Forum for NTs?

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Hi There

How's it all going? I have a query; Might it be possible to have a forum catering for Neurotypical individuals associated with www.wrongplanet.net

I have no problem in NTs using the site, although I am sometimes confused when they do not identify themselves as such. I believe it was intended for the individual with AS or HFA - not those who know (or are related to) him or her. Having Neurotypicals participate in general conversation, pertaining directly to life as an Autistic person seems strange and irrelevant. There are countless sites dedicated to the purpose of allowing NTs to "moan" about our shortfalls.

I see it this way! A neurotypical joining this site is like me joining a site intended specifically for people from Hawaii. Weird and perhaps even insulting - I know nothing about being Hawaiian, just as an NT knows nothing about being Autistic. It totally defeats the purpose of creating the site in the first place.

Although the perspective of NT might be of value to us with Autism, might a separate forum be established for them to voice their opinion?

Thankyou for your consideration

Kind Regards


Greg

What would be nearly as effective would be if that question thingie we answered when signing up that asked us our dx was shown under our info on the forum.

interesante *thumbs up*

Sure. www.rightplanet.net. It be the sister forum.

I don't have a problem with NTs being here. They come here because they have a child with it or a sibling or a friend or a partner or a student so they come here to learn more about how we see things and how to help the aspie they know and understand them better. I am sure college students come here and read what is here because they are studying autism spectrum disorders and they like to see how our minds work and how we see things. In the past some have joined and post research questions for us to answer but that isn't allowed here. I think they get banned for it.

I like having NTs explain the world to us and why things are the way they are and how they see things. It really does help us explain their behavior. I wish more would do it though.

I dunno why they'd get banned for it, I think the more research they conduct the better off we will be in the long run. But I don't run the site.

But the way I see it, sure this is an "autism community" but NT's are welcome here so long as they are respectful. I think the majority of us here really do wish for people to understand us, and reading our posts online is a good way to do so. I think having a separate site for NT's will only serve to be counterproductive to this end. And while I don't want to draw any unintentional parallels, it would kind of be like segregation. Sure the sites would be equal, but without the co-mingling of Aspies and NT's on a regular basis, there would be a lot of misunderstandings, which would lead to distrust and possibly full-out hatred between the two groups.

But why do you ask for a separate community? Is it perhaps you don't feel welcome here? I can understand feeling a little out of place but you shouldn't pass up this opportunity to learn more about us. The more enlightened people like you we can call friend, the better off we will be and the better off the world will be.

I don't know if the last part of your reply was to me or to the OP. I didn't ask for a separate forum. It was a joke when I posted rightplanet.net.

Why would they get banned for doing research on us here? Because lot of us don't like being their guinea pigs. Even some people who run autism support groups don't allow researchers to come because lot of us don't want to be watched like we are animals and be observed. Even Roger Meyers has gotten calls from doctors or college students asking if they can come to the group to watch us and observe and he goes "absolutely not."

Research is allowed IF they get permission beforehand. Most of the papers never get beyond the student and the professor; not worth our time, and if we allow it, there will be a flood. Anyone who really, really wants to understand the AS population should have no problem asking Alex for permission beforehand and waiting patiently for an answer.

As for a separate forum ... I think the OP was asking as someone uncomfortable not knowing when he is posting with an NT. It is easy enough to check, if you look up the profile, and I see pros and cons to actually posting that status more visibly. That might be worth further discussion, but I don't know how open Alex would be to change on that.

Most NT's that come here are careful in posting, and fully aware that they are on someone else's property. I think there is a lot of value to the interaction, and I say that based on the feedback I've gotten over the years (I am more NT than AS, I think anyway, but my son is definitely AS), but there are people who come here with questionable motives. I think the best compromise is to point it out to a moderator if a specific poster is acting in a way that makes you uncomfortable.

On a personal level, I come here to learn things I need to know about my son, even though my role has expanded over time at the request of others here. I don't really just want to talk with other NT's; I do that every day in real life and it isn't feedback I need to come onto the internet for.

I wouldn't mind the dx thing showing (as long as it's not used to poke fun of anyone). Only problem was I didn't know what to mark. I put NT because I didn't want anyone getting an incorrect impression that I had AS or autism, but apparently ADHD and synesthesia are not strictly NT. What does that count as, in our profiles, or should a separate option exist for those who have an ADHD diagnosis but nothing else?

People can put in their signatures what they have.

Got my sig fixed. That should take care of it. I am apparently something of a "hybrid," so I had to have a little fun with it.

Ok, I get the idea. And that last part would have been to the OP. Sorry, should have specified.

I agree with this. I want to meet and interact with people who are on the spectrum. I deal with NT inanity all day long, so I don't need a separate website or section of WP "for NTs only." No thanks.

Minor edit for clarity.

Last edited by DenvrDave on 14 Jun 2010, 1:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

What if the NT or NT-like entity isn't inane?

(Yes, it's late and I'm a bit silly and need to log off. See my new avatar. )

We have, in the past, had posters with NT profiles that did seem to join mostly to make trouble. If there is a poster like that, it should be reported to a moderator, and we'll delve in further to either help them post more appropriately or say a permanent goodbye.

(Just for clarity, I am not here for troublemaking. I realize your post likely was not a response to mine, but I just felt the need to add that.)

I thought you were worried about an NT making trouble ... I wasn't worried about you making trouble. But, hey, getting clarification is always good