Banner
That Shouldn't Happen: The Just World Fallacy and Autism

Everyday, we hear about tragedies, some that hit too close to home for comfort, and our reactions...

Heaviness: Euthanasia For Expediency

It's all over the internet now, the story of the twin brothers in Belgium who were deaf and going...

What's the Harm: When Reality and Wishful Thinking Clash

I'm digging around for posts people have written on what to say/what not to say to autistic people...

Facilitated Communication: Same As It Ever Was (Same As It Ever Was)

In the past couple years, I’ve written over a dozen articles examining facilitated communication...

User picture.
picture for Robert H Olleypicture for Helen Barrattpicture for Gerhard Adampicture for Mark Bermanpicture for Vikki Cvichieepicture for David Andrews
Kim WomblesRSS Feed of this column.

Instructor of English and psychology and mother to three on the autism spectrum.

Writer of the site countering.us (where most of these articles will have first appeared) and co-administrator

... Read More »

 Blogroll
A Review Of Offit And Moser's Vaccines And Your Child & Thoughts On Reducing Parental Fears

A Review Of Offit And Moser's Vaccines And Your Child & Thoughts On Reducing Parental Fears

Jun 10 2011 | comment(s)

Before getting to the review, I thought I'd share some of the lighter side of what comes from actively engaging people who think vaccines are responsible for all of today's ills. 

You know you've spent too much time on the internet when you dream that  Seth Mnookinborg (fascinating combination, no idea why, except for anti-vaccine folks linking all of the science-based writers together in various combinations that have me as a minion, an accolyte, or even Orac-in-a-skirt) is advising you on something related to blogging about vaccines.
Tweets about Moms and Pie: Don't Be a Martyr! Problem Solve!

Tweets about Moms and Pie: Don't Be a Martyr! Problem Solve!

Jun 09 2011 | comment(s)

I would show you pieces of pie, but no pie has stayed around long enough in this house to snap a picture of it. I tell you what  I'll do for my readers: when I'm shopping today, I'll buy some. Just for you. I can make this sacrifice since you've come to expect photos of stuff. I'll add them in. Ain't that sweet of me?

Why pie? What makes me bring up pie? You want some, don't you?

I was looking at twitter and a tweet caught my eye:
An Interview With Simon Baron-Cohen On Zero-Empathy, Autism, And Accountability

An Interview With Simon Baron-Cohen On Zero-Empathy, Autism, And Accountability

Jun 04 2011 | comment(s)

Simon Baron-Cohen "sat down with me" this week via email and graciously took the time to answer my questions stemming from my review of  his new book, The Science of Evil, that appeared on my blogs last week. What follows is a response that is every bit as thorough as my original review; between the two (and I recommend you read both as a complete piece), there's 15 single spaced pages of material. I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity and I think readers will, too. There's even dueling databases, which I absolutely loved, below!


My questions are in italics; SBC's in regular font.
The Reinforcements That Community Brings: Anti-Vaccine Narratives Provide More Drama

The Reinforcements That Community Brings: Anti-Vaccine Narratives Provide More Drama

May 31 2011 | comment(s)

Most of us seek out like-minded individuals who will reinforce our worldview. As I remind my students, we hold no beliefs we think are incorrect. After all, if we thought we were wrong, we wouldn't believe it. There's a reason that it can be hard for us to agree to disagree or live and let live, too. If I am certain I am right, and you disagree with me, then you must be wrong. 

The Big Bang Theory, Neurodiversity and the Promotion of Science as Something Worthy of Attention

The Big Bang Theory, Neurodiversity and the Promotion of Science as Something Worthy of Attention

May 30 2011 | comment(s)

The Big Bang Theory is a great show for promoting both science and acceptance. It's a favorite show in our household, and all three of my children, who are at various spots on the autism spectrum, find something appealing in the show, see some aspect of themselves in the quirky social misfits. My daughters' favorite, though, is Sheldon. Lily in particular adores Sheldon and wants to be like him. She wants to understand his job, what it means to be a theoretical physicist, and how to think like he does. 
A New Theory On Human Cruelty By Simon Baron-Cohen

A New Theory On Human Cruelty By Simon Baron-Cohen

May 27 2011 | comment(s)

Simon Baron-Cohen is best known for his research into autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and his theories on the origins of ASDs, from a failure of theory of mind, to fetal testosterone levels, to the latest formulation of a low empathizing/high systemizing theory. In his newest work, The Science of Evil: On Empathy and The Origins of Cruelty, Baron-Cohen moves beyond his decades long work in autism to look at empathy in general and what a deficit of empathy in people can lead to. The result is a slim volume aspiring to greater things.