MrMark
Abstract Data Type
Joined: Jul 04, 2006
Age: 53
Posts: 10287
Location: Tallahassee, FL
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 Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: Autism myth lives on (USA Today) |
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Autism myth lives on
By Sam Wang
As the brother of an autistic person and a brain scientist, I have been hoping that the increased focus on autism in the news would lead to a greater public understanding of this disorder. Instead, I am angry that this coverage is spreading dangerous myths.
My sister, Karen, is autistic. In the 1970s, my parents wondered why she behaved so differently. At the time, a prevalent idea was that an emotionally distant mother could somehow prevent a child from understanding emotions or relating normally to others. Our parents had a simpler idea, that they might have hurt Karen's head during a bath.
Both these ideas are wrong. Autism is a neurological disorder, and its signs appear by the age of 1 or even earlier. It is highly inheritable. In identical twins where one is autistic, the chance that both are autistic is greater than 50-50. Even non-identical twins and siblings are at increased risk. In short, I dodged a genetic bullet. Now I worry about my daughter.
more...
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Roxas_XIII
Memento Mori
Joined: Jan 09, 2007
Age: 20
Posts: 2924
Location: Laramie, WY
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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At least this lady has her head on straight....
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IdahoRose
Me and My Imaginary Friends
Joined: Feb 25, 2007
Age: 21
Posts: 14710
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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It's sad (and dangerous) that people still think vaccines cause autism. My dad believes it. He says it's because vaccines have small traces of mercury in them.  |
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Ryn
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Joined: Apr 10, 2008
Posts: 512
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm glad to see the media showing this instead of making the myth worse. Considering how the story was revived again in the news a month or two ago, I'm surprised that they're printing this. |
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EvilKimEvil
zoo-music girl
Joined: Sep 27, 2007
Posts: 3041
Location: highway to hell
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:24 am Post subject: |
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| Wow. A news story about autism that does not promote some kind of mass hysteria. That's refreshing. |
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velodog
Glock armorer of the Aspie Elite
Joined: Mar 16, 2008
Posts: 1554
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:53 am Post subject: |
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Very good article Mr Mark.  |
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LeKiwi
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| IdahoRose wrote: | | It's sad (and dangerous) that people still think vaccines cause autism. My dad believes it. He says it's because vaccines have small traces of mercury in them. |
They do...
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beau99
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Location: PHX
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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| LeKiwi wrote: | | IdahoRose wrote: | | It's sad (and dangerous) that people still think vaccines cause autism. My dad believes it. He says it's because vaccines have small traces of mercury in them. |
They do... |
No they don't.
The last ones with thimerosal in them expired in 2003.
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LeKiwi
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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Uhm, no. The flu vaccine still has it, as does DTaP and several others. You know this, you've seen the CDC documentation, now stop spreading lies.
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beau99
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Location: PHX
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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| LeKiwi wrote: | | Uhm, no. The flu vaccine still has it, as does DTaP and several others. You know this, you've seen the CDC documentation, now stop spreading lies. |
I'm talking about the ones they took thmierosal out of.
I'm not spreading lies.
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Sora
away away
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Age: 23
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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Wait a minute. Babies get flu shots in the US? Influenza?
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The_Cucumber
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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Of course the bottom line is that the amount of mercury present in vaccines is extremely small. And certainly no more then most people come across naturally.
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LeKiwi
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Sora wrote: | | Wait a minute. Babies get flu shots in the US? Influenza? |
Yup!! Scary, huh? Now recommended for babies, toddlers, and children every year. 
And Beau, you just said "No [vaccines] don't [contain thimerosal], the last ones with thimerosal in them expired in 2003."
So yes, you DID just say there aren't any thimerosal vaccines anymore. Which there are, which you know. Again, don't spread bull.
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beau99
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Sora wrote: | | Wait a minute. Babies get flu shots in the US? Influenza? |
Nope, it's against the law.
Nobody can legally get a flu shot until age 2.
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beau99
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| LeKiwi wrote: | | Sora wrote: | | Wait a minute. Babies get flu shots in the US? Influenza? |
And Beau, you just said "No [vaccines] don't [contain thimerosal], the last ones with thimerosal in them expired in 2003."
So yes, you DID just say there aren't any thimerosal vaccines anymore. Which there are, which you know. Again, don't spread bull. |
I DID NOT SAY THAT.
Twist my words again, and I will report you.
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