MOOD: Lost
As some of you out there might be aware, I've been running the "Save Sydney Radio" Campaign over the best part of two weeks, and rapidly heading for the third.
Like anything, I've tried my best at getting the word out with the limited resources that I've got. This has included several reminders on Facebook, but where does one draw the line. One doesn't want to annoy his group of friends with repeated reminders; it could even be looked upon as spam. With only one letter of support, it was apparent that I was doing something wrong at my end. I e-mailed my two brothers, and asked them if they could please politely pass on the campaign e-mail to as many people as they know.
On Thursday 11th May, I had some journalists visit me from the St George Sutherland Leader, who seemed very interested in 2PR FM. It was a great feeling knowing that I was going to get my message out; at least in the local paper anyway, this would have been a start.
Eagerly I've checked both this week's editions of the leader, (Tuesdays and Thursdays). With a fine toothcomb, every page was checked and there was not even a mention of my campaign or myself anywhere.
At the same time, I've also been trying to arrange meetings with Sen Steven Conroy, as noted in my earlier blogs, and of this week, have tried arranging some meetings with ACMA.
I also spoke to ABC's Ramp Up, which is a dedicated section to people with disabilities. They noted that they could not publish anything about my endeavours, because it was a conflict of interest. I guess when I think about it, it is fair to a degree, they don't want to be cannibalising their listeners by promoting another listening source. Still though, this is ridiculous, these are my tax paying dollars going to the ABC, it is their responsibility to report disability issues.
What has got me really worried and concerned is that aside from one support letter, (thank you Belinda), I've got no other e-mails, no phone calls, no letters, absolutely nothing. All I know at the end of the day is that this is not normal.
In a last final ditch effort yesterday, I rang the Leader to find out how much a front page Advertisement would cost. I was thinking around $500 to $1,000 for a community newspaper. If this was the case, I might have been able to do it with the help of some friends. Upon speaking to the salesman, I was immediately informed that it would cost $3,000, and that they have all their slots for the most part filled for the year.
So being very blunt and straight to the point, yes, I feel that I'm in a cocoon, and even with the sledge hammer that I've got, I can't seem to smash myself out of it. It doesn't matter how hard I try. Many people today for some reason dislike face-to-face meetings; it seems everything needs to be done via e-mail, by twitter, facebook, and sometime a phone call.
If one has the time, I came across this page yesterday, and apparently the feelings I've got are very common with several other Asperger Syndrome Sufferers. Yes, I did mention the work "Sufferers", I don't know what it will take to change this situation.
http://aspergeradults.ca/Blog/2009/05/does-the-social-isolation-of-aspergers-ever-push-you-to-despair/
At the end of the day, I feel like I'm being avoided like the bad husband that's beaten his wife, gambled the money away, or to a more severe nature, a child abuser. I guess the question I want to pose is, has social etiquette become so finicky; one now has to learn a PhD in order of living a sane life-style?
Like anything, I've tried my best at getting the word out with the limited resources that I've got. This has included several reminders on Facebook, but where does one draw the line. One doesn't want to annoy his group of friends with repeated reminders; it could even be looked upon as spam. With only one letter of support, it was apparent that I was doing something wrong at my end. I e-mailed my two brothers, and asked them if they could please politely pass on the campaign e-mail to as many people as they know.
On Thursday 11th May, I had some journalists visit me from the St George Sutherland Leader, who seemed very interested in 2PR FM. It was a great feeling knowing that I was going to get my message out; at least in the local paper anyway, this would have been a start.
Eagerly I've checked both this week's editions of the leader, (Tuesdays and Thursdays). With a fine toothcomb, every page was checked and there was not even a mention of my campaign or myself anywhere.
At the same time, I've also been trying to arrange meetings with Sen Steven Conroy, as noted in my earlier blogs, and of this week, have tried arranging some meetings with ACMA.
I also spoke to ABC's Ramp Up, which is a dedicated section to people with disabilities. They noted that they could not publish anything about my endeavours, because it was a conflict of interest. I guess when I think about it, it is fair to a degree, they don't want to be cannibalising their listeners by promoting another listening source. Still though, this is ridiculous, these are my tax paying dollars going to the ABC, it is their responsibility to report disability issues.
What has got me really worried and concerned is that aside from one support letter, (thank you Belinda), I've got no other e-mails, no phone calls, no letters, absolutely nothing. All I know at the end of the day is that this is not normal.
In a last final ditch effort yesterday, I rang the Leader to find out how much a front page Advertisement would cost. I was thinking around $500 to $1,000 for a community newspaper. If this was the case, I might have been able to do it with the help of some friends. Upon speaking to the salesman, I was immediately informed that it would cost $3,000, and that they have all their slots for the most part filled for the year.
So being very blunt and straight to the point, yes, I feel that I'm in a cocoon, and even with the sledge hammer that I've got, I can't seem to smash myself out of it. It doesn't matter how hard I try. Many people today for some reason dislike face-to-face meetings; it seems everything needs to be done via e-mail, by twitter, facebook, and sometime a phone call.
If one has the time, I came across this page yesterday, and apparently the feelings I've got are very common with several other Asperger Syndrome Sufferers. Yes, I did mention the work "Sufferers", I don't know what it will take to change this situation.
http://aspergeradults.ca/Blog/2009/05/does-the-social-isolation-of-aspergers-ever-push-you-to-despair/
At the end of the day, I feel like I'm being avoided like the bad husband that's beaten his wife, gambled the money away, or to a more severe nature, a child abuser. I guess the question I want to pose is, has social etiquette become so finicky; one now has to learn a PhD in order of living a sane life-style?
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