28 Jul 2009, 4:01 pm
I'm not proud of being an Aspie, what I am proud of is the achievements I get despite having many problems. Of course a lot of people would not WANT Aspergers, but what's the point of us saying that all the time anyway because it's just the way we are, we can't change it. People have up and down days which is why you get the mixed messages. It is the same for both people with AS and NTs.
And yeah... I would get rid of my Tourettes, AD/HD and dystonia if I could... but that's not going to happen so better stop dreaming
_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite
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28 Jul 2009, 4:43 pm
28 Jul 2009, 5:24 pm
28 Jul 2009, 6:02 pm
** Disclaimer: No offense intended... Please don't take this the wrong way **
** We don't have much exposure to black communities in Australia, so I **
** don't know if this is offensive. My apologies if it is. **
Asking an aspie whether they'd rather give up themselves to reap the benefits of a neurotypical society is a bit like asking a black person in a predominately white country if they'd rather give up the life and values that come with being part of a black community simply to avoid the racism that occurs.
Aside from Michael Jackson 
I can't really see any reason why a black person would change their identity to become white.
We'd generally say that it's white people who need to learn acceptance. (and to a certain extent, it is also up to the elements of the black community who carry racist values, to change their attitudes).
This is true of aspergers. Neurotypicals need to change - and the less forgiving of us also need to change.
---
The God comment is on a different topic really but I'd venture to say that it's not only aspies who are atheist (and in fact there are some deeply religious aspies at WP). The rise in atheism is due to changes in society as a whole, increases in knowledge (science versus religion), freedom of speech and the recognition of historical examples of improper behaviour by church officials.
Atheism doesn't necessarily mean a belief that life is meaningless.
28 Jul 2009, 6:07 pm
28 Jul 2009, 8:21 pm
28 Jul 2009, 10:18 pm
28 Jul 2009, 10:37 pm
aMillsFan wrote:
Okay, many of you on here state that you are "so proud of being an Aspie" but yet the same people who claim they are proud complain about having Aspergers and the emotional hell and isolation that it causes. And you will probably argue "oh, I do like being an Aspie, I just wish neurotypicals would be understanding of us".
C'mon now. If you had to choose.. would you really choose to be someone that will permanently have impaired social skills (or at least regular motivation for socialization will never come naturally), learning disability, uncontrollable need for stimming, and intense interests in obscure subjects? Along with being treated like a doormat by your peers and creating emotional stress on your family members?
Or would you rather live a rich normal life free of autism, enjoying the fruits of true human relationships, school, and being connected with life and insteead of being connected with yourself / ourselves all the time?
Do not get me wrong. I am not at all insulting Aspies or saying they are inferior. I have it, and the negative aspects of it permeate every second of my waking life. I used to know a couple of other boys that had it, and they too felt the same. How can you ignore the happiness of neurotypicals around you?
And I have noticed that probably at least 25% of you are atheists. I don't know if this in a trend in all young people or just people with A.S. How can you place so much importance on having a "high IQ" if life really has no inherent purpose? If you are an atheist and believe that life itself has no inherent purpose - why is having a "high IQ' so damn important? Afterall, for the sake of argument, after you die nothing no longer exists in your reality. Your consciousness is gone ---- for the sake of the argument.
C'mon now. If you had to choose.. would you really choose to be someone that will permanently have impaired social skills (or at least regular motivation for socialization will never come naturally), learning disability, uncontrollable need for stimming, and intense interests in obscure subjects? Along with being treated like a doormat by your peers and creating emotional stress on your family members?
Or would you rather live a rich normal life free of autism, enjoying the fruits of true human relationships, school, and being connected with life and insteead of being connected with yourself / ourselves all the time?
Do not get me wrong. I am not at all insulting Aspies or saying they are inferior. I have it, and the negative aspects of it permeate every second of my waking life. I used to know a couple of other boys that had it, and they too felt the same. How can you ignore the happiness of neurotypicals around you?
And I have noticed that probably at least 25% of you are atheists. I don't know if this in a trend in all young people or just people with A.S. How can you place so much importance on having a "high IQ" if life really has no inherent purpose? If you are an atheist and believe that life itself has no inherent purpose - why is having a "high IQ' so damn important? Afterall, for the sake of argument, after you die nothing no longer exists in your reality. Your consciousness is gone ---- for the sake of the argument.
I do not believe changing who I am would make me happy; I do not believe that those off the spectrum are necessarily any happier than anyone else. Though I'm quirky, I do not hate myself for who I am... since finding out about AS, I'm finally able to enjoy being myself more than I ever have before. As for your atheist comment... as one who is more agnostic than atheist, I cannot speak for others, but I take the tack that while here, one should do what they can to learn, to share, to extend on to the next generation. So while I can understand the sentiments of yourself and those boys you refer to, that is not an outlook that I share.
M.
28 Jul 2009, 10:56 pm
28 Jul 2009, 11:09 pm
30 Jul 2009, 11:55 am
30 Jul 2009, 3:29 pm
aMillsFan wrote:
Okay, many of you on here state that you are "so proud of being an Aspie" but yet the same people who claim they are proud complain about having Aspergers and the emotional hell and isolation that it causes. And you will probably argue "oh, I do like being an Aspie, I just wish neurotypicals would be understanding of us".
So what you're saying, is you're not allowed to be proud to be different if you like to talk about the bad aspects of it when you're feeling down or going through a hard time? What a crock of sh*t.
