[mraines]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Concern, accommodation and acceptance of someone's quirks, disability or craziness, ends at the edges of my personal space. All this talk of him being fairly inconspicuous and innocuous, is nonsense.

The guy is a menace and if he can't control himself and behave in a civilized manner, he should be tossed out of the Squares.

So sorry for you that you have no tolerance for those that are different from you. He harms no one.

[mraines]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Yes, quality of the bands is lacking. I've been listening to the same bands for 20+ years,
with some playing the same songs for that long of a time period. Only go there when we have guests. Even they are starting to recognize the same ol' same ol'. I am not a musician and appreciate what they bring to the stage night after night, but please learn new songs to change it up a bit.

There are new bands and some are quite good. Maybe you should check out some of the newer ones.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Concern, accommodation and acceptance of someone's quirks, disability or craziness, ends at the edges of my personal space. All this talk of him being fairly inconspicuous and innocuous, is nonsense.

The guy is a menace and if he can't control himself and behave in a civilized manner, he should be tossed out of the Squares.

You do know autism is a verified medical condition, don't you? Their brains dysfunction and they are unable to control behavioral impulses. Acting out and shrieking are common with people suffering from autism. Hopefully, if you become ill with a terrible disease, others will treat you with the respect and dignity you deserve. (As we all know, our days are coming. Not many of us are going to be lucky enough to die peacefully in our sleep)

[Gpsma]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

You do know autism is a verified medical condition, don't you? Their brains misfunction and they are unable to control behavioral impulses. Acting out and shrieking are common with people suffering from autism. Hopefully, if you become ill with a terrible disease, others will treat you with the respect and dignity you deserve. (As we all know, our days are coming. Not many of us are going to be lucky enough to die peacefully in our sleep)

But what if his screaming and shreiking get my dog upset?

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

But what if his screaming and shreiking get my dog upset?

Too funny. The bigger question should be why are dogs (and their self-entitled owners) allowed in the squares? Not some unfortunate guy who suffers from a severe medical condition.

But then again, I would pay to see a dog dancing with a baton. (Mark probably would like it too!)

Sidenote: If you can't stand to be around others suffering from mental illnesses or those who want to spend the last of their days doing what makes them happy, then you probably should not be living in the world's largest 55+ community. Just saying...

[I'm Popeye!]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Sidenote: If you can't stand to be around others suffering from mental illnesses or those who want to spend the last of their days doing what makes them happy, then you probably should not be living in the world's largest 55+ community. Just saying...

Shouldn't that be the other way around? A person with a mental illness should be in a mental hospital being taken care of, not disrupting others in a 55+ community... Just saying...

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Too funny. The bigger question should be why are dogs (and their self-entitled owners) allowed in the squares? Not some unfortunate guy who suffers from a severe medical condition.

But then again, I would pay to see a dog dancing with a baton. (Mark probably would like it too!)

Sidenote: If you can't stand to be around others suffering from mental illnesses or those who want to spend the last of their days doing what makes them happy, then you probably should not be living in a 55+ community. Just saying..

There's a reason that there aren't many Network Newscasters, with Asperger's Syndrome.

There's a reason Marlee Matlin hasn't had as successful career as Meryl Streep and it's not for lacking of acting talent.

We're all reasonably entitled to be what we want or what we are, until it interferes with someone else's right to pursue happiness. The fact that he may or may not have a medical condition may be a reason for his behavior, but it's not an excuse. Effected individuals or society in general, has no obligation to alter their behavior or compromise their preferences, to accommodate the aberrant behavior of others.

It's sort of like getting accidentally getting hit with a baseball bat. It may be an accident, but it hurts just the same. If the person wielding the baseball bat can't control themselves, the bat has to be taken away from him/her.

[manaboutown]

Maybe signs should be put up in the squares reading "No Smoking, No Spitting, No Shrieking, No Snarling

It really is a matter of being considerate of others. If an autistic individual knows that when he is exposed to extreme sensory stimulation by loud music, flashing lights and the like that he waves his arms, shrieks, jumps up and down or whatever, he should recognize or be informed that his behavior is disruptive and unacceptable, that it negatively affects the rights of others to enjoy the performance and that if he cannot conduct (pardon the pun) himself properly he should not attend the show.

