The news has been unavoidable in our city these last several days. An eleven year-old boy, autistic, neuro-diverse and non-verbal, went missing. It seemed like the whole city got involved, including the Province allowing an Amber notification even though no suspected foul play. “Keep Hoping” was front page of Calgary Sun on July 21, and finally, ten days later Parker’s body was found. Now we read, “Hug Your Kids” and “Tough Time” in the latest two issues[i] after the child was found in a drainage culvert. It is a tragedy which softened the headlines and relegated usual frontlines to page 4 or later.[ii] I’m wondering if it has also softened our heartstrings.
I am only one
citizen in this local population, but here is a little reflection on what gets
attention. In addition to reallocation of newspaper front pages, I was
fascinated by the absence of Parker’s parents’ names even as they were
referenced and even quoted. It may be their wishes or a media constraint, but
my heart missed the names of the devastated parents. Similarly and kind of
confusingly, the sympathizing tears of our police chief were easily included
along with samples and pictures of thousands in this city participating in the
hunt, details not much talked about. This may be professional decorum, but it
does not stop my thinker from going on a bit. So, what follows here is not more
info, and certainly not critique of what was provided on this occasion in our
city. I am still the curious one (nesheah, as my parents said) who sometimes
wanders beyond the comfort zone!
I wonder about this along with some previous wondering. In my previous blog I wondered about the authorship of a book I had been reading; [iii] was it Artificial Intelligence or a real live author? I voted AI, for some pointy reasons, i.e. kind of evaluating the book, like not much of a plot, mainly logics alongside a generalized appeal to love and sensitivity for the good of us all. That post yielded responses from those who either like or do not like my theological perspective on many things, probably expecting that again. Friends like this are a gift indeed, and I appreciate responses of any vantage. Now I realize I am still the one who needs to own the way I posted it. No responses to my opinion of who wrote the book! Waiting to see if the ascribed author may yet respond; hope I did not offend him or Chatbot or whoever!
On this occasion of the missing boy, I find myself thinking (curious) about autism. Apart from scientific and medical studies that say it is an increasing phenomenon at this time (1 in 38 eight-year olds on Autism Spectrum Disorder). There are many articles to be read about how to understand and live with this demographic change (check your Google). Into these latest statistics I wonder about cause, and my theory is that it has something to do with the normalcy of individualism which more and more seems to show up as isolationism. For example, conversations around most tables give way to innumerable fact-checks often leading to cellphone pictures circulating to illustrate whatever. It’s us human beings young, middle-aged, and even the elderly, engaged primarily with the cell phone. It’s everywhere, everybody in the mall or walking down a sidewalk with that slightly stooped head position looking down at something in the right hand! Eye contact is a rarity, an occasional treat, and a smile or hello is a special gift. This is also the reason for urban dogs; I have noted (yes in a previous blog) that saying hello to a pooch is a shortcut to saying hello to the human. I might posit that persons on the autism spectrum may want to become dog walkers, but I know the job market id not highest priority for many on the spectrum. This, however, is only the perspective of me, apparently a neurotypical, and not necessarily supported by recent scientific studies!
Back to my
speculation about the AI author. Seems to me that cell phone addiction, a
contributor to autism, is also what brings in the ready acceptance (relying?)
on AI editors. Apparently, today’s politicians, ever looking for smooth
convincing speeches, are also relying on the extra helper. That temptation is
beginning to look me in the face while writing also; offers to help
me write! The nerve! I turn it down, still hoping that people won’t mind me
“saying it as I sees it.”
This could
now become a rambling (also self-absorbed) piece. I shall cease and desist, not
with my usual peaceable pastoral biblical summary statement, 😇 but with these perhaps farfetched but hopefully soft-hearted thoughts on something I know very little about.
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