lops it. In this case the public’s image is largely due to media fascination with the more extreme or unusual cases. Some with Tourette find that difficult to watch. In this case a woman with Tourette finds it offending when a comment in the movie, What about Bob, strikes her anger. “I count it personally offensive for his lead character to have told the child in the movie that having Tourette was worse than dying” (Rowley 23). The TS individuals seem to understand that the syndrome is miss-portrayed as nothing but coprolalia. Although the public without the facts, is left to the medias education. Because of the fact it is socially outrageous it is often exploited for shock comedic effect in the media. As a result it seems many people believe it to be just that. This misconception furthers the development of a more complete public understanding of the disorder. This seems to be the goal of TS organization groups such as the Tourrette Syndrome Association. They recently held a dinner benefit for TS research. Attending were stars such as John Lithgow the star from TV’s Third Rock from the Sun. “I am honored that I can help people understand what Tourette is, because so often it’s even a mystery to those that have it”, Lithgow commented (Health News). Some can see the media as a blessing as well. Janet Ungar the executive director takes an interesting view on media. “Sometimes there are unfair portrayals, but generally, we love the media attention because of the extraordinary awareness it generates. Hollywood has given us the opportunity to educate thousands of people who would otherwise know nothing”(Health News).Today people with TS are probing their excellence in many different fields. Among these are several well-known sports figures. Mahmound Abudul Rauf of Louisiana State University basketball and an All American in 1988 has TS. And although he often complains tha...
