Autistic 6th-grader suffers videotaped beating at bus stop in Cecil County Maryland

[KalMart]

The chances of the father being autistic would be really unlikely. I think Hotwire meant to assume that the father wasn't autistic.

It'd be one heck of a kicker if he was though, wouldn't it?

 

[lordofthenerds]

It'd be one heck of a kicker if he was though, wouldn't it?

Meh... the real kicker would be if the bully was autistic too.

 

[KalMart]

Meh... the real kicker would be if the bully was autistic too.

Now that's just not nice.

 

[Kurosawa]

Kids are mean. As hell.

 

[Hotwire]

The chances of the father being autistic would be really unlikely. I think Hotwire meant to assume that the father wasn't autistic.

And you would be right. It would also be pretty odd for the kid who bullies the autistic kid to have an autistic father. If he had any autistic family, you would think it would make him somewhat sympathetic, rather than a little f***nut.

 

[KalMart]

Then again, if the father had some sort of disability/physical disadvantage but was militantly defending his kid anyway....would that make one hold back and take the 'high road', or would it be poetic justice that he got to feel what the autistic kid felt?

 

[bullets]

That would make sense. If it wasn't for the internet, I'd never hear the stories of decapitated heads being found laying around.

Maybe not as much but there is still newspapers.

 

[SimbaRises]

This wasn't that bad. I was expecting to see a crowd of kids beating on a really mentally challenged kid. In fact it was quite the opposite. Pretty tame, too.

The kid doesn't seem that slow, though. He actually seems pretty cognitive. He should've stood up for himself. He just let that little kid steal a hit on him. Pathetic.

 

[lordofthenerds]

This wasn't that bad. I was expecting to see a crowd of kids beating on a really mentally challenged kid. In fact it was quite the opposite. Pretty tame, too.

The kid doesn't seem that slow, though. He actually seems pretty cognitive. He should've stood up for himself. He just let that little kid steal a hit on him. Pathetic.

 

[Punisher Rising]

The kid doesn't seem that slow, though. He actually seems pretty cognitive. He should've stood up for himself. He just let that little kid steal a hit on him. Pathetic.

Easier said than done

 

[SimbaRises]

I'm not validating the bullying, but some of you must have been some real softies growing up. The kid isn't THAT slow. In fact, he sounded quite intelligent. I don't see why he couldn't at the very least throw his arms up and learn to defend himself. Have some pride. It's these people that keep letting themselves get picked on, then let it boil inside and come to school with a shotgun and kill everyone. DEAL with your problems head on. That's the lesson. No one can do it for you. Do you think those kids who were picking on him think anymore of him now that he had someone else fight his battle? Of course not. They will still find ways to pick at him. Until he grows a set and stands up for himself ... it will always be that way. It's the nature of the world. And it isn't just with "mean children" either.

 

[lordofthenerds]

The kid should have stuck up for himself, but the bullying shouldn't have been there in the first place. I know it sounds unrealistic to demand a world where everyone treats each other civilly, but nothing's going to change if we just say bullying is "the nature of the world".

 

[Punisher Rising]

It's so much easier said than done to stand up to bullies, especially when it's just you against several, as this kid clearly has.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Bullies tend to get away with it because the school is useless.
My school was practically apathetic to it. Hell, the teachers done it, used the students as a pin doll for whatever problems they had.

 

[Cosmic]

He's been getting bullied for years, and all his parents ever did was request for help that never came? Hey Mom and Dad, get up off your asses and go stand up for your son.

 

[Hotwire]

I'm not validating the bullying, but some of you must have been some real softies growing up. The kid isn't THAT slow. In fact, he sounded quite intelligent. I don't see why he couldn't at the very least throw his arms up and learn to defend himself. Have some pride. It's these people that keep letting themselves get picked on, then let it boil inside and come to school with a shotgun and kill everyone. DEAL with your problems head on. That's the lesson. No one can do it for you. Do you think those kids who were picking on him think anymore of him now that he had someone else fight his battle? Of course not. They will still find ways to pick at him. Until he grows a set and stands up for himself ... it will always be that way. It's the nature of the world. And it isn't just with "mean children" either.

