Pixar's "It Gets Better" video

[Cheshire_Cat]

You should be proud.

The bullying I got wasn't as severe as what many mentioned and it's a shame it happened.

I found out in high school that I had high functioning autism. I mean I personally found out. I knew my attended special classes in my younger grades for a reason but I never knew why until my parents actually told me later in high school. I remember being mocked and laughed at for practically no reason. I would come home in tears and wonder what I did/didn't do right for this to have happen to me. The bus was worse. I actually remember being punched in the stomach. This was before middle school.
In middle school (In 7th grade to be exact) I remember someone taking my textbook and throwing it across the classroom and the teacher (There was a sub that day. I dreaded sub. days in middle school. That's kinda sad seeing as most look forward to them.) didn't even notice. I don't remember much more from 7th grade as a blocked it out. 8th grade was great but that was because those who tormented me weren't in any of my classes and I never saw them. In 9th grade it started all over again with with the same ones who tormented me in 7th grade. I remember bringing in new pencils and had them in an outside pouch zip so I can easily grab them and later finding them all broken in half. That one really upset me. I didn't understand what I did for them to do that to me. I actually remember doing their math homework in hopes that they'll stop treating me bad. After the school year ended so did the bullying. My last three years in high school were great. In 11th grade I actually became friends with one of those who picked on me really bad. They just stopped treating me bad. I wouldn't wish this or any bullying on anyone. It really had me hating myself. To this day I'm still feeling the results of it (insecurities and such). I decided to become a teacher and is one semester from graduating. One of the things I'd like to do as a teacher is fight bullying. I hate to see anyone treated that way. My mom's best friend's son was physically and emotionally bullied for being gay. I was mad when I found out how this happened to him.


@Everyone: I think the video shouldn't have focused just on bullying over being gay. Anti-bullying messages should focus on ALL bullying.

I would like to comment on that. I also have high-functioning autism - Asperger's, to be exact. What exactly is your diagnosis? Not only am I high-functioning autistic, I'm also gay.

I was picked on a little in school, but it wasn't really for being gay, it was mostly because I was so withdrawn and socially awkward.

I was never really bullied for being gay (except for one time on the internet when I was called a "faggot"), mainly because nobody really knew except for people I trusted with that information.

[ajmrowland]

also, ajmrowland, every day, new teens are developing suicidal thoughts, so there is no such thing as being too late to this party.

oh, i know that. what i mean to say is anti-hate seems to be everywhere(which is excellent) and disneys a follower who would have never made this message if everyone else hadnt first.

[toonaspie]

Iceflash...Cheshire, welcome to the HFA/aspie club, with our own unique levels of personal hell. And that's not to be mean or condensending. That is just me relating to my familiars.

But Disney Duster does have a point. I think a lot of people with autism are not persecuted for being autistic so much as they are persecuted for the symptoms that we present from having it. This is a very socially-judging world where you must only fit the proper labels AND learn to act properly in the right situation and my AS mannerisms resulted in me following very little by the latter. And anyone can persecute us for these flaws...not just the popular kids mind you. I've had all kinds of people get on me for my AS, my friends were the worst. They just never understood that I never meant to be annoying or rude with one of my mannerisms. I mean it's a fact in my life that people will like me until I unintentionally present a behavior that drives them off.

Gays however can be persecuted just by label alone even if they dressed like or talked like or had interests similar to the straightest of the straight. It's not the best comparison but I feel I can relate. Some of this stuff as far as I know is a Your Mileage May Vary. We usually cant see other groups of people having it worst than the communities that we as individuals would belong to.

Oh now look what you people made me do...contribute to offtopic conversation!

[ajmrowland]

I think I do. There ARE many reasons for bullying, often for the dumbest reasons ever. Like I said earlier, I was bullied because I was slightly different from the other kids, and none of it was my fault. Three months after birth I got very sick, and I coughed so much air out of my body that my brain lacked the oxygen to develop and grow, so I had speech problems, balance issues, emotional problems and other things that made me a "special" kid. That means I had to attend special classes, go to A LOT of doctors and experts and have my case constantly investigated in case something worse was around the corner.

