"Weeds" autism quote

[babygirlie]

I woke up from a nap and Weeds was on the tv guide channel. I've never seen it before but this guy was telling the lead girl to get an abortion. His reasoning was...(not direct quote but gist)

"1 out of 5 kids have autism. And I'm not talking the cool card counting kind but the glazed over eyes, rocking and helmeted!"

Ok, um my kid has the glazed over lack of eye contact, rocking, helmeted thing going...

I was taken aback and kinda hurt. My thoughts are.. he doesn't know what he's missing because my kid is pretty cool and it made me sad that's what people thought of autistic kids. Now I'm sure this episode is really old as it's normally on cable but I just saw it. I just feel really weird about it.

[SpottedFoxx]

I could absolutely understand why it would make you uncomfortable.  It was an ignorant statement to make.  But it's a fact of life when it comes to TV.  Somewhere, sometime, characters say really stupid and hurtful things that a good portion of the population either won't get or, because they are not personally effected in any way, will laugh. 

[SubliminalDarkness]

If you knew the context of the show you'd know that the person who said that is pretty much a "jerk"(though well intentioned when it comes to his family) and often says inappropriate things. 

I can understand that it would be hurtful to hear something like that when it relates to you or your loved ones in some way, but tv and movies are supposed to be a reflection of someone's version of life. Sometimes that's ugly, y'know? 

[nextcommercial]

I watched every episode of WEEDS.  I loved it.

That comment was one of the least shocking comments on the show.  It's pretty raunchy in soooo many ways.  (yet, I loved it)

[AllyRae]

I'm sure that was very hurtful.  But, since we know for a fact that the first sentence is a lie (The rate of autism is not 20%), then that sort of nixes the credibility right there.  Writers for these shows come up with some idiodic things to say sometimes, and I think they forget how hurtful it is.

[Laedi]

Andy (the guy who said it) is my favorite character because he's an idiot.  The stupid things that comes out of his mouth cracks me up.  My child is how he described too, but I dunno,  knowing his character it just really didn't bother me at all but I can see how someone would be offended by it if that's the only thing they ever heard him say.  

[AnalogWife]

I'm a bonafide special needs autism mom, and I find that completely offensive.  I find any argument for abortion offensive, particularly against those whose lives are considered less worth living. "Ha ha ha, the character is so goofy," doesn't cut it for me, shame on this show on many levels, I can't STAND the ditzy main character, the whole show mischaracterizes real life which is fine for TV but this is considered a "groundbreaking" mainstream show and it showcases holes and idiocy all over the place.  Lotsa hugs for OP and your awesome kid.

[babygirlie]

Thanks for the comments. Helps a bit to know the guy is an idiot.