Calling all Autistics of the Escapist

[That M Guy]

Re-reading my own post, I fear that in just writing my thoughts as I think them, I forgot a slight detail. All I was told about it when I was first told (Mothers exact words) "you might be slightly awkward, but don't worry, you'll grow out of it one day". THAT's what gave me the idea to try & copy normal people & hope that I'd eventually learn how to just do it without thinking.

 

[Elgnirp100]

I was diagnosed with Aspergers at about 9 years old. Properly, by a doctor.
Social interaction is not one of my strong points, but I've been learning and I'm getting better.

 

[Erana]

I play Minecraft. I am self-diagnosed with autism.

No, stop that. Even joking, that just hurts truly Autistic people.

This is thread is entertaining reading. Today I've learnt 99% of the people on The Escapist have Asperger's. Utterly ridiculous.

And if a thread that asked for gay Escapists exists, we'd all be gay in your mind too, now, wouldn't we?
Think about which thread you're posting in.

This thread is full of misdiagnosed Americans blaming poor social skills on a wishy-washy "disease" (assburgers) which they then use as an excuse, making a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Yeah, its probably over-diagnosed, but that doesn't mean that the disorder is any less real.
And just because you've met some idiots who blame their faults on a disease doesn't mean that all people with Asperger's do. You're just making yourself look like a jerk by making such negative generalizations.

Not as of yet diagnosed, but I "very likely" have aspergers. I have a proper assessment this month.

Urgh, not knowing something like that is scary. One doctor told me that I'm epileptic, but two others disputed it, saying that I just have "abnormal, but healthy" brainwaves.
I was so relieved to not have to take those terrifying seizure medications, I didn't think to ask what that means. :/


Still, I'm not Autistic, but I totally throw my support in for my fellow Escapists who are. Yall're just you, nothing more and nothing less, and the only thing having the diagnosis should do is give you resources to more easily deal with the issue.

 

[GigaHz]

This thread is full of misdiagnosed Americans blaming poor social skills on a wishy-washy "disease" (assburgers) which they then use as an excuse, making a self-fulfilling prophecy.

This guy gets it.

You know that it's possible to be socially awkward without having a disease? It's called being a nerd. Many of us here, myself included, fall under that category. I would never label myself under any spectrum of Autism, regardless of what any flimsy diagnosis says.

Unless you have a severe problem with speech, have strange reoccurring behavioural, organizational or movement patterns, or view people in the same way you would view a spoon, you are not autistic.

 

[Erana]

I play Minecraft. I am self-diagnosed with autism.

No, stop that. Even joking, that just hurts truly Autistic people.

I think it's time they learned to take a joke then. Here's a list of things that should offend me:
-Holocaust jokes (grandparent is a holocaust survivor)
-Any Jewish jokes
-Any jokes about depressed people, I have a history of depression
-Jokes about psychologists, I still have therapy so I should be very offended if anyone laughs about the psychologists
And there are probably others I can dig up. And yet, I still laugh at those jokes because they mean no harm to anyone, they're just what they are; a joke.In fact, I think some self-deprecating humor is always healthy for you!

Discrimination against people with Autism is too real a thing to be joking about it right now. I quoted two other people from a two-page thread on autism making genuinely negative comments against people with the disorder at the same time I was quoting you, and a third person did so while I was typing.

Too. Fucking. Soon.

When people like that stop being serious about their hateful comments, then you can make your jokes all you want.

 

[persephone]

This thread is full of misdiagnosed Americans blaming poor social skills on a wishy-washy "disease" (assburgers) which they then use as an excuse, making a self-fulfilling prophecy.

This guy gets it.

You know that it's possible to be socially awkward without having a disease? It's called being a nerd. Many of us here, myself included, fall under that category. I would never label myself under any spectrum of Autism, regardless of what any flimsy diagnosis says.

Unless you have a severe problem with speech, have strange reoccurring behavioural, organizational or movement patterns, or view people in the same way you would view a spoon, you are not autistic.

There are different types and degrees of autism, and not all of them display any or all of the characteristics you list. I hear stories about the autistic students my mother works with every day, and not all of them view people the same way you would a spoon or light switch or have trouble talking. That said, yes, some *do* have those problems, and we should never gloss over or make light of that fact. But not all do.

 

[GigaHz]

There are different types and degrees of autism, and not all of them display any or all of the characteristics you list. I hear stories about the autistic students my mother works with every day, and not all of them view people the same way you would a spoon or light switch or have trouble talking. That said, yes, some *do* have those problems, and we should never gloss over or make light of that fact. But not all do.

