Do you get this question ever?

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When I tell people I have Asperger's Syndrome, and that its on the autistic spectrum, they tend to ask this qusetion: "Are you like Rain Man?"

I was wondering the following:
1. Does anyone else ever get this question?
2. Does it bother you like it bothers me?

My reasoning for it bothering me is that the people I tell know me and they clearly know how RAymond acts in the movie, yet they hear this and then can make that distinction, despite knowing me and my behavior. Like that qusetion was their one single attempt to understand me.

By the way, if anyone has seen "Mercury Rising", I'm just glad no one compares me to that kid.

Start out by explaining which symptoms you have, not only is this much more useful to them then the name of a dx, but you will most likely also avoid that question.

Although I have been called "Like a budget rainman" I found it funny, and it was clearly intended to be.

If it lifts your spirit:

I got something alone the lines "You're not like Rain Man. You are barely affected aren't you? How could the psychologist have diagnosed you? Not even AS, just really slightly affected, am I right?"

And I do got this after giving a detailed explanation of the symptoms of both asperger's and classical.

They probably think something like, "if you're disabled, you must be severely mentally ret*d. If you're not severely mentally ret*d, you're not disabled. Unless your body is deformed in a noticeable way. And if your body doesn't look typical, you must be severely mentally ret*d too."

People are so bloody stupid. About disabilities.

I'm going to need a new plan on how to explain about ASDs. I'm usually not taken seriously by the majority of people. Thus they don't take my ASD seriously either.



(I liked Mercury Rising, but I didn't like Rain Man.)

I get asked that, a lot. I tell them that I'm more like Bill Gates, than Rain Man.

i dont ever get asked that because im not telling anyone

No, but that's because I wait until people know me until I tell them.

The people that know I have it are largely people I've known for some time, so they've already got to know me without my telling them I have AS. It just explains a lot of the reasons why I am the way I am to them

No, never. I don't tell many people, and those I do always doubt that I have it. The movie is a bit of a fading memory for most...

No, I've never been asked that question as no one who i've told has seen rainman. I have had many other mindless questions/comments though, so now I don't tell many people unless..

a) They have AS themselves, or...
b) They are family or friends who i've known for a long time.

I just say, "Well, I'm an excellent driver."

I just keep it between myself, my closest family members (such as my mother and grandparents), my doctor, and one of my friends (who also has AS.)
However, if anyone asked me that, I'd probably burst with laughter.