And the other kids wouldn't let me live it down. They wouldn't accept me in their games, but they were extremely quick to mock and ridicule me, even when I made the TINIEST little mistake (trust me, every single cliche there is about bullying I have lived it, from getting my pants ripped off of me to falling in public in the most humiliating way possible). It wasn't till high school that I was able to live a normal life, appreciate it better and just be the person I could be. I gained a lot of new friends and I was a very happy guy.

I have come to accept that I am different from other men and women, and that isn't a problem. I have three college degrees, I am bilingual, I am a writer for a popular video game site and I have some of the most amazing friends a guy could have. And that to me is the message of this video: that no matter who you all it all works out in the end and that it makes you special.

You should be proud.

The bullying I got wasn't as severe as what many mentioned and it's a shame it happened.

I found out in high school that I had high functioning autism. I mean I personally found out. I knew my attended special classes in my younger grades for a reason but I never knew why until my parents actually told me later in high school. I remember being mocked and laughed at for practically no reason. I would come home in tears and wonder what I did/didn't do right for this to have happen to me. The bus was worse. I actually remember being punched in the stomach. This was before middle school.
In middle school (In 7th grade to be exact) I remember someone taking my textbook and throwing it across the classroom and the teacher (There was a sub that day. I dreaded sub. days in middle school. That's kinda sad seeing as most look forward to them.) didn't even notice. I don't remember much more from 7th grade as a blocked it out. 8th grade was great but that was because those who tormented me weren't in any of my classes and I never saw them. In 9th grade it started all over again with with the same ones who tormented me in 7th grade. I remember bringing in new pencils and had them in an outside pouch zip so I can easily grab them and later finding them all broken in half. That one really upset me. I didn't understand what I did for them to do that to me. I actually remember doing their math homework in hopes that they'll stop treating me bad. After the school year ended so did the bullying. My last three years in high school were great. In 11th grade I actually became friends with one of those who picked on me really bad. They just stopped treating me bad. I wouldn't wish this or any bullying on anyone. It really had me hating myself. To this day I'm still feeling the results of it (insecurities and such). I decided to become a teacher and is one semester from graduating. One of the things I'd like to do as a teacher is fight bullying. I hate to see anyone treated that way. My mom's best friend's son was physically and emotionally bullied for being gay. I was mad when I found out how this happened to him.


@Everyone: I think the video shouldn't have focused just on bullying over being gay. Anti-bullying messages should focus on ALL bullying.

different attitudes in different communities, i suppose. iwas told about my as in middle school and, rather than being harrassed, the other kids were always extra nice to me........nicer than they were to each other. a couple scattered instances of bulllying, but overall more like i wouldnt be able to understand the same things that they did. didnt like it one bit, but couldnt really figure out why at the time and because i changed schools in 8th grade, never got the chance to say anything.

[Jackoleen]

Dear Disney Enthusiasts,

Oh, dear God! I'm not trying to be prejudiced, but the OP might have stated that the video was pro-gay BEFORE they posted it! Wow!

I did watch the entire video, so that I might be able to give it a fair chance. I do have gay/ bi friends from the internet, but my family is rather prejudiced (My male cousins determinedly declare that tight pants on guys are "gay"!), and so I am rather conflicted about the entire subject, in too many ways.

I can only say that after seeing the aforementioned video, America will either rejoice, or she'll go on the war path! I'm surprised that Pixar would actually release such a video, much less assume that every viewer of the video was gay! Wow!

Doesn't everybody realize how angry The Right Wingers are right now? Obama hasn't been able to win the war, catch Bin Laden, etc., and gay marriage is legal. In addition, that pesky WEED was ALMOST legalized!

I'm actually a rather conflicted Democrat, who, in fact, voted for Obama, but I don't know if Pixar is making the wisest move.

Of course, I sort of understand ALL people in many ways, so I hope that I won't be judged too harshly. Like I said, I told myself to give the entire video a fair chance. The true message of the entire video is a good message. I wish that America was that idealistic, but, then again, it seems that certain topics, people, etc., will always inspire discomfort no matter WHAT happens. I don't know if that discomfort is biological, or if it's just social. I'm oftentimes afraid to agree with that which America has deemed to be "bad," "wrong," or "simply unnatural".

