Thoughts on Asperger's syndrome (from someone who has it)

[The High Tatras]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

1.
I think a lot of people on this website who claim to have Asperger’s syndrome are using their condition as an excuse to be rude and get away with it, or to receive some kind of special treatment from other forum goers. I suspect that many of them do not even actually have Asperger’s syndrome.

I really do have Asperger’s syndrome, meaning I actually got a diagnosis. I don’t use it as an excuse to be rude or to receive special treatment from other forum goers. When I know that I said something rude, I apologize. Please do not pretend to have Asperger’s syndrome if you do not actually have it. When you do so, you are hurting the reputation of people with Asperger’s syndrome and thus making it even harder for us to cope with our (real) disabilities.

2.

There have been a lot of very inaccurate and offensive portrayals of people with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders in the media and popular culture in recent years. Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” and Monk from “Monk” are particularly egregious examples, but there are plenty of others.

I recognize that these are works of fiction and are intended to be entertainment, not documentaries that are expected to be factual. I also recognize that plenty of other demographics have been stereotyped and portrayed inaccurately and offensively. However, if those demographics can complain about the way they are portrayed in fiction, I believe that I have a right to do so for myself as well. I’m not going to name specific names, but almost every possible demographic that has been stereotyped in fiction has complained about that stereotype.

Many times, people have said to me “This character in this book/ movie/ television show/ etc. has Asperger’s syndrome, you should be able to identify with him or her.” I have not seen one portrayal of a fictional character with Asperger’s syndrome that I been able to like and identify with. That may be just my personal experience, but I have experienced it many times. Furthermore, how many characters with Asperger’s syndrome are played by actors who actually have it? There must be at least some that do.

[Ifreann]

I think a lot of people on this website who claim to have Asperger’s syndrome are using their condition as an excuse to be rude and get away with it, or to receive some kind of special treatment from other forum goers. I suspect that many of them do not even actually have Asperger’s syndrome.

Welcome to the internet.

[Risottia]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

Hello! This is NSG, that is, a debate forum. It's not a blog, it's not your website where you are supposed to post your feelings for sharing.

So maybe you want to rearrange your OP into something more debate-like. What issue do you want to debate, exactly?

[The Scientific States]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

Hello! This is NSG, that is, a debate forum. It's not a blog, it's not your website where you are supposed to post your feelings for sharing.

So maybe you want to rearrange your OP into something more debate-like. What issue do you want to debate, exactly?

Agreed.

[Diopolis]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

1.
I think a lot of people on this website who claim to have Asperger’s syndrome are using their condition as an excuse to be rude and get away with it, or to receive some kind of special treatment from other forum goers. I suspect that many of them do not even actually have Asperger’s syndrome.

I really do have Asperger’s syndrome, meaning I actually got a diagnosis. I don’t use it as an excuse to be rude or to receive special treatment from other forum goers. When I know that I said something rude, I apologize. Please do not pretend to have Asperger’s syndrome if you do not actually have it. When you do so, you are hurting the reputation of people with Asperger’s syndrome and thus making it even harder for us to cope with our (real) disabilities.

2.

There have been a lot of very inaccurate and offensive portrayals of people with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders in the media and popular culture in recent years. Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” and Monk from “Monk” are particularly egregious examples, but there are plenty of others.

I recognize that these are works of fiction and are intended to be entertainment, not documentaries that are expected to be factual. I also recognize that plenty of other demographics have been stereotyped and portrayed inaccurately and offensively. However, if those demographics can complain about the way they are portrayed in fiction, I believe that I have a right to do so for myself as well. I’m not going to name specific names, but almost every possible demographic that has been stereotyped in fiction has complained about that stereotype.

Many times, people have said to me “This character in this book/ movie/ television show/ etc. has Asperger’s syndrome, you should be able to identify with him or her.” I have not seen one portrayal of a fictional character with Asperger’s syndrome that I been able to like and identify with. That may be just my personal experience, but I have experienced it many times. Furthermore, how many characters with Asperger’s syndrome are played by actors who actually have it? There must be at least some that do.

I think sheldon is supposed to be autistic, not aspergers.

[The High Tatras]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

Hello! This is NSG, that is, a debate forum. It's not a blog, it's not your website where you are supposed to post your feelings for sharing.

So maybe you want to rearrange your OP into something more debate-like. What issue do you want to debate, exactly?

I mostly wanted to see if others agreed or disagreed with my way of thinking. I did not mean to ask any rhetorical questions.

[Risottia]

I think sheldon is supposed to be autistic, not aspergers.

Sheldon looks quite a standard theoretician to me... I gather you're not a physicist, are you?

[The Scientific States]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

1.
I think a lot of people on this website who claim to have Asperger’s syndrome are using their condition as an excuse to be rude and get away with it, or to receive some kind of special treatment from other forum goers. I suspect that many of them do not even actually have Asperger’s syndrome.

