I don't belong to any one religion
however my sister is a catholic. She had four healthy kids, and she wasn't going to have her last one, because she was getting older and knew that risks for congenital diseases went up with age.

However my big shot bigoted catholic brother in law wouldn't let her get birth control.

Her fifth child has severe autism.

This is why I think religion is stupid sometimes.
(Poppet some assembly required., Sun 22 Mar 2009, 1:04, 6 replies)

Point taken
I've done voluntary work with kids and adults on the autistic spectrum for well over twelve years. Autism shouldn't be seen as a curse. Its a condition and through cognative therapies its amazing how much an individual's standard of living can improve.

This fella sounds like a bigot who hides behind his relegion. But strip the relegion away and you'll still have a bigot.
( SpankyHanky, Sun 22 Mar 2009, 1:26, closed)

I have no problem with religion
provided that it doesn't cause undue harm to anybody. I know that God and Faith can provide a lot of relief to millions of people.

However - I know that if my brother in law had let my sister have birth control or (heaven forbid) get the snip himself, then my sister's family could have been spared a lot of misery.

I love my nephew I really do but I lived with my sister for three weeks last year while my parents were on holiday - and the whole time I just saw how exhausted and tired my sister's family were. He's a gorgeous gorgeous boy but if he gets into a mood he is a fucking terror to behold. Won't speak, won't eat, won't use the toilet, will scream, will break everything, will hit and punch people. Will repeatedly slam a door, pull the cat's tail etc etc.

He has improved a lot but still. Sometimes I think his quality of life won't improve much more then it has right now.

My brother in law is someone who I have repeatedly clashed with. Only minor arguments but enough for me to thoroughly dislike him. He refuses to listen to an opinion other then his own. He uses his height and loud voice to bully other people into agreeing with him.

My family - disfunctional on every facet.
(Poppet some assembly required., Sun 22 Mar 2009, 1:36, closed)

Your bro-in-law sounds like my father
except my father's 80 and not Catholic.

However, my mother had 6 kids so you can see where I'm coming from.

Back then though, there was no Pill or contraceptive injection. I'm sure my mother would have used them if they'd been available without letting on to him. I'm surprised your sister didn't.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Sun 22 Mar 2009, 9:23, closed)

Hmm
Autism isn't a congenital disease: it's not a disease at all. Nor (as far as I'm aware) has it been associated with the age of the mother. Maybe someone could correct me on that...

Your sister and her family are much more likely simply to have had bad luck.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Sun 22 Mar 2009, 10:15, closed)

yeah I'm pretty sure it is
they just haven't found the cause of it yet. Autism is not some kid acting up and being a shit. it is a lifelong, debilitating, awful thing to watch someone with. People can range from mild autism (Aspergers) to fully blown antisocial autism (my nephew).
it doesn't necessarily depend on the age but my sister waited 5 years between her fourth and her fifth children. She was nearly 39 when she had him.
(Poppet some assembly required., Sun 22 Mar 2009, 10:26, closed)

It being a real thing doesn't make it a disease.
Nobody is saying it isn't real, but calling it a disease is really neurotypical-centric thinking, and inaccurate. Currently, it is a bundle of symptoms that gets diagnosed as a disorder somewhere on the spectrum.

As you can see from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_autism, there are many proposed causes and it is likely that more than one of them is right. None of these proposed causes includes 'older mother' as far as I can see. It is not a disease. And it is not always debilitating or awful.

/soapbox
(Skittlemcfluff ......................, Tue 24 Mar 2009, 17:53, closed)