AUTISM OR SCHIZOPHRENIA? ON MICHEL PRIGENT AND LARRY O’HARA’S INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE TACTICS AND STRATEGY OF THE NON-LENINIST REVOLUTIONARY MILIEU by Stewart Home

I have been criticised for too readily accepting the thesis that Larry O’Hara is a paranoid schizophrenic, when the symptoms he exhibits could just as readily be taken as evidence of autism. Certainly, it is true that O’Hara demonstrates qualitative impairment of reciprocal social interaction. His behaviour shows a marked lack of awareness of the existence of others, a classic sign of autism. Likewise, when handing out badly xeroxed leaflets to people who have no interest in receiving them, O’Hara is clearly seeking an abnormal form of comfort at times of distress, but this is a common enough hazard of conspiracy ‘research’. Similarly, while O’Hara obviously suffers from severely impaired imitation when attempting to pass himself off as an ‘investigative journalist’, on its own this mechanical and inappropriate mimicry does not prove that he is autistic. It is telling that the same failing is also used by proponents of the O’Hara is autistic thesis to demonstrate that he engages in abnormal social play. However, I must concede that O’Hara does indeed suffer from gross impairment in his ability to make peer friendships.

O’Hara’s score for qualitative impairment in verbal and non-verbal communication, the second category of diagnostic criteria for autism, is mixed. His non-verbal communication is markedly abnormal, particularly in his use of eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures and gestures to initiate or modulate social interaction. Likewise, he suffers from significant abnormalities in the production of speech and is notorious for screeching at people in a ridiculously camp high pitched voice. Again, there are marked abnormalities in the form and content of O’Hara’s speech, with a definite tendency towards echolalia and mechanical repetition of obscure phrases. O’Hara’s ability to sustain a conversation is severely impaired and he is notorious for indulging in lengthy monologues on the subject of conspiracy ‘research’ despite constant interjections from others requesting that he shut up. However, one does not find an absence of imaginative activity, since O’Hara obsessively play acts the fantasy role of an adult ‘investigative reporter’.

I have to admit that O’Hara flunks badly on the final category of diagnostic criteria for autism, since he self-evidently suffers from a severely restricted repertoire of activities and interests. However, I think the literalism O’Hara exhibits, a tell-tale sign of autism, can be explained away on the basis of his interaction with the deeply retarded Michel Prigent. The latter blames me for the problems he had at the Tate Gallery in 1988, despite the fact that I was one of the few people present to protest against both his expulsion from the lecture theatre and the subsequent calling of the police, which led to the pro-Situ showing himself up in front of various passers-by. While Prigent makes completely literal interpretations of texts and actions by individuals with whom he and O’Hara are obsessed, the schizophrenic conspiracy ‘researcher’ then accepts his chum’s autistic pronouncements as ‘proof’ of various deranged ‘theories’ they both hold. In utilising his retarded companion as a ‘research tool’, O’Hara leaves those only superficially acquainted with his madness under the impression that he is autistic himself.

However, there are elements of literalism in O’Hara’s tracts that are not directly derived from his interaction with Prigent. For example, O’Hara appears incapable of working out that the principle target of The Green Apocalypse was the International Communist Current, and that super-reactionary saddos like Green ‘Anarchist’ merely provide the non-Leninist revolutionary milieu with a means of doing this through tactical feints. I apologise for stating something that is patently obvious to anyone familiar with the publications Swamp Thing and The Return Of Swamp Thing, but it is unfortunately necessary to do so given the general level of intelligence in the world today. In conclusion, now that Prigent and O’Hara have become figures of fun, it is time for all those who encouraged them down the slippery slope of conspiracy ‘research’ to answer the following important questions:

1. Would you support the re-classification of autism as a pervasive developmental disorder?

2. How do the distinguishing features of autism present particular problems for friends and relatives considering an intervention programme?

3. How useful are the current treatment approaches to autism?

Completed essays of 2000 to 10,000 words should be submitted to Here & Now or Lobster.

The Green Apocalypse contains documents pertaining to Michel Prigent and Larry O’Hara’s unbalanced mental states, and far more importantly demonstrates that despite their rhetoric about the swamp, the ICC will always be soft on anarchism because their Leninism is a particularly virulent strain of Bakuninism. This ‘must have’ is (no longer, noted added) available for £3.50 from Unpopular Books, Box 15, 138 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2NS. (address defunct, note added)

Published as a leaflet, London June 1996.

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