe that free right of discussion is allowed in this country if not directly libelous,
And I have noted that blogs that agree with the views of the Age of Autism, and, indeed, that newsblog itself are not particularly noted for circumspect gravitas nor particular respect for serious discussion of alternative theory, points of view or scientific evidence.
So it’s nice to play the “let’s be serious scientists cards” and call foul on those who disagree, but the paradigm cuts both ways.
I use my first name and will probably keep doing that…for my own reasons of family privacy, and I probably won’t accept the cherry-picked science from dubious sources that I often see from Dr. Blaxill’s version of the “blogosphere”.
So give me my membership card and pin to the “wackosphere”.
Emily
Feb 4, 2008 at 8:36 pm
OK, I read over there at Age of Autism. Why does anyone read that? It’s so noisy it’s almost painful. Every sentence would require so much in the way of rebuttal that just thinking about it all is exhausting.
puzzle piece
Feb 4, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I will be the first to admit that there are a lot of “whacky” theories about autism out on the web. But until a cause is found, I think all options should be left on the table, lets call it ” brainstorming”.
It wasnt that long ago that people beleived the center of the solar system was the earth, and that the earth was flat. Although there are still some “flat earthers” out there, lets not count anything out till the cause is found.
Just my two cents
Kristina Chew, PhD
Feb 4, 2008 at 9:05 pm
It was even longer ago that some ancient Greek scientists talked about the earth as a sphere—-and also about curing diseases by sleeping in the temple of Asclepius; seems that it’s still the case that science and myth continue to co-exist, in rather unruly fashion.
When I first thought about writing online, I considered a pseudonym, but decided that, for me, just being me would be best. As it is, can’t tell you how many times people have written to me as Christine Choo or the like……
Kristina Chew, PhD
Feb 4, 2008 at 9:08 pm
8.08pm EST—–Dan Olmsted’s post now refers to the “Wackosphere.”
Ms. Clark
Feb 4, 2008 at 10:50 pm
And whack a quack is a game played like whac a mole.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whac-A-Mole
Whack a quack like Blaxill (who helped do the Excel graphs for the hideous Holmes, Blaxill, Haley baby hair monstrosity and he keeps spewing nonsense) and he just keeps quacking, not smart enough to know when the game is over, apparently.
Like you’d think he might have figured out the course he was on was problematic when he was fired from being a PARTNER in a firm of investors or whatever he does. You also might think he’d get a clue from the fact that he’s been biomedding his daughter for years and she’s still apparently quite autistic.
Samantha Pierce
Feb 4, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I had no idea where you were going with this post when I started reading it. What a clever twist. I needed the chuckle that your commentary provided after our trip to the ER today.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Feb 4, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I was worried that the opening was too long—–I also meant to put in a reference to “paddy whack” as in “This Old Man,” whose tune we know too well, courtesy of the Barney song. And then Jim once asked me to find this book.
Hope it went ok in the ER?
mayfly
Feb 5, 2008 at 12:44 am
One of the problems of running a blog is that any overly strident and yes whacko post to the blog tarnishes that blog. If someone posts a well-thought piece on why DeSoto and Hitlan were wrong and another writes
that they are just immoral, ignorant mouthpieces working for sordid financial gain, then both become part of the blog, and the blog is judged accordingly.
If I state that autism is a brain disorder, I expect to be attacked. Even if it can be traced to a lack of connections between neurons in the brain. (There is an excellent article on the structure of neuroligin and a neuroligin/neurexin complex in the Dec 20, 2007 issue of Neuron). Neuroligin and neurexin are what make the connections between neurons. Mutations which affect how these proteins are folded or their reaction regions have been implicated in autism. This may result in the inability to make connections, or the inability to verify them. Unverified connections are soon not used. Thus the person has less than the normal amount of synapses in their brain. I cannot see how one would not term that a brain disorder.
