SOC sunday

So, yeah…it’s been a little…kray kray lately.

WIthin our own lil Autie community and elsewhere.  Some folks have just lost their frickin minds.

Civility is gone.  dead.  One cannot voice an opinion –OPINION–without someone trying to eviscerate them.

When i taught, i used this thing called the Socratic Method. WHen done right, it involved posing a question and then allowing the voices around me to discuss.  Occasionally, you pose another question.  And another–if done well, you don’t even really voice your opinion.  Now–i was hardly successful on that level–but i did my utmost to hear the voices around me–allowing their opnions to shape mine, as i hope they did too.

Was it free of contention?  hardly.  I was teaching teens afterall–and who knows drama more than a 16  year-old.  Am i wrong?

But that was my job–to keep them from killing one another and to maybe even LISTEN to one another.  Because i was helping them grow and mature.

And you do that not by gaining years in life, but by gaining knowledge and experience.

Our community–our AUtism community–seem to be in those teen drama years.  I don’t mean we’ve only been around that long–but that this seems to be the level of growth we are at.

And I, for one can tell you the teen years are ROUGH.  Both on the teen and non-teen.

now, someone in our community might come across this and think i am doggin our own.

Au Contraire.  I am pleased to see it–as uncomfortable as it is.  It means we are growing, people.  GROWING.

I wonder if others in the SPecial Needs community look on us and say–”remember when we were there?”  I also wonder if they could give us any guidance.

’cause that’s where we are–without guidance.  And it’s getting a little “Lord of the Flies” if you ask me.

So, imma sit back and try to observe, try not to let my emotions get the best of me (although when i do i get the most page views…) and maybe interject a question or two.

And hold off forming an opinion until i’ve gained as much knowledge and experience as i can…

Today is the LA Marathon.  And all i can think is “SUCKERS!”

I am not, of course a runner.  Never have been.  I tried a few times.  meh.

But skinny folk and rainy weather aside, this day is often the bane of an angeleno’s existence because of road closures.

A few years they brought it up to the valley (i guess so we would feel “included”) and all i can say is that i spent those days cursing the marathon because i couldn’t GET anywhere.

I know, i know–first world problems.

This is a big city.  i mean a BIG CITY.  and honestly–i like that.

I think i always knew i would end up in a big city.  I spent enough time in small towns–which have their appeal, i grant you, but never ENOUGH appeal.  Although in college i lived within walking distance to the bars–and THAT was nice.  but i digress. I always figured i would end up in New York or Chicago–except for the whole freezing weather thing.  yeah, about that…

City livin aint for everyone–but i really dig the hustle and bustle.  I love that there are a gajillion different kinds of restaurants. I love the myriad cultural areas.  I love the food truck explosion!

Yeah–traffic sucks.  and?  Like anyone in a traffic congested area–you learn to get around it.  Hell, i drive a hybrid.  Stop and go just saves me gas$$.

So, marathon aside, i really do love this crazy town.  And while the bucolic cliches may be good enough for some, they mostly wanna make me puke.