Mentally Impaired Audience Members- Page 4
Mentally Impaired Audience Members
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#75re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:38pmYes, lake, that's exactly what I was asking. I really think it's important to know.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#76re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:40pm
Miss Pennywise, I see where youre coming from; its wrong to be an "armchair physician" so to speak, but regardless of what condition/disorder/issue/problem the person has, if he is disrupting a performance, that's all that matters.
And also, Down Syndrome is a form of mental retardation. People with Down's can have mild to moderate retardation, but like my cousin, they can also be severely retarded. And there's nothing with with that! (not joking)
#77re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:43pmI was offended by the "these people" phrase because I don't like thinking that my sibling who is ill, being referred to as one of "those people." I know a lot of you don't see a problem with that phrase, but I'm especially sensitive to it.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#78re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:44pm
"I understand your point of view, but as an audience member who paid A LOT of money to enjoy a show"
So when did producers start letting people in Wheelchairs in for free, let me see. The answer would be never. So your money is worth more!
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#79re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:45pmI don't think you're wrong, it does sound offensive when I think about it. That is why I asked for alternatives.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#80re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:46pm
While I totally understand where your coming from lakezurich with it sound more polite to put "people" before disabled, and I do like the way it sounds. However, I also cringe at the thought of it.
I feel like if we as a society create this new rule about how to refer to disabled people, it will trivialize their problems.
Ok I'm bringing up my cousin again, but listen. He is 27 now, and he needs to be on his own. So he is living in a single family home with 4 other adult Down's men, along with 24-hour nurses. This is not cheap. And our family, while we're not on Skid Row, we dont have money either. So its important that people like my cousin are cared for. So that's just ONE issue faced in the Down's community. And for us to sit here and debate about "do we call them disabled people or people with disabilities" COME ON there are lot more important issues out there-----once those are all taken care of, then we could worry about such petty semantics.
#81re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:47pmGotcha, Blaxx!
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#82re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:48pmDidn't get your post, rosscoe, care to elaborate?
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#83re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:50pm
Well, hang out in District 75 schools in NYC and you will learn quickly that no, not everyone is as well-behaved and consistent as privately seen clients tend to be. The slightest change from routine and some (not all but some) will not react in a predictable way.
jordangirl, are you seriously trying to argue about who has the better and truer experience with the disabled? Wow.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
Wanting life but never knowing how
#84re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:52pmAgain, I was just responding to a question. And no one has even argued with my response, so we are not arguing about the terminology. And I am talking from experience also. I had a cousin who had Developmental Disabilities who passed away years ago, and I work for a facility in which we provide care for "people with developmentally disabilities."
Rant, Wickud, Rant, Wickud, Rant! We're not gonna pay Rant! 'Cause everythink is Wickud!
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
#85re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:53pm
Miss Pennywise, from the ages of 6-15, I pretty much lived with a girl who was mentally retarded and suffered from Downs Syndrome. The symptoms and behaviors of this particular gentleman were incredibly close to, if not exact, those of that girl. She was the daughter of my mom's best friend and was constantly around. This is the reason as to why I wasn't too perturbed due to the sounds this man was making. I'm used to these actions and have grown up with them.
Thank you for giving me the chance to clear that up. I understand that I should have been specific in that "diagnosis."
(Edit for ugly typo.)
Call me Travis. :)
Updated On: 2/6/08 at 09:53 PM
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#86re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:55pm
tgn, you were used to to being around a person with Down's, so it didnt bother you that somebody was making noise during a b-way show because that person had Down's?
#87re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:55pm
If I was at the theater and noticed a mentally disabled person "getting" into the show by making "weird" sounds, I would relish it. Imagine what was happening on stage imapacting that person so much that maybe he or she "acted out"
innapropriately. I would be thrilled that they got it and were moved. It wouldn't bother me! That's the magic of theatre!
#88re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:57pm
George, I appreciate your story, but I have a different take on the semantics.
