TV Really Might Cause Autism

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Monday October 16, 2006 @08:23PM from the cause-and-effect dept.

Alien54 writes "Cornell University researchers are reporting what appears to be a statistically significant relationship between autism rates and television watching by children under the age of 3. The researchers studied autism incidence in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington state. They found that as cable television became common in California and Pennsylvania beginning around 1980, childhood autism rose more in the counties that had cable than in the counties that did not. They further found that in all the Western states, the more time toddlers spent in front of the television, the more likely they were to exhibit symptoms of autism disorders. The Cornell study represents a potential bombshell in the autism debate."

18 of 619 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

OMG! BAN TV! by NalosLayor · 2006-10-16 20:25 · Score: 5, Funny

It's for the children! Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children! FORGET IT! Ban electricity! For the children! For the children!
1. Re:OMG! BAN TV! by Anonymous Coward · 2006-10-16 20:32 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You dolt! The answer is obviously to ban children...
2. Re:OMG! BAN TV! by peterarm · 2006-10-16 22:02 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  don't substitute, merge: Slashdautism
3. Re:OMG! BAN TV! by indifferent+children · 2006-10-17 00:08 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  When is "Show-me-your-tits" on?
  In Europe, it's on every night. They name it different things in different countries. Try "Colpo Grosso" in Italy, "Tutti Frutti" in Germany, etc.
  In America, it's only on for about two seconds, during a "football" game, to commemorate hundreds of hours of pending Congressional outrage.
  
  --
  Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it. --Mark Twain
4. Re:OMG! BAN TV! by mgabrys_sf · 2006-10-17 00:17 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  WAIT WAIT wait wait wait - hold it hold it hold it - hold EVERYTHING - EXCUSE me?
  
  Did you say "More sex"?
  
  Oh shit - don't you DARE let that one get out into the general public - the empire might collapse!
5. Re:OMG! BAN TV! by LarsWestergren · 2006-10-17 01:43 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  "Please resist the urge to talk to love ones, or have sex, as years of TV radiation has made your genitals withered and useless".
  Chief Wiggum: *lifts blanket and looks* "Well I'll be damned!"
  
  --
  Being bitter is drinking poison and hoping someone else will die
6. Re:OMG! BAN TV! by pizzaman100 · 2006-10-17 02:03 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Basically, there are correlations, relationships, and patterns EVERYWHERE. However, it's very rare that someone knows exactly WHY something is happening.
  Unless you're an attorney specializing in tort law. Then you know exactly why. And the answer is whoever has the deepest pockets. Now how long until the first class action lawsuit is filed against the cable companies? :)
I wondered why I had trouble focusing... by The+Great+Pretender · 2006-10-16 20:29 · Score: 2, Funny

oh that's A.D.D., what was this post about?

--
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Argh. by tkittel · 2006-10-16 20:35 · Score: 4, Funny

Damn, I read that as "TV Really Might Cause Atheism".

How disappointing!
1. Re:Argh. by mjwx · 2006-10-16 20:53 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  "TV may cause Apathy"
  
  I don't really care that much about it.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
2. Re:Argh. by kalirion · 2006-10-17 01:32 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  No, I'm pretty sure it's "Reality Might Cause Atheism"
3. Re:Argh. by Trailer+Trash · 2006-10-17 02:51 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Damn, I read that as "TV Really Might Cause Atheism".
  
  As a Christian myself, let me assure you that tv preachers definitely have that effect on me.
  
  --
  Do you have ESP?
the page quote by krajo · 2006-10-16 20:36 · Score: 4, Funny

I love how the quote at the bottom of the page is:
"Toddlers are the stormtroopers of the Lord of Entropy."
I guess not anymore, huh?

--
Learn to separate truth from illusion. Because in this world, it's the hardest thing to do.
All tubes by Anonymous Coward · 2006-10-16 20:45 · Score: 3, Funny

All tubes causes autism, so internet as well...
Dunno about TFTs
Re:What about the internet by mjwx · 2006-10-16 20:47 · Score: 1, Funny

What about internet use, with sites such as youtube, will that cause autism as well?

Correlation does not equal causation. Just because Myspace and Youtube are populated by retards does not mean they are the cause of retardation.

--
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
Re:What about the internet by kahei · 2006-10-16 20:56 · Score: 5, Funny

Other way around. Being dysfunctional in the first place causes increased MySpace and YouTube use.

And, uh, I guess it also causes Slashdot posts such as this one.

--
Whence? Hence. Whither? Thither.
Re:Say it with me... by EraserMouseMan · 2006-10-16 21:06 · Score: 3, Funny

To help people understand this better, I think we should run a TV special about correlation and causation.
are u sure is TV only?? by jonytk · 2006-10-16 22:16 · Score: 2, Funny

what the hell is TV ?? I only wach internet series 16 hours a day!!!