The
Tourette Syndrome Guy ™
Are
you looking for the Tourettes Guy video clips?
They
are found at TourettesGuy.com
– Stop Here First! – Before you scuttle
off, read on….
Maybe
you have seen or are looking for the “Tourettes Guy” video
clips hosted on the internet. I decided to take a look at most of
the "Tourettes Guy" videos myself. My first viewing of some
of the video clips was intended to just evaluate this Tourettes Guy,the
design of his website, and it's purpose. I did not take long for my
attention to turn into a morbid curiosity however.
The video
diaries about the Tourettes Guy depict various daily events in his
life, like; brushing his teeth, talking on the phone, watching TV,
and ordering food. Initially I observed the Tourettes Guy as having
foul language, and rude behaviors; sometimes scatological,
that are mixed with fits of rage and over-reactions. By the end of
the first short clip, I had discovered an angry, misbehaved man, supposedly
drunk, and presumably suffering from Tourette’s Syndrome.
Before I go any further, I would like to introduce you someone else
now. "Me —»",
" The Tourette Syndrome Guy ™”
— I will quickly walk you through some of the myths and facts
about Tourette Syndrome, while at the same time exposing mistakes
in the Tourettes Guy videos that fabricate his claims to a supposed
diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome.
First,
the intended impression I received on the video clips is that the
Tourettes Guy suffers from a rare phenomena in Tourette Syndrome know
as “Coprolalia” and another coprophenomna – “Copropraxia.”
Coprolalia
is in brief; involuntary cursing, uttered obscenities, or elaborate
sexual, aggressive or insulting statements (e.g., racial slurs). Literally
- "dung talking." Copropraxia is basically obscene behavior
that has many variations in its expression (e.g., giving the middle
finger, grabbing crotch and public sexual expressions.).
The
myth – The behaviors of
coprolalia and copropraxia are what Tourette Syndrome is. Wrong...
The
Facts - Coprolalia has been
a recognized symptom of Tourette syndrome from the first description
of the syndrome and is also seen
in a variety of neurological disorders, not just Tourette Syndrome.
Coprolalia is considered a complex vocal tic of which the majority
of Tourette patients do not ever exhibit. Statistically coprolalia
only occurs in as low as 5-15% of Tourette Syndrome patients.
More
info on coprolalia and Tourette
Syndrome.
So
just what is Tourette Syndrome then, you might ask?
The Myth – Tourette
Syndrome is a cursing disease. Wrong...
The
Facts - Tourette Syndrome is
a relatively common childhood-onset disorder defined by persistent
motor and vocal tics and frequently associated with obsessions, compulsions,
and attentional difficulties. You don’t die from Tourette Syndrome
and it does not make you sick.
The
three basic levels of impairment for Tourette Syndrome are, mild,
moderate, and severe. Most persons with Tourette Syndrome only exhibit
a mild to moderate tics and do not require medication(More about tics
below.) Having coprolalia would be a rare tic and considered
a severe case of impairment of Tourette Syndrome.
More
introduction into Tourette Syndrome.
Now lets
look at the Tourettes Guy case. Does the Tourettes Guy have a case
of "bad behavior and deception" or does he have a sever
case of Tourette’s also suffering from the vocal tic of coprolalia.
To decifer this, you need a brief understanding of Tourette Syndrome
tics and how coprolalia works.
First
to the Tics. What is important to understand about Tourette Syndrome
Tics, is this; Tics are involuntary. They also are not
intentional or purposeful. Simply put; Tics are involuntary
rapid movements or sounds that are repeated over and over for no reason.
More
info about Tourette Syndrome Tics.
Other Tourette Symptoms.
Tourettes
Guy Buster
We said, "Tics are involuntary, not intentional,
and not purposefull. However, when you review the Tourettes Guy videos,
most all his actions in the clips appear to be at the very least,
intentional and purposeful if not voluntary also.
Now lets
look at the important characteristics to understand about Coprolalia.
Coprolalia outbursts can come out of no where. They also usually
disrupt communication, speech, or something that the person is involved
in. Following the outbursts however, the person continues about their
normal communication, speech, or project. These disruptions will usually
continue to enter in and out of the person’s normal behaviors
and events throughout the day.
Let me
provide you with a quick example. A patient with coprolalia could
be talking with someone who mentions the word “duck”.
The word “duck” trips the vocal tic urge in the coprolalia
patient of which follows three quick vocal burst of, “fuck a
duck, fuck a duck, fuck a duck”. Then the conversation keeps
flowing as it was prior to the vocal disruption.
If this
conversation is between friends and acquaintances that know of the
persons character and disorder, the event is fairly unnoticed or intrusive.
If the episodes are occurring in public or in the company of people
who would normally be offended by such remarks, then there is usually
at least an air of humility and attempted control if not embarrassment
and remorse by the Touretter.
Tourettes
Guy Buster
The videos presented on the Tourettes Guy site
appear to be more organized tantrums and gimmicks than real clinical
episodes. There isn’t any evidence of reasonable character or
normal behavior prior to or after his episodes. There is just
bad behavior without any signs of remorse, humility or embarrassment.
There are no attempts to explain, divert, or apologize for his behaviors
to anyone. i.e. ordering pizza over the phone, ordering at the fast
food lane. Most all his statments have a purpose in the episodes,
and are intended to be directly pointed at a person, thing, or event.
More evidence of fraud would be; it is not characteristic of
people with this disorder to submit themselves to a video log of their
behavior unless it is for clinical research, diagnosis, and or education.
It's not something they are proud of and would exploit this way.
Let me
close with a quote by authors who really understand coprolalia and
Tourette Syndrome at a more personal and professional level.
“While
obscenities and profanities may be common in everyday conversation
in our culture, coprolalia is different from simply swearing or
using bad language. These vocal tics usually are not uttered within
social or emotional contexts, and are often spoken or repeated compulsively
in a louder tone or different cadence or pitch than normal conversational
speech. Particularly embarrassing for some individuals with coprolalia
are involuntary outbursts within social contexts, such as racial
or ethnic slurs in the company of the very people who would be most
offended by such remarks.” - Understanding Coprolalia, by
Sue Levi Pearl and Joanne E. Cohen
Thank
you for taking the time to read and understand the facts about Tourette
Syndrome that bust the common myths about the disorder. We hope you
form your understanding of Tourette's from the “Tourette Syndrome
Guy” and not the misconceptions of the “Tourettes Guy.”
Would
you like to make comments regarding this page? We also
have a blog
entry regarding the Tourettes Guy where you can read more and
respond if to comments if you wish.
Please
take some time now or in the future to browse our website home
page for links to more information about various subjects that
deal with Tourette Syndrome.
Use our
help pages or contact
us if you have questions or desire more information about Tourette’s
and Tourette Syndrome Guy.
Again
thank you for your visit and time!
Paul
Marshall
The Tourette Syndrome Guy
Editor@Tourettes-Disorder.com