Quote:
C'mon now. If you had to choose.. would you really choose to be someone that will permanently have impaired social skills (or at least regular motivation for socialization will never come naturally), learning disability, uncontrollable need for stimming, and intense interests in obscure subjects? Along with being treated like a doormat by your peers and creating emotional stress on your family members?
You have got to be a troll.
Quote:
Or would you rather live a rich normal life free of autism, enjoying the fruits of true human relationships, school, and being connected with life and insteead of being connected with yourself / ourselves all the time?
Do not get me wrong. I am not at all insulting Aspies or saying they are inferior. I have it, and the negative aspects of it permeate every second of my waking life. I used to know a couple of other boys that had it, and they too felt the same. How can you ignore the happiness of neurotypicals around you?
Do not get me wrong. I am not at all insulting Aspies or saying they are inferior. I have it, and the negative aspects of it permeate every second of my waking life. I used to know a couple of other boys that had it, and they too felt the same. How can you ignore the happiness of neurotypicals around you?
Not having aspergers does not guarentee one of having a "rich, normal life" at all. You have classic grass is greener syndrome.
Quote:
And I have noticed that probably at least 25% of you are atheists. I don't know if this in a trend in all young people or just people with A.S. How can you place so much importance on having a "high IQ" if life really has no inherent purpose? If you are an atheist and believe that life itself has no inherent purpose - why is having a "high IQ' so damn important? Afterall, for the sake of argument, after you die nothing no longer exists in your reality. Your consciousness is gone ---- for the sake of the argument.
I'm not an atheist, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Also it's not exclusive to aspergers, so it's wrong of you to lump that in there and attack aspies for it. I know a lot of intelligent people who are athiests, and in my opinion , they're wrong, but who am I to judge?
CleverKitten
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Joined: 6 Apr 2008
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 874
Location: Norfolk, Virginia, USA
30 Jul 2009, 8:12 pm
aMillsFan wrote:
Okay, many of you on here state that you are "so proud of being an Aspie" but yet the same people who claim they are proud complain about having Aspergers and the emotional hell and isolation that it causes. And you will probably argue "oh, I do like being an Aspie, I just wish neurotypicals would be understanding of us".
Could you please link to the various posts of these people who contradict themselves? I would like to see it for myself.
As for myself, I am indeed proud to be a High-Functioning Autistic. I am proud to be able to see the world and experience life from a different angle than most individuals.
Quote:
C'mon now. If you had to choose.. would you really choose to be someone that will permanently have impaired social skills (or at least regular motivation for socialization will never come naturally), learning disability, uncontrollable need for stimming, and intense interests in obscure subjects? Along with being treated like a doormat by your peers and creating emotional stress on your family members?
My social skills are somewhat impaired, yes. I have no learning disabilities. I am proud of my stimming.
I am motivated by my "intense interests in obscure subjects" and I am proud of the massive knowledge that I have amassed. I am not a doormat. I am able stand up for myself and I do. So no, I would not choose to be NT.Quote:
Or would you rather live a rich normal life free of autism, enjoying the fruits of true human relationships, school, and being connected with life and instead of being connected with yourself / ourselves all the time?
I do live a rich, if somewhat eccentric, life. I do indeed enjoy the fruits of true human relationships. I am engaged to be married to the most wonderful man in the world, and I am surrounded by his loving family. School is overrated.
I am deeply connected with life. In fact, I may be even more connected than some NTs. I am also connected with myself, unlike alot of NTs that I know. I enjoy life, and I would not change who I am.
Quote:
And I have noticed that probably at least 25% of you are atheists.
Sources, please. 25% seems like a rather small percentage to make such a big deal out of it like you have. If it was something like 75%, then maybe you would have a more valid argument.
By the way, I am agnostic.
Last edited by CleverKitten on 31 Jul 2009, 9:11 am, edited 3 times in total.
31 Jul 2009, 4:16 am
I'm agnostic...
_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite
)31 Jul 2009, 2:31 pm
[quote]enjoying the fruits of true human relationships
Brittany2907
The ultimate storm is eternally on it's
Joined: 9 Jun 2007
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 4,718
Location: New Zealand
31 Jul 2009, 5:28 pm
aMillsFan wrote:
C'mon now. If you had to choose.. would you really choose to be someone that will permanently have impaired social skills (or at least regular motivation for socialization will never come naturally), learning disability, uncontrollable need for stimming, and intense interests in obscure subjects? Along with being treated like a doormat by your peers and creating emotional stress on your family members?
Or would you rather live a rich normal life free of autism, enjoying the fruits of true human relationships, school, and being connected with life and insteead of being connected with yourself / ourselves all the time?.
Or would you rather live a rich normal life free of autism, enjoying the fruits of true human relationships, school, and being connected with life and insteead of being connected with yourself / ourselves all the time?.
If I could choose then I would choose to be 'normal'. I want friends and I want people to think of me in other ways than a social reject. However that's not an option and since I'm never going to get rid of my AS I may as well accept it, right? There's no point in dwelling on something that isn't going to go away.
aMillsFan wrote:
And I have noticed that probably at least 25% of you are atheists. I don't know if this in a trend in all young people or just people with A.S. How can you place so much importance on having a "high IQ" if life really has no inherent purpose? If you are an atheist and believe that life itself has no inherent purpose - why is having a "high IQ' so damn important? Afterall, for the sake of argument, after you die nothing no longer exists in your reality. Your consciousness is gone ---- for the sake of the argument.
It's seems that those with AS are slightly less likely to believe in any Gods because they are more likely to think for themselves. I don't see how that's connected to having a High IQ though. I know that lots of people on the internet are keen to boast their test scores but religion is a different topic altogether.
