From: pwjarman@cc.utah.edu (PARRY W. JARMAN)
Subject: Re: Kill the Bubble Man Or At Least Disable Him Further
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Organization: University of Utah Computer Center
Distribution: usa
Date: 28 Dec 1992 13:06 MST  

In article <1992Dec27.192557.18851@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, mpcook@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mike Cook) writes...
{ 
<Stuff deleted> 
{I have only just today started reading this this newsgroup so forgive me 
{if I missed earlier messages pertaining to the bubble man. You may or 
{may not be aware that the illness he suffers from - called Multiple 
{Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome or Environmental Illness - is a real 
{disease that many thousands of Americans have.  It creates a severe 
{disability in those it inflicts.  Although many of the details you see 
{on the program are not realistic with respect to this disease, such as 
{touching his face with the white gloves, the white gloves themselves are 
{realistic, as is the avoidance of printed materials, mail, etc. 
{If Mike was disabled in some other way - such as a more "mainstream" 
{disability like paraplegia (and he had difficulty getting around town in 
{his wheelchair) - or blindness - my guess is there would not be the 
{uproar to "kill him off." 

Hey, hold the phone, folks. My objection to Mike has NOTHING to do with
his disability or his "handicap" or his illness. My objection to mike
is from a purely creative/plot development point of view. I sympathize
with anyone who suffers from any sort of debilitating illness.
However, in this case, Mike has come into the show, taken a central role
and caused some major character disruptions where Maggie and Joel
are concerned. The fact that Mike has multiple chemical sensitivities
is incidental to this--Mike could be completely 100% normal and I would
still object to his character.

From a creative stance, I think showcasing this sort of disability is
fascinating and presents many opportunities to explore enviornmental
issues from a politically neutral standpoint <though I haven't always
felt this way.>  For those afflicted with this problem, it provides
a mainstream, popular television format to educate the public at large
about a very real illness.

HOWEVER, I don't like how he interacts with Maggie and how he
is impacting her character. The fact that Maggie now spends more time
mooning after Mike than bantering with Joel annoys me. NOT his illness.

IMHO, I think the writers have deliberately created a scenario where
it is dubious as to how afflicted Mike really is with this illness
anyway. He may really have the problem, but some of it may be in
his head. I think emotionally, the guy has some serious problems.
This is not to insult you all who deal with this, but from a
creative standpoint, it opens more doors for the show--is he really
sick or is it psychosomatic? Or if he is sick, how sick?

So--Many of us who dislike Mike are not picketing against or
discriminating against victims of MCS, rather, we are annoyed
with some creative decisions made by the producers of the show
as it relates to plot development.

Let Mike stick around forever--just don't pair the guy with O'Connell.

Regards-
Heather Jarman

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{I praise the network and those responsible for entertaining the notion 
{of portraying the victim of this little-publicised disease on national 
{TV.  This, despite some errors in their attempt.  I feel strongly about 
{this because my wife was permanently disabled from Environmental Illness 
{due to an exposure to toxic pesticides 5 years ago.  It is a real and 
{severe physical illness.  I can attest to it not being "psychosomatic" 
{as mentioned in several messages in this newsgroup - I am a psychologist 
{of 13 years. There are thousands of disabled individuals (with 
{Environmental Illness) avidly watching this show every Monday night who 
{identify with Mike. 
{I will not entertain discussion here of the veracity of the illness - 
{feel free to email me for that.  The issue to be discussed here is use 
{of a disabled character in mainstream television.  Some of the reaction 
{I read displays a depressing lack of compassion for those with 
{disabilities. Sorry the disability got in the way of your Monday night 
{enjoyment.  Yeah, I cried too the first night he appeared on the show.  
{But because I empathize with the victims of the illness he portrays. 
{ 
{Mike Cook - mpcook@nyx.cs.du.edu 
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