This Thread is About Asperger's Syndrome

[Aries_Split]

I have Asperges Syndrome and I won't say much since I am trying to think of a good post about it but my brain is fried and everything I tried to type turned out to be a mess...so I'll just read what others put down. Also I do find it a little insulting people use the two disorders for jokes...kinda cruel if you ask me.

Yeah, well people around here use "gay" and "retarded" as synonyms for stupid, and people use "dumb" as a synonym all the time, when in fact it means "unable to speak".

My point is, don't worry, everybody gets equally insulted. It's far from limited to Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

Ahhh...Humans. I fucking hate the bastards. Oh wait...
Personally, I feel like no matter what it is, as long as it insinuates that someone is less normal than someone else, it will be used as an insult. Personally I hate normality and strive to be different. Or Drunk.

 

[Soulfein]

If you get offended by things people say on the internet, then too bad. People will say what they want, if you want to change it tough, thats the way it is. You could get a ban on it, you could petition it, but it will still happen. The internet will insult you. Live with it.

 

[death13245]

For me though I still like having it. I've read a few things that even say Asperges people have more loylty than others...that's useful...and there was a few more I can't remember that were the good points about it all.

 

[BlazeTheVampire]

I have Asperges Syndrome and I won't say much since I am trying to think of a good post about it but my brain is fried and everything I tried to type turned out to be a mess...so I'll just read what others put down. Also I do find it a little insulting people use the two disorders for jokes...kinda cruel if you ask me.

Yeah, well people around here use "gay" and "retarded" as synonyms for stupid, and people use "dumb" as a synonym all the time, when in fact it means "unable to speak".

My point is, don't worry, everybody gets equally insulted. It's far from limited to Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

You'd be suprised. I went to a relatively multicultural boys school (Caucasians were the minority) with a selective admittance, so it was supposed to be that everyone was accepting. Well, they were acceping of many things, except me. It seems that mental disabilities such as these are the only acceptable things that a person can be mocked for.

I'm asthmatic and get crap for it all the time. My brother's half blind and gets made fun of. There is no limit to what people will make fun of. And while I totally sympathize- nobody's disabilities should become the butt of another persons joke- our complaining isn't going to change anything, you know? I realize I sound like a total dick, but the world's an equal-opportunity offender. Someone will always be offended by someone else's insult.

 

[Aries_Split]

I have Asperges Syndrome and I won't say much since I am trying to think of a good post about it but my brain is fried and everything I tried to type turned out to be a mess...so I'll just read what others put down. Also I do find it a little insulting people use the two disorders for jokes...kinda cruel if you ask me.

Yeah, well people around here use "gay" and "retarded" as synonyms for stupid, and people use "dumb" as a synonym all the time, when in fact it means "unable to speak".

My point is, don't worry, everybody gets equally insulted. It's far from limited to Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

You'd be suprised. I went to a relatively multicultural boys school (Caucasians were the minority) with a selective admittance, so it was supposed to be that everyone was accepting. Well, they were acceping of many things, except me. It seems that mental disabilities such as these are the only acceptable things that a person can be mocked for.

I'm asthmatic and get crap for it all the time. My brother's half blind and gets made fun of. There is no limit to what people will make fun of. And while I totally sympathize- nobody's disabilities should become the butt of another persons joke- our complaining isn't going to change anything, you know? I realize I sound like a total dick, but the world's an equal-opportunity offender. Someone will always be offended by someone else's insult.

Yeah, well, theres a subtle difference between mocking and ostracizing. People treated me like I was going to have a violent psychotic episode.

What do you mean GOING? You haven't had yours yet!?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Heh. Try being epiletic.

But then, if we were all AS/Autistic and a normal guy walked in, wouldn't some of us take the mick out of them? It's less about how any minority is 'wrong' and more about it just being a minority. The school my Mother taught in, (In Middle England) had ONE Caucasian in the whole school.

You can imagine the ribbing he got.

 

[Tartarga]

I'm not sure if I have it or not, but i'll figure out soon enough, they are making me go to the freaking hospital to run tests for it.

 

[Johnn Johnston]

to be fair what is normal any way?
the more we find terms for every possible
state of mind the more we become categorised,
and led into beleving that we are not 'normal'

discaimer:you should not cut up and eat your sister,
this is not normal

Normality - this can be a bit of a paradox, because everyone is different. However, the shared similarites are considered the 'status quo', or the normality. When a group of people share similarities that aren't shared by the majority, that is considered 'not normal'.

By the way, I'm curious as to why your post was structured like a poem.

