[sandyblanquera@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

No one should be forced to leave because another person is disruptive.

There have been a number of threads about him. Seems his screaming goes above just being enthusiastic about the music.

A number of threads? Who says only teenagers participate in cyber bullying? I’m so embarrassed for all of you who can’t get over your feelings without taking a man down anonymously online. The fact he still leaves his home and goes to the square after all the negative slander is the most amazing thing about this post. Grow up people!

[msilagy]

God Bless Mark.

[mikeycereal]

Originally Posted by sandyblanquera@gmail.com

A number of threads? Who says only teenagers participate in cyber bullying? I’m so embarrassed for all of you who can’t get over your feelings without taking a man down anonymously online. The fact he still leaves his home and hides to the square after all the negative slander is the most amazing thing about this post. Grow up people!

[sandyblanquera@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

screaming

adjective: screaming
1.
giving a long, loud, piercing cry or cries.
"a harassed parent with a screaming child"

screaming definition - Google Search


"screwball noun [C] (PERSON)


mainly US informal
a person who behaves in a strange and funny way"

SCREWBALL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

Screaming screwball is not misdescriptive of this individual but apt.

The squares are indeed "open to the public" and in that sense are a "public place".

Most Villagers are aware the landscaping rights of owners are subject to restrictive covenants.

You are getting good at name calling. The definitions really help make your point in case just calling him names was not enough.

[sandyblanquera@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

A disturbance of any kind and for any reason is not universally accepted or appreciated. What if he was similarly demonstrative at the Sharon for a performance of Swan Lake. He screams, the swan hits the floor with a broken ankle. It could be a scream at the square that causes a new visitor to lose their balance, trip and end up with a broken hip.

Ya but that didn’t happen so we can’t discuss what ifs. That’s just trying to turn the situation something it isn’t because of personal fear and discomfort.

[sandyblanquera@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

1. His name is Mark.
2. He is on the autism spectrum as high functioning.
3. He is caretaker for his mom.
4. He doesn't have a cart. He walks from one of the villa areas nearby.
5. His yelling lasts around 20 minutes in total, out of the 4-hour performance.
6. Usually it's a beat count "One Two Three Four!" and then he dances around for awhile before his next one. Sometimes he gets so into the music he shouts again inbetween his counts.
7. He gives amazing hugs and smells of patchouli.
8. He carries a backpack with him, filled mostly with water in a jug from which he hydrates often. This is good, because he sweats a LOT while dancing around the square like that.
9. Whenever I see him out and about during the day, I always stop to say hello and get one of his hugs. He - always thanks me for taking a moment to stop and communicate with him, and has mentioned that many people are afraid of him. This makes him very sad, because he is who he is. Just like people with tourettes' syndrome have ticks and twitches and sometimes blurt out inappropriate words, he has that reaction when he's really into music. He gets lost in the sounds, and it makes him feel alive and energized, and shouting is how he expresses it.
10. He also sometimes goes on "twirling" binges, where he'll actually twirl even while he's walking to the square from his mom's house. This is a self-soothing activity for some people with autism. What's amazing is he never gets dizzy doing it and can maintain a twirl for many minutes without stopping.
11. If you don't like noise, don't go to the square and be sure to pad your home with plenty of soundproofing.

You are my new favorite person! Thanks for standing up for the voiceless and defenseless! Xoxo

[sandyblanquera@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

“And most of the people also watching do not have a problem with his yelling”. Most people are sheeple and will not say anything, no matter what is happening.

Ya they won’t say anything publicly, but they will under the invisible cloak of anonymous posting.

[sandyblanquera@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

They are fearful of the PC police.

They are fearful of the PC police? How do you know this? What data (besides your opinion, which isn’t data) do you have to back up this claim?

[sandyblanquera@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

Totally avoided the question. Nice side step.
But, back to my question. Mark has a "condition" that he can't control. He acts out in certain ways that bring him unwanted attention. He is (we assume) aware that the stimuli of the sights and sounds at the music venues trigger his actions that elicit the looks and comments that make him unhappy. Knowing all this, one wonders why he continues to choose to expose himself to stimuli that will trigger his episodes and, ultimately, make him unhappy? Is it like a drug that gives you a temporary high that you know is ultimately let you down? I know that after my third trip to emergency one hockey season, the doctor suggested I might want to quit hockey and take up a less painful game, like checkers. When I said, "or chess",she remarked that after three trips to emergency it was obvious I wasn't smart enough for chess.
So, why the need to go to a place where he doesn't want the looks or comments?

Have you seen the complete joy that fills him? His whole self responds to the stimuli. He obviously gets something out of it. He’s smarter than all of us because he has had a lifetime of dealing with people who judge and stare, yet somehow he has learned to still get out and enjoy the square fully. He is the one who should be on here complaining about all the rude people, but there he stands conducting, dancing and being.

[Marmaduke]

Really?

You're a very special advocate. You won't like my response either.

Think about it! Under ADA, current college professors now have to deal with Asperger's in their classrooms.

It's something I would find extremely disturbing when trying to enjoy an evening out, let alone while teaching a college level subject during a semester of 16 weeks.
Disruptions of barking and yelling throughout the fifty minute class session X 3 days a week, over the 16 weeks is the way a colleague described it.

Students ponder their fate in the new mainstream classroom where their work is 'expected' to be complete, but the Asperger's student has an 'advocate' to 'challenge' the professor all along the way.

Put into perspective- A professor friend had a son who was adopted. He has many abilities and he had Asperger's. The family realizes the need to adapt to the very specific needs of their son to enable him to live and enjoy life.

This distinguished professor started that she would never enroll her son in a college level class even though he was protected under ADA.

Too bad Mark doesn't have an advocate like that.

Is Mark the ONLY person with Aspergers in TV? Or are their advocates fully committed, like my dedicated and knowledgeable friend and her family?

[Santiagogirl]

There are a several offbeat 'regulars' who enjoy Spanish Springs Square. I consider that part of its charm. Mark seems to get carried away at times, but when he has spoken to us he has invariably been kind & polite. I am more annoyed by people allowing their small children to run around underfoot where adults are dancing - however, I don't rant about them. It's a public place. Live and let live.

[sajoe]

Whatever most people want to do about Mark I would also like to see be done to all the people who arrive at the squares in small groups that want to talk to each other over the music. Wouldn't it be more pleasant r to go to any of the parks and talk there instead of sitting behind me?

[happehart]

The people who mention Mark's golf cart are not being honest. He doesn't have a golf cart & lives within walking distance of the square. I understand that some people are annoyed by his actions but when one mis-states factual information that makes me question the entire entry.

[kendi]

Originally Posted by roob1

After he leaves the square, the degree of visual and auditory stimulation is greatly reduced. Possibly that is why his behavior changes.

Concluding he can turn it on and off at will is a naive conclusion.

Thank you roob. The intolerance and disrespect shown through some of these comments is very sad. People choose to criticize rather than choosing to enjoy seeing another having fun. There is certainly a lot public ignorance of the Spectrum disorders.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by sandyblanquera@gmail.com

Wel, toot toot! Your horn is working!

ha ha hey I was on your side I brought up that it wasn’t the weed making him do that , but I should have also added something about his disability , , but please excuse my toot I get little tight when people start demonizing weed , it’s far better for you then many other vices , FYI I never smoked cigarettes