Rather than jump in your s*** for this comment, I want you to go research autism a bit more. Because right now, it seems you have no clue how it affects someone. Then come back and post something more intelligent after you've educated yourself.

 

[Ring Deacon]

I'm not validating the bullying, but some of you must have been some real softies growing up. The kid isn't THAT slow. In fact, he sounded quite intelligent. I don't see why he couldn't at the very least throw his arms up and learn to defend himself. Have some pride. It's these people that keep letting themselves get picked on, then let it boil inside and come to school with a shotgun and kill everyone. DEAL with your problems head on. That's the lesson. No one can do it for you. Do you think those kids who were picking on him think anymore of him now that he had someone else fight his battle? Of course not. They will still find ways to pick at him. Until he grows a set and stands up for himself ... it will always be that way. It's the nature of the world. And it isn't just with "mean children" either.

I am at a loss over what to say about an comment like this, but I will try to hold my anger over what you said. First off, not all autistic kids are slow. The fact is many of them are of genius level intelligence. What they lack are social skills that many of us take for granted. As the father of a 4th grade son with aspergers, I see everyday how the world treats my son.

On the outside when you see him, he is a very normal happy 9 year old boy. But when you look deeper you see the way he struggles with social ques, understanding slang and everyday facial expressions. He has tested at a genius level, but still struggles when it comes to having to write out his work. He can do complex mathematical equations in his head, and tell you everything you would want to know animal adaptation and other scientific subjects. But ask him to tell you when someone doesn't like him or what a real friend is, and he is at a loss.

He doesn't know how to defend himself because he see no need in it. Things are just the way they are to him. There is no thinking outside the box. He gets picked on and he doesn't care. he hasn't told us if someone has ever hit him, but I am sure it will happen one day.

My son came home from school the other day with a bruise on his hip that was the size of a baseball. He said he fell and no one offered to help him up, they just walked around him and said nothing. My son hates going to school because of how he is treated, but he will not speak up for himself, he doesn't know how, and he never will.

I take some comfort in knowing that with as smart as he is, he will have a good job someday and may even be the boss of some of these little jerks in the school.

For you to say, for this boy to just fight back, makes no sense. He doesn't know how. You cannot even sign him up for self defense classes because although he may learn the moves he will not be able to use them when needed. Why? Because he will not know when he needs them. This goes beyond what a child with autism can read into due to the lack of social skills.

If this ever happens to my son, you better beieve I would be knocking on that kid's door and giving his parents a piece of my mind, and i would take down the school for letting it continue to happen.

 

[SimbaRises]

I am at a loss over what to say about an comment like this, but I will try to hold my anger over what you said. First off, not all autistic kids are slow. The fact is many of them are of genius level intelligence.

That's EXACTLY what I said.

He doesn't know how to defend himself because he see no need in it. Things are just the way they are to him. There is no thinking outside the box. He gets picked on and he doesn't care. he hasn't told us if someone has ever hit him, but I am sure it will happen one day.

Defending yourself isn't "thinking outside the box" ... it should be an innate reaction to physical violence or bullying. As it is with ANY living creature.

My son came home from school the other day with a bruise on his hip that was the size of a baseball. He said he fell and no one offered to help him up, they just walked around him and said nothing.

Wait, we need to demonize other children because YOUR son fell down, and couldn't pick himself up?

We are to feel pity for him because he simply fell, and the world didn't stop to help him?

What kind of lessons are you teaching this kid?

These kids are jerks because they didn't help up your little boy who fell and needed to be shown pity by other children for something as common place as little boys falling down?

My son hates going to school because of how he is treated, but he will not speak up for himself, he doesn't know how, and he never will.

I take some comfort in knowing that with as smart as he is

Someone may be book smart, but there are different forms of intelligence.

If you just allow someone to punk you, and you don't know HOW to do something as basic as stand up for yourself, that speaks to a lack of intelligence then.

he will have a good job someday and may even be the boss of some of these little jerks in the school.

The little kids are "jerks" ... listen to you, as a grown man.

