bad opinion on temple grandin

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Thank you for the links. I like Jung's work myself. I studied Him a long time ago. But with my memory issues such as they are... I didn't think I could remember enough to define/discuss that topic. But you make the case quite brilliantly.

Thank you.

I don't know a whole lot about Temple Grandin yet. I listened to a podcast from NPR about her and the HBO biographical with Claire Danes a few days ago, and that was the first time i had ever heard of her. Then i read the interview WP did with her the next morning. From those small bits of information i like her so far. I'm sure i'll read her books eventually.

Someone on here had mentioned they couldn't understand how she can say she loves animals yet support slaughterhouses with her work. I can see that seeming contradictory, but here's my idea about it. I am a strict vegetarian moving towards veganism myself. I love animals and am completely for animal liberation. This fact doesn't stop other people from ranching, raising, and killing animals inhumanely. It just means one individual person doesn't add to or support it. I believe from the statistics i've read each vegetarian saves almost 100 animal's lives a year. Significant, but no where near a solution to the problem of widespread inhumane treatment of animals.

Now i'm also a person who has been diagnosed with Panic Disorder. As Temple Grandin has mentioned in numerous interviews one of the main emotions animals feel is fear. I have had panic attacks so severe or long lasting i momentarily wished i were dead just to end the panic. To me a panic attack that seems to never end is my idea of Hell (a never ending torturous state). Myself, and Temple Grandin neither one can stop the slaughter of animals no matter what we do. However HUMANE TREATMENT of animals can be achieved in their lives even if they are to be killed. There is nothing specifically inhumane about death. Every living thing dies at some point. If an animal (which humans bred or domesticated) can live in humane circumstances with a contented emotional state, a healthy physical state, and then be killed painlessly and without causing the feeling or fear that is still humane, whether people agree with the idea of domesticating, breeding, or killing animals to begin with.

I've given this a lot of thought. I personally would kill an animal to end it's suffering if it were in fact suffering. These animals Temple Grandin is working with are ALREADY suffering. She is not the person breeding them, keeping them in inhumane conditions, and she is not the person slaughtering them. Nor does she have a choice over what those people choose to do. She is not causing the animals to suffer, she is alleviating suffering which is out of her hands and already taking place. She is ending a tremendous amount of animal suffering, that no single person could hope to achieve merely be being a vegan or an animal rights activist. I think it said in the podcast that soon 90% of stockyards in the US will be using her designs, which keep the animals completely calm during vaccinations and up until the point they are shot in the slaughterhouse. No fear, no pain.

It's no different than volunteering to play with dogs at a local kill shelter. People do it to improve the quality of life of animals who are already certain to die, which IMO is better than leaving them to pace, and dig, and bark in cages out of anxiety until they are killed. That same individual who chooses to volunteer couldn't have the shelter closed even if they wanted to, but they choose to make the best difference they can in the life or lives of numerous animals, and that is an act of compassion. Even closer to an act of empathy, when you are not disconnected from the animals or their suffering the way we are by never visiting a stockyard or kill shelter.

Another thing to keep in mind is that she is doing what HER SPECIFIC BRAIN is good at doing. She may not be wired to advocate in the ways some other people do. She is using the strengths she already has in the best way she sees that she can. Isn't that what all people with autism are encouraged to do? Her ability to relate with the animals BECAUSE OF her autism is what led to her work with them, and some breakthroughs in autism therapy as well. Just some food for thought for whoever it was that mentioned they didn't understand how she can act like she cares about animals. To some creatures ongoing fear is worse than death, which ends quickly.

Peace.

Last edited by herbalmistress on 09 Feb 2010, 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

*claps and applauds*

That is what I was trying to say myself, although not quite so eloquently. And here I am a paid freelance writer

Excellent post herbalmistress! I think it's a lot more mature and humane to try to do what's possible to improve such situations than just give up because we cannot completely eradicate the problem.

You are, really? What do you write? I'm a poet, although maybe i should write essays. I wish i could get paid for writing. It's what i've wanted to do ever since i learned to read, and being a SAHM we could use a second income around here.

Peace.

Completely agreed!

Peace.

Currently, the market for paid jobs is few and far between! What you get paid today does not mirror what once was! BUT that being said...

My current gig is over at Examiner.com as the National Special Needs Kids Examiner. It pays per page view and is, so far, the highest paid site for citizen journalists that I have found. It's not going to make a person rich overnight, but if you are good.. they will read and you WILL make money at it.

You can sign up by clicking on the "Write for Us" button on any article or ad at Examiner.com You can also use my name (Heather E. Sedlock, #10560) as a reference

Well said, herbalmistress. My thoughts on the matter exactly, although I doubt I could have said it so cogently.

My opinion on Temple Grandin is that she is generally speaking to Neurotypicals when she speaks of Autism as a source of greatness. She seems to be aware of a need to provide attention grabbing anecdotes in order to significantly access a person's attention. Her quotes and video clips can be strong assets when trying to communicate a positive understanding of Autism. Understanding of another's potential seems to bring out compassion in some. Being aware of a positive viewpoint of Autism, to balance the negative meltdown image which unfortunately for many is their experience or understanding. People notice an upset child before they see the one lost in his thoughts. Prevalence of 'genius' amongst Autistics is as irrelevant as meltdown frequency. They are characteristics that represent a range of behavior, they do not define all Autistics and what should be expected of them all the time. A general and anecdotal understanding of Autism is a better way for a casual Neurotypical to identify something which they are not likely going to understand. Bullet point definitions and explanations become rules to certain people. This then motivates their thoughts in a more protective fashion. The line between compassion and uncertain fear.

My overall impression of Temple Grandin is that I like her. We don't have to agree with everything that a person says, but overall I think she makes a lot of sense.