----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- As an observer of the recent postings on "autism" in economics, I must say that I did not take the use of autism to be a slur against the autistic nor a synonym (or equivalent epithet) for "slime ball." Indeed, as much as any of us might agree with the initial charge that economic theory has carried economics in an unfortunate direction, I would hope that we have not been reduced to calling each other names or that Professor Rockoff prefers that we should be. Rather I took "autism" to be a metaphor that directed attention to the narrow, hyperfocused, but often, in its own terms, quite accomplished activity of the economic theorist. There is a danger that in our hypersensitivity we may cripple our discourse. Or am I, to analogize to an infirmity closer to home for me, simply myopic? Kevin Hoover ------------ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ------------ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]