should autism be cured?

[Ethel mermania]

A few people do grow out of Autism, that is true. But the almost always do it when their young.
As for I wouldn't change too much. Well here's some ways I would change,
1. I would go from being anti-social and being alone to liking to be with people.
2. Like above, I would go from spending free time reading, on here, and other alone things I would spend it with friends.
3. The way I perceive the world would be different, as Autistics senses and perception are deferent.
4. Since the way I perceive would be deferent, its reasonable to assume my memories would also be deferent.
5. My grades would probably drop.
6. Most of my personality is affected by Autism and would change at least a little.
7. My logic and reasoning would go down, while my social skills would go up.
8. I would show more emotion then I do now.
9. My routine would change.
10. Several of my physical attributes would change, such as how I walk, sleep, routine, etc.
11. Lots and lots and lots more.
You see, I would change a lot. Enough that in my opinion I wouldn't be the same person.

autism colors how you perceive and interact with yourself and the world, you still are the person you are. if you were interested in trees, you would still like them, you just wouldnt stim off them.

i dont know why you say your grades would drop, autism doesnt make you smart, you make you smart. you wouldnt show emotion more, you would just feel and show it more appropriately

i would agree it would be life altering, but it is still you whos life is being altered.


i need to drop out of this thread for a bit. good luck to you.

[Dyakovo]

A few people do grow out of Autism, that is true. But the almost always do it when their young.
As for I wouldn't change too much. Well here's some ways I would change,
1. I would go from being anti-social and being alone to liking to be with people.
2. Like above, I would go from spending free time reading, on here, and other alone things I would spend it with friends.
3. The way I perceive the world would be different, as Autistics senses and perception are deferent.
4. Since the way I perceive would be deferent, its reasonable to assume my memories would also be deferent.
5. My grades would probably drop.
6. Most of my personality is affected by Autism and would change at least a little.
7. My logic and reasoning would go down, while my social skills would go up.
8. I would show more emotion then I do now.
9. My routine would change.
10. Several of my physical attributes would change, such as how I walk, sleep, routine, etc.
11. Lots and lots and lots more.
You see, I would change a lot. Enough that in my opinion I wouldn't be the same person.

1: And you consider this a bad thing?
2: See #1, though "not being autisitic" in no way equates to "doesn't spend free time reading".
3: Source on "Autistics senses are deferent(sic)".
4: No it really isn't reasonable.
5: Why?
6: Not necessarily a bad thing.
8: See #1
9: Right, because if you aren't autistic, you don't use logic and reasoning...
10: See #6

[StellarGate]

A few people do grow out of Autism, that is true. But the almost always do it when their young.
As for I wouldn't change too much. Well here's some ways I would change,
1. I would go from being anti-social and being alone to liking to be with people.
2. Like above, I would go from spending free time reading, on here, and other alone things I would spend it with friends.
3. The way I perceive the world would be different, as Autistics senses and perception are deferent.
4. Since the way I perceive would be deferent, its reasonable to assume my memories would also be deferent.
5. My grades would probably drop.
6. Most of my personality is affected by Autism and would change at least a little.
7. My logic and reasoning would go down, while my social skills would go up.
8. I would show more emotion then I do now.
9. My routine would change.
10. Several of my physical attributes would change, such as how I walk, sleep, routine, etc.
11. Lots and lots and lots more.
You see, I would change a lot. Enough that in my opinion I wouldn't be the same person.

That's why a lot of Other people in this thread have advocated anyone who is high functioning enough be able to decide on their own if they want a cure, especially if you are an adult. Unless someone slips the cure into your morning cereal without you knowing, I'm sure any doctor you go to would say, "we have found a cure for Autism, *list pros/cons here*, would you like to take it?"

[Izandai]

Again, the you in you is not a constant. You change all the time. Everything you experience changes you on some minuscule level. I have no idea why the autistic people in this topic seem to have trouble understanding this. You are so much more than your diagnosis.

I haven't changed too much since second grade. Obviously we get more mature, and that has some effects, but you still remain mostly the same.

