finally, touching on the question of the VMA video on the ‘official LG website’, i noticed that she goes for the full out grotesque nature (esp. as she seemingly symbolically hangs herself in the end) of her position by showing her teeth in a manner that may be considered derisive. however, i think reading into this too much is a bad idea. her use of the wheelchair and the canes in her art at all is good thing for the disabled community, for it shows that major pop-stars, again, can be “sexy” though ‘disabled’ and that is a positive message. peace out. -’El Benito’

Maybe she is just doing it to do. Maybe she just wants to de-censorize diability. It is something that is not really talked about opening but if Lady Gaga is doing it we can talk about people with canes (that aren’t pimps) freely and not feel guilty.

I have Asperger’s Syndrome, and I understand by most people who don’t understand it, or people who mindlessly follow whatever anti-Autism propaganda groups like Autism Speaks perpetuate. That people with Asperger’s Syndrome lack Empathy. That is where you were going with this right Tim?

What is referred to as Empathy, means not understanding others, not having a proper theory of mind when it comes to perceving what others think. It does not, mean people with Asperger’s Syndrome are unable to appreciate the feelings and emotions of others. Also, people with Bipolar Disorder, tend to not be inconsiderate of the emotions and feelings of others.

I know, most people who throw around Asperger’s Syndrome, as if there’s something inherently negative about it, tend to not realize that there is a good chance someone with that neurodiversity will read what they’ve said, and not feel highly in regards of it. By the way, before people have their giggle about the term neurodiversity, it is a real term. People do have different types of minds, and different ways of viewing the world with them, and there is discrimination against people who’s minds aren’t perecieved as “normal”

So just a reminder, think before you post something ignorant about someone else’s neurodiversity. People who think differently than you are people too.

So Lady Gaga is ripping off Marilyn Manson, and now people wonder what this has to do in regards to disability and disabled people, because she unlike Marilyn is a mainstream pop-star. It’s all the same schtick, she’s using the imagery most likely in a metaphorical way as Marilyn Manson did. So, is it in poor taste? Yes, but has anything in the history of shock rock ever been in good taste? I think the bigger issue here, is how she’s unashamedly ripping off Marilyn Manson, either it’s that or he’s adopted her as his protege.

I don’t think anyone takes Lady Gaga seriously enough, to really take her views on disabled people or her acts regarding them all that seriously. I can’t blame some people for being offended, and feeling that they’re being treated with sense of tokenism regarding her performances. It’s difficult for me to say where to go from here.

As far as Lady Gag selling sex, really. Like she’s the first artist to do that, remember Maddonna? How about Britney Spears? Maybe the issue should be why are female singers who’s primary goals aren’t about being sexualized, popular?

And TV’s shining down upon us nearly everywhere we go these days helps a lot with the shoving. If not Gaga, we’d be talking about whoever happened to be filling the “edgy off-beat pop star” role today, so really she’s incidental.

Irrelevant trivia that might help someone, somewhere: I bought a TV-B-Gone® to help cut down on my pop culture exposure, and I highly recommend it. Google it. Buy it. Works GREAT and is almost as much fun as a cellphone jammer, but not quite (google that too).