I am touched and happy with the response that I have gotten from this thread, trolls notwithstanding (its the internet, what can you do?)
Still, I think there are a few things I've seen that popped up in this thread.
The original purpose of this thread was to see if the "self-diagnosed man-child getting out of self-improvement" stereotype was true. I mean, it gets trumpeted a lot in these discussions, and while part of it lies in ones misunderstanding in what it means to be sick (ie if your sick you get treatment to get well again) it also rests with the fact that there are autistics out there who are, sadly, stupid! We have associated intellect to autism and aspergers, but they are not traits that are looked for when a diagnosis is made.
This socially-awkward Pokemon fan is someone I have never ran into. However, it might be just the company I keep, but I haven't even ran into one online.
I've ran into the "I have a feeling that I might be this" person, which I usually laugh off as they all have been higher-functioning people making it on their own and therefore a formal diagnosis would be a waste of time. But these people never would claim to have autism, nor use it to excuse rotten behaviour.
Now,I have heard of the occasional case of a rape defendant making an insanity plea on the grounds that they were autistic and honestly thought the victim wanted it. As sick as it makes me, I had to wonder if there are autistics who are so bad at reading social cues and body language that they would unknowingly rape someone, or if they are just using it as an excuse to get out of a heavy prison sentence and being listed on a sex offender registry? Much of that depends on how good of a get out of jail free card screaming autism is, regardless of whether or not the defendant actually has autism.
In my humble opinion, its only good for wriggling money out of the government. I'm using my disorder to help financing my education after all. I could go on ODSP if I wanted to. However, I am not interested in a variant of welfare, and I know I could make more money if I actually worked. Outside of that, it isn't very useful for deals unless you are lower-functioning. Lower-functioning as in can barely talk.
Now, most of the thread responds claim to have been diagnosed by a professional. Not scientific, but at least we aren't seeing any Chris-chens (or at least ones who aren't just trolls acting like assholes). Many of you still want to thrive independantly and aren't using the disorder as a trump card.
So, unless you think their faking for a free pass, if they say their autistic, their probably autistic.
Actually, that isn't much better.
Though, it is possible that you could go your day-to-day life and not know an autistic person. Throughout my life I've only had one gay friend despite 1/10 of the population being gay/lesbian/bi.
It isn't helped that, like other groups, they tend to congregate in certain places. Like the internet.
Are you in denial? Are you scared that the treatment options will destroy what makes you you? That so much of your personality, and what makes you unique and special, hinge on this, that without it you cease to be? I've read that schizophrenics have similar misgivings about treatment. If you have hallucinations, some of which can be scary, you would want something done about it? If you are missing the ability to connect with others, don't you want something done about it?
I'm autistic myself, so I get it. However, autism is something that I have that hinders me, and while what hinders you is as just a part of you as what helps you, I can say straight-facedly that autism is not core to who I am. I'll say it to you: it is not the core of who you are.
I can prove it in a way.
Think of all the things you love in your life: people, places, things, franchises, and so forth. Ask yourself, if you were not autistic, would you love any of these less?
Now, you may, no question, love some of these things less. I mean, in my own case, I may not have entered gaming without the autism. Some of the obsessive behaviour needed for early games played into this, and much of my functionality as a human being is owed to The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening for placing me in worlds where I could roam around with a higher purpose while learning the basics of reading and problem solving.
However, in my case, without the autism, would I have any less malplaced love for David Tennant? I mean, I'm 24, female, and straight. I'm also fat - this plays a role in the preferred body-type you want. My parents were in their thirties when I was born, which means I don't mind my 'hotties' (subjective, I know) to be older than myself. I live in North America, where people finding the British attractive is commonplace. As for discovering his existence in the first place, well, you don't need autism to be a nerd (though arguably it might help), and my parents (whom are not autistic) are big sci-fi and fantasy fans, and my mom is a big Doctor Who fan, so of course I would have seen episodes of the rebooted series, and later have that sad epiphany while reading on the web one night.
If I wasn't autistic anymore, would I rip up that one poster I have of him and erect one of Robert Pattinson instead? Course I'm not a fan of Twilight, and I think Rob doesn't look that attractive, and I think that if I was a normal human being that wouldn't change.
I could go on, but then this would be creepier than it already is.
Alas, some people want to 'cure' autism because most people with autism are going to be children forever, and this scares parents to death the thought that their kid will never go, move out, and start a family of their own. It isn't the maligned Pokemon fan either: they are my fatass brother who can barely string a sentence, has trouble comprehending spoken language himself, is strictly compulsive... this is someone who can't function in society and never really had a chance.
Though, my humble opinion. I would give pretty much anything to feel like a human being and not like an alien pretending to be human. I believe autism has done that to me. It has made me a stranger to my own self, and a stranger even in my own family. I want to connect with others, but they can't understand me, and I can't understand them.
Still, I think there are a few things I've seen that popped up in this thread.
I have a confession to make.CrazyGirl17 said:
The original purpose of this thread was to see if the "self-diagnosed man-child getting out of self-improvement" stereotype was true. I mean, it gets trumpeted a lot in these discussions, and while part of it lies in ones misunderstanding in what it means to be sick (ie if your sick you get treatment to get well again) it also rests with the fact that there are autistics out there who are, sadly, stupid! We have associated intellect to autism and aspergers, but they are not traits that are looked for when a diagnosis is made.
