Does it bother anyone else that Amtrak's tracking map shows a #3 at 0 mph pointing north in Albuquerque at 5:30 am? Dixieland Software (Status Map) showed 3(11) being on time to Gallup before going into service disruption.
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I guess this must mean I'm autistic, too. I spend altogether too much time on that site.
(But you're right, autism isn't an appropriate subject for humor.)
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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As of a few moments ago, Train Status reports Service Disruption for #3 (11), Chief; however other 3-4's presently en route report 'more or less on time'. This would suggest that there are equipment related issues (possibly a grade X-ing incident).
It is too early for there to be any report regarding #4 (13) for which the inbound equipment from #3 (11) would normally same-day protect. On the other hand, there may be a 'rob Peter to pay Paul' charade now playing at LA.
Now regarding The Onion material linked by Mr. Twin Star, that material is quite inappropriate and in poor taste. The autism disorder has become far more recognized than even fifty years ago, when clinicians likely were hearing of the work Dr. Asperger was doing regarding the scale of autistic disorders, but such only found its way into practice during the 1990's.
Any widely circulated publications such as the work 'Look Me In The Eye' (something very difficult for an autistic person to do) have shown there is an attraction to 'big things that move' - and that surely means trains. All the 'stats' to which 'foamers' recite, is part of the autistic spectrum that Dr. Asperger addressed, and autistic people are simply more comfortable working with numbers than ideas. After all, numbers do not require interpersonal reaction.
Quite a number of railfans have a measurement on the Asperger scale, and I think The Onion, in its usual tasteless way of presenting material (autistic people do not generally have much of a sense of humor), simply 'did it again'.
Vincent206 Member # 15447
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A friend of mine has a 10 year old autistic grandson who loves to watch trains and likely knows more about Amtrak schedules than anyone at this forum. They often spend afternoons together at Carkeek Park in Seattle waiting for the Empire Builder and Sounder trains to pass.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Local TV station reports that there was a BNSF freight derailment slightly to the West of Albuquerque:
Of interest, the TV reporter attibutes the derailment to high wind. The derailed cars were reported to be MTY.
chrisg Member # 2488
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That wasn't the derailment that delayed Train 3. That one was at Lupton and was 50 coal cars. Train 3 was turned at Defiance and headed back to ABQ.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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Thanks, Chris. That would explain why last night's #3 left Gallup on time and ended up pointed the wrong way in ABQ by morning. That would also be why 4(12) spent a long time in Winslow this morning and is now east of Gallup running 84 mph about 6-7 hours late.
Does this mean we might have 3 Southwest Chiefs in ABQ at about the same time [3(11), 3(12) and 4(12)]? It will be interesting how they sort this out.
KacyB Member # 52680
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What is disconcerting is not why the onion would publish this story, but why this little boys family would want it published in this way.
The story, in itself, is not wrong or incorrect in any way. My son, I can assure you, spends more time than I care to mention checking such facts... It's the fact that its written in such a way that this talent (and it IS a talent) is seen as some sort of character flaw.
As the mother of an autistic child, I know that my son's talents are wonderful and amazing. I dislike any article which seeks to belittle his talents to suck up to a wider audience.
Every time my son does not speak, I am reminded of this ''empty vessels make most noise''
Kacy x
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Kacy, the story is not true at all. There is no such little boy and no such family. The story is a figment of the imagination of the Onion, a satirical publication that is often very funny and is often mistaken for genuine. Sadly, the Onion sometimes finds humor in situations that are not funny at all. This story is one of them.
KacyB Member # 52680
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I didn't know that (obviously!)
How very strange! :-)
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I think Ms. Karen has addressed what is so faulty about publications such as The Onion, which apparently was founded during 1988, and which be assured the only contact I have had with such is when someone links to an article at a discussion site.
True, that site is fiction, but it clearly drew in this case upon traits that anyone, or their families, with any measure of autistic disorders (Asperger scale) would find tasteless and offensive. There are certainly two members of this site, namely Ms. Karen and myself, that hold those views.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Henry -- I don't know much about the Onion, but why do you think that story is not true? I don't really find it "offensive" -- it is just an article by a concerned parent stating the problems that this family may have because of their son's autism. Maybe I am missing something.........
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Kacy, I agree with you and others on here that autism is not a suitable subject for satirical humor. In trying to explain The Onion, however, you need to think Monty Python from your country making fun of silly walks, twits of the year, and chartered accountancy. The only trouble is that The Onion doesn't do it nearly as well and is often way over the "appropriateness" line.
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