 

[AntiAntagonist]

I have a weird form of OCD that is misunderstood by everyone except psychologists as ADD.

I found it's easiest to own my flaws. I tend to joke about my flaws, or spin them and try to fit them into the big picture.

If I'm sufficiently grounded ATM it's easier to make a joke from the hip, but I also have one or two prepared just in case. My style is to speak normally and laugh when remarking on it instead of emoting or acting it out too much. Then again I prefer subtle humor.

 

[Mistah Kurtz]

Quit your whining. Everyone gets offended, and the handicapped are no exception, nor should they be. It seems like you want people on the autistic spectrum to be looked at as equals and at the same time don't think they should be the subject of ridicule, which is, for lack of a better word, retarded.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Autism is a little bit of a catch-all diagnosis for inability to cope with change. Autistics need to have a set routine and have very little empathy towards others (which is why it's lesser cousin, Aspergers, tends to be attributed to any kid with ADD/ADHD/Just plain being a kid.

Autistics themselves are usually quite normal and docile, if overwhelming; but they can be flared to extreme emotions by things that confuse them, especially emotions, as they can't understand why people act in that way. Rapid change, like Christmas, activates their condition and they will try to flee/fight the source of the 'strange emotions'.

As a rough approximation, imagine every sudden show of emotion to be congruous to a zombie attack, and you've basically got it.

That's exactly right.

Quit your whining. Everyone gets offended, and the handicapped are no exception, nor should they be. It seems like you want people on the autistic spectrum to be looked at as equals and at the same time don't think they should be the subject of ridicule, which is, for lack of a better word, retarded.

There are plenty of words you could've used there instead of retarded, such as: stupid, unreasonable, unfeasable, dumb, unfair, etc...
Think next time.

Anyway, the main difference between people on 'the autistic spectrum' and other minorities is that people on the 'autistic spectrum' (I use quotes because that's just such a broad range) for the most part can't fight back, and can't comprehend these insults, and just feel the anger in the words. They respond like with like, which can make autistic people very dangerous, especially those with some higher functions.
Besides, it's not like autism is a lifestyle choice.

 

[BlueMage]

I have ADHD. I have had my whole life, and was diagnosed from a young age, clinically.

It does NOT excuse my actions, though it may explain them.

The same applies to autistics - it may explain your actions, but where they do not fit with decency (personal or societal) it by no means EXCUSES those actions. We are all responsible for the choices we make, no matter how much or how little direct influence we have on the range of options available.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Wait a sec, do you know how much some people are altered by autsim. To the extent that they have no control over their actions?
Are you saying that that shouldn't excuse them?
If you were somehow blackmailed into commiting a crime by a mafia boss, how would you feel if- in court- the judge said, "Well that's no excuse." And threw you away for life?

Also:

The same applies to autistics - it may explain your actions...

I'm not autistic.

 

[Mistah Kurtz]

Quit your whining. Everyone gets offended, and the handicapped are no exception, nor should they be. It seems like you want people on the autistic spectrum to be looked at as equals and at the same time don't think they should be the subject of ridicule, which is, for lack of a better word, retarded.

There are plenty of words you could've used there instead of retarded, such as: stupid, unreasonable, unfeasable, dumb, unfair, etc...
Think next time.
Yes, you're right, I could have chosen a different word, but then I would have missed out on the pun.


Anyway, the main difference between people on 'the autistic spectrum' and other minorities is that people on the 'autistic spectrum' (I use quotes because that's just such a broad range) for the most part can't fight back, and can't comprehend these insults, and just feel the anger in the words. They respond like with like, which can make autistic people very dangerous, especially those with some higher functions.
Besides, it's not like autism is a lifestyle choice.

You're saying one of the reasons that it's wrong to make fun of autistics is because many of them can't comprehend the insults? If they can't comprehend the insult then they don't get angry. That's like saying it's morally wrong to hit a pitbull even though he can't feel it. Secondly, I fail to see how the fact that it's not a lifestyle choice is relevant. Humor is a coping mechanism and is one of the ways that humans choose to deal with sad issues such as mental retardation. No one is saying that it's not tragic, but as they say - comedy is tragedy + time. Being white or black isn't a lifestyle choice, so Richard Prior must be pretty high on your shit list, along with dave chappelle, chubby brown, etc...

