Random acts of Kindness

I have just been listening to some of the ideas written in the book by Danny Wallace in 2002, called Join Me, where members are asked to perform random acts of kindness, (preferably to a stranger) on Fridays. Although this came to be called ‘Good Fridays’ it is no longer limited to just a Friday. I really like the ethos and sentiment behind this in a world where Ego and self seems to have taken over. Being kind is something that is really needed more than ever in this world. I think I will have to read this book.

 

Social Media, conspiracy theories and authenticity

This week I have been thinking about the role that the internet plays in our lives, from our participation in social media to the changes in how we watch television. Ten years ago, we couldn’t have imagined the ways in which such technology influences us…how many of you would now be lost without your phones!

For my autistic son, it has led to him finding lots of conspiracy theories on the YouTubers that he loves to watch.  He also loves to play games, but as he is someone that needs to complete things, he spends quite a bit of time having to complete levels in the various games that he plays.

We resort to apps that turn off computers at set times, and try to challenge the conspiracy theories,  but I am sure we can all recognise how addictive these things can be. Perhaps that is why I think we are moving into a different era  – one where the search for truth or authenticity is underlying conspiracy theories and one where we have so much information that it can be hard to know what is fake and what is true.

 

Freedom and Intention

I help run a Philosophy cafe, and this week the topic was about freedom and freedom of speech (in its widest sense which includes music, art, video and even social media). In our discussions, I realised that our intentions are important –  and when there is the intention to harm someone, then I think that freedom of speech should be limited.

However, in relation to our autistic son, we need to teach him what he can and cannot say, as he doesn’t have a filter as to what is appropriate. We also have to teach him what he can and cannot write on social media…one rule that I hope to teach him is never to attack people through his words (and of course deeds).

Debates and discussions are so important, but when it moves to the individual as a person, then that moves from debate and discussion to being a personal attack – and thus causing harm to an individual. We need to be prepared to interrogate our beliefs through discussions, but at the same time (as one of my students also noted) respect for each other is so important.

Words and Kindness

This week, I have been thinking about how we behave towards ourselves and others. How our very words and actions can make us better or indeed bitter. With our autistic child we are trying to teach him social norms and how to behave – towards himself and others (not always successfully and it is a struggle).

I also had to watch Bandersnatch this week for a lecture I am doing, and this led me to think about how our choices make us who we are…including the way we speak, act and behave towards ourselves and others.

One of my favourite quotes is from Lao Tzu ‘Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions; they become your habits; watch your habits; they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.’

Let’s hope that our autistic son learns to adopt better habits towards himself as he struggles with kindness (particularly towards himself) but I firmly believe that our kind words, thoughts and actions always have impact and are never lost – even when it’s hard to do!

 

Age and the autistic child

This week, in the course of my work, I have been thinking about time.I set myself the challenge of applying quantum physics to analysing television programmes which is why I was thinking about time and observations! Think of how time seems so long for a child to wait until their birthday – compared to myself when my birthdays seem to come  round far too quickly. This got me thinking about something a colleague once said about my autistic child. They told me to remember that his actual age is not his age emotionally. So instead of thinking of him as being 12, I should think of him as 7 or 8 years old and respond to him in that way. This does make sense to me when I observe his behaviour but I don’t always remember to do this!

Sleep and the Autistic child

Sleep had always been an issue – even before our (now 12) year old son had a diagnosis (his diagnosis is ASD/PDA – Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Pathological Demand Avoidance). It was a long time in finding a diagnosis that fitted him but this really does say something about who he is and where he has come from. Before we started using the PDA strategies, he used to be quite aggressive. Thankfully less so now to us (although he can still be aggressive to himself). Anyway, I realise that he is so anxious about transitions that he actually finds the process of moving from daytime to night time overwhelming. He shouts, screams, delays, finds distractions – anything at all to delay the overwhelming anxiety of having to go to sleep. How to help him…it’s hard although the breathing helps, lavender may help, having white noise sometimes helps,… some things work for a while and then stop. We have to teach him how to help himself on this lifelong journey that he is on.

 

I couldn’t quite believe this!

I was surprised when Clarks decided to launch this range of shoes which suggests that only boys like football and only girls are emotional. The name of the boy version of the shoe is Leader – which then suggests that boys are able to be Leaders, but girls are not! The name of the girl version …. Dolly Babe! Who though this was a good idea? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40916607

Dolly Babe shoe and Leader shoe

Snooper’s charter 2016

A Bill, dubbed the ‘snooper’s charter’ has now become law. It gives more powers of surveillance to the police, security services and official agencies (why would the Food Standard’s Agency require these powers for ordinary citizens)? Maybe my standards of food hygiene will be under scrutiny?

I can understand the need for security – but this seems far reaching – the NHS is also included  -be careful what you say next time you visit your GP!  Surveillance society perhaps?

snoopers-charter-phone

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/29/snoopers-charter-bill-becomes-law-extending-uk-state-surveillance (Guardian Article Link)

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/investigatory-powers-bill-act-snoopers-charter-browsing-history-what-does-it-mean-a7436251.html 

(Independent Article Link)

Paper from Panda Poo

A retired teacher in China has spent two years perfecting his paper made from panda poo. The paper is made by drying panda poo, flattening it and then it gets turned into paper with a mixture of tree bark and kiwi vines. The teacher – Liu Xiadong – notes that not only is the texture great, but it has a delightful bamboo smell. This would be a good story to analyse for our Green Media module.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/38075780 

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