Most people on this forum don't have Asperger's Syndrome

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Not necessarily. One must meet the criteria to be diagnosed. You can belong to a cast of highbrows for whom socialising is difficult not being an ASer in the same time. And many people seem to have forgotten that superior intelligence not always happens in Asperger Syndrome - there are also people who are just those "average Joes" mentioned by me except for AS, of course and are not characterized by any special intellectual capabilities.

Yep, AS manifests in people of any cognitive ability.

Look around, every personality type, every intelligence level (above mentally ret*d in the DSM-IV-TR (except some rare cases which it notes); any level of intelligence in Gillberg's criteria); any one of them can possibly have AS.

I have Asperger's there is no doubt I have more than poor social skills as others have said there are other signs as well.

Hmm... interesting point.

Addressing the OP's points:

Social awkwardness:

Firstly, as other people have pointed out, social awkwardness is not the only symptom. I have many symptoms, including social awkwardness, sensory issues, obsessive interests, clumsiness, terrible disorganisation and repetitive motor signs. These bothered me and caused problems. When I read about AS, it was like a light turning on in my brain. Also, people I know who've worked closely with autistic people or known them personally have remarked to me that I seem to be some kind of autistic, so it's not just my own insecurity.

The possible conditions the OP lists as contributing to social awkwardness:


Low intelligence: I've met a lot of people with low intelligence through my mother's work with them. Their social skills are WAY ahead of mine.
High intelligence: Yes, but from what I've read, the problem tends to resolve itself once the person is put with their intellectual peers. Mine didn't. I hung out around the periphery of the "smart kids" at school. Despite our similar intelligence levels, I was an outsider.
Immaturity: Most people who've commented say that I am more mature than most people they know.
Attitude: Hard to self-assess on this. If I had an attitude problem, I probably wouldn't think that the problem was my attitude.
Schizophrenia: I do not meet the criteria for this.
Personality Disorders: Based on a lot of reading, I think that I have the traits of a some (notably schizoid and obsessive-compulsive) but not enough to warrant a full diagnosis.
ADD/ADHD: This is one that I strongly considered. AS fits better. I've heard that ADHD and AS have a high comorbidity rate...





Oh, I knew that it was a problem. You don't spend years wondering "what the f**k is wrong with me?" only to think "I'm fine, it's all a great gift" just because some celebrity has said so. I first thought of AS after reading many books by people on the spectrum and those who'd known them, as well as articles from the clinical literature: not some rose-coloured glasses view that paints us as quirky, eccentric people with strong interests, savant-like skills and no real problems.
I am happier with myself now than I was then, and this is because I know that I'm not the only one like me, that my problems are not due to laziness or stupidity, and because I have found ways of coping with many of my problems.
I find it rather insulting that anyone would think that I would label myself with a disorder because some talk-show host "talked it up", so to speak.

Depression is a fad? I'd like more information on this: what are you basing this claim on?

I'm not sure about empathy: many people on this forum seem to have more empathy than most people. On the other hand, I sometimes see a shocking lack of empathy. However, I notice that NTs often display a lack of empathy toward us. The problem, I think, lies in not understanding each other: we are more likely to understand each other here.
The claims about empathy (and self-awareness) were, I suspect, made by researchers who did not understand the autistic mind or autistic body language and who made not-necessarily-correct assumptions based on this lack of understanding.
I read an account once (written by Tony Attwood, I think) of some Aspergian children who interacted very well when they were around other Aspies. I've read other accounts of people on the spectrum "clicking" really well when they meet others on the spectrum: we seem to do better with our own sort.

sorry to say this but it really depends emphaty of other same kinds can be one of asperger traits ..u really can u say 100% sure where line goes? im diagnosed at age of 10

I don't think I have it, and I don't think a lot of people here have it. I also don't think it matters at all. I post here because I relate to a lot of the social problems that people with AS go through. I'm sure that applies to many of us here. In addition, I think that people who do not have AS should be welcome here, as they might be able to provide some insights that would be lacking a community of people consisting only of casebook AS.

So what is this group of people? I think some of us are just awkward teenagers who will grow out of their issues. I think some of us have social phobia, depression, anxiety, or a personality disorder. I think some of us are simply shy. And then there are plenty who actually are on the autism spectrum somewhere. The thing we all have in common is we are utterly at a loss at how to relate to the world and find our way in it. I know this is not what the forum is dedicated to, but I don't see how it's detrimental in any way. It's the blind leading the blind, and maybe the people who don't have AS, or have high-functioning AS can be of some help to you.