I really do have Asperger’s syndrome, meaning I actually got a diagnosis. I don’t use it as an excuse to be rude or to receive special treatment from other forum goers. When I know that I said something rude, I apologize. Please do not pretend to have Asperger’s syndrome if you do not actually have it. When you do so, you are hurting the reputation of people with Asperger’s syndrome and thus making it even harder for us to cope with our (real) disabilities.

2.

There have been a lot of very inaccurate and offensive portrayals of people with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders in the media and popular culture in recent years. Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” and Monk from “Monk” are particularly egregious examples, but there are plenty of others.

I recognize that these are works of fiction and are intended to be entertainment, not documentaries that are expected to be factual. I also recognize that plenty of other demographics have been stereotyped and portrayed inaccurately and offensively. However, if those demographics can complain about the way they are portrayed in fiction, I believe that I have a right to do so for myself as well. I’m not going to name specific names, but almost every possible demographic that has been stereotyped in fiction has complained about that stereotype.

Many times, people have said to me “This character in this book/ movie/ television show/ etc. has Asperger’s syndrome, you should be able to identify with him or her.” I have not seen one portrayal of a fictional character with Asperger’s syndrome that I been able to like and identify with. That may be just my personal experience, but I have experienced it many times. Furthermore, how many characters with Asperger’s syndrome are played by actors who actually have it? There must be at least some that do.

I must say I agree with the OP as well. Apsergers is tough to deal with, and though I don't get mad when someone makes fun of it, my heart sinks a little knowing that I have aspergers and everyone next to me is laughing and joking about it.

[Risottia]

Hello! This is NSG, that is, a debate forum. It's not a blog, it's not your website where you are supposed to post your feelings for sharing.

So maybe you want to rearrange your OP into something more debate-like. What issue do you want to debate, exactly?

I mostly wanted to see if others agreed or disagreed with my way of thinking. I did not mean to ask any rhetorical questions.

I really suggest to rework it a bit. Debating isn't about asking rhetorical questions... rhetorical questions are one of the possible tools of debating, but not the purpose thereof.

[Kromar]

I think sheldon is supposed to be autistic, not aspergers.

Word of God says he isn't supposed to be either, he's just weird.

[The High Tatras]

I mostly wanted to see if others agreed or disagreed with my way of thinking. I did not mean to ask any rhetorical questions.

I really suggest to rework it a bit. Debating isn't about asking rhetorical questions... rhetorical questions are one of the possible tools of debating, but not the purpose thereof.

I'm not exactly sure how I would rephrase my OP.

[Ainin]

http://www.wordpress.com

[Ifreann]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

1.
I think a lot of people on this website who claim to have Asperger’s syndrome are using their condition as an excuse to be rude and get away with it, or to receive some kind of special treatment from other forum goers. I suspect that many of them do not even actually have Asperger’s syndrome.

I really do have Asperger’s syndrome, meaning I actually got a diagnosis. I don’t use it as an excuse to be rude or to receive special treatment from other forum goers. When I know that I said something rude, I apologize. Please do not pretend to have Asperger’s syndrome if you do not actually have it. When you do so, you are hurting the reputation of people with Asperger’s syndrome and thus making it even harder for us to cope with our (real) disabilities.

2.

There have been a lot of very inaccurate and offensive portrayals of people with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders in the media and popular culture in recent years. Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” and Monk from “Monk” are particularly egregious examples, but there are plenty of others.

I recognize that these are works of fiction and are intended to be entertainment, not documentaries that are expected to be factual. I also recognize that plenty of other demographics have been stereotyped and portrayed inaccurately and offensively. However, if those demographics can complain about the way they are portrayed in fiction, I believe that I have a right to do so for myself as well. I’m not going to name specific names, but almost every possible demographic that has been stereotyped in fiction has complained about that stereotype.

Many times, people have said to me “This character in this book/ movie/ television show/ etc. has Asperger’s syndrome, you should be able to identify with him or her.” I have not seen one portrayal of a fictional character with Asperger’s syndrome that I been able to like and identify with. That may be just my personal experience, but I have experienced it many times. Furthermore, how many characters with Asperger’s syndrome are played by actors who actually have it? There must be at least some that do.

I think sheldon is supposed to be autistic, not aspergers.

Sheldon is supposed to be an amusing character. Trying to apply a psychological diagnosis is largely pointless.

[The High Tatras]

http://www.wordpress.com

I get the message that I should have posted this in a blog, please stop pestering me.

[Torcularis Septentrionalis]

I think sheldon is supposed to be autistic, not aspergers.

Sheldon looks quite a standard theoretician to me... I gather you're not a physicist, are you?

I am and I am g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s.

[New Papasburg]

Agreeing with the OP here, lord knows a lot of you guys are annoying as hell, partly due to that shit.
No offense.