The second part is what can be done about it. There is a thought that the amount of synapses lost can be lessened by early intervention programs such as ABA. There are those who post that ABA is child-abuse often invoking Lovass’ use of physical punishment for negative reinforcement, even though that is not part of ABA programs today.
Taking it further, the p21-activated kinase experiment in mice showed reversal of this lost of synapses in mice by eliminating or buffering the kinase
It may come to the point where autism can be detected genetically and then during a stage of fetal development something can be done in humans tp prevent the loss of these synapses.
Many would argue that doing so, i.e., fixing the brain disorder would be an immoral act. My thought is not doing so would be.
I’m sure there are autistics with a normal amount of synapses. A dearth of synapses is also associated with what was once termed mental retardation. Obviously not all autistics have low full spectrum IQ’s. Many have average to high non-verbal IQ’s and below average verbal. Others seem to have no deficiencies in either area.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Feb 5, 2008 at 1:45 am
Thanks for the reference to the Neuron article…………my son has been doing ABA since he was 2 years old.
Cliff
Feb 5, 2008 at 8:31 am
Haha, nice word use. Fun adventures through association.
Now, I would disagree with on some of that, mayfly, but take it terms of an honest disagreement, rather than an attack, because at the end of the day it isn’t. And, of course, it helps that you’re way in the mainstream, and I’m not. But I won’t go into that.
Cliff
Samantha Pierce
Feb 5, 2008 at 9:27 am
We’re all a little grumpy after six and a half hours in the ER. After several X-rays my oldest was deemed whole so all is well.
Paddy Whacked seems like it would be very appropriate in the discussion of behaviour on blogs.
tracey
Feb 5, 2008 at 10:25 am
Mayfly:
Well put. I have been attending several conferences….I don’t state the research as well as you…but what I continue to learn is that it becomes more and more obvious that autism is happening during pregnancy(a study from Bailey in UK) and that signs are apparents…subtle signs…as early as 4 weeks of age (Klim at Yale)…and there are more studies.
Also…anyone who thinks ABA is torture needs to get in on my sons sessions. He is laughing and having a ton of fun the whole time…oh, yes, and he is learning and talking more. He lights up when Miss Allison comes over…of course, it doesn’t hurt that she is a pretty young woman.
B Campaigne
Feb 6, 2008 at 9:14 pm
You are a human being.
You are not a person, you “have” a person.
A person is your agent in commerce,. A fictitious entity to which rights and duties are ascribed.
To the government and industrialists you are an indentured slave or as the media refers to us, “consumers”.
Before you enter into the world arena let alone the Austim arena you must see where, as an individual, you stand.
Here in Ontario Canada there are over 1000 citizen children on a shameful waitlist to receive funding for ABA/IBI therapies. Time is their enemy. After four years and the Senate / Eggleton paper “Pay Now or Pay Later” and the Canadian National Autism Strategy lies dormant. (Although it is a good document , worth reading)
Canada is founded upon the principles that recognize the Supremecy of God and the Rule of Law.
Both of which are being broken by the Canadian governments both Federal and Provincial.
The Magna Carta, the British North American Act, The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the U.S. Constitution were all written to protect us from the Sovereign.
To all of us parents in the front lines all over the world “Hallelujah to Ya !
At the end of the day it’s just us, our little team and the clinic we run from our homes.
Why is the focus always only on thimerosal? Included on this list of chemical concerns should also be formaldehyde, M.S.G., aluminum, Butylated hydroxytoluene or B.H.T. and many others. Don’t let the mainstream media and pharma spin doctors lull you into only focusing on the thimerosal. Remember these corporations would no doubt lose everything if a connection is made between the preservatives and the world wide vaccine programs.
Our great grandparents our grandparents and our parents were all infected with toxic preservatives through the inoculation programs.
I saw my 5yr old son’s live blood analysis taking place. I saw live candida yeast in his blood. I saw the heavy metals as well. Where do you think it came from? Leaky gut syndrome comes from the M.M.R jab.
We saw the change in our child right after the second round of vaccinations.
