Missing the Point

Scott Hardie | July 28, 2024
Would you have the tip of a finger amputated to participate in the Olympics, or otherwise pursue your one shot at a lifelong dream?

Steve West | July 28, 2024
Probably. Dreams are big (or should be). Tip of a finger? Small by any comparison. As long as it's not a thumb. Thumbs are non-negotiable. Except for discovering a cure for Autism and making Olivia whole. I'd sacrifice a thumb and a half for that.

Samir Mehta | July 28, 2024
[hidden by request]

Scott Hardie | August 10, 2024
Maybe it's just my hangup about amputation—it's disturbing in the body-horror sense, it's not funny, and its weirdly high frequency of occurrence in Futurama contributed to my abandoning that series—but I could never do that, not for Olympic gold nor any other dream having to do with personal pride or achievement. Not to minimize the years of training and hardship that enable one to reach the Olympics, but once they're over, they're over. The absence of that finger segment will be felt for life, every time you use your right hand. I couldn't. The mere thought of it makes my skin crawl. If I lost a part of my body, I'd find a way to deal with it, but to endure it voluntarily? Pass. No doubt.

But to alleviate other people's suffering, such as by eliminating a major disease? I'd give everything for that, up to and including my life. Totally different question to me.

"Cure for autism" is a controversial idea and a loaded phrase. I'd like to revisit it and unpack it further, after a series of blog posts that I'm about to start. I need to share some pretty difficult information about what I've been going through, so here's forewarning that the series, especially the first post, is going to be grim. My apologies in advance for the downer(s).