Our family has lived a lifetime of midnight calls from the police, APB's all the way to Arizona where she took off on a plane, a string of institutions and mental clinics, local thugs causing her to go catatonic and almost die, and her ending up in a wheelchair not able to speak or walk anymore, etc. I could go on and on.
This all makes me feel so much more love and protection towards her. Hearing a term like "these people" is offensive to me. I still worry about how I'm going to support her when I can barely support myself, but at the same time, I can feel offended at a term.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#89re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:57pmIt's not that it didn't "bother" me. I mean, obviously I payed for a show and would rather see the show without any distractions. But, what I meant was, I wouldn't think to turn and give a look or even think to try and move my seat. Yeah, it'd be unfortunate but it wouldn't be the end of the world.
Call me Travis. :)
#90re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:57pmI would definitely be able to tune it out because of how much time I spend with the developmentally disabled.
Rant, Wickud, Rant, Wickud, Rant! We're not gonna pay Rant! 'Cause everythink is Wickud!
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
miss pennywise
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/04
#91re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:59pm
Down Syndrome is NOT a form of Mental Retardation. Down Syndrome can be a cause of Mental Retardation, but they are two distinct conditions.
Anyone who thinks this is all "petty semantics" is clueless about "society," how to effect positive change in attitude and behavior, and the issues facing people with developmental disabilities. I would expect a little more from someone with a family member who has special needs, but I guess insensitivity knows no boundaries.
After all, anyone who says, "...if he is disrupting a performance, that's all that matters" is a moron.
BTW, I found "these people" in poor taste as well.
(Tgn, thanks for adding your last post. I understand now what you "meant." 
)
http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html
**********
"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"
~ Best12Bars
#92re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:03pmPenywise, if you had read my previous posts it is not as if I have no connection with the mentally disabled. I work with them for a living.
Rant, Wickud, Rant, Wickud, Rant! We're not gonna pay Rant! 'Cause everythink is Wickud!
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
#93re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:04pmoh, sorry, I should not use "them"
Rant, Wickud, Rant, Wickud, Rant! We're not gonna pay Rant! 'Cause everythink is Wickud!
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#94re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:04pm
Jane2, I understand your feelings behind "these people". It is a loaded term, and especially here on a messageboard where you cant hear voice tone, it could easily come off as insensitive.
Geaj, I dont think you understand what types of sounds a Down's person might make. You're making the remarks and interruptions sound "cute", which they are not. Just like in church, the first few times my cousin interrupts, sings off key, yells, people turn around and go "aww!" but then the 20th, 30th time he says something, and when he starts going "I farted!" "f**k you!!", well its not so cute anymore.
Lakezurich, I gotta hand it to you. I grew up going to 80 billion Down's events, from the National conventions to weekly park district events to religious education, and I would never be able to tune out those noises in a b-way show.
Somebody mentioned that they still wouldn't turn around and give the person a glare or something. I wouldnt do that either--I know if someone turned and glared at my cousin, he'd probably spit in their face or swear at them. I would be ABLE to tune it out of course, just like I do when I take Frankie to a movie or watch a tv show with him, but that doesnt mean after paying $111.50, I should HAVE to tune anybody out.
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#95re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:06pmpennywise? Is calling people a moron really necessary, no matter how offensive you find their comments to be? We're having a civilized discussion here----why do you have to trash it down like that?
miss pennywise
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/04
#96re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:08pmLakezurich, I did read your posts, but I was not addressing you.
http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html
**********
"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"
~ Best12Bars
#97re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:10pm
sorry, considering I was the person whose "these people" comment was being addressed I thought you were talking about me.
And george95 I agree.
Rant, Wickud, Rant, Wickud, Rant! We're not gonna pay Rant! 'Cause everythink is Wickud!
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
#98re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:15pmgeorge, I get it. I am a special education teacher. If it becomes that innapropriate, it's the family member's responsibility to remove them. Otherwise, a few weird sounds from someone disabled doesn't require removal from the situation. Tolerance makes the world a better place.
#99re: Mentally Impaired Audience Members
Posted: 2/6/08 at 10:17pmYay for geaj!
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
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