This “ubiquity” may not extend to autistic people.

What if I don’t want a mediator? This seems like traveling around with an assigned tour guide who never leaves the traveler alone, is always guiding toward some places and away from others, and gives a running commentary on What We’re Seeing Here. The result can be like a bad travelogue.

Society as mediator, implemented as a mirror:
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most [attribute] one of all?”

The most obvious example of this seems to be advertising, wherein needs are created and paradises small and large are offered. But beyond that, ask the mirrorany question of the form above, and see how it is answered. Who’s the most popular, who’s the most-fawned-over, the most respected, the most righteous, and on and on. And who could resist looking in such a mirror?

Possibly those who don’t wish to make, well, eye contact with it. Among the merchandise being offered online related to the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know?” are T-shirts with the caption: “What’s Your Addiction?” and looking into that mirror sure offers a host of ‘em. Not that they’re inevitable, but it’s hard to ignore the mirror’s narration: “Here’s what you’re seeing, here’s what you must do, here’s what’s important...”

Well, some of us autistic folks just aren’t paying much attention to that.

Last revised: June 23, 2007
(c)2007 Dave Spicer
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