Yes, of course, but those who define themselves as having Aspergers are not even remotely similar to those with actual Autism, yet they are conveniently lumped into the same category because they may have a few quirks. Those I have had the fortune of meeting who have been diagnosed with the disease are nothing more than highly functioning, quirky adults with either heavy anxiety or social phobias. Then again, I have met non autistic people with heavy anxiety or social phobias, so it makes you wonder where the line is drawn.

 

[persephone]

There are different types and degrees of autism, and not all of them display any or all of the characteristics you list. I hear stories about the autistic students my mother works with every day, and not all of them view people the same way you would a spoon or light switch or have trouble talking. That said, yes, some *do* have those problems, and we should never gloss over or make light of that fact. But not all do.

Yes, of course, but those who define themselves as having Aspergers are not even remotely similar to those with actual Autism, yet they are conveniently lumped into the same category because they may have a few quirks. Those I have had the fortune of meeting who have been diagnosed with the disease are nothing more than highly functioning, quirky adults with either heavy anxiety or social phobias. Then again, I have met non autistic people with heavy anxiety or social phobias, so it makes you wonder where the line is drawn.

You are right that Aspergers is a funny case; I know that autism specialists have been looking at whether or not it should fall onto the autism spectrum proper or not. Ultimately, all such definitions are a product of the human need/tendency to categorize ideas in order to understand them better, which means that drawing the line can be rather odd. I do believe such categorizations are useful, though, in that they can help us to understand phenomena better.

 

[GigaHz]

You are right that Aspergers is a funny case; I know that autism specialists have been looking at whether or not it should fall onto the autism spectrum proper or not. Ultimately, all such definitions are a product of the human need/tendency to categorize ideas in order to understand them better, which means that drawing the line can be rather odd. I do believe such categorizations are useful, though, in that they can help us to understand phenomena better.

Agreed sir, kudos!

 

[Mikodite]

Have you checked out this recent article on the subject? [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9554-Do-As-They-Say-Not-As-I-Do]

 

[Yoshemo]

I got Aspergers. I think I'm better for it~ I like the way it's made me

 

[ElPatron]

I don't have autism however my fiancé does have Asperger's. It does make our relationship incredibly strained at times. He has me but he won't interact with many other people including his own family he's withdrawn from. He can be incredibly pedantic at times. He doesn't quite get why I get upset about things he does and he can not cope with change. I changed the shower head a few weeks ago because the thing was caked in limescale. Turned into a whole "thing" and it still is.

I am almost sure men are like that and it has nothing to do with his condition. I know. I a man. We make a big fuss over small things when we're pissed off about something else, but we don't like to confront our partner with their mistakes.

That, or I have Asperger's too. Highly unlikely.

 

[gigastar]

Diagnosed with hgih functioning Aspergers earlier than 5, not told about it until about 10.

As for getting around it, well... things got strange. Was sent to speech therapies shortly after diagnosis to try and get around the worst of it before it happened, only to discover that even at 5 years old i was far too headstrong for conventionial therapies to work. Im immune to hypnosis and both audio and visual subliminal messages too, figures.

By 16 in a new set of therapy sessions to deal with anger management issues that seem to run in my dads family, i had learned to competently dodge questions from psychiatrists with over a decades worth of experience dealing with people far worse off than me in some cases, yet in that year i could literally count on my fingers the number of times i went to interact with people without prompt from anyone or anything for general social purposes.

I play Minecraft. I am self-diagnosed with autism.

No, stop that. Even joking, that just hurts truly Autistic people.

I think it's time they learned to take a joke then.

You know the last time i heard someone say that to my face i literally took three steps back then delivered a running punch to the guys face. Cost me a months suspension and all internet during that time and an assault charge, but i felt it to be worth it.

Why? Because impairment jokes are only funny one time, any more than that and youre tempting fate, especially when those who have said impairment can hear you and have no physical impairments.

Oh also take it from me, people with Aspergers dont take jokes at thier expense very well.

 

[Twilight_guy]

I have Aspergers. Does that count? Used to be an issue in life, then I learned to deal with it and now I don't think about it too much.

 

[LGC Pominator]

Diagnosed with multiple autistic spectrum disorders at 12. Rechecked at 18.

Knowing from a young(ish) age has helped me create some coping mechanisms and actively identify features and emotions I would normally have trouble with, at 20 it barely shows unless I have a real lapse in concentration, however I remain socially active in order to work on understanding others better, in some cases this does help to negate the effects of the disorders.

My main problem now is getting locked on in conversations or essays, which I have worked on identifying when it happens and stopping myself, however I am nowhere near as good as a 'normal' person.

 

[Athinira]

Diagnosed with Aspergers at 21 (mild case fortunately). Dealt with it for the most part through behavior-training (or rehabilitation), but it's impossible to completely escape, given that it's a a genetical trait.