If you haven't changed since second grade (which I assume was years ago) that's cause for serious concern. People change and develop as we grow older; if you haven't experienced any of that, then you really do have problems. Of course, the fact that you're communicating rather above a second-grade level says that you have changed since second grade.

[Izandai]

I am surprised no one has brought up concerns for the safety of the operations, if it is too dangerous surely it should not be compulsory for low functioning autistic people to be cured.

We haven't talked about safety concerns because we have no idea what form a cure for autism will take, and thus no idea of its safety or danger.

[Izandai]

A few people do grow out of Autism, that is true. But the almost always do it when their young.
As for I wouldn't change too much. Well here's some ways I would change,
1. I would go from being anti-social and being alone to liking to be with people.
2. Like above, I would go from spending free time reading, on here, and other alone things I would spend it with friends.
3. The way I perceive the world would be different, as Autistics senses and perception are deferent.
4. Since the way I perceive would be deferent, its reasonable to assume my memories would also be deferent.
5. My grades would probably drop.
6. Most of my personality is affected by Autism and would change at least a little.
7. My logic and reasoning would go down, while my social skills would go up.
8. I would show more emotion then I do now.
9. My routine would change.
10. Several of my physical attributes would change, such as how I walk, sleep, routine, etc.
11. Lots and lots and lots more.
You see, I would change a lot. Enough that in my opinion I wouldn't be the same person.

1. No, you'd probably go from needing to be alone most of the time to being able to handle being with people. You'd still like being alone as much as you do now. And even if you did start liking being with people more than being alone, why would that be bad?
2. I love hanging out with my friends, but I'll still spend hours at a time reading a book I like. There's no reason to think that you'd stop liking reading if your autism was cured.
3. Source?
4. Nope. Your memories aren't dependent on your current senses or perceptions. Blind people who weren't born blind still have memories of sight.
5. Why?
6. Probably, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
7. For the first, why? For the second, why is that a bad thing? That's entirely the point of curing autism.
8. Maybe, but more to the point, you'd be better able to express your emotions. And why would that be bad?
9. Maybe, but it might change in a good way.
10. Based on what I've seen of how some autistic people I know walk, I think that your stride could only improve. Also, why would you become less able to sleep well?
11. Such as?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Ok, I'll believe for now. Now, is there any way for you to discuss this subject without flipping out?

I don't trust you. You said that you don't believe me, why would you change your bigoted view now?

At this point, I frankly don't care whether you believe me or not. Your trust or distrust is irrelevant to the discussion.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I am surprised no one has brought up concerns for the safety of the operations, if it is too dangerous surely it should not be compulsory for low functioning autistic people to be cured.

1. I don't think any of us were imagining an operation as a cure.
2. It kind of goes without saying that you don't force people to use a dangerous medical procedure...
3. A lot of us are already saying treatment shouldn't be mandatory. If we already said it shouldn't be mandatory in general, there is no need to address the subject of "if it is too dangerous."

I was honestly thinking about a chemical treatment, like medication. I never envisioned the cure being a surgery, or something along those lines.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I didn't say it had the exact same effects as schizophrenia, just that both affect the way you perceive the world. Sorry to burst your bubble, but autism is not some special thing in a class by itself completely incomparable to any other mental illness. If you want to convince me that it would be wrong to cure your autism, this is not the best way to go about it. Please educate yourself about some basic psychology before you spout off any more bullshit about how the issues you've raised are unique to autism.

You haven't answered my question of how curing autism would be "creating an entirely new person" any more than curing other mental illnesses.

I have no understanding of psychology? It is you who think that autism and schizophrenia effect the brain similarly.

She never said schizophrenia and autism affect the brain in similar ways. It's right fucking there, in the very first sentence of the post you quoted. I even bold the text for you. Gods!

[Farnhamia]

I have no understanding of psychology? It is you who think that autism and schizophrenia effect the brain similarly.

She never said schizophrenia and autism affect the brain in similar ways. It's right fucking there, in the very first sentence of the post you quoted. I even bold the text for you. Gods!