[Grave_n_idle]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

1.
I think a lot of people on this website who claim to have Asperger’s syndrome are using their condition as an excuse to be rude and get away with it, or to receive some kind of special treatment from other forum goers. I suspect that many of them do not even actually have Asperger’s syndrome.

I really do have Asperger’s syndrome, meaning I actually got a diagnosis. I don’t use it as an excuse to be rude or to receive special treatment from other forum goers. When I know that I said something rude, I apologize. Please do not pretend to have Asperger’s syndrome if you do not actually have it. When you do so, you are hurting the reputation of people with Asperger’s syndrome and thus making it even harder for us to cope with our (real) disabilities.

2.

There have been a lot of very inaccurate and offensive portrayals of people with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders in the media and popular culture in recent years. Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” and Monk from “Monk” are particularly egregious examples, but there are plenty of others.

I recognize that these are works of fiction and are intended to be entertainment, not documentaries that are expected to be factual. I also recognize that plenty of other demographics have been stereotyped and portrayed inaccurately and offensively. However, if those demographics can complain about the way they are portrayed in fiction, I believe that I have a right to do so for myself as well. I’m not going to name specific names, but almost every possible demographic that has been stereotyped in fiction has complained about that stereotype.

Many times, people have said to me “This character in this book/ movie/ television show/ etc. has Asperger’s syndrome, you should be able to identify with him or her.” I have not seen one portrayal of a fictional character with Asperger’s syndrome that I been able to like and identify with. That may be just my personal experience, but I have experienced it many times. Furthermore, how many characters with Asperger’s syndrome are played by actors who actually have it? There must be at least some that do.

Hmm. I've never thought of either Sheldon or Monk as Autism spectrum. Sheldon is a self-involved douche, and Monk is clinically OCD, but if they mentioned either character being on the spectrum, I missed that bit.

[Saint Jade IV]

These are some things that I have wanted to say for a long time. I have tried to keep these thoughts to myself, but I feel the need to share them. I apologize in advance if I cause any offense or annoyance by posting this, but this is simply the way I feel.

1.
I think a lot of people on this website who claim to have Asperger’s syndrome are using their condition as an excuse to be rude and get away with it, or to receive some kind of special treatment from other forum goers. I suspect that many of them do not even actually have Asperger’s syndrome.

I really do have Asperger’s syndrome, meaning I actually got a diagnosis. I don’t use it as an excuse to be rude or to receive special treatment from other forum goers. When I know that I said something rude, I apologize. Please do not pretend to have Asperger’s syndrome if you do not actually have it. When you do so, you are hurting the reputation of people with Asperger’s syndrome and thus making it even harder for us to cope with our (real) disabilities.

2.

There have been a lot of very inaccurate and offensive portrayals of people with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders in the media and popular culture in recent years. Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” and Monk from “Monk” are particularly egregious examples, but there are plenty of others.

I recognize that these are works of fiction and are intended to be entertainment, not documentaries that are expected to be factual. I also recognize that plenty of other demographics have been stereotyped and portrayed inaccurately and offensively. However, if those demographics can complain about the way they are portrayed in fiction, I believe that I have a right to do so for myself as well. I’m not going to name specific names, but almost every possible demographic that has been stereotyped in fiction has complained about that stereotype.

Many times, people have said to me “This character in this book/ movie/ television show/ etc. has Asperger’s syndrome, you should be able to identify with him or her.” I have not seen one portrayal of a fictional character with Asperger’s syndrome that I been able to like and identify with. That may be just my personal experience, but I have experienced it many times. Furthermore, how many characters with Asperger’s syndrome are played by actors who actually have it? There must be at least some that do.

I think sheldon is supposed to be autistic, not aspergers.

Asperger's lies on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I think a lot of people on this website who claim to have Asperger’s syndrome are using their condition as an excuse to be rude and get away with it, or to receive some kind of special treatment from other forum goers.

That is true. I have seen them ask for special treatment from the mods on multiple occasions. It's pretty stupid.

I suspect that many of them do not even actually have Asperger’s syndrome.

I have no idea if they really have Asperger's or not. Some people choose really bizarre stuff to lie about on the internet.

There have been a lot of very inaccurate and offensive portrayals of people with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders in the media and popular culture in recent years. Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” and Monk from “Monk” are particularly egregious examples, but there are plenty of others.

I thought Monk was supposed to have OCD. It's been a while since I've seen the show, but the big thing that I remember about him was the OCD. He's supposed to be autistic?

Furthermore, how many characters with Asperger’s syndrome are played by actors who actually have it? There must be at least some that do.

I have no idea. I would think an actor who doesn't have it could play the part just fine if it was well-scripted and they were given a good explanation of what they are supposed to be doing with the role. I mean, you don't have to be a Nazi to play one on TV.

