Is this off topic enough?

Abecrazy · #1 05-20-2006, 07:50 PM

I wanted to let you know that I joined this forum because my son joined the forum.

He has been playing this game since he was 5. It is the first game he ever played and will probably always be his favorite. By definition he is a gamer. He lives and breaths for video games especially Oddworld. He has a few friends but not many because as a child he was not able to play with other kids due to early birth and low immune system. As a result he can relate better to adults making childish concepts very unappealing to him.

You see, he has a disability. He is Dyslexic. Here are the characteristics of a person who has dyslexia.

*Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.

*Labeled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."

*High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.

*Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.

*Often is spatially talented; engineers, architects,
designers, artists and craftspeople, mathematicians,
physicists, physicians (esp. orthopads, surgeons), dentists. *maybe you can add game programmer there too...*

*Spells phonetically and inconsistently.

My son is The Exoddus.

Now before all you mods get your "undies" in a bunch I just want to say that I am not here to start problems. Hell, I'm not even here to ask you to feel bad or lift the ban on him. I am writing this because I thought a few of you need to know that...

1. He literally couldn't help it.
2. He was trying really hard.
3. He was very excited to find people all over the world with the same passion for Abe's Oddworld that he had.
4. After reading some of your responses to his posts I thought a couple of you could use some education on what it is to be dyslexic. (You know who you are).

I know some of you won't give a sh*t and that's ok. Most of you are at an age where I would expect that. I get it, Ok? He is just a kid and does not understand.

Thank you for crushing the spirits of a boy who only wanted to connect with other people over something that brings him so much joy. Thank you for adding one more bruise to his already low self esteem. I hope those of you who liked him will keep in contact with him. Those of you who didn't...well, it's your loss. He's a really cool kid.

Thank you for your time.

Abecrazy

P.S. Furthermore I'd just like to add that we do not have Microsoft Word or any other word processor.

Seargentbig · #2 05-20-2006, 08:39 PM

Far out...
The thought had occoured to me... I wish now that I had said so.
I am deeply sorry for having made fun of his spelling. I imagine that a lot of people here will now feel the same way.
I formally appologise to you and to him for being so narrow minded.

AquaticAmbi · #3 05-20-2006, 08:41 PM

Exoddus was actually unbanned because some felt sympathy if this is all true.

You'll have to forgive some of our skepticism as we've had a lot of suspicious accounts and such recently. Not to go into any detail, but one joke account actually involved a made-up member with a mental disability/disorder. Therefore, it's easy to suspect a REAL member joining with a problem that inhibits good posting.

All I have to say is irony's a bitch if these two accounts aren't jokes. I still find this all a little strange.

Abecrazy · #4 05-20-2006, 08:57 PM

Being the age I am I certainly understand that there are some strange cookies out there...why do you think I joined the forum when my son did? I keep a watchful eye on what he does and it broke my heart to see what was going on here.

Thank you for understanding. If you have doubt that he and I are real people and not just messing with you all...here is a picture of he and I together. Check the picture in my profile against the one here.

skillya_glowi · #5 05-20-2006, 09:14 PM

I think we all owe you and the Exoddus an apoology. I'll say there are lots of mistakes the members of this forum made (including myself), and there is no doubt that now we are all in deep regret. Actually, plenty of people felt sympathy towards the Exoddus, but, unfortunately, the ones that didn't stood out the most. I think I speak for everyone in this forum...we're sorry.

***Xavier*** · #6 05-20-2006, 11:17 PM

I realy wish to appology. I didn't want to be an ass to someone who allready has to cope with problems like that in his life

but you have to understand we have many problems with people that use bad spelling just because they don't care, and that's against our rules.

If he had told us directly he was Dyslexic he wouldn't even had a ban at all.

oddveteran93 · #7 05-21-2006, 03:10 AM

If I remember it right, he did say he couldn't help misspelling Xav. Anyway, I apologise if I ever made fun of The exoddus. I normally don't "flame" or anything. I really think this forum should be a bit more tolerant of others.

Slig_Cake · #8 05-21-2006, 03:53 AM

:

If he had told us directly he was Dyslexic he wouldn't even had a ban at all.

When you have a disability you understand what 'pride' is about.

Glukinator · #9 05-21-2006, 06:15 AM

Actualy, the exoddus had allot in comen with me. We are almost the same age, And we both got our first Oddworld game when 5. And to tell the truth, I can't spell that great either. But didn't he just join a new forum called Oddworldmania?

Havoc · #10 05-21-2006, 06:48 AM

I'd like to make an apology as well. It's just easy to mark someone as a moron when someone has trouble with grammer, but that in no way makes it right to do so. But it would have saved a lot of hassle if he would have mentioned he was dyslectic. But at least it's taken care off now.

Havoc

Cyber-Slig · #11 05-21-2006, 06:49 AM

I don't mind his spelling, I even stood up for him once. But the problem is his spam. Replies like ''lol'' or ''ty'' or one-liners aren't doing anyone justice. If you just teach him to make longer, on-topic posts then people wouldn't mind.

***Xavier*** · #12 05-21-2006, 06:52 AM

oddveteran93, I'm sorry but any troll could get away with it...
And I understand the pride thing, I guess next time I'll handle this kind of problem differently

Abecrazy · #13 05-21-2006, 08:50 AM

If he can't spell common words how is he supposed to spell dyslexic. LOL
I will talk to him about making longer posts that are significant...and I will bring to his attention the double posting issue. I did notice that too.

