As Kev points out I chose this week to out myself. The title for my talk at IMFAR has been posted online and it was time. As part of Kev’s post, he noted that Mr. Handley made some commitments on condition that I step forward. I doubted that Mr. Handley would make good on his commitments, even going so far as to write that I didn’t think he had the integrity to do so. For those comments I offer a sincere apology. I was wrong.
On important point to make here. It wasn’t JB Handley or a regular of the Age of Autism who outed me. It was former members of the autism hub blogs in the comments for the “Bonnie Offit” piece by Mr. Handley.
On the other hand, one person with whom I have disagreed over the years figured out my name long before any of this “Bonnie Offit” mess. Rather than out me, that person emailed me with the information of how I was exposing myself. It is that person’s integrity that is the biggest lesson I have learned from these events.
Note, 5-12-2011:
Mr. Handley had made two clear commitments. (1) that he would hand over control of the domain “pauloffit.com” and (2) that he would cease his discussions against Dr. Offit. I emailed Mr. Handley:
Mr. Handley,
A few people have forwarded your piece to me today. I appreciate what you have said and I have offered a public apology on LeftBrainRightBrain for questioning your integrity in honoring your commitments.
As far as the domain pauloffit.com, you can transfer that directly to the Offits. I believe you have his contact information. If not, it can be found on his website: http://www.paul-offit.com/
He replied that he would “take care of it early next week”
That was April 29th. He never contacted Dr. Offit, and the site has been merely redesigned.
The apology was premature.
Left Brain Right Brain 
So are you saying he has made good on his commitments? Apart from admitting he was WRONG.
I know Brian Deer sometimes pops in for a visit here. Brian if you see this and feel like a laugh check funny ol Ginger’s latest blog entry over at Adventures in Autism.
(Sorry if I should not be promoting her whacko blog here guys. Feel free to delete this if it’s not OK.)
Sharon,
I haven’t read the post but someone emailed be a fragment. She’s taking issue with the “I had a touch of Asperger’s” statement?
So, Ginger is denying autistic recovery? She says one can’t recover from it? Or is it just Asperger syndrome one can’t recover from? All rather amusing.
@Sullivan, yep she’s really got herself in a lather over Brian. She’s actually taking issue with the idea he claims to have recovered. But based on her blog post I think she may have taken his sentiments out of context. I took it to mean during his younger years he had Aspergers-like behaviour, as in became focussed on a certain issue in an intense or fixated way. And that since growing older has been able to diversify his interests. I could be like Handley, and completely WRONG though.
Very big of you. I am sincere. Good luck at IMFAR. I am going back to read your paper again.
There is so much that goes on so quickly online. I simply can’t follow it. I think that’s a blessing in disguise!
damn…wonder if I copied it.
I’m not sure I understand what you are apologising for. Has Handley publicly admitted he was wrong and confirmed he won’t mention Offit again? If so, where? It sounds a bit unlikely.
Skepticat_UK,
Mr. Handley has stated on his blog that he made a mistake. It could very well be the first correction on the AoA blog. We will see what he does with discussing Dr. Offit, but he has stated he will transfer the domain to Dr. Offit.
Found it, thanks. I note he now describes the original accusation that seemed so certain about as ‘speculation’ and doesn’t actually apologise. Also, that the comments below his admission are disgusting. No surprises there.
What is this world coming to? First, I apologized to Ginger for going over to her blog and asking her why a recovering addict is not a reliable person, especially if that person has been clean for a number of years and the science he presents is sounds. Now, you’re apologizing to JB Handley for proving him wrong and stating your expectations based on his previous actions.
WTF?
I read JB’s post and he didn’t apologize. Unless he actually gives up pauloffit.com, it was a bunch of lip service to the minions. What I particularly don’t like is how he professes to have no interest in making it personal, while making it personal. The original speculation post was very personal. It doesn’t jibe.
Gina,
the domain was transferred. Not to me, and I had nothing to do with the new content.
I guess I should have said–I had no role in choosing the new content.
Well, that didn’t last long, did it?
Did last or never* really started?
(note: I edited this comment after it went live)
Edit it again – I had to read it three times before I understood it. 🙂
(Should be “Didn’t last”?)
I’m not entirely surprised by this further confirmation of Handley’s character.
Sorry, written on an iPod while still waking up.
Mr. Handley apparently never initiated the transfer of the domain, PaulOffit.com. When he contacted me I replied with a simple message:
Rene Najera,
Mr. Handley saved you $100.
The wife and I are still giving to different charities this year, including the one you suggested, Matt. Handley may have no compassion, but the rest of us do.
How predictably tiresome of Mr. Handley.
I have a roundup of all the responses to the current content of PaulOffit.com as part of my own post, J.B. Handley Forsworn.
That post also includes:
1. Screenshots of the current content of PaulOffit.com
2. Screenshots of every comment that Age of Autism allowed on J.B. Handley’s post, http://www.ageofautism.com/2011/04/matt-carey-phd-says-hes-bonnie-offit-just-kidding.html