Of course, I was once so determined to be "perfect" that I would literally starve myself whenever I thought certain thoughts that weren't mainstream, hoping that Anorexia would force my brain to think "acceptable" thoughts only; the experiment didn't work, and someone from my family told me that I'd been stupid to try to starve ideas out of my head, even though she was fairly prejudiced. I'm also someone who will avoid writing honest, but uncomfortable words, in my own diary.

I think that the fans of The House of Mouse will ALWAYS be divided into two camps: The Conservative Camp, and The Liberal Camp. The Mouse will ALWAYS be someone whom The Republicans and The Democrats will argue about.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

[ajmrowland]

I'm lost for words at the complexity of the penguin relationship. I also can't quite believe I'm reading about gay penguins on a Disney forum

"Happy Feet" combined with "Modern Family"....................I smell a moneymaker.

[The_Iceflash]

Iceflash...Cheshire, welcome to the HFA/aspie club, with our own unique levels of personal hell. And that's not to be mean or condensending. That is just me relating to my familiars.

But Disney Duster does have a point. I think a lot of people with autism are not persecuted for being autistic so much as they are persecuted for the symptoms that we present from having it. This is a very socially-judging world where you must only fit the proper labels AND learn to act properly in the right situation and my AS mannerisms resulted in me following very little by the latter. And anyone can persecute us for these flaws...not just the popular kids mind you. I've had all kinds of people get on me for my AS, my friends were the worst. They just never understood that I never meant to be annoying or rude with one of my mannerisms. I mean it's a fact in my life that people will like me until I unintentionally present a behavior that drives them off.

Gays however can be persecuted just by label alone even if they dressed like or talked like or had interests similar to the straightest of the straight. It's not the best comparison but I feel I can relate. Some of this stuff as far as I know is a Your Mileage May Vary. We usually cant see other groups of people having it worst than the communities that we as individuals would belong to.

Oh now look what you people made me do...contribute to offtopic conversation!

I understand completely. You don't know how many times I said or did something rude and not realize it was. My friends call me "out there" and "crazy" all the time for my mannerisms.

@Everyone: I don't think it's fair though to compare bullying reasons and debate which is worse or more prevalent. There's no good bullying out there and there's no good or better reason to be bullied over another. There is no better or worse reasons. They're ALL bad and that's something we should all agree on.

@Cheshire_Cat: I don't know. All my mom told me about my classification is Autism. She never mentioned Asperger Syndrome or anything like that. I know from what she described to me of my being diagnosed (back in 89/90?) was that I exhibited all the classic signs (started talking then reverted, etc). I was almost in kindergarten not talking. I went to early intervention prior to starting pre-school. I was definately socially awkward. I was very shy and having "normal" conversation was a chore. My behaviors involved hating routine changes, etc. To this day, normal conversation isn't very easy for me. I constantly worry whether I'm saying the right thing or not, trying to read others' emotions to what I'm saying, and is very shy (though is getting better). The social awkwardness that came from it is probably the most challenging for me. You try your whole life trying to feel like you fit but you end up standing out as different.

When I was first diagnosed, they told my Mom and Dad that I would most likely wouldn't finish school and would have to be taken care of my whole life as I wouldn't be able to live a normal life. I guess I proved them wrong!

[Goliath]

Doesn't everybody realize how angry The Right Wingers are right now?

They're always angry, and if there's not a single reason to be angry, they'll have Fox News make one up. You'd think they would be happy after they had their chimp president and Dark Vader vice-president ruïning the country for 8 years, and now they have a pretend-liberal president who wants to play with them all the time, even if he has to sacrifice evert major piece of legislation for it... I guess they're just never satisfied.

Obama hasn't been able to win the war,

Neither was George W. Bush, the Republican president who started them.

catch Bin Laden, etc.,

Neither was George W. Bush, the Republican president who started hunting him 10 years ago, but pulled thousands of troops out of Bin Laden's safe haven Tora Bora, to attack a regime in a neighbouring country that had nothing to do with 9/11. But then again, Bush said in 2004 that he didn't spend much time thinking about Bin Laden.

and gay marriage is legal.

In The Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Canada, South-Africa and Argentina, yes. In the US, not really.

