What bugs/diseases/critters have ya'll seen that weren't around 30-40 years ago?

[MossRoad]

One of my first cousins has two boys with Autism. One is institutionalized, as they could not care for him properly and needed 24/7 care. The other lived with them until recently. He's around 20 years old. High functioning. Has his driver's license. A job. Now lives in a group home nearby.

I don't know anyone that's faking it.

 

[Jstpssng]

Resources get diverted because people want to 'belong' to a group

This is too common. How many people do you see with "support dogs"? I've always felt this makes it more difficult for those who really do need a support animal, handicap placard, or...

 

[ning]

Autism. It's a real thing that has become an excuse for anyone. My bf from HS runs a support system for families dealing with it. One of his daughters actually has it.

Resources get diverted because people want to 'belong' to a group.

It's used as an excuse/reason for poor behavior in a lot of people.
There are definitely people with it... but my guess is the real ones are a small fraction of those claiming to have it.
Currently there's no way to get a sample and say "yeah you've got it"; to distinguish a high-functioning autistic vs an generic butthead you have to observe behaviors... and too many people will issue a diagnosis based on a brief examination.

 

[Fixastuff]

But I guess everything needs a label.

People used to just call them weird or retarded or some other derogatory term.

 

[mjonesnh]

In case you think this was a joke:
View attachment 3637161

I know people who would consider suicide if they got this

My son's ex-wife got this from a tick bite. Happened 4 years ago and only in the last 6-8 months could she start tolerating an occasional steak or pork chop. Doctor told her some people never can eat red meat again after contracting this.

 

[caver]

My one friend who's had it for years (alpha gal) said he would ki11 to eat a steak. he has to carry an epi pen around.

 

[Torvy]

People used to just call them weird or retarded or some other derogatory term.

Retarded was a medical term. It literally means slowed. Like many derogatory terms, it's how it's used that could be offensive...until the word police decide that none of us can use a word because some people are mean.

 

[Torvy]

This is too common. How many people do you see with "support dogs"? I've always felt this makes it more difficult for those who really do need a support animal, handicap placard, or...

Don't get me started.

 

[Dftodd]

Mostly they are moving back. We used to just shoot all of the varmints. Shoot too many coyotes and the smaller critters explode. We shot the wolves, so the deer population exploded.

We have had some black bear sightings not far from here. Apparently, they are moving back this way.

The fire ants are all over here. Those invasive critters that get here from negligence. Similar to the problem in FL with tropical reptiles, monkeys and such.

Fire ants have actually made it to one of the Hawaiian islands. Came in on a load of something. Got missed by the inspectors, and the population exploded.

 

[Dftodd]

We built in a semi rural area 30+ years ago and always had deer, coyotes, and foxes. Development has overtaken us so those are gone and replaced with loose pet dogs and cats. The one positive is a huge increase in raptors. Hawk and Bald Eagle populations have exploded in the past 15 years. I don't know if the driver for this is changes in pesticides or something else.

It's all those little ankle biters people like to call dogs. Apparently they taste good to the raptors