TV Really Might Cause Autism

Alien54 writes "Cornell University researchers are reporting what appears to be a statistically significant relationship between autism rates and television watching by children under the age of 3. The researchers studied autism incidence in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington state. They found that as cable television became common in California and Pennsylvania beginning around 1980, childhood autism rose more in the counties that had cable than in the counties that did not. They further found that in all the Western states, the more time toddlers spent in front of the television, the more likely they were to exhibit symptoms of autism disorders. The Cornell study represents a potential bombshell in the autism debate."

OMG! BAN TV!

[NalosLayor]

It's for the children! Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children! FORGET IT! Ban electricity! For the children! For the children!

I wondered why I had trouble focusing...

[The Great Pretender]

oh that's A.D.D., what was this post about?

Re:OMG! BAN TV!

[Anonymous Coward]

You dolt! The answer is obviously to ban children...

Argh.

[tkittel]

Damn, I read that as "TV Really Might Cause Atheism".

How disappointing!

the page quote

[krajo]

I love how the quote at the bottom of the page is:

"Toddlers are the stormtroopers of the Lord of Entropy."

I guess not anymore, huh?

All tubes

[Anonymous Coward]

All tubes causes autism, so internet as well...
Dunno about TFTs

Re:What about the internet

[mjwx]

What about internet use, with sites such as youtube, will that cause autism as well?

Correlation does not equal causation. Just because Myspace and Youtube are populated by retards does not mean they are the cause of retardation.

Re:Argh.

[mjwx]

"TV may cause Apathy"

I don't really care that much about it.

Re:What about the internet

[kahei]

Other way around. Being dysfunctional in the first place causes increased MySpace and YouTube use.

And, uh, I guess it also causes Slashdot posts such as this one.

Re:Say it with me...

[EraserMouseMan]

To help people understand this better, I think we should run a TV special about correlation and causation.

Re:OMG! BAN TV!

[peterarm]

don't substitute, merge: Slashdautism

are u sure is TV only??

[jonytk]

what the hell is TV ?? I only wach internet series 16 hours a day!!!

Re:OMG! BAN TV!

[indifferent children]

When is "Show-me-your-tits" on?

In Europe, it's on every night. They name it different things in different countries. Try "Colpo Grosso" in Italy, "Tutti Frutti" in Germany, etc.

In America, it's only on for about two seconds, during a "football" game, to commemorate hundreds of hours of pending Congressional outrage.

Re:OMG! BAN TV!

[mgabrys_sf]

WAIT WAIT wait wait wait - hold it hold it hold it - hold EVERYTHING - EXCUSE me?

Did you say "More sex"?

Oh shit - don't you DARE let that one get out into the general public - the empire might collapse!

Re:Argh.

[kalirion]

No, I'm pretty sure it's "Reality Might Cause Atheism"

Re:OMG! BAN TV!

[LarsWestergren]

"Please resist the urge to talk to love ones, or have sex, as years of TV radiation has made your genitals withered and useless".
Chief Wiggum: *lifts blanket and looks* "Well I'll be damned!"

Re:OMG! BAN TV!

[pizzaman100]

Basically, there are correlations, relationships, and patterns EVERYWHERE. However, it's very rare that someone knows exactly WHY something is happening.

Unless you're an attorney specializing in tort law. Then you know exactly why. And the answer is whoever has the deepest pockets. Now how long until the first class action lawsuit is filed against the cable companies? :)

Re:Argh.

[Trailer Trash]

Damn, I read that as "TV Really Might Cause Atheism".

As a Christian myself, let me assure you that tv preachers definitely have that effect on me.