For you to say, for this boy to just fight back, makes no sense. He doesn't know how. You cannot even sign him up for self defense classes because although he may learn the moves he will not be able to use them when needed. Why? Because he will not know when he needs them. This goes beyond what a child with autism can read into due to the lack of social skills.

Wait, it requires advanced social skills to know when your body is being harmed?

Verbal attacks is one thing, that has been happening since the dawn of time, and for ANYONE to whine and cry over that in this day and age is ridiculous. Everyone gets bullied at some point. Builds character. That is afterall the essence of the world.

If this ever happens to my son, you better beieve I would be knocking on that kid's door and giving his parents a piece of my mind, and i would take down the school for letting it continue to happen.

And teach him the much needed lesson that his father fights his battle for him, instead of his father equipping him with the ability for this moment and future instances to fight for himself, and instill his own sense of pride and worth.

 

[Hotwire]

I am at a loss over what to say about an comment like this, but I will try to hold my anger over what you said. First off, not all autistic kids are slow. The fact is many of them are of genius level intelligence. What they lack are social skills that many of us take for granted. As the father of a 4th grade son with aspergers, I see everyday how the world treats my son.

On the outside when you see him, he is a very normal happy 9 year old boy. But when you look deeper you see the way he struggles with social ques, understanding slang and everyday facial expressions. He has tested at a genius level, but still struggles when it comes to having to write out his work. He can do complex mathematical equations in his head, and tell you everything you would want to know animal adaptation and other scientific subjects. But ask him to tell you when someone doesn't like him or what a real friend is, and he is at a loss.

He doesn't know how to defend himself because he see no need in it. Things are just the way they are to him. There is no thinking outside the box. He gets picked on and he doesn't care. he hasn't told us if someone has ever hit him, but I am sure it will happen one day.

My son came home from school the other day with a bruise on his hip that was the size of a baseball. He said he fell and no one offered to help him up, they just walked around him and said nothing. My son hates going to school because of how he is treated, but he will not speak up for himself, he doesn't know how, and he never will.

I take some comfort in knowing that with as smart as he is, he will have a good job someday and may even be the boss of some of these little jerks in the school.

For you to say, for this boy to just fight back, makes no sense. He doesn't know how. You cannot even sign him up for self defense classes because although he may learn the moves he will not be able to use them when needed. Why? Because he will not know when he needs them. This goes beyond what a child with autism can read into due to the lack of social skills.

If this ever happens to my son, you better beieve I would be knocking on that kid's door and giving his parents a piece of my mind, and i would take down the school for letting it continue to happen.

Damn straight! I wish the best for your boy, dude. I really do!

 

[Golgo-13]

This is despicable.

Do you guys even understand what Autism is?

This kid is not handicapped -which would be beyond low for a bully to go after . He simply learns and processes things differently. He's not 100% helpless in the physical defense department.

I'm betting the reason these thugs zeroed in on him to begin with was because he had a lack of friends (due to what kids would perceive as odd behaviour) and they felt powerful due to their numbers....common wolf pack mentality.

 

[Hotwire]

This is despicable.

Do you guys even understand what Autism is?

This kid is not handicapped -which would be beyond low for a bully to go after . He simply learns and processes things differently. He's not 100% helpless in the physical defense department.

I'm betting the reason these thugs zeroed in on him to begin with was because he had a lack of friends (due to what kids would perceive as odd behaviour) and they felt powerful due to their numbers....common wolf pack mentality.

Autistic kids, like my daughter, also perceive danger differently. Listen to what the boy says.
“I knew I was probably going to get injured,” he told ABC-2 News. “I wasn't really scared because I knew what would happen.”

So, the boy knows he's going to get hurt, yet there is no fear. He simply accepts his fate. Now, does this seem like someone who would understand the concept of fighting back?
​

 

[Hotwire]

That's EXACTLY what I said.


Defending yourself isn't "thinking outside the box" ... it should be an innate reaction to physical violence or bullying. As it is with ANY living creature.


Wait, we need to demonize other children because YOUR son fell down, and couldn't pick himself up?

We are to feel pity for him because he simply fell, and the world didn't stop to help him?