Why are you arguing with him?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

She never said schizophrenia and autism affect the brain in similar ways. It's right fucking there, in the very first sentence of the post you quoted. I even bold the text for you. Gods!

Why are you arguing with him?

Isn't that what we do in debate threads? Did I miss something?

[Australian rePublic]

Some types of autism must be cured, whilst others are fine

[Farnhamia]

Why are you arguing with him?

Isn't that what we do in debate threads? Did I miss something?

Your exchanges with him seem to be taking on a strident tone, is all. I wondered whether ignoring him for a bit might not be a good thing.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Isn't that what we do in debate threads? Did I miss something?

Your exchanges with him seem to be taking on a strident tone, is all. I wondered whether ignoring him for a bit might not be a good thing.

If you think it's best. *shrug*

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Some types of autism must be cured, whilst others are fine

I imagine that we'll know how to proceed there as soon as we isolate the cause for autism. Whether it's genetics, chemical interaction or something else, or a combination of factors.

[Dagoth Urr]

But if Autism was cured than every online game/mmorpg and most internet forums (including this one and this game) would lose about 75% of it's population

[Farnhamia]

But if Autism was cured than every online game/mmorpg and most internet forums (including this one and this game) would lose about 75% of it's population

Which would make response time for the rest that much better. And people might go out in the fresh air and meet each other and interact in an analog sort of way.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

But if Autism was cured than every online game/mmorpg and most internet forums (including this one and this game) would lose about 75% of it's population

It would be best if that happened to every internet dweller that said they're sociopaths instead. Thankfully, it's been a while since we've seen one of those individuals post on NS.

Note: the fakers, that is. I don't doubt there are people out there who're truly sociopaths, diagnosed and all.

[Dyakovo]

But if Autism was cured than every online game/mmorpg and most internet forums (including this one and this game) would lose about 75% of it's population

Because non-autistic people don't play videogames or frequent forums...

[Aravea]

Yes because then we wouldn't have to deal with tired memes like Chris-chan.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Yes because then we wouldn't have to deal with tired memes like Chris-chan.

Who? *googles*

[Estado Paulista]

But if Autism was cured than every online game/mmorpg and most internet forums (including this one and this game) would lose about 75% of it's population

Big gaming companies are preventing us from finding a cure to autism.

[Izandai]

But if Autism was cured than every online game/mmorpg and most internet forums (including this one and this game) would lose about 75% of it's population

Because non-autistic people don't play videogames or frequent forums...

And that's all that autistic people do.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Because non-autistic people don't play videogames or frequent forums...

And that's all that autistic people do.

Bypassing the rolling eyes game, we get it, I've had a few rousing discussions about certain topics with a few Aspies. One thing I'm interested in is, what are the levels of severity in Aspergers? From hardly any symptoms to borderline low functioning. How is this measured?

[Llamalandia]

If he was "cured" of autism, he would view his memories and his knowledge in a completely different way. He may even act and think like a completely new person.
Autism effects how the brain works and makes sense of the world. Getting rid of someone autism would be like creating an entirely new person.

Don't other mental disorders, which are currently treatable, affect the way people's brains work and how they make sense of the world? Curing other disorders can sometimes have dramatic effects, but it doesn't erase everything a person was before they were treated. How would curing autism be "creating an entirely new person" any more than curing other disorders? Curing a schizophrenic probably changes their perception of the world a lot more than curing an autistic would, yet we still do what we can to cure schizophrenics.

Mind you, I don't think every case of autism needs to be cured. I also don't think every case of ADHD, bipolar, etc. needs to be cured. A lot of people have untreated mental disorders that they just live with, sometimes more successfully than others, but that doesn't mean nobody should be allowed to get treatment for their kids or that it's "murder" to put someone on meds.

Well so long as the autistics are living sucessfully with them and don't want to be cured and aren't a burden upon society then fine let em make the choice. However if they aren't sucessful etc etc then it becomes clear that they need to be cured for their own sake and for society at large.