[margaretmattson]

I see everyone's point that his behavior affects those surrounding him. But, my heart goes out to him. He is trying to live as good a life as he can. He is not that big of an annoyance; compassion is all that is needed. Like others have said, if you talk to him, he is an extremely nice and likable guy.

I am pretty certain some of you would be on my "Dont Call" list if I needed medical attention. My wish for you is that others will treat you better when your time comes. No one deserves to be tossed aside like yesterday's trash.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by I'm Popeye!

Shouldn't that be the other way around? A person with a mental illness should be in a mental hospital being taken care of, not disrupting others in a 55+ community... Just saying...

I Was referring to the odds of meeting a person with a mental condition in the world's largest 55+ community. One shouldn't be surprised or annoyed when they find one. Statistically going to happen, over and over. Just like ambulance sirens, broken bones, loss of control of motor vehicles, etc. etc. We are living in the largest population of elderly humans. Deal with the medical issues that come with it. Just saying....

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Maybe signs should be put up in the squares reading "No Smoking, No Spitting, No Shrieking, No Snarling

It really is a matter of being considerate of others. If an autistic individual knows that when he is exposed to extreme sensory stimulation by loud music, flashing lights and the like that he waves his arms, shrieks, jumps up and down or whatever, he should recognize or be informed that his behavior is disruptive and unacceptable, that it negatively affects the rights of others to enjoy the performance and that if he cannot conduct (pardon the pun) himself properly he should not attend the show.

What sign do you want posted when you become inflicted with something that naturally comes with aging/disease? Pretty sure many people on this forum are not going to want you in the squares, either. Hope you have medical insurance that covers being institutionalized.

Or, maybe, if your lucky, someone will take the signs down because they realize the absurdity. We are ALL going to age and a good number are going to have a mental disease. Don't place nails in your own coffin!

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Concern, accommodation and acceptance of someone's quirks, disability or craziness, ends at the edges of my personal space. All this talk of him being fairly inconspicuous and innocuous, is nonsense.

The guy is a menace and if he can't control himself and behave in a civilized manner, he should be tossed out of the Squares.

A Menace? I think that is a bit over stating it. But, anything or anyone unable to control their behavior has the potential to pose a danger to themselves and others without meaning to.

[I'm Popeye!]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

I Was referring to the odds of meeting a person with a mental condition in the world's largest 55+ community. Just saying....

Now you're changing your words around, you did NOT say anything like that in your post. Just Saying...

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

First of all - Mark doesn't have a "severe" medical or mental condition. I don't know if he's autistic or not, I just know he's on the spectrum somewhere, and he's high functioning.

Second - his shrieks are not random. He does it to the beat of the music at certain intervals, and only during certain songs, in certain spots of the songs. Usually it's not a shriek, it's a count: "THREE TWO ONE!".

Third - He is intelligent, able to hold his own in a conversation, waxes poetic on occasion, is a spiritual person, gentle and seems to be incapable of expressing anger toward anyone. I haven't tested that but I've watched a few people play the passive-aggressive "Oh look Marge, it's THAT GUY AGAIN" game in close proximity to him and he just accepts it with a gracious smile. There are some people here who would take those quips as challenges and become confrontational about it but he never takes the bait, so far as I've experienced.

Fourth - he's not inconspicuous, I don't know why BrianL99 came up with that claim that anyone here was saying he is inconspicuous. He's clearly conspicuous - he's a tall pale bald white guy wearing a long-sleeved Henley shirt, who smells like a Deadhead, sweating like a dyslexic on Countdown, wielding a conductor's baton and poking it up into the sky or spinning and dancing around the dance area.

He's only not innocuous to people who are easily offended by anyone who isn't perfect.

[Tommyc6]

When Mark is not there we miss him and pray he and his mom are ok.