In addition, that pesky WEED was ALMOST legalized!

No, unfortunately it was't! Damn, those PESKY conservatives!

I'm actually a rather conflicted Democrat, who, in fact, voted for Obama, [...]

You're not fooling anyone.

[Prince Edward]

and gay marriage is legal.

In respons to that, Goliath said: "In The Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Canada, South-Africa and Argentina, yes. In the US, not really." (Sorry, I messed up my post trying to quote both Jackoleen and Goliath...)

You may add Norway to your list as well, we legislated a new marriage law in 2008 that gave gays equal rights to marry. And this change came not a day to early!:)

[Goliath]

You may add Norway to your list as well, we legislated a new marriage law in 2008 that gave gays equal rights to marry. And this change came not a day to early!:)

I'm sorry I forgot to include your country! Good for Norway!

And is it any coïncidence that, like in Spain, Portugal and Argentina, this legislation came through under a leftist social-democratic/socialist government?

[Cheshire_Cat]

@Cheshire_Cat: I don't know. All my mom told me about my classification is Autism. She never mentioned Asperger Syndrome or anything like that. I know from what she described to me of my being diagnosed (back in 89/90?) was that I exhibited all the classic signs (started talking then reverted, etc). I was almost in kindergarten not talking. I went to early intervention prior to starting pre-school. I was definately socially awkward. I was very shy and having "normal" conversation was a chore. My behaviors involved hating routine changes, etc. To this day, normal conversation isn't very easy for me. I constantly worry whether I'm saying the right thing or not, trying to read others' emotions to what I'm saying, and is very shy (though is getting better). The social awkwardness that came from it is probably the most challenging for me. You try your whole life trying to feel like you fit but you end up standing out as different.

I can relate to a lot of what you're going through. I'm terrible at small talk. I'm also getting better with normal conversations, but it remains somewhat of a challenge for me. It really depends on whom I conversing with in a lot of circumstances.

When I was first diagnosed, they told my Mom and Dad that I would most likely wouldn't finish school and would have to be taken care of my whole life as I wouldn't be able to live a normal life. I guess I proved them wrong!

Most high-functioning autistics are able to take care of themselves, hence the title "high-functioning." They might need a little assistance, but for the most part they are capable of taking care of themselves.

It sounds to me like they confused high-functioning autistics with low-functioning autistics.

[Super Aurora]

Most high-functioning autistics are able to take care of themselves, hence the title "high-functioning." They might need a little assistance, but for the most part they are capable of taking care of themselves.

It sounds to me like they confused high-functioning autistics with low-functioning autistics.

you know I always wonder what is the difference between the two. If the high function ones can take care of themselves, why are they autistic then? Is there something else that label them still as an autistic?

[Jackoleen]

Dear Goliath,

So, you are for the legalization of what has, for years, been a drug for the sake of drug use itself? Really? I have a few medical conditions, but I'd NEVER use pot as a medication, because, for years, the drug has stood for the slow destruction, and the embarrassment, of America. I will never endorse medical pot.

With regards to what you said about the fact that " not fooling anyone", I wish that you'd reveal exactly what you were accusing me of. Were you saying that I am really a Conservative in Liberal's clothing? Were you saying that I voted for Obama in order to be politically correct? Were you saying that I was only CRUSHING on Obama, and that my hormones voted for him? I think that I can guess as to exactly what you were insinuating.

Thank you in advance for your reply.

In addition, that pesky WEED was ALMOST legalized!

No, unfortunately it was't! Damn, those PESKY conservatives!

I'm actually a rather conflicted Democrat, who, in fact, voted for Obama, [...]

You're not fooling anyone.

[Super Aurora]

pot isn't even dangerous. only reason people make it illegal is cause they say it help lead you to other serious drugs. something i find to be BS

[The_Iceflash]

@Cheshire_Cat: I don't know. All my mom told me about my classification is Autism. She never mentioned Asperger Syndrome or anything like that. I know from what she described to me of my being diagnosed (back in 89/90?) was that I exhibited all the classic signs (started talking then reverted, etc). I was almost in kindergarten not talking. I went to early intervention prior to starting pre-school. I was definately socially awkward. I was very shy and having "normal" conversation was a chore. My behaviors involved hating routine changes, etc. To this day, normal conversation isn't very easy for me. I constantly worry whether I'm saying the right thing or not, trying to read others' emotions to what I'm saying, and is very shy (though is getting better). The social awkwardness that came from it is probably the most challenging for me. You try your whole life trying to feel like you fit but you end up standing out as different.

