What if autism was contagious? What would you do?

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I realize that "the plural of anecdote is not data." However, there are no studies regarding chelation and autism so I have nothing else to support my position regarding it.

I quoted the dentist site cause that's what came up first when I searched for the researchers conclusion regarding their mercury paper. I wanted you to know that I'm agreeing with the expert who did the study. It wasn't a ridiculous interpretation I just made up.

I think I'll keep my replies short. I notice the good stuff gets ignored. I assume it means I was so convincing that no one can find any reason to disagree with what I wrote.

That's a nice little back-handed accusation there. A large part of that is that you keep posting lots of info on Gulf War Syndrome, M. Fermentans, and CFS, none of which particularly interest me and none of which I know very much about. Therefore, I'm not going to bother debating those points. I could easily accuse you of the same selective response.

This goes back to something I brought up earlier that you chose not to address. You are pathologizing and stigmatizing autism with such comments. So its ok to act autistic if you're naturally "defective" but not if the surroundings cause such behavior? If, as I maintain, Asperger's is a difference and not a disorder, then whether it can be "treated" is a moot point, as we are all of equal value whether autistic or neurotypical. Or, if you're going to pull some crap about how people should "choose" to be one way or another, you should also try to find ways to cure neurotypicals and make them more autistic to avoid the accusations of hypocrisy that you may soon find me hurling at you.

I wasn't accusing you of anything. I was just thinking that if I only write on one small topic, I'm more likely to get a response. I posted it more than once because not a single person could explain it.



Neurotypicals are able to choose to avoid people, keep to themselves, and obsess over something that interest them. I'm unable to be normal. I looked at the positives of AS topic and every response mentioned was something NTs are capable of doing. I'd really like to know what aspies can do that NTs aren't capable of.

I'm not trying to stigmatize autism. I don't think anyone would accuse me of stigmatizing AIDS if I supported a cure for that. I support both acceptance and cure just like what people with AIDS want. I accept people however they want to act. I have no problem with autistic traits. I simply support research and cures into treatments for those who want it. BTW, I just found out today that genetic causes of autism can be treated and maybe even cured with currently available supplements. What's wrong with giving people the opportunity to chose to be normal if that's what they want? Do you realize that autistics often commit suicide because they hate being autistic? Anti-cure leads to suicide. I thought about suicide often since I was 12. Once I found out about biomedical treatments, I stopped thinking about it because I now have hope.

There is nothing that Aspies can do that NTs can't, and likewise there is nothing NTs can do that Aspies can't. It's more a matter of how good we are at certain things. I like having my focus on a certain topic, and the level of focus I attain is far beyond what most NTs would be capable of. I once completed an entire AP course in a day. I don't believe this would have been possible for me without my Aspie traits. My memory is better than the NTs around me are willing to believe is even realistic. There are other neat things, like synesthesia, which I quite enjoy. But that's a topic for another time. There are pluses and minuses to life with Asperger's, and that's already been beaten to death on this forum.
The difference between Asperger's and AIDS is that AIDS IS a DISEASE. It is a horrible disease that will invariably result in an early and painful death. Given the choice, NO SANE PERSON would ever choose to have AIDS, or anything that comes along with it. However, before I ever knew about Asperger's, a neurotypical friend commented that he wished he had some savant/autist characteristics. There are benefits. We do have some advantages, some disadvantages. It's a balance.
If you want to talk about giving people a choice, then what about the NTs? They can't choose to have my memory, or my focus, or my synesthesia. They really can't choose to cut themselves off from social contact for as long as I can while maintaining their sanity. The two of us are unable to be normal, but just as must as that is true many NTs are unable to be abnormal. Where is their cure? Can you disable the enzyme that digests gluten and casein for them so they can be more like us if they so choose? Would you even want to?

Do you realize that neurotypicals often commit suicide because they hate being alive? I'm not trying to mock any of the problems you may have struggled with, but we autistics don't have a monopoly on misery.

I believe suicide occurs more often in autistics compared to NTs. Treating or curing autism would result in less suicide. Treating NTs to make them more autistic would lead to more suicide.

I can't fit in no matter how hard I try. I can't keep up in conversations due to a poor short-term memory. If I could treat that, my life would be better.



Some NTs are intelligent and have good memories.



My point is that you can want acceptance and still want a cure. Many people here don't think acceptance and cure are compatible. Pro-cure automatically means anti-acceptance to some people here.



The difference is that normal NTs don't have anything wrong with them. I support treatments for NTs who have abnormalities resulting in a poor memory or an inability to focus and think they should be treated.

"Can you disable the enzyme that digests gluten and casein for them so they can be more like us if they so choose?" I believe in fixing what is wrong, not breaking what is right.

I believe suicide occurs more often in males than in females. Treating or curing maleness would result in less suicide.
Life is often more difficult with autism, but it doesn't need to be. If we can increase awareness and acceptance, life will get easier for later generations of autistics.

I think this thread has become a wonderful example of what is possible to achive here at wrong planet. Two new friends having an intelligent debate on a complex subject that would be impossible most evrywnere else.

I am 100% pro-acceptance. Why can't I be pro-acceptance and pro-treatment? I think everyone should work on their weaknesses, regardless of whether they are AS or NT. So far, all of the potential "causes" or things that contribute to autistic traits are things that also occur in NTs. I really don't see what's wrong with testing and treating people with AS and NT to make their lives better.

You just reminded me of something positive that I think may be an AS thing. Many NTs I've had discussions with get really emotional and it clouds their thinking. I really don't understand it. I'll tell them why I disagree and present my point of view and instead of thinking about it logically, they will start attacking my character.

For example, I debated a fellow church member regarding tithes (mandatory 10% of income contribution to church). I showed Bible versus to point out that tithes aren't required and that people should give voluntarily. Their response was that I'm selfish and greedy even though that had nothing to do with it. It got bad one time. I think I was called child of Satan, heretic, evildoer, and stuff like that simply for disagreeing what the pastor preached.

Agreed, we all have weaknesses that we should work to improve on. I suppose the main source of misunderstanding was that it seemed to me that you were characterizing autism as all weaknesses when it really isn't. Ive tried improving my social skills and it hasn't worked too well. Likewise I know NTs who have tried to improve their memories but they'll never match me. At this point, I've just decided to make the best of the talents I have, rather than waste time on things that I'll never be able to do very well anyways. I'll work on my weaknesses enough to be able to function in society, but after that it's more advantageous to develop my own talents rather than strive for a greater degree of mastery in the NT arts than I'll ever be able to achieve.

My own thought on that was always that since we all know we are socially awkward, we feel somewhat obligated to tolerate each others' idiosyncrasies and try to be a little more understanding.

EDIT: I am now a deinonychus, whatever that is. I also have reached my highest ever post level of 1.8 posts per day.

The reason I focus on weaknesses is because that's what can be improved. I avoid genetics because there isn't much that can be done about it.