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cyberdad
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30 Mar 2017, 1:06 am

In the last few days there's a popular radio station here in Melbourne Australia throwing around this expression "that guy's the opposite to Rainman" to describe people - the line gets everyone laughing! I don't see what's so funny

I can't work out what it means but I don't think its mean't to be a compliment.

Anybody know what this means? does it cast autistic people in a derogatory light? I think it does but am happy to be educated from younger folk



ASPartOfMe
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30 Mar 2017, 8:50 am

I think he and the people laughing at the DJ's joke view "Rainman" /Autistic as a weird, a bad thing. But it is hard to know without context. His show, his humor, who he is saying is the opposite of Rainman. Maybe a link describing him and his show would be helpful.


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cyberdad
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31 Mar 2017, 6:11 am

I've tried googling it but with no success...stumps me what they are saying



leejosepho
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31 Mar 2017, 6:42 am

"Opposite of Rainman" would definitely be a bad driver or someone unable to count cards, so maybe something like that?


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kraftiekortie
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31 Mar 2017, 5:38 pm

Raymond really COULDN'T drive. He must have been told that once by his father when he was a little kid.

The "opposite of Rainman" could mean many things. Like ASPartofMe stated, specific context is important.

Most likely, Rainman is being made fun of.



naturalplastic
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31 Mar 2017, 6:09 pm

Thats a good question. To me its a cryptic turn of phrase.

I would guess that it would mean "weird in ways that are opposite of the ways that Rain Man was weird".

But what would that be?

Rain Man could speak, but wasnt very verbal, and came off as childlike when he spoke. But had uber nerd skills like counting cards, and being able to calculate what day of the week was a random date in history (or some kind of weird skill like that- I forget).

I suppose that that the opposite of all of that would be an affable salesman type, who could talk you into buying the Brooklyn Bridge, but then couldnt calculate how much money to try to gauge you out of (an innumerate con artist). I dunno. Strange.



cyberdad
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01 Apr 2017, 6:06 pm

Thanks everyone

I was speaking to somebody yesterday and I think it's got something to do with "lack of detail to attention" which I would have thought is the opposite of OCD so I guess when particular ignorant people make ignorant phrases the result isn't going to make sense anyway



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01 Apr 2017, 7:33 pm

I suppose "Opposite of Rainman" could mean someone is displaying "lack of attention to detail", but yes, I think you might be correct if you might be suggesting the person saying that might not be all that brilliant...and especially if "lack of detail to attention" is what was actually said!


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naturalplastic
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02 Apr 2017, 7:02 am

cyberdad wrote:
Thanks everyone

I was speaking to somebody yesterday and I think it's got something to do with "lack of detail to attention"


Isn't the phrase "lack of attention to detail"? And not the way you said it?

OMG!

That means that you...must be the opposite of the Rain Man! :lol:



cyberdad
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03 Apr 2017, 12:46 am

naturalplastic wrote:
cyberdad wrote:
Thanks everyone

I was speaking to somebody yesterday and I think it's got something to do with "lack of detail to attention"


Isn't the phrase "lack of attention to detail"? And not the way you said it?

OMG!

That means that you...must be the opposite of the Rain Man! :lol:


triggered ;)



kraftiekortie
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03 Apr 2017, 8:47 am

Being the "opposite of Rainman," could also mean that the person is socially aware, and able to function in the world, despite his lack of ability to count cards.



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22 Apr 2017, 11:52 am

I suppose Raymond's brother was his opposite, someone whose major skills involved con artistry.