How Do We Learn if We Don’t Make the Effort ?

Let’s talk about when doctors’ ideas have been wrong. Bloodletting was once the norm. Sick people were thought to have tainted blood so they were bled into cups, making them weaker, of course, and increasing the likelihood of infection due to open wounds.

Did you know that many deaf people who couldn’t speak, or people with cerebral palsy or others with communication problems, were  deemed to be incapacitated and were sent to institutions where they were stuck  for decades.

Eggs were demonized. Now they are thought to be healthy. All fats were demonized. Now studies show that our bodies need certain fats. Red wine and dark chocolate are now heart healthy. Our beliefs regarding nutrition and diet change all the time. We learn and make necessary changes.

I have decided to become a French expert. I will learn all about “Frenchism” by watching French people.  I will make theories about their habits. I will train them to be less French. But I will never teach them English or learn French myself. Then I will claim to understand Frenchism though I never consulted a French person. The world will recognize me as the leading expert in French habits.

Sound ridiculous? Not so much to me. I will keep writing until autism experts consult people with autism who can communicate. If they represent scientific inquiry, why don’t they have curiosity?

6 responses to “How Do We Learn if We Don’t Make the Effort ?

  1. C’est un bon idee’!! Viva Ido!

    Great post, Ido. I think you’ve actually nailed how an unfortunately large part of our modern world works. Thank you for your tenacity.

  2. Oh how I love this! Sharing!! Since Facebook continues to reject your blog, for mysterious reasons and I continue to protest, to no avail, would you consider putting this post as your status so that I can share it on FB directly from your Ido in Autismland Facebook page?

  3. C’est magnifique! Merci!

  4. Hi Ido!
    I read all of your articles to my little boy. He’s three and a half. He was diagnosed with autism at 19 months. He doesn’t talk, but he always listens 🙂 Thanks for paving the way.

  5. Mary W Maxwell

    Dear Expert in ‘Frenchism,’
    I think I catch your drift.
    Have you noticed how Frenchmen wear berets, tilted slightly to the left? My hypothesis as to the reason for this is as follows:
    When they were young, their piano teacher rapped them on the back of the knuckles of the left hand, if they missed a chord. The sensation went zipping up to the medulla oblongata and caused a sort of ping pain. So, for the rest of their lives they wear a hat to absorb this peculiar ping pain. (Admittedly not all French kids take piano lessons. Probably there are multiple etiologies for the beret syndrome!)
    Also, the French make sandwiches with baguettes, not with sliced bread. They have an AVERSION to sliced bread. If starving, they’d say “Give me a baguette or give me death.” Professor Kedar, do you agree that this is a pathological condition? Please let me know if you are aware of any medication that could help these people. I’d be willing to start a clinical trial, but am a bit short of the $800 mil at the moment.
    Yours sincerely,
    Mary W Marbles

  6. Another excellent post, Ido.
    There are not enough thank yous to express the gratitude I feel towards yourself and other vital voices giving us so much needed perspective and insight. You have had a profound impact on the way I think about autism and are making the world a better place for autistcs and NT’s alike.
    My only request is for more!
    Respect,
    Brian
    ps. What’s up with Facebook? Why are they censuring you?

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