I did know that Nellie, and think it dubious for her to be thrust into the spotlight like she has been. I think she has been used to others advantage without any consideration for her mental wellbeing
After all she has been the butt of a lot of jokes and Im not sure I would have wanted one of mine to have to deal with that on top of other issues she may have
Life is hard enough I think without making it harder
Chest beating tree huggers cum environmentalists win some awards for their endeavours, decide to wheel out the autistic daughter for their finale - a book all about the hideous brainwashing of their tormented child.
That's the sad thing. As most of you know, my youngest daughter is autistic and, once she gets an obsession, she cannot be shaken. Fortunately (unfortunately?) these days, her obsession is football and Newcastle United in particular.We were never able to shield her from the name-calling and cruel taunts of the local kids, and some ignorant adults because she is 'different'. She is 41 now and has never known a time when she wasn't stared at and insulted. I am not saying she is easy, she can bear a grudge like no other and, if she decides she doesn't like you, she will never like you. She is loud and outspoken and would certainly have made faces at Donald Trump. However, although she does not show any outward emotion and does not read faces well, she is still capable of being hurt. As her parent, I know when she is hurting because I know her so well.
Greta's parents have certainly exploited her and exposed her to vicious trolling as well as to a lot of pandering from people who will use her for their various causes. They say they cannot prevent her from doing what she wants to do. Errrr, yes they can, and they should have put their foot down when she was protesting,missing school, aged 14. Her cause is laudable but she will be ruthlessly used - it's happening already - and dropped like a hot potato when she is no longer young and pigtailed.The whole thing makes my blood boil.
It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
Climate convert Jeremy Clarkson calls Greta Thunberg, 16, 'a stupid idiot' and a 'weird Swede with a bad temper' for offering no solutions to climate change while 'sailing across the ocean in a diesel-powered yacht.' So there!