Toronto Star
Weather reports cause storm: Autistic Frankie MacDonald tells critics
‘I have a good heart’
You’ve probably never heard weather reports like this — but Sydney, N.S.,
man is becoming an Internet hit.
By: Curtis Rush News reporter, Published on Tue Feb 26 2013
Frankie MacDonald has caused something of an Internet storm over his
YouTube weather postings.
The 28-year-old autistic man’s reports, posted online daily from his home in
Sydney, N.S., and advertised on his Twitter feed, have generated many
negative comments with some making fun of him and taking rude, personal
shots.
At the same time, others are rushing to his defence and urging him to
continue.
This kind of online exchange has pushed a few of his YouTube postings
well over the 100,000 mark.
But at the centre of it, although he tries to ignore the negativity, MacDonald
told the Toronto Star he is hurt by the negative comments.
The positive comments made him feel “great,” he said in an email.
However, he added he tries to “ignore” the negative feedback.
He finds these comments “rude and disrespectful,” he said.
“Some of the people make fun of me on the Internet and it is not a nice
thing to do. I have a good heart.”
You’ve probably never heard weather reports like this — or seen a
weatherman like this.
MacDonald will never challenge Al Roker as a forecaster, but the amateur
weatherman is having the time of his life.
“People of Toronto, be prepared,” he announces on his latest report,
adding the city is going to get more than 30 cm. of snow Wednesday.
“Supposed to be whiteout conditions, reduced visibility,” he bellows. “Have
your winter boots ready and your winter jackets ready . . . roads will be
covered. People of Toronto, be prepared. Order your pizzas and order your
Chinese food and five cases of pop because it’s going to be a terrible
snowstorm to hit Toronto, Ontario . . . have your iPads and your iPhones
charged just in case the power goes out . . . do your grocery shopping right
now. Don’t wait for the last minute. Do it RIGHT NOW.”
By reviewing weather reports on his computer and on television for
research, MacDonald puts together his own forecasts, uploads them to
YouTube and tweets them.
Messages of thanks for his latest missive have poured in.
“Thanks dude, appreciate the warning,” one person commented.
Said another: “Thanks for the heads up Frankie ... Glad you are at the helm
keeping us informed . . . Have a great day!”
Despite his disability, MacDonald is far from handicapped at the keyboard.
Not only does he create his own video reports, he has embraced Twitter —
where he has more than 4,700 followers — and Facebook, where he has
more than 1,600 likes on his page.
People are taking notice and, as word spreads, more people are
discovering this lovable, passionate forecaster.
Both Canadian and American television stations have featured him on their
newscasts.
On Facebook and elsewhere, people are rallying behind MacDonald and
urging him to ignore the criticism and stay strong.
“Don’t let anybody deter you from doing what you love Frank,” one person
said. “Anybody that makes rude or ignorant comments towards you are just
jealous.”
MacDonald’s aunt, Darlene MacDonald, told the CBC she doesn’t like what
some people are saying.
“They (critics) don’t know what autism is and they don’t realize (those with
autism) have feelings too,” she said.
Frankie shows no signs of quitting.
“To him, that’s his life,” his aunt told the CBC. “He lives for it.”