Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Being Jim

53 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It covers several months of his life, including a period where he made a fine job of pursuing his passion for movies, working as a volunteer at the New Zealand International Film Festival in Auckland.

    It’s also very nice having him (and Fi) at the Film Society. (Full Disclosure: I’m the Secretary, and would be happy as a sack of kittens if y’all signed up. End of infomercial.) It’s rather odd trying to have a naturalistic conversation while hoping that boom mic isn’t going to take your eye out. Jimmy handled it very well; I kept getting the existentially anxious giggles. :)

    And don’t you think he’s a good-looking young man?

    Yes, but don't tell him that.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sara Bee,

    The best :)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 67 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    And don’t you think he’s a good-looking young man?

    Indeed, a chip off the old block :-)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    It’s also very nice having him (and Fi) at the Film Society.

    Jim always refers to you as "my friend Craig". For a young man who doesn't have very many people in his life, that's a very big thing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Ditto lots and lots of other young people. Different but similar issues.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Good to see Jimmy is off on a positive tangent. He’s fortunate enough to be able to get the sort of help that wasn’t available or known about during my youth. Especially given that Dr Asperger’s research wasn’t translated into English until the 1980s.

    Parental acknowledgement is an important first step – my folks have always denied that I’m on the autistic spectrum, despite showing such traits in the Baron-Cohen test. To rub it in, I was ‘tiger-mothered’ to succeed with less than stellar results. My folks knew that I was never a typical kid, but at the time they didn’t know how to deal with it, mistakenly thinking private schooling was the solution. It was only after I sought help for social phobia or whatever PDD I had that they realised making the hammer bigger didn’t fit square pegs into round holes. I probably would have been a ‘hikikomori’ if I was Japanese and living in Japan.

    Case in point: I happen to be fascinated by details, but I know without a doubt that neither Confucianism nor Calvinism – both of which I’ve had thrown in my face – have anything to do with it.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Parental acknowledgement is an important first step – my folks have always denied that I’m on the autistic spectrum, despite showing such traits in the Baron-Cohen test.

    I think I've said it before, but you're one of the Aspie-est dudes I've met. And the cool stuff you do is always a source of hope and encouragement for me. Just kinda wish you were in the same city as our younger boy, Leo ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Will de Cleene,

    (The anxiety generated by welfare reforms cannot be overstated.)

    One side effect of a recent WINZ inquisition; I wrote a long doggerel poem called Ode to a Small Lump of Pus I Found in my Armpit One Mid-Winter's Morning (which apologies to Grunthos the Flatulent and Douglas Adams).

    All I can say is thank Dagg for the Medical Appeals Board.

    Raumati • Since Jul 2011 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    (Full Disclosure: I’m the Secretary, and would be happy as a sack of kittens if y’all signed up. End of infomercial.)

    I'll be back one day. I miss it a lot.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Tears in the eyes. Tears of pride. What a long long way he's come, and what a delightful young man he's grown into.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Christian Mair,

    Oh he is your son?! He was very helpful & friendly during the NZIFF.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2011 • 9 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Christian Mair,

    Oh he is your son?! He was very helpful & friendly during the NZIFF.

    I'm not surprised, but it makes me very happy to see you say that. Cheers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    what a delightful young man

    He seems very charming in that clip. I really hope he can find a (paid) outlet for his obvious talents.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • James Burnett,

    This rules

    Since Jan 2013 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Russell, you and your partner must be rightfully proud; his obvious character is clear in this brief clip. Incidentally, is the TV show likely to be available online you think?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Paul Williams,

    Incidentally, is the TV show likely to be available online you think?

    Yes -- at Attitude Live.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Thanks. Looks really great.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    This makes me happy.

    I still have strong memories of the speech Russell gave about his sons, one of the more inspiring things I've heard.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia,

    A lovely young man: a programme to watch:)

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I still have strong memories of the speech Russell gave about his sons, one of the more inspiring things I’ve heard.

    Was that at the fundraiser in Parnell? It seems so long ago.

    And yeah, I decided that people were going to get the very open and direct version that night.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Onya, Jimmy.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    A hard row to hoe but hopefully with some fantastic rewards to come (which is not to say you have not has some so far)

    I can’t make sense of this though

    On one occasion, I felt he’d been deprived of agency for the sake of the production

    I take your point but “agency”

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    I take your point but “agency”

    The ability to act on his own behalf and make his own decisions. It's a common word in this context in the disability world.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Nora Leggs,

    Attachment

    Congratulations to Jimmy!

    Auckland • Since Dec 2011 • 2700 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Thanks Russell, got the message, just not aware of that use of agency
    It is always good to learn something new

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.