Last night I went to see one of the most popular movies in the country. It was "The Hangover", and I am afraid I have a bit of a bone to pick with it. I am sure some will see it as an over reaction, but I feel very strongly about what I am about to write and hope that it atleast gets some people thinking.
My whole life I have gone through what anyone with a disorder or handicap goes through. That is to say an endless stream of stupidity and ignorance shown towards us that is generally due to a lack of understanding on the part of the person saying or doing whatever demeaning act they may be doing. It is also not helped by our forms of entertainment that help perpetuate these horribly inaccurate stereotypes.
That brings me to my complaint. I will try to keep the spoilers to a minimum.
I was enjoying the movie until they get to a scene in which they are discussing card counting and how they could win alot of money doing it if they didn't get caught. It is at this point that one of the characters brings up Rainman and says, in so many words, that he was able to do it and he was a retard. That line right there made me lose all interest in the movie. I will say that the movie tried to redeem itself by re-enacting the casino scene from Rainman pretty much to the T. It wasn't much but it did atleast imply that Savant Autistics are very intelligent. However this was not enough for me.
For one thing, I do not believe in the use of the word "retard" when it is being used to describe people with Autism. It is incredibly inaccurate when you take into consideration that most autistic people are incredibly intelligent, they simply lack a way to communicate it. I find this word to be very outdated and incredibly cruel when said to anyone, whether in a "joking" manner or not.
What makes me even more angry is the fact that I have a nephew who is Autistic and love very dearly, and the thought of people thinking of Autistics as "retards" makes me worry even more about him. I went through my life dealing with people who would rather believe untrue things about my own disorder, I certaintly do not want him to suffer from someone elses stupidity.
It really disturbs me because there are alot of people who are happy in their ignorance and will accept what is said in the movie as fact. This is not acceptable in any way shape or form. Hollywood should be shaking it's head in shame at even allowing such a thing to be said and shown, especially when you consider how many actors and actresses either support or have a child with Autism or advocate on its behalf. If ever there was a place were some real advocacy could be done for ALL people with disorders, it is Hollywood. Instead they would rather make movies like this one that ridicule and perpetuate negative stereotypes.
Now, I am not going to tell you not to see the movie, really I won't. I am simply asking that when or if you do, that you realize that Rainman, both the fictional and the real one, as well as, other Autistics, are not "retarded". In fact, many of them know more about what is going on around them than most would give them credit for. If you do not believe me, I challenge you to do some research on the real Rainman, Kim Peek, and just listen to what he has to say and hear about some of the things he has done. Anyone who can read one page of a book with one eye and the other page with the other eye and commit to memory EVERYTHING he just read, after ONE reading, is clearly NOT "retarded".
I am curious, do you believe that Hollywood perpetuates these negative stereotypes, and if so do you think that they should stop? If you don't believe this, I would like to know why as well.
EDIT: I just want to edit this a bit and clear up a few things, as it seems that some people are missing the point of the post. I understand completely what the context of the scene was; to make the character look foolish. I am merely saying that while it might have been used in such a way, it is a double edged sword in that there are people who would assume, comedy or not, that Autism and Mental retardation are linked. Trust me, I have seen and dealt with people who believe this. I have noticed that the people who sympathize with this post are the ones who have or have delt with or raised a person with a handicap. Many people who do not have "issues" or handicaps of any kind, do not understand how hurtful a word such as "retard" is because they have never had it said to them in a cruel and hurtful manner. I wrote this post not because I am bitter or because I am angry at the movie industry, I grew up and learned to shrug off such comment. I wrote it because I have had fears, since the day he was diagnosed, that my nephew would one day have to deal with such horrible things being said to him. This may seem so trivial to some but to me it is not. This is why I write these posts and this is why I advocate for Autism Awareness and Tourette's Syndrome Awareness, so that, hopefully, one day I won't have to.
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Comments (109)
Thanks for posting.
I watched it too... it wasn't that good.. in my opinion. probably because I was kind of late for the movie.. it was when they all gathered up for a drink that I arrived at the theatre.
just my own opinion..
You make a very good point, but I think this issue comes back to the old "does life imitate art or does art imitate life?" argument. I think the moviemakers were just trying to portray the common attitude without any regard as to whether the statement was true. But I can definitely sympathize with your reaction- such opinions are not accurate at all.
Its probably really shitty of me, but someone has to say it...you're overreacting. I laughed my ass off at that line. It's supposed to be funny. I understand that autism and retardation are different, but anyone could confuse that level of autism with retardation.
Get a sense of humor and don't be so sensitive about it. They weren't trying to offend anyone, they were trying to make a funny movie and anyone without connections to autism would laugh at that scene.
@Sammyhellsyea@xanga - As someone who advocates for Autism Awareness, I do not see my reaction as an over-reaction in any way shape or form. I see comments like that as a very big step backwards, all because Hollywood was "trying to make a funny movie". I have a sense of humor, but not when it comes to people perpetuatiing negative stereotypes about a group of people who cannot help what they are.
So you found it funny. Now I simply wish to ask WHY you found it funny. "It just is" would not be an appropiate response. It would seem to me that the only reason anyone would find such a thing funny is because they are truly ignorrant to what Autism really is.
@Sammyhellsyea@xanga - You're an ignorant ass, and until you grow up, stop doing drugs, and get a real life, your opinion doesn't even matter. I used to be addicted to drugs, and I've gotten clean. It's something you should look into. There's more to life than highs, believe it or not.
