Autism.

[Buleet]

As i have the disability myself i was always annoyed that people write us of as mentally retarded despite the fact that only a rather small amount are rather stupid.As a matter of fact a lot of smart people where actually autistic as they dont have that whole "life" thing distracting them.So here's my question,Why do people think we are all retarded?

rather bad way to start a thread i know.

 

[lemiel14n3]

Generally when people can't function normally in society, we think of them as retarded, regardless of actual mental ability. That and the best reference that the majority of the culture has to go on for autism are movies like Rain Man.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Autism is indeed a mental disease, AND its sufferers are retarded.

THAT SAID, retarded does NOT MEAN stupid. It means that a person has a mental deficiency in some area and to some degree. Typically, in autism, this can be anywhere from slight social problems, to a complete lack of social skills, and can extend to other areas.

 

[Daggedawg]

It's probably because many autistic people have poor social skills.
Sure, a person might be a genius able to calculate complex mathematical equations in seconds, but still be unable put on his clothes right. Since the first people notice about others is the way they look and act in public, they draw conclusions based on those impressions. And the impression of someone who can not put their clothes on without assistance is, well, not a very intelligent impression.

 

[funksobeefy]

Autism is indeed a mental disease, AND its sufferers are retarded.

THAT SAID, retarded does NOT MEAN stupid. It means that a person has a mental deficiency in some area and to some degree. Typically, in autism, this can be anywhere from slight social problems, to a complete lack of social skills, and can extend to other areas.

yes, you wrote was I was thinking, the word retarded now has morphed into some non politically correct word that people use now as something being slow or an insult.

 

[WorldCritic]

I don't think I've ever known someone who thought autistic people were mentally retarded.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Probably because Autistics are shown to have serious mental defiencies in media. Having an Autistic friend and knowing several others, I can say from experience that they are for the most part normal. They have their quirks, but then of course so does everyone else; it's just that some people are better at hiding them then others.

Now I'm sure there are autistics that do have serious mental defiencies, but I know that there are plenty of other high functioning autistics that can get through society fine.

 

[Kakashi on crack]

I know plenty of people who are autistic, and I can say from experience that they aren't retarded. They usually just excel in one category, such as writing, or mathematics, while they stumble in another subject, such as social skills.

For instance: I tutor one of my friends who is autistic because he's great at math, but is failing history, so I try to relate the two together to suit his skills where possible. (It's kinda hard to relate, but he can for instance take numbers, such as deaths during a war, and relate them to how they effect the economy in numbers, then the hard part is mostly relating it to a more social aspect.)

Point being, they aren't retarded, and in fact are usually quite skilled... Hence I get pissed off at the news stations for making a big deal over autism.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Point being, they aren't retarded, and in fact are usually quite skilled... Hence I get pissed off at the news stations for making a big deal over autism.

You are dealing with high functioning Autistics. If you ever met a low function, you'd realize how debilitating this ailment can get.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Because people think "mental condition" and immediately assume retarded or criminally insane. It's really a problem of exposure in that most people just don't know. If someone says something stupid, you educate them. The only cure for ignorance is the blinding light of knowledge.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Because Autism is a condition which causes retardation in particular areas of human development.

I have two Autistic brothers (One my twin and the other 9 months older). They can't speak properly, write, keep your gaze, are terrified of any break from routine, they can't do anything, and they will never, ever develop past this. They are socially and mentally retarded. Literally. That is why. When someone says that people with autism are retarded they are by definition correct.

I'd have thought that someone who was autistic would know that.

Autism is indeed a mental disease, AND its sufferers are retarded.

THAT SAID, retarded does NOT MEAN stupid. It means that a person has a mental deficiency in some area and to some degree. Typically, in autism, this can be anywhere from slight social problems, to a complete lack of social skills, and can extend to other areas.

This is correct.

Definitions of retard on the Web:

cause to move more slowly or operate at a slower rate; "This drug will retard your heart rate"
be delayed

check: slow the growth or development of; "The brain damage will retard the child's language development"

decelerate: lose velocity; move more slowly; "The car decelerated"

idiot: a person of subnormal intelligence

 

[Gigano]

Of course autistic people aren't all retarded, the mere fact that there a coherent posters (such as occasionally myself) on here with the development disorder is proof of that. Only infantile autism causes lack of cognitive and linguistic ability.

Also, I should probably mention the cult of aspie [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Asperger-s-Of-The-Escapist].

 

[Tib088]

I too have autism and my job is too look after children and teenagers who have it.
I believe the term retard is just too lump a group of people together who have any mental illness of any kind let alone just autism. It's not really a big deal, just don't let it get too you. Only people on the internet tend too act the way you described as many people I have spoken too about the illness tend to know about it.