Gah.

[conuly]

Defense expert witnesses testified Wednesday that Schragger's pedophilia was exacerbated by Asperger's Syndrome, a rare neurological condition similar to autism and characterized by poor social and communication skills.

And...? Let me tell you something about the world. Usually, people with poor social and communication skills aren't trusted with kids, not for overnight sleepovers, regardless of whatever desires they may harbor. So already I find this one hard to believe. On top of this, it doesn't matter how poor your social and communication skills are, this does not hinder your ability to know and understand the law.

And another article. You can't post unscreened unless you're a member.

Comments

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

"Let me tell you something about the world. Usually, people with poor social and communication skills aren't trusted with kids, not for overnight sleepovers, regardless of whatever desires they may harbor. So already I find this one hard to believe."

Ummm... let me tell you something about the SCA, of which I've been a member since 1977: it's Aspie Central, and there are lots of people with poor social and communication skills but passionate, perseverative interest in the Middle Ages. We tend to be a pretty trusting lot toward one another - many of us are geeky and odd, but that's okay - and we're very much into the whole camping/overnight event thing. So I can totally see this guy being trusted. *shrugs* People trust me to take their kids to overnight SCA events despite my social and communicational difficulties.

No, the guy's being Aspie doesn't excuse his behavior in the least, and it's just a cheap trick on the part of his lawyer to try to use it that way. Aspies aren't any more likely to engage in pedophilia than anyone else is, and neither are SCA members.

Point about that: you watch, there's liable to be a lot more "outcry" against the SCA than against Aspies. The Christian Reich doesn't like the SCA at all, for numerous reasons - we're even worse than those devil-worshippin' D&D players, y'know? - and will probably pounce on this story as 'evidence' that we're all abnormal as well as immoral, and should therefore be burned at the stake avoided by all Right-thinking People.

[conuly]

True enough.