I know a six year old boy with autism, and he is the sweetest little thing. He doesn't speak very much at all, uses sign language, and is very shy, but he is always very excited to see me. He's such an innocent person. I couldn't imagine someone ever degrading him in such a terrible way. I haven't seen this movie, and while I might find the movie funny, I would definitely take offense to a line such as that. The "retard" is always a popular theme in Hollywood, and they're quick to play it up. I think it's hurtful, and degenerate. I'm a very apathetic person and to even imagine being treated like that breaks my heart. I wish the best to your nephew, and thank you for standing up for a cause that most people know nothing about.
@hey_outxthere@xanga - Thanks.
@sarahb_86@xanga - What
kind of response are you looking for to that? Yes IT JUST IS funny. You
can't answer that about any joke, just the same as this one. Nobody was
making fun of autistic people, they mispronounced a word to make the
movie's creeper look like an even bigger idiot. And it worked because
it was fucking hilarious.
@hey_outxthere@xanga - You
don't know anything about me, thanks. And like I said above, they
weren't making fun of autism, they were making fun of the guy in the
movie.
The word 'retard' can be funny. Of course it can be demeaning too. I hate it when autistics are referred to as retarded or stupid. It's not true and it can be hurtful. However, it's only a movie and shouldn't be taken too simply. There are better movies out there to watch anyway.
@Sammyhellsyea@xanga - I do realize that they were trying to make the guy look like an idiot but the fact is there were other ways that they could have used to do this. I supopose you have to look at it the way I am. The people writing the script had a choice of what lines they could have used in that section. They chose to use a line that, while making the character saying it look incredibly stupid, also degrades people with Autism through the comparasion of Autism to Mental Retardation. It may have been meant as a harmful joke, but the fact still remains that it could cause damage to advocacy being done now for Autistics.
A person who was trying to be kind to me once told me I was one of those 'idiot savants'. I can't tell you how that ruined my day and the way I felt about her.
Your post made my blood boil!! People with autism are not the only folks,..who have been mislabeled by others because of a physical condition. The deaf have been called "retarded" and treated as "retards"...for YEARS!!
Some so-called "NORMAL" people are just plain.."information impaired!!"
@Stanelle@xanga - I could not agree more! Many people with many different handicaps are labled as such simply because people are to lazy to become informed.
@bluejacky@xanga - I never quite uderstood that term, "idiot savant". I mean if you think about it, it is a bit of an oxymoron.
@Sammyhellsyea@xanga - Once again, a neurotypical arrives on the scene and gets after all the autistic people in the room for being typically autistic... We're supposed to get over ourselves, and any normal person would yada yada yada. One of these days someone is going to come in here and realize they are surrounded by Vulcans who think the really funny thing is baiting neurotypicals and watching them scream while we stare at them. Inside we're LAUGHING. Ok, ok, sorry, not to put a generalized light on the whole bunch of us. It's just me. I'm evil, cruel, vindictive, and hate humans. Retards, all of them. You probably thought the new Trek movie was awesome, too, didn't you?
@bluejacky@xanga - I liked the new Trek movie, but then again, I never really watched the show. lol
@Stanelle@xanga - Kinda makes you wonder what's so cool about being normal sometimes, eh? Ok, apologies again to all the normals here. I'm not really evil and cruel, I'm a nice person. Really. I have pet chickens, and they follow me around like cats.
@sarahb_86@xanga - =) You are forgiven. I've been steeped in Trek since it began.
But you all caught my sense of humor there, right? My rapier wit? The pun within the pun, as it were? It's ok, *I* think I'm funny, that's all that matters.
@bluejacky@xanga - :D
@bluejacky@xanga - Snork!! I know about the chickens and I love reading about the little devils!!
Especially the logical one with the pointed ears,...who keeps an eye out for time traveling "mug-blugs!!"
Goes off to scratch out some bugs in my kitchen garden into a can of gasoline, and then cart some over-ripe water melons off to the local food bank!!
I agree. I think calling ANYONE retarded or a retard is abhorrent
@Sammyhellsyea@xanga - You are incredibly ignorant. Hollywood isn't just trying to be funny; they're perpetuating a stereotype that in this case isn't only ignorant, but completely inaccurate.
I think everyone calling me ignorant is ignorant as to what ignorant really means. I know what autistic is and I know what retarded means. I wasn't being down on autistic people and I wasn't being down on retards. Most of you are being down on retards. THERE ARE STEREOTYPES EVERYWHERE YOU IDIOTS. Why don't you cry about the fact that this movie added a little more to every other movie using stereotypes. I simply am saying it was a funny joke that was meant, not to offend, but to get a laugh.
I wholeheartedly agree that the use of the word retard is offensive. I wish people would stop using it altogether.
However, I disagree that associating autism with intellectual disabilities ("mental retardation") is degrading. A lot of people who have autism also have some degree of intellectual disabilities, and there is no shame in that! In working so hard to separate yourself from people with intellectual disabilities, it shames them because it sends a clear message that they are a group you don't want to be associated with. This sets up an unfortunate and unnecessary hierarchy ("Well, I may have autism, but at least I'm not as bad as THAT guy").
@UQuest@xanga - That's hillarious, that's the exact moment I came to see the movie. But I had no idea that rainman was autistic, just a stereotypical idiot that is seem quite often in these types of movies with a knack for poker. Unless it's mentioned earlier in the film that he is indeed autistic (and not just implied) then I can't really agree with you that it's unfair to autistic people.