If you love the smell of burgers and onions, or just the distinct aroma of a White Castle fast-food joint, you can buy a White Castle candle for $10. The proceeds go to Autism Speaks, the country's largest autism advocacy group.
(Source)
The irony of this, of course, is that most autistic people experience sensory hyper- and hypo- sensitivities, and thus are likely to find this scented candle rather repellent. And I can't imagine many non-autistic people finding such a thing particularly appealing, either.
Alas, the candles are currently sold out, so people are buying the wretched things regardless. I can only hope that households with autistic people currently living in them will not subject autistic people to the putrid scent of White Castle. Bad enough that people who are trying to "help" are giving money to Autism Speaks in the first place.
In a way, these $10 White Castle scented capsules encapsulate Autism Speaks. Expensive, useless, and repugnant--particularly to autistic people.
And they say irony is dead.
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14 comments:
Oh geeze, Autism Speaks and the smell of burgers. One sends me into rages and depressions and the other makes me sick to my stomach. What a lovely combination.
*face-palms*
Burgers? No thanks! I am a vegetarian. I will not support the animal abuse that could be happening inside Autism Speaks's research laboratory.
Interestingly I love incense and scented candles. I am driven tactiley and scentwise too. So the normal adages about Autistics not liking to be touched or like strange smells kinda doesn't apply to me
I hate cologne though.
Ewww. And let's say you didn't find the smell repugnant. Wanna bet calorie consumption will go up when it's burning because it activates the cephalic phase of digestion?
How odd. How can you make a candle smell like a burger?
Not that I mind the smell of those scronky, but unhealthy burgers, but a candle version?
That is kind of weird.
I hate the smell of gum more. Ew.
In Ohio, White Castle is hiring secret shoppers to make sure that employees try to sell AutSpks stuff to consumers: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AutismSpeaksOSU/message/711
Glad I don't like White Castle...
I'm not necessarily bothered by all scented candles. If it's not too strong and has a nice scent like vanilla, they're completely fine with me. But the scent of greasy burgers? Urgh. I only want to be exposed to that when I'm actually going to eat a burger. Who on earth thought this was a good idea?
I'll definitely be getting my burgers at places other than White Castle from now on, which is no loss given that I almost never go there anyway.
Things that stink: White castle hamburgers. Autism Speaks. A perfect marketing match I'd say.
For more on White Castle's views on disability see this.
This is kind of hilarious. You're right, most people, autistic or otherwise, wouldn't want to fill their house with that smell! I live in the UK and there are no White Castles here, but the smell of fast food on the bus ... eugh! And every time I have to pass the fast food vans in Kingston (in unavoidable strategic locations), I have to take evasive action to avoid getting too big a whiff of it.
Does anyone fancy making a heavy metal album for the benefit of an ME charity?
Harold and Kumar just reversed their positions on White Castle's merits.
Ha, that is funny.
Smell is one of my hypoactive senses, to the extent that I can hardly smell anything. Skunk spray and roses --- two of the stronger nasty and nice smells out there --- don't smell like anything to me.
I don't go in for candles, though, scented or no. Don't want to run the risk that I'll forget about them and burn my house down.
(KWombles, you're probably right about candles that smell like food making people hungry!)
As if autistics aren't mistaken for stoners enough already? :-p
I actually like the taste of white castles. It's a nolgstia thing. However, I still can't see why someone would want that smell in their homes. Either you like the smell and it gives you constant cravings for unhealthy food or you don't like the smell and it drives you crazy. Of course, I'm not exactly an expert on reactions to smells, since untreated allergies left me unable to smell until age 22.
My guess this is more of a ploy on white castle's part to lure people to their resturants because autism is trendy than it is total ignorance on Autism Speaks part. However, given my attitude towards Autism Speaks, I won't rule out their ignorance as a factor. I'm just more cynical towards comercialism than I am towards well meaning but misguided cursaders.
Well, I didn't know they were selling putrid candles, but I *did* call the regional management of White Castle here in Minnesota to enlighten them about Autism Speaks. And though we live half a block from one, and my partner (a recently diagnosed Aspie) loves sliders, none of our money goes to that place any more.
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