Thank you so much for the suggestions and the kind words. He is at his dads for the weekend but he will be so happy when I tell him he can come here again. I think he'll be both mortified and embarrased that not only did I come to his defense but that I also posted our picture. LOL

Oh well tho. Someone had to come to his defense.

Havoc · #14 05-21-2006, 09:52 AM

And you did good. It's nice to know parents are involved with their children's online lives. Especialy in cases like this.

Bullet Magnet · #15 05-21-2006, 10:11 AM

It blows my mind that someone would slice through all the red tape of getting a forum account just to sort out a problem like this -the Exoddus'll probably flame me for this one- but you must be a very good and dedicated father.

the Exoddus · #16 05-21-2006, 10:20 AM

its ok i forgive you all. i shold have sead soumthing about it to.

~LW~

Mutual Friend · #17 05-21-2006, 10:24 AM

I call plant!!

Abecrazy · #18 05-21-2006, 10:39 AM

It blows my mind that someone would slice through all the red tape of getting a forum account just to sort out a problem like this -the Exoddus'll probably flame me for this one- but you must be a very good and dedicated father.

Uh yeah..I'm his mom. LOL

Mojo · #19 05-21-2006, 10:58 AM

Indeed, you could've seen that at the gender icon :P

skillya_glowi · #20 05-21-2006, 12:54 PM

:

didn't he just join a new forum called Oddworldmania?

Oh no...Fuzzleman's forum??? My advice: get him off there as fast as you can.

:

Indeed, you could've seen that at the gender icon :P

Not to mention the picture.

Mutual Friend · #21 05-21-2006, 02:49 PM

Why does all this smell so potently of bullshit? Or is that just me?

Slig_Cake · #22 05-21-2006, 02:54 PM

:

Why does all this smell so potently of bullshit? Or is that just me?

I think with cases like these it's better to take a naive approach rather than potentially offend anyone

Mutual Friend · #23 05-21-2006, 02:57 PM

More importantly - I've inadvertently offered the suggestion that I smell of bullshit. Go look! ^ Bad. Wording.

Abecrazy · #24 05-21-2006, 07:18 PM

:

I call plant!!

*scratches head*

Huh?

Seargentbig · #25 05-21-2006, 11:45 PM

:

More importantly - I've inadvertently offered the suggestion that I smell of bullshit. Go look! ^ Bad. Wording.

It doesn't help that your rank is "Stunk", either. Heh, rank...
More importantly, is it not better to give such people the benefit of the doubt? Because, you know, fakers such as the person mentioned before (although I don't know who that was) cause the most damage when they make us doubt the possibility that it would be true.
Yeah, that's all I have to say.

Splat · #26 05-22-2006, 12:04 AM

Well also tell The Exxodus that it's very easy to think someoneis messing us around when they post a "Hi, I'm new" thread, a "I hate you all, I'm leaving" thread and a "I change'd my mind, I'm coming back" thread all within 20 days of each other.
He can't have everybody liking him, but just cus a few get angry don't run off screaming.
And if you think everybody does hate you theresnot much point posting a goodbye thread

Ambi, that's the closest thing to saying what you did was a bad idea that could damage the forums, set membes against each other and newbies, and loose all of you a lot of respect and trust from the rest of us that any of you have said
I won't say well done just yet.

Rich · #27 05-22-2006, 01:36 AM

:

loose all of you a lot of respect and trust from the rest of us that any of you have said
I won't say well done just yet.

Just leave it alone. None of us regret it or feel guilty and we never will.

Anyway, I'm glad I've stayed out of this whole Exoddus issue. The last thing I want to do is stop a child having a good time. But in defense of Xavier and co. I would've done exactly the same, its a paranoia issue.

Dark Elite_H2 · #28 05-22-2006, 02:15 AM

I, too, along with the people in this thread, like to apologize, even though I don't think I did anything...(Exodus, if I had done something, just type it)
Yer son sounds like a cool kid, to tell yeh the truth.
He had PMed me once about Halo and about my name.
I now understand your son's condition, although, I've really never heard of it.
Sometimes, I did think your son was a bit of a spammer, and was about to jump in, but I'd get myself in trouble, 'cause...well...I have the scars to show.
But yeah, I'll be nice. (puts nice face on)

***Nate*** · #29 05-22-2006, 05:02 AM

Well, for what it's worth I hope the boy didn't get too upset by what I said to him. I did try and be as constructive as possible and perhaps I would have been less harsh if I'd known he was dyslexic. That said, I've known people with dylexia before and I've never seen a case as bad as that before.

And, I have to ask: how does anyone with a computer today not have a word processor? In any case, you can download a good, free word processor here: http://www.openoffice.org/.

But, above and beyond all that, I'd like to say that it's wonderful to see a parent so attentive to her child and what he is doing.

Mutual Friend · #30 05-22-2006, 07:37 AM

:

Mutual, get your head out and maybe things'll start smelling better

*Yawn* Hardly called for, just seemed strange no one else offered the suggestion this was fake. Grow up, tool.

Now, was THAT called for? *shrugs*

:

And, I have to ask: how does anyone with a computer today not have a word processor?

Quite.