It's not that we don't understand, it's just what are we supposed to do when we literally can't communicate with this kid? It's like speaking to someone who doesn't speak english.

It sucks if he does have autism or what ever but SP isn't really equipped for special needs like that. I don't really believe we have some kind of duty to treat him specially or even to be inclusive JUST because he has autism. I've said before that I grew up around people on the autism spectrum and I know it's sometimes hard to deal with, but in all that time I never once expected businesses we visited to put up with their behavior just because they have autism. In a private establishment such as SP I don't think it's reasonable for us to change how we operate to suit a single member with special needs. I think it would be awesome if the community managed to accept Mike and give him a more nurturing social environment so maybe he could actually learn some social skills, but I'm not expecting them to nor do I think we should even try to force them ASIDE from asking them at the very least not to follow him around insulting him. I definitely agree that the community doesn't seem capable of handling itself around him and I personally think Mike would be better off just not coming here, but I'm not telling him to leave or banning him simply because the only thing he's doing wrong is posting a lot. I'm not going to pretend it isn't annoying, especially since I received about 5 or 6 PMs from him yesterday in various forms of distress about what people think of him, whether or not I'm offering mod positions, whether or not HE could be a mod, and why I haven't replied yet, but this isn't exactly the first time I've seen a new-ish member posting a lot and not understanding social queues.

Well, Mike has called you out, Jeff.

Same as Jeff I completly lost hopes in the community and their ability to include him how he is, we can't force anyone to do anything either and as much as I'd love to help him I think that the fact that he stays here will just push things until he wants to leave by his own will, I really don't want to wait until he gets really hurt about something that someone said tho.... but banning him is not an option, we could just suggest him things.

Quote from Camila

People really doesn't understand that when a person has autism or a similar mental illness they're unable to recognise sarcasm and such. It really makes me feel dissapointed that most of the people around here doesn't know how to talk to these persons.

Edit: that post on mike's thread wasn't aimed at you exile. It was for nish and the group of people that think that make fun of someone is actually funny.

And you know what. F**k it. I lost hopes in this community's ability to include people like this, the poor kid will get eally hurt at some point.

I can't decide for him and ban him either, but Idk.. I feel like suggesting him to leave near in the future

Basically what Exilement and Jeff said, I've said multiple times that even though he has a mental illness, I don't understand why he should get special treatment from the rest of us because of it. If any normal member were to post something dumb they'd be called out on it because they should know better, but because this kid is autistic everything he does gets a special pass and we have to change the way we post specifically when adressing him? I don't agree with that line of thinking
Also, help him how? He's mentally incapable of forward progression. And even if he was capable, it would be stimulated through professional help not some suggestions by an internet mod

I'm still shocked he didn't actually leave after making that post that he was going to leave. That aside, I guessed when I heard he had autism that he'd be in one of two camps: the camp that can grow at a somewhat steady rate, or the one that grows at a slower rate. I had mentioned it in the chat thread before, but I know autistic people that you'd never be able to tell are autistic, because they were raised in normal environments and grew to match their environments, rather than being coddled and remaining "special." While I can't say he's consistently bad, and sometimes he genuinely seems to want to improve. But I firmly believe that he's in the slow growing camp, and he won't reach a general "acceptable" position amongst the community any time soon. The reason I've stopped dealing with him for the most part isn't his autism, it's his recurring massive lies and his general one-mindedness about wanting a position of "power."

All that said, I'm not for banning him anymore, ever since he stopped posting in the Chat Thread (which caused a majority of the issues, and is probably why he's still getting heat), and have even defended him a few times. Personally, I want him to follow some of my advice and talk to his (alleged) counselor that he mentioned he has sessions with, to help him work on keeping up a more understandable online persona that I know and we have evidence of him being capable of.

Edit: Goddamit, when did Drones turn into Ninjas?

I never actually expected him to leave, he's pulled that "goodbye forever" stunt like three times

yeah he told me via PM that he'd be leaving like 4 or 5 times.

I really don't think he has autism. Cook was calling him autistic but who doesn't he say that about? Mike never confirmed what his mental illness actually is.

I assumed he had autism because he admitted to having a mental disorder and his behavior is in line with what I've seen in others with autism, though I don't know that for sure.

I mean I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it is, but I don't think he's confirmed it

I thought he had it because when I was explaining why I didn't like him, Nish came in defending him by talking about him explaining he had autism. Of course, this was also when he kept talking about his mother having cancer. I wonder what happened to that?

The same thing that happened to him being a 5 star chef and a military veteran

Quote from Drone

The same thing that happened to him being a 5 star chef and a military veteran

Ok, what. When the fuck did he claim that?

Quote from mike9172

I am now a famous chef at a five start restaurant.

Rather recently

I'd be more bothered if that thread was sticking to its original seriousness.