The argument that it can trigger violence is bullshit as well. Making fun of Muslims can also incite violence (and on a much larger scale), does that mean we should never make fun of them for the fact that Muhammed married an 8 year old girl, or never make fun of Catholics for their priests being child molestors? I'm sick of this growing trend of political correctness coming from the far left, which is ironic considering they're the ones who whine about censorship. You need to understand that freedom of speech is more important than people's feelings.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Fucking bravo. Are you going to wave the American flag and sing The Star-Spangled Banner in a second?

"Oh quit your bitching. I want to *****! LET ME *****! MY BITCHING IS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT!"

 

[Erana]

Quit your whining. Everyone gets offended, and the handicapped are no exception, nor should they be. It seems like you want people on the autistic spectrum to be looked at as equals and at the same time don't think they should be the subject of ridicule, which is, for lack of a better word, retarded.

Actually know someone who is mentally disabled, then you are allowed to speak to me.
If anyone is advocating the right to use mental disabilities as an insult, think of this:
You are having your first child. You and your significant are together, admiring your the baby.
You feel sheer bliss.
Then the doctor comes in with a solem look and tells you that your child has a mental illness. They will never be able to live on their own, they will not be able to have a job, they will not be able to function as a normal person.

How would that make you feel?

OK, so Asperger's isn't very bad, but still. Insulting someone with a mental disorder at any level is wrong. I have never known anyone who brought such a thing upon themselves. They, nor do the people who sork with them/ are related to them/ hope for their wellbeing, diserve some careless person's negative connotations. It is as cruel to the people who help them live normal lives (Or as close to normal as possible), sometimes moreso than to the person with the mental disability.

 

[BlazeTheVampire]

Well, I really don't see the connection between insults based on medical conditions and hitting pitbulls, who can indeed feel pain, by the way, or they wouldn't make a crying sound.

Please don't take this person's skewed feelings on the subject to be a typical American response. It's, alas, insulting to the rest of us.

 

[Miles Tormani]

Very first post. I couldn't help but sign up and comment after seeing such a discussion.

I'm going to take the ballpark guess and say this topic was MAINLY brought up by Yahtzee's comment of MGS4's attitude towards gameplay elements (there's more to it than that, obviously, otherwise people wouldn't get so angry about it). And I kinda have to say... well. Most people just get it wrong and use it as a blanket term for other cases such as OCD or ADD. (That having been said, I don't know /enough/ about the other cases to really say anything about which terms are "wrong" and which ones are "right.") I can't completely say I blame people for using "autistic" as the basic term, since autism in and of itself /is/ a blanket term. Big deal.

That said, it usually annoys me a little hearing someone use such a term like that, but the same can be said for when people blast blacks, whites, Asians, gays, straights, lesbians, Catholics, Muslims, atheists, males, females or pretty much any ethnic, religious, or whatever "sub-race" that can be found on the planet. Sometimes it just feels hateful, especially when you aren't in the best of moods yourself.

On the other hand, where the bloody hell would we be if we didn't have any sense of humor? If you can't laugh at yourself, why can you see it as kosher when someone else gets laughed at? Because, in your experience, you find that YOUR group gets made fun of more? The only reason it seems that way in many cases is because you're too busy fuming about someone's "personal attack on you" to notice that it happens to everyone. (Sorry, that gets on my nerves more than other things.)

Not all of the insults are warranted, of course, and some are done with true malice, but, think about it. If someone couldn't make fun of you for being autistic, they'd make fun of you for being gay. If it wasn't for being gay, it'd be for being Catholic. If it wasn't for being Catholic, you'd be blasted for being a heathen. In those cases it's just the insult itself, not what the target weak point is.

Most of what we see, though (like, say, Yahtzee's Asperger's Syndrome comment in the MGS4 review), is done in a more playful manner. During those times, you're better off taking the joke at face value and assuming it wasn't meant for anyone to be offended. To quote MGS2 (ironically), "There are some things you just have to pass on. The trick is knowing which ones."

...Whew, that was long, and I probably contradicted myself. Thanks for reading if you bothered. Nitpick and proofread for me as needed.

(Edit: For example, my complete and utter failure to miss the word "self-diagnosed." Oops. That probably killed half my argument.)

 

[Booze Zombie]

I got Yahtzee's joke. It's just, I feel he might has misrepresented people with asperger's as twits. Not to mention that it would have been much easier to call the game a hyper-active little girl or something more easily identifiable to the masses.

Y'know?

 

[gamergal126]

I read the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time shortly after I was diagnosed last november.

Hyatari - I think the point is it's prejudiced towards actual ASD "Sufferers"

My mom gave me that book shortly after I was diagnosed a few years ago.