Can't read this without thinking of this - doesn't get more applicable:
http://www.dailymotion.com/vid...
07:26 for the direct reference, but the whole episode was a truly fantastic piece of comedy...
In years gone by, this would have been more accurately described as severe mental retardation. Unfortunately, society has decided to abandon the term "retarded" due to perceived stigma. I feel this is unfortunate, as the term is actually quite accurate. Any term can, and in fact historically has been, co-opted to become a pejorative describing people who don't actually fall under the classification of some disability.
Many parents, faced with having a child with a severe mental deficiency, leap to "autism" as a way of internally mitigating the greater negative internal emotions that would follow a diagnosis of mental retardation. Medical professionals accommodate this psychological need of the parents, or buy into the classification themselves due to modern conditioning.
I think that as time goes on, and more knowledge is gained, diagnoses of "autism" or "Asperger's" will eventually be more limited. A huge portion currently diagnosed will be seen as just being socially awkward as youth. Anecdotally, many children in my school environment in the 70's and 80's would today be characterized as being "on the scale". They were shy, didn't make friends, and didn't know how to "get into a group". Due to the demographic nature of my town (few leave), I can say that I cannot think of one of those people who would consider themselves to be "on the scale". At different times in their lives, they got over most of their shyness, and they participate very effectively in local businesses, charity organizations, and social clubs. They may not be boisterous, but they carry on conversations and speak up when they have something to say.
The ones who have a true mental disability will be classified in ways that reflect the actual reason for their deficits. This will increase our ability to mitigate the risks of children being born with or developing a disability. It will also give us a better chance at treating such people. Sweeping everyone under one grand carpet will do less to address the individual issues of each person.
Google is one of the worst offenders, as they purport to be "non-intrusive", yet happily accept ads from "companies" that deceive people into believing that they are offering genuine support for any number of companies. Search for Dell Support, HP Support, Gateway Support, etc. (which the elderly and less savvy tend to do) and you will be given a link called "Dell Support" or similar which has a toll free number posted next to it.
Typical "support" scam follows, including false claims of infection, need for optimization software, and of course a nice fat $375 support agreement.
Searching for Apple support no longer seems to result in these ads, by the way. I'm not sure if Apple threatened legal action or if enough people complained. For those who think it is just by chance, and they have no knowledge of the scams, take a look at the Chrome store. For years, when searching for Adblock Plus, Google allowed phony apps called Adblock Plus to appear in the list above the real extension. Now, they seem to have finally banned the name, but are allowing such nonsense as "Addblock Plus", again posted above "adblock plus", the extension (apps show first)
Your snippet is too short to give context. Romans 1:18-32 should be followed by Romans 2 for context. It was a letter, and meant to be read in its entirety.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 2:
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
For there is no respect of persons with God.
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
"Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit!" -- Looney Tunes, "What's Opera Doc?" (1957, Chuck Jones)
