Asperger's is a pampered white person's "condition"

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Raj, I don't know what your issue is . . . here's a bit of info you'd best understand.

1) Asperger's Syndrome wasn't on the diagnosis charts until 2000, even though it had been discovered in 1940. Autism has been around for far longer (and still not understood).
2) My father was a disciplinarian . . . I acted up, I got my butt whipped . . . to this day, even after my diagnosis, I have no real wish to spend time with him.
3) I went through 6 years college, 2 Assoc Degrees, and busting my ass for two hourly jobs, because that's how bad it is over here . . . if that's considered lazy, then I guess you're under-worked.
4) If you were to divulge your disgust in a face to face with us, your facial expressions and body language mean nothing to us . . . we'd only get upset at what you were saying.
5) An "American Brat" wouldn't physically injure himself if he were "acting out." An autistic meltdown can be far more violent, as it is real torment. There are youtube videos on this . . . so do your research before coming here and insulting a people you do NOT understand. Should I start insulting those from India because I have no idea about them? I should think not because I, and many other autistics here, don't really give a damn about other cultures (unless it's a special interest).
6) It's also clear you're starved for attention, and thus think coming here and insulting us will get you what you want . . . that is being a troll. Problem with autistics is that we're inclined toward problem solving and quantifiable answers, so we can't help but reply. So, if you want something done in your country, that's your issue.

Some may disapprove of what I'm about to say, but I believe it to be true.

Autism, AS, any number of "conditions," etc. are vastly OVER-DIAGNOSED in America probably because so many parents want a "reason" for any issue their kid might have. We also have a system in the schools and psychiatric community that are happy to slap a label or 10 on kids who really just need some good old fashioned discipline.

We also have a generation of ineffective parents who DO NOT know how to discipline. Given your example, if a kid continues to have problems in spite of disciplinary action, then you know there is something more that is wrong. If it goes away, you have to ask how readily we will slap labels on kids to excuse poor parenting.

If you think that's unfair, remember that there is a big push to label boys with ADD and put them on meds for simply being full of energy (schools have just about eliminated PE and play time...something that provided an outlet for young boys to invest their energy so they could behave in class).

This is not to say AS/Autism and many other conditions are not real for many kids, but certainly the label is being thrown around liberally.

The other snafu here is that people who DO have AS, but are mild to very mild on the spectrum, strong discipline may hinder a diagnosis as those who can conceal their condition learn that concealing their symptoms is the best solution for their situation. That's about what happened to me, but to be fair, I wish my parents has disciplined me more. It would either have forced me to learn more coping skills sooner than I actually did (as life did to me what mom and dad would not do) or it would have made deficiencies glaringly obvious and maybe I would have sought help at a time when it would have done a lot more good for me.

For ANYONE with AS, discipline is needed in their life. Everyone needs discipline. To overcome anything in life, you must find the resolve to overcome limitations as best you can. So, that parents in India tend to be stricter than parents in America, I'm not surprised that the incidence of AS is much lower than here in the USA.

OK I think the general consensus is this:

If it is believed that Asperger's is a bogus condition based on laziness, playing computer games and rudeness, this is called stereotyping. If you are unable to look past that viewpoint and educate youself any further as to the correct meaning, this is called ignorance. AS is not a modern condition but one that was first defined in the 1940's. Many people with AS are able to hold down steady jobs and, despite us being socially clumsy, some of us do socialise but it is mentally exhausting to do so sometimes (or all the time for others). I think that to say we are all 'pampered' is also incorrect.

Also, I think the this has caused a lot of offence to people here, including myself, who struggle on a day-to-day basis with this condition. I ask of people only this: if you don't understand a condition well enough, please just ask. Do not make offensive posts like this. WP is meant to be a place where people with or without Asperger's and autism can come and talk about any issues they have, gain an understanding of AS or autism or even for general chit-chat NOT to write inflammatory posts like this that are clearly based on a gross lack of information.

I am choosing to lock this thread as a couple of people here have rightly asked for it to be and I also don't believe there is any further benefit in keeping it open. Hopefully, I will get the support of the other moderators on this.