Comments on: Did I blow it? Is it ever OK to analogize autism? http://mediavorous.com/archives/did-i-blow-it-is-it-ever-ok-to-analogize-autism A blog about where culture, new media, marketing and community collide... in people's heads. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:14:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Fiona Torrance http://mediavorous.com/archives/did-i-blow-it-is-it-ever-ok-to-analogize-autism/comment-page-1#comment-10647 Fiona Torrance Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:16:53 +0000 http://mediavorous.com/archives/did-i-blow-it-is-it-ever-ok-to-analogize-autism#comment-10647 Brad, when I read the article and saw the term "brand autism" I felt an instant emotional reaction - even though I don't have your experience or the experience of others with autism. I understood your analogy fully and appreciate your sincere creative expression (you would never say anything to intentionally hurt anyone). From a marketing brand perspective you're spot on, but bound to have received some reaction. What do you think of the Cadbury's ad with the gorilla playing drums? It's good and funny, but I thought of Dian Fossey who was murdered for protecting Gorillas from being poached in Rowanda (suddenly it wasn't so funny). How many people would make that connection? Brad, when I read the article and saw the term “brand autism” I felt an instant emotional reaction – even though I don’t have your experience or the experience of others with autism. I understood your analogy fully and appreciate your sincere creative expression (you would never say anything to intentionally hurt anyone). From a marketing brand perspective you’re spot on, but bound to have received some reaction.

What do you think of the Cadbury’s ad with the gorilla playing drums? It’s good and funny, but I thought of Dian Fossey who was murdered for protecting Gorillas from being poached in Rowanda (suddenly it wasn’t so funny). How many people would make that connection?

]]> By: Jennifer http://mediavorous.com/archives/did-i-blow-it-is-it-ever-ok-to-analogize-autism/comment-page-1#comment-9878 Jennifer Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:25:25 +0000 http://mediavorous.com/archives/did-i-blow-it-is-it-ever-ok-to-analogize-autism#comment-9878 Thanks for seeking reader feedback on the topic. I am an internet marketing professional who admittedly does not know much about autism. Although I was not personally offended by the analogy and am glad you sought to be accurate with your statement, my opinion is that you shouldn't have used it. I think the point to marketers could be made just as strongly using other examples or means. As someone without knowledge on the topic, I didn't pick up on the reference to the spectrum and I was forced to process the analogy using my limited information. I fear that for many it may strengthen misconceptions or stereotypes about autism and helping marketers learn to listen isn't worth that. Thanks for seeking reader feedback on the topic. I am an internet marketing professional who admittedly does not know much about autism. Although I was not personally offended by the analogy and am glad you sought to be accurate with your statement, my opinion is that you shouldn’t have used it. I think the point to marketers could be made just as strongly using other examples or means.

As someone without knowledge on the topic, I didn’t pick up on the reference to the spectrum and I was forced to process the analogy using my limited information. I fear that for many it may strengthen misconceptions or stereotypes about autism and helping marketers learn to listen isn’t worth that.

]]> By: Kristina Chew http://mediavorous.com/archives/did-i-blow-it-is-it-ever-ok-to-analogize-autism/comment-page-1#comment-9812 Kristina Chew Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:14:51 +0000 http://mediavorous.com/archives/did-i-blow-it-is-it-ever-ok-to-analogize-autism#comment-9812 Mr. Berens, I found your analogy interesting certainly, and it is the case that parents of autistic children (this would include myself) and autistic persons often have strongly felt responses to uses of the word "autism" that do not, perhaps, take fully into account the diversity of what autism is. I tried to point this out in my post on your interview, http://www.autismvox.com/brand-autism/ I do think that our culture has an underruning fascination with autism and I think "brand autism" is a symptom of this, and fascinating in its own right. As for something that "says the same thing everytime," a fine example of this occurs in the latter part of Plato's dialogue, Phaedrus. sincerely, Kristina Chew, Ph.D. AutismVox.com Mr. Berens,

I found your analogy interesting certainly, and it is the case that parents of autistic children (this would include myself) and autistic persons often have strongly felt responses to uses of the word “autism” that do not, perhaps, take fully into account the diversity of what autism is. I tried to point this out in my post on your interview,

http://www.autismvox.com/brand-autism/

I do think that our culture has an underruning fascination with autism and I think “brand autism” is a symptom of this, and fascinating in its own right.

As for something that “says the same thing everytime,” a fine example of this occurs in the latter part of Plato’s dialogue, Phaedrus.

sincerely,
Kristina Chew, Ph.D.
AutismVox.com

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