Saturday, August 2, 2008

New literary journal celebrates autism

Well here is an interesting new literary journal I happened across http://www.hyperlexiajournal.com/ This is a new literary journal that will start publication in October that is set up specifically to Celebrate autism. So we have that woman (I don't remember her exact name) who has the joy of autism blog. Also Liane Willey a female with alleged asperger's who was able to get a ph.d., marry and have children also feels that brain damage should be celebrated. Maybe John Best will blog about this with one of his usual rants. This will probably make him angry. Though there are a lot of things I don't agree on with Best, and don't agree with all of his tactics. One thing I do agree with him on is that it is time to stop celebrating brain damage. Yes, you read right, I believe that autism is brain damage. Some neurodiversity adherents seem to be offended by the term brain damage, even though they somehow acknowledge that autism is a disability and more than merely a "difference".



Interestingly enough the hyperlexia journal says that the good and the bad should be celebrated. Why should bad things be celebrated. They also go on to state that the diversity of the human mind should be respected and any hateful submissions will be rejected. This likely includes anyone that wishes to cure autism or believes that autism is any sort of deficiency.

The maximum word count of submissions is small, 1500 words or less. This does not give much leeway for most short stories, though I suppose a lot of poems fit this criteria. Also some short essays.

I have written 23 short stories. Not a single one of them has been published. A few of my nonfiction essays have been published in a few places though but not very many. I am always hoping to find places where, as a fledgling writer, I can submit pieces to. This journal will not be one of those.

5 comments:

John Best said...

The sadist who has the Joy of Autism blog is Estee Klar Wolfhound. She appears to have mild brain damage herself so she's probably sensitive to people using that term.

It's not fun referring to my son as brain damaged but that's the best description of his problem. If we don't describe it for what it is, we'll have a tough time fixing it.

Who else but Neuroinsanity could be behind this ridiculous journal?

Ender said...

Brain damage can make kids better writters. Thats really interesting. I have never heard of a researcher not saying there was a positive to HFA or asperger's. Course John doesn't think there is, he must be right.

lurker said...

Since researchers recognize positives that HFAs and aspies have, such as hyperlexia, too bad the journal that is named after that gift won't restrict their efforts only to preserving the positives that the minority of the spectrum enjoys. But instead they choose to encourage having the brain damaged ones endure the bad things.

Socrates said...

Censorship Jonathan? You really have taken a leaf out of JB's book. Your bitterness at a life unforfilled will consume you. I can't and won't ever play the violin like a master, but does that make me brain damaged? Maybe it's not autism that's stopped you reaching your potential. Maybe it's just you.

jonathan said...

Hi Socrates, there is a difference between censoring someone's opinion who does not agree with mine (which I don't do) and deleting a post in which someone at the very least implies that I am a nazi or hitler like or claims that I am analogous to a nazi propaganda broadcaster, which is what you did. If you can't understand the difference that is your problem and not mine.

Personal attacks from people in the neurodiversity movement seem to be par for the course since they can't defend their indefensible position in any other matter. If anyone is bitter about their life, it would appear to be you. Perhaps it is time for you to grow up just a tad.