Freedom of the person requires not only, or not even especially, the absence of legal constraints but the presence of alternative thoughts. The most successful tyranny is not the one that uses force to assure uniformity, but the one that removes awareness of other possibilities. I have come to the conclusion that those who benefit from any societal mechanism rarely wish to understand that mechanism, especially if it appears to grant them power or authority and understanding it or any alternatives would restrict, diminish or destroy that power apparently granted. They live in a vapid world of learned assumptions. Lets face it if you have acronyms after your name your whole goal is to get published and funded no matter how ridiculous your position is. Most if not all of the researchers and their research are in the pocket of Big Pharma. They have lobbied their way into the core of our societies. I feel sorry for the caregivers who actually administer the jab and wonder how they are going to live with themselves after the truth comes out.
If we put up with this our children will be next.
It’s not the vaccines it’s the toxins therein.
A child on the spectrum is born every 20 minutes. What do they all have in common?
Wake up people.
Regan
Feb 7, 2008 at 5:28 am
“I saw my 5yr old son’s live blood analysis taking place. I saw live candida yeast in his blood. I saw the heavy metals as well. Where do you think it came from? Leaky gut syndrome comes from the M.M.R jab. ”
=====================
“Studies that have attempted to evaluate the primary components of ‘autistic enterocolitis’, including developmental regression and gastrointestinal disorders have not found links with MMR vaccination”
…
“One of the original proponents of the ‘autistic enterocolitis hypothese has recently reported seeing similar intestingal changes in children without developmental regression and in UNVACCINATED” (my emphasis) “children [23]”
->23. Murch S. (2003). Separating inflammation from speculation in autism. Lancet. 362:1498-1499.
CITATION:DeStefano, F. and Thompson, W.W. (2004). MMR vaccine and autism: an update of the scientific evidence. Expert Rev. Vaccines. 3(1): 19-22.
——————-
Also,
CITATION:
Fombonne, E. and Cook, E.H. (2003). MMR and autistic enterocolitis: consistent epidemiological failure to find an association. Molecular Psychiatry. 8:133-134.
——————-
Also,
“…Interpretation:
Our findings suggest that MMR vaccination is not associated with an increased risk of pervasive developmental disorders”
CITATION: Smeeth, L.S., Cook, C, Fombonne, E., Heavey, L., Rodrigues, L.C., Smith, P.G. and Hall, A.J. (2004). MMR vaccination and pervasive
developmental disorders: a case control study. Lancet. 364(9438):963-969.
——————-
Also,
CITATION:
Fombonne, E., Chakrabarti, S. (2001). No evidence for a new variant of measles-mumps-rubella-induced autism. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 23(2):122
——————–
Also,
“…One of the claims made by the leading of the hypothesis that measles vaccine causes Crohn’s disease is that there has been a “dramatic escalation” in paediatric cases in the wake of the 1994 mumps-measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeted at school aged children…”
No increase was evident in either first admissions or all admissions for Crohn’s disease since the campaign. Although the latent period between exposure to measles-rubella vaccine and alleged onset of Crohn’s disease was not stated by Wakefield, our data exclude an effect within the first 16 months…”
CITATION (please note the date):
Miller, E., Waight, P. (1998). Measles, measles vaccination, and Crohn’s disease: Second immunization has not affected incidence in England.
British Medical Journal. 316(7146): 1745
——————-
These are not the only articles by a long shot.
Regan
Feb 7, 2008 at 5:38 pm
“I saw my 5yr old son’s live blood analysis taking place. I saw live candida yeast in his blood. I saw the heavy metals as well. Where do you think it came from? Leaky gut syndrome comes from the M.M.R jab. ”
===============================
Live blood analysis
Another gimmick to sell you something
http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/livecell.html
A new era of scientific discovery?
Intrigued by the spectacular claims made for Live Blood Analysis? Don’t be. It doesn’t work
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2005/jul/12/health.science
Questionable diagnostic tests
Live blood analysis
http://www.ebm-first.com/?cat=51
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