I can relate to a lot of what you're going through. I'm terrible at small talk. I'm also getting better with normal conversations, but it remains somewhat of a challenge for me. It really depends on whom I conversing with in a lot of circumstances.

Same here. It depends on whom I'm conversing with as well. It's almost effortless to converse with some people while it's a challenge for me to converse with others.

When I was first diagnosed, they told my Mom and Dad that I would most likely wouldn't finish school and would have to be taken care of my whole life as I wouldn't be able to live a normal life. I guess I proved them wrong!

Most high-functioning autistics are able to take care of themselves, hence the title "high-functioning." They might need a little assistance, but for the most part they are capable of taking care of themselves.

It sounds to me like they confused high-functioning autistics with low-functioning autistics.

The "high-functioning autism" is kinda my self-diagnosis for it now. I should have clarified that. They never said high functioning autism. All they said was Autism. That's all I know about what they said about my diagnosis.

The child study team at my elementary school when I entered Kindergarten considered me worse off than I was. After they did their own test they said I had the intelligence of an infant. My mom was in tears when they told her that. My Kindergarten teacher (I was in a special classroom) when she heard she didn't believe it. She'd seen me in class and knew that wasn't right. She said she knew I didn't belong in there. There were kids way worse off in my class with me. She fought to have me re-tested and by the end of the year I was being mainstreamed. From my Mom's understanding of why I tested so bad initially, she said the CST didn't understand the issues involving my communication skills and didn't test me appropriately. Who knows what would have become of my future if my parents and teacher didn't fight for me like they did.

[Cheshire_Cat]

you know I always wonder what is the difference between the two. If the high function ones can take care of themselves, why are they autistic then? Is there something else that label them still as an autistic?

People who are HFA have all the symptoms of autism, but to a lesser degree than those who are LFA. The main trait of autism is impaired social skills, and while it may hinder HFAs a little, they are still capable of functioning in society.

That's the best way I can explain it. Here's a Wikipedia article on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_functioning_autism

[DiscoDan]

Dear Disney Enthusiasts,

Oh, dear God! I'm not trying to be prejudiced, but the OP might have stated that the video was pro-gay BEFORE they posted it! Wow!

oh please, you act like you just had to sit through two girls one cup. I guess you can't help being as narrow minded as your parents/family, but surely you're old enough to realize that such a thing as gay people exist and unsurprisingly they don't like to be bullied, having their life threatened, being treated like crap, etc. Go outside one day, learn a new point of view.

[toonaspie]

Dear Disney Enthusiasts,

Oh, dear God! I'm not trying to be prejudiced, but the OP might have stated that the video was pro-gay BEFORE they posted it! Wow!

oh please, you act like you just had to sit through two girls one cup. I guess you can't help being as narrow minded as your parents/family, but surely you're old enough to realize that such a thing as gay people exist and unsurprisingly they don't like to be bullied, having their life threatened, being treated like crap, etc. Go outside one day, learn a new point of view.

You're not good at reading sarcasm, arent you?

Seriously moderators: can we please lock this thread already? I know that it's all nice and good to talk about homosexuals and bullying but even that in addition to politics and autism (heck I can talk about the the latter all day) is best left for the offtopic section.

Hard to trace where Disney was even last part of this discussion.

[Duckburger]

That wasn't sarcasm.

[The_Iceflash]

Seriously moderators: can we please lock this thread already? I know that it's all nice and good to talk about homosexuals and bullying but even that in addition to politics and autism (heck I can talk about the the latter all day) is best left for the offtopic section.

Hard to trace where Disney was even last part of this discussion.

I agree. The Disney Discussion isn't really the right place for discussion on these topics. Seeing as personal attacks are coming out and people are being obnoxiously arrogant toward each other I think it would be best if this thread was locked.

Discussion about the film itself is one thing. Discussion about belief systems, bigotry, etc is not really what this thread was about.