What kind of lessons are you teaching this kid?

These kids are jerks because they didn't help up your little boy who fell and needed to be shown pity by other children for something as common place as little boys falling down?

My son hates going to school because of how he is treated, but he will not speak up for himself, he doesn't know how, and he never will.


Someone may be book smart, but there are different forms of intelligence.

If you just allow someone to punk you, and you don't know HOW to do something as basic as stand up for yourself, that speaks to a lack of intelligence then.


The little kids are "jerks" ... listen to you, as a grown man.


Wait, it requires advanced social skills to know when your body is being harmed?

Verbal attacks is one thing, that has been happening since the dawn of time, and for ANYONE to whine and cry over that in this day and age is ridiculous. Everyone gets bullied at some point. Builds character. That is afterall the essence of the world.


And teach him the much needed lesson that his father fights his battle for him, instead of his father equipping him with the ability for this moment and future instances to fight for himself, and instill his own sense of pride and worth.

You obviously have no understanding whatsoever of how this disorder affects the mind. Deacon's son is not capable of thinking they way pompous people like yourself do. He's not able to process the concepts of threat and danger they way a typical person does. And you condemning him for it makes you just about as bad as the bully who punched.

It's easy for you to sit there and simply say, well, he should stand up for himself. In order to do that, you need an understanding of what a threat is. Parents and teachers can do their best to explain this to those who are autistic, but in many cases, it just never clicks. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the boy's intelligence, and for you to suggest that, only shows your own ignorance on the subject.

Deacon didn't demonize anyone, either. He simply stated that his son fell and got hurt, but everyone around him just kept on walking as though nothing happened. Helping up someone who falls is not pity, it's called compassion. Of course, after reading your post, I can see you have no understanding of this concept.

You need to climb the f*** down of that high horse of your and start understanding that not everyone in this work is capable of defending themselves. There is NO EXCUSE for bullying. Ever! To ever defend it in any way makes you no better than the bully.

 

[Golgo-13]

Autistic kids, like my daughter, also perceive danger differently. Listen to what the boy says.
“I knew I was probably going to get injured,” he told ABC-2 News. “I wasn't really scared because I knew what would happen.”

So, the boy knows he's going to get hurt, yet there is no fear. He simply accepts his fate. Now, does this seem like someone who would understand the concept of fighting back?
​

I understand what your saying, but the comments on these past few pages have made it sound like 'Autism' makes a person wheel chair bound and incapabale of blocking a punch. I was pointing out that Autism doesn't make a person physically disabled. These bullies are dispicable, but being in self defense myself, i see know reason why any one with autism wouldn't and can't benefit from self defense lessons.

To further add, the parents say this has been going on since the 1st grade. WTF has the school being doing about this? See this is what pisses me off. The only time the school gets off it's ass and actually does something about things like this is when they're pressured into doing it due media to coverage.

 

[SuperMike335!!]

No, I have twisted and ironic sense of justice. This bully attacked a helpless kid who can't even fight back. It is the equivalent of a fully developed individual picking on a child.

I dealt with my (and my brother's) bully problem using similar tactics, which these days can be labeled as 'extreme'. However, those cowards never dared to look at me again, and if they did, I challenged them to a fight in front of the entire school.

Yes, I have rage issues.

hmmm..... reminds me of...

No, I'm not talking about that. I beat the s**t out of some kids today. But it was for a purpose. It made me feel good about myself. It was like I did something constructive with my life or something, I dunno, like I accomplished something.

 

[Hotwire]

I understand what your saying, but the comments on these past few pages have made it sound like 'Autism' makes a person wheel chair bound and incapabale of blocking a punch. I was pointing out that Autism doesn't make a person physically disabled. These bullies are dispicable, but being in self defense myself, i see know reason why any one with autism wouldn't and can't benefit from self defense lessons.

To further add, the parents say this has been going on since the 1st grade. WTF has the school being doing about this? See this is what pisses me off. The only time the school gets off it's ass and actually does something about things like this is when they're pressured into doing it due media to coverage.

I'm curious if you have any autistic students? Or know any self defense instructors who have?