Why do ASPIES TAKE PRIDE in being Aspie

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Just bickering in general, over the last two pages. I'm a bit exasperated, I guess. Oh, well, arguments will happen anywhere...

I don't, I wish I wasn't one.

I do take pride, as I have a mild form of a serious handicap, and have struggled, but yet, it's the only way I understand life. However, many a time is it an inconvenience.

I think the pride thing is a reaction to people saying you're soooo bad.

Like say gays, people been telling them for centuries they are BAD. I think they have made many gays feel really bad about themselves. Even though it's just how that person is. Just like an aspie is just what they are. But then there is a sort of waking up and realize, Hey I'm NOT bad, I'm OK! And people look around and see others that are being ashamed of what they are because people have told them to be ashamed. So they say to the other person to inspire them, See I'm proud of what I am.

It's a reaction to oppression. It is the extra effort you need to put in to reach up to really feel OK about yourself. If there was no oppression there would be no "Prides", everyone would just be who they were.

I see pride as being about something I have achieved, so Aspergers doesn't fall into that category (nor does my nationality, nor my gender, etc.) because it's simply something I was born with rather than something I have worked to achieve. However, I'm certainly not ashamed of it - which is possibly what people really mean when they say they are proud. I am what I am. And I'm happy to be me.

Strangeness is irrelevant really, because it only exists as a concept in relation to others. If you don't compare yourself with others, but just take yourself for who you are, the concept of strangeness is meaningless.

Why not?

Cockney Rebel got it right when she said that it's better than walking around feeling bad about it. (I know that's not quite right, sorry for the paraphrase.) I agree. I could walk around feeling sorry for myself, but that seems like an utter waste of time. What good would that do? Better to accept onself, be the best person you can be, and be proud of whp you are. If AS is part of who I am and I feel good about myself, why would I feel other about being an aspie?

Um, and on the "shoe-size pride" comment from way back, it's silly but I am proud of my small feet. Just saying. Everyone else in my family has big feet. My brother has trouble finding shoes. I like having little feet.

I take pride in being an aspie, because I've learned how to adapt.