[Zavea]

the amount of autism spectrum diagnoses is rising and people are learning more about it. at the very least, this makes the amount of people with autism spectrum disorders/people who lie about having them on the internet pretty expected.

obviously on an internet forum it's unreasonable and impossible for a person to ask for special treatment because they have a disorder like autism/aspergers. internet communities demand a level of conformity to function, as does real life, and the burden is on the poster to exercise self-restraint and follow the rules set down. an internet community cannot fairly accommodate for people with ASD'S like real life can.

[Frisivisia]

I think that quite a few of the "aspies" on the internet are self-diagnosed and just want to be a part of a community.

[Grave_n_idle]

I think that quite a few of the "aspies" on the internet are self-diagnosed and just want to be a part of a community.

I think a lot of the people claiming to be autistic or 'aspies' on the internet are just claiming something they think excuses rudeness. I think most people actually dealing with the autism spectrum tend not to make a big deal of it, because they are trying to present a 'normal' front, or master the 'normal' skills that others take for granted - and a flashing neon 'get your autism spectrum here' sign would be counterproductive.

[Khanastan]

I came here for a debate, but since we've not got one, i'll attempt to start one off.

Personally, I think that autism/aspergers is all too frequently blown out of proportion or abused by both those who suffer from it and those close to those who suffer from it. I'm not denying people do have it. I know people who suffer quite badly, and me people a very sarcastic/informally spoken person in real life, it really becomes apparent when i'm speaking to someone who has it, and I do have sympathy for them.

Some people however - also from experience - take advantage of the social stigma that comes from the condition. There is the obvious one, the people on the internet that use it as an excuse to be disrespectful or to gain sympathy, some going all out and faking it. Some people who do milk though are not to blame. Some people who don't actually suffer from autism/aspergers or don't suffer from it as badly from it but believe they do, do so because of the influence of another. Mostly, the parents.

Autism/aspergers is pretty well known in Western society nowadays, and generally people receive sympathy for having it. Children often receive help through school (especially here, in Scotland, where the NHS puts a lot of money into aiding affected children through primary school). Generally, children who are slower to learn than others, overly hyperactive, or not as socially active are put through these programs to screen them for the condition. Worst of all, some of these children's parents press the issue of their children being slower to learn so they are put onto these programs to make their education easier, or worse, of they - the parents - receive sympathy because their children have "a problem". Sadly, this stigma can stick with children. Their condition will often be treated as worse than it is, they will be branded as something they are not, or perfectly lucid children will be kept behind in school, causing them to miss out.

A fellow pupil of mine was kept back from Primary 4 to Primary 7 as his parents were convinced because he was a little slower at reading than some other children and he was moved from the top reading group to the second reading group. He was put on one of these programs, made to do an even lower grade of reading, maths and writing. He was convinced that he was, and I quote, "half-autistic". He was made fun of and held back from his fullest potential in high school, yet he still went on to do his Higher grades at the end of high school. He could easily have been doing his Advanced Highers and be at university right now, but because of certain rational decisions made by his parents in Primary, he lost out.

Personally, I think more strenuous testing needs to be made outside of schools to prevent such things from happening. Specialists need to hold the ultimate decision on whether a child has these conditions, not the parents. What do you guys think about the false labelling of autistic and Aspergers children?

[Condunum]

I think that quite a few of the "aspies" on the internet are self-diagnosed and just want to be a part of a community.

I think a lot of the people claiming to be autistic or 'aspies' on the internet are just claiming something they think excuses rudeness. I think most people actually dealing with the autism spectrum tend not to make a big deal of it, because they are trying to present a 'normal' front, or master the 'normal' skills that others take for granted - and a flashing neon 'get your autism spectrum here' sign would be counterproductive.

I don't mean to single her out, but take Individuality-ness, for example. She's autistic, and she never, ever uses it as a crutch. And yet, she's consistently polite to those who are polite, and rude to those who are rude. She's more than able to have proper social interaction on here, enough so that I didn't know she was autistic until I opened the spoiler that had said information.

[Grave_n_idle]

I think a lot of the people claiming to be autistic or 'aspies' on the internet are just claiming something they think excuses rudeness. I think most people actually dealing with the autism spectrum tend not to make a big deal of it, because they are trying to present a 'normal' front, or master the 'normal' skills that others take for granted - and a flashing neon 'get your autism spectrum here' sign would be counterproductive.

I don't mean to single her out, but take Individuality-ness, for example. She's autistic, and she never, ever uses it as a crutch. And yet, she's consistently polite to those who are polite, and rude to those who are rude. She's more than able to have proper social interaction on here, enough so that I didn't know she was autistic until I opened the spoiler that had said information.

Right. People for whom it has actually been a problem, tend to learn how to cope with it, and then try to compensate for it. Making it a new, different problem, would be counter-intuitive.