This socially-awkward Pokemon fan is someone I have never ran into. However, it might be just the company I keep, but I haven't even ran into one online.
I've ran into the "I have a feeling that I might be this" person, which I usually laugh off as they all have been higher-functioning people making it on their own and therefore a formal diagnosis would be a waste of time. But these people never would claim to have autism, nor use it to excuse rotten behaviour.
Now,I have heard of the occasional case of a rape defendant making an insanity plea on the grounds that they were autistic and honestly thought the victim wanted it. As sick as it makes me, I had to wonder if there are autistics who are so bad at reading social cues and body language that they would unknowingly rape someone, or if they are just using it as an excuse to get out of a heavy prison sentence and being listed on a sex offender registry? Much of that depends on how good of a get out of jail free card screaming autism is, regardless of whether or not the defendant actually has autism.
In my humble opinion, its only good for wriggling money out of the government. I'm using my disorder to help financing my education after all. I could go on ODSP if I wanted to. However, I am not interested in a variant of welfare, and I know I could make more money if I actually worked. Outside of that, it isn't very useful for deals unless you are lower-functioning. Lower-functioning as in can barely talk.
Now, most of the thread responds claim to have been diagnosed by a professional. Not scientific, but at least we aren't seeing any Chris-chens (or at least ones who aren't just trolls acting like assholes). Many of you still want to thrive independantly and aren't using the disorder as a trump card.
So, unless you think their faking for a free pass, if they say their autistic, their probably autistic.
Actually that is a treatment option that is advocated by the pros themselves to patients. Part of life is having to deal with other people, whether you like it or not, on a regular bases. No man is an island, right?Athinira said:
Well, Aspergers Syndrome was named after a German psycologist named... Hans Asperger [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Asperger]. Why would someone have the name turd sandwich? Well, actually the word 'asperger' is German for 'asparagus.' So in reality, its named after a vegetable!SmashLovesTitanQuest said:
Actually, that isn't much better.
Though, it is possible that you could go your day-to-day life and not know an autistic person. Throughout my life I've only had one gay friend despite 1/10 of the population being gay/lesbian/bi.
It isn't helped that, like other groups, they tend to congregate in certain places. Like the internet.
I'll be honest. This viewpoint creeps me out a little. I mean, its like being proud that your missing toes, or proud that you have a debilitating physical disorder like spina bifida. Sure, they are sever enough to hinder you, and force you to take certain paths, but take pride that there is something wrong with you?BOOM headshot65 said:
Are you in denial? Are you scared that the treatment options will destroy what makes you you? That so much of your personality, and what makes you unique and special, hinge on this, that without it you cease to be? I've read that schizophrenics have similar misgivings about treatment. If you have hallucinations, some of which can be scary, you would want something done about it? If you are missing the ability to connect with others, don't you want something done about it?
I'm autistic myself, so I get it. However, autism is something that I have that hinders me, and while what hinders you is as just a part of you as what helps you, I can say straight-facedly that autism is not core to who I am. I'll say it to you: it is not the core of who you are.
I can prove it in a way.
Think of all the things you love in your life: people, places, things, franchises, and so forth. Ask yourself, if you were not autistic, would you love any of these less?
Now, you may, no question, love some of these things less. I mean, in my own case, I may not have entered gaming without the autism. Some of the obsessive behaviour needed for early games played into this, and much of my functionality as a human being is owed to The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening for placing me in worlds where I could roam around with a higher purpose while learning the basics of reading and problem solving.
However, in my case, without the autism, would I have any less malplaced love for David Tennant? I mean, I'm 24, female, and straight. I'm also fat - this plays a role in the preferred body-type you want. My parents were in their thirties when I was born, which means I don't mind my 'hotties' (subjective, I know) to be older than myself. I live in North America, where people finding the British attractive is commonplace. As for discovering his existence in the first place, well, you don't need autism to be a nerd (though arguably it might help), and my parents (whom are not autistic) are big sci-fi and fantasy fans, and my mom is a big Doctor Who fan, so of course I would have seen episodes of the rebooted series, and later have that sad epiphany while reading on the web one night.
If I wasn't autistic anymore, would I rip up that one poster I have of him and erect one of Robert Pattinson instead? Course I'm not a fan of Twilight, and I think Rob doesn't look that attractive, and I think that if I was a normal human being that wouldn't change.
I could go on, but then this would be creepier than it already is.
Alas, some people want to 'cure' autism because most people with autism are going to be children forever, and this scares parents to death the thought that their kid will never go, move out, and start a family of their own. It isn't the maligned Pokemon fan either: they are my fatass brother who can barely string a sentence, has trouble comprehending spoken language himself, is strictly compulsive... this is someone who can't function in society and never really had a chance.
Though, my humble opinion. I would give pretty much anything to feel like a human being and not like an alien pretending to be human. I believe autism has done that to me. It has made me a stranger to my own self, and a stranger even in my own family. I want to connect with others, but they can't understand me, and I can't understand them.