Now, you can choose to cherry-pick what disorders are favored and what people should be shunned for, but the fact is that whether it's AS or a personality disorder, everyone in here has something in common: They have something that makes them non-typical.

Depression a fad? Are you f*****g out of your mind? Try having it............ most people have it at some point or another.......... its f*****g hell on earth. Its good that people acknowledge depression the earlier the better. The times i have been the most depressed are the times i didn't believe I was depressed but in lieu it is extreamly obvious I was really really really depressed.

<i>I think some of us are simply shy. </i>

at first that's what i thought but then i have all these other things going on in me that it's just not 'simply shy'

first the sensory sensitivity. i cant stand the sound of people slurping. it really really hurts. everyone else i know doesnt have this problem. i tried telling them not to slurp when they eat but they get angry at me and tell me to 'get used to it' but i cant get used to it. it still hurts now.

then the whole 'social justice' issue. im not saying im better than everyone else, just different. when going to the cafetaria and the guy gave me more change than it shouldve been, i felt that i needed to give it back. but everyone else called me stupid and told me to keep it (which i think is weird). so i'm different from everyone else in this matter.

then conversation skill. my mother scolded me because it took me awhile to answer someone's question. she said when someone asks me a question, i need to answer immediately. but i cant do that. i have to think what the correct answer is before i answer it but my mom doesnt like it.

finally the whole 'taking things too literally' thing. i cant tell whether someone mean something literally or figuratively.

Mw99 has always seemed desperate to only get diagnosed with AS,and was told he doesn't have AS by at least one pysch not long ago if am remember correctly,why now change to seeing it as a fad when were just like a lot of users here,wanting assessment for it?

So…, this is some sort of jealously issue. If that’s the case, then why throw a fit like 13 year old that can’t things their way. Hmmm? It just seems silly to pitch a fit doubting everyone’s Dx just because Mw99 can’t get what Mw99 wants, a diagnosis.

As for any disorder or illness being a fad, it takes a sick mind to admit to having anything of these ‘fads’.

@ aaronrey; some of are not shy, we just really screw things up while socializing. We don’t ‘get it’ apparently.

yea. this one time, i entered a room and someone asked "where did you come from". i said "jakarta". the guy flipped out "wtf! i didnt ask which city you're born in! i asked you where were you before you entered the room! are you ret*d or something?"

okay, how am i supposed to know which you meant?

If a person underwent a neuropsychological evaluation and based on the results of that evaluation it was determined that they meet the criteria for Asperger's Syndrome, I can't dispute their diagnosis anymore than I can dispute the validity of Asperger's Syndrome. But if they were self-diagnosed or diagnosed by someone other than a specialist and without undergoing a proper evaluation, it's unclear whether they have Asperger's Syndrome, and given the rarity of this condition, I'm inclined to think they don't.

It would be interesting to know what percentage of forum members claim to have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and out of that percentage, what percentage were actually diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and out of that percentage, what percentage actually have Asperger's Syndrome. I believe that the majority of people on this forum (that is, more than fifty percent of the members of this forum) don't actually have Asperger's Syndrome. That's not to say they don't have Asperger's-like traits, though.

Last edited by Mw99 on 03 Feb 2008, 12:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Oh yeah, the diagnosis snobs rise again. "You can't be a real aspie because. . ."

. . .You are self dx (which is to say you are a stupid liar)

. . .you saw the doc too long ago and the dx has changed


. . . you saw the wrong doctor

. . . your therapist wasn't a real doctor

. . . you saw the wrong kind of doctor

. . . you took the AS description to your doctor

. . . you were looking for an AS dx

. . . I don't know why, but you just aren't , you big ugly poopy pants!

I mean, who bloody cares anyway? What would it matter to me if someone esle' dx is wrong? How does that impact my world?

I don't get it.

I've done the same thing. "Then say what you mean..." is my usual reply for anyone thinks my answers are a little odd. I've gotten to the point where I stop and think before answering.



Which is my I have "I don't know if I have it or not." in my profile. My doc says I fit the criteria for Asperger's but he doesn't see the point in my having an official diagnosis seeing how I've working on some of the issues that are associated with AS long before I even suspected that I may have AS. Add to that, seeing the 'right' docs would be a huge out of pocket expense that I can't afford. So for now the status in my profile with stay the same, I don't know If I have it or not. I am not comfortable with changing to anything else.

So, most people diagnosed in an "improper" fashion don't really have it. And the reason for this is because the condition is thought to be rare. How very circular.