I recommend others diagnosed with Aspergers who feel that they have trouble socializing, to give it a shot like me. There is a lot of books and courses that can help you. I actually started out with dating/pickup material from David DeAngelo, since a lot of the stuff he teaches about attraction also works in pretty much all other social interaction, including building confidence, being humorous etc. I've got much more control over my behavior now, and find that people respond to me more positively.

Next step for me now is voice training to improve my voice (it's high pitched). This is easily a very important step, although most people don't realize it. For example, if you have a job interviews conducted - or arranged - over the phone, a high pitched voice can really set you back already there since it's a part of a first impression you future employer might get of you (phones amplify high-pitched voice). For me, it's all about being pleasant to spend time or interact with, and i think I'm doing good progress.

 

[persephone]

Have you checked out this recent article on the subject? [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9554-Do-As-They-Say-Not-As-I-Do]

Now that brings back memories! Especially the brushing; I had that treatment too.

I too have sensory integration disorder (also known as sensory integration dysfunction, sensory processing disorder, and a variety of such variations on the name); I never had it quite that bad in the same ways this child does, though. I did have serious auditory issues, though, and I had to be taught to catch myself when I fell (I'd just let my head smash into the pavement without putting my arms out) and I didn't feel pain properly for a long time (which results in odd things like a child who likes belly flopping off the top bunk b/c she doesn't know she's hurting herself). Mostly I'm okay now that I'm an adult, but in my childhood and teenage years, there were some really weird issues.

 

[Mikodite]

Have you checked out this recent article on the subject? [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9554-Do-As-They-Say-Not-As-I-Do]

Now that brings back memories! Especially the brushing; I had that treatment too.

I too have sensory integration disorder (also known as sensory integration dysfunction, sensory processing disorder, and a variety of such variations on the name); I never had it quite that bad in the same ways this child does, though. I did have serious auditory issues, though, and I had to be taught to catch myself when I fell (I'd just let my head smash into the pavement without putting my arms out) and I didn't feel pain properly for a long time (which results in odd things like a child who likes belly flopping off the top bunk b/c she doesn't know she's hurting herself). Mostly I'm okay now that I'm an adult, but in my childhood and teenage years, there were some really weird issues.

I'm so glad to hear the article helped!

 

[BOOM headshot65]

I am autistic. I have Aspergers, and it's awesome.

It's what has made me who I am, and I would not trade it away. I say this, because, there are people out to "cure" autism, thinking it's a disease. It's not. Not in the slightest. If someone were trying to inject me with a needle that would remove my aspergers, I would have to give them several warnings, before beating them senseless. You kill my aspergers, you pretty much kill me. It's how I've been able to create everything I've come up with, and why I tend to be so different from everyone else. And I love it! I just can't stand normality, and often walk backwards down the hall, or strike action poses or Matrix moves when doing something athletic, just for the fun of it. No one else around me seems to be like this, because, they all like to be normal.

If it weren't for my autism, I never would have come up with the following under my own completely standard mindset...

Oh my God, SO MUCH THIS!!

OT: I was diagnosed with Aspergers after 3 grade (ie, when I was about 8 or 9). I had gotten bullied severely then, to the point I became physically ill because I didnt want to go to school. And the part that really got me mad is that when I went into the nurses office because I was bleeding and had Sandburr bushes stuck to me.

Spoiler: Just for those who dont know what those look like...

I called them "sticker bushes" for a reason. They stick to EVERYTHING and they hurt like hell.

What did my principal say when I came in with those little balls of torture stuck to me? "He is faking it to get attention." She was fired the year after I left, and it still makes me PISSED when people say I am faking my Aspergers. I did NOT go through with it once just to have it happen again.

That said, you could not PAY me to want to get rid of my Aspergers. It makes me who I am, and I dont want to change. I like my photograhic memory too.

 

[Freechoice]

I wish I could read this thread but I have to laugh every time I read "aspie", so I cant.

I mean, could they have named this any more unfortunately? Why dont you just go ahead and call the whole syndrome dicklicker?

*Ahem*

Anyway.

I dont think I have ever met an aspie (heh) IRL. Kinda weird when you think about it, considering so many people are diagnosed.

But it's how you pronounce it. Is it a-spee or ass-pie?

Yup. Never actually seen one. I think I may have known a guy with high functioning autism. Wasn't sure. He was a quiet one.

I am almost sure men are like that and it has nothing to do with his condition. I know. I a man.

Uh, no. One example doesn't prove anything. I'm male and I tend to be observant as fuck so as not to inconvenience people by being a selfish dumbfuck.