"Aspergers" - Should the name be changed?

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This might help you: pronunciation

And no, I don't think the name should be changed.

IIRC, Wing coined the term Asperger's Syndrome to remove it from the common misunderstanding in the West to erroneously associate "Psychopathy" with sociopathic behaviour (it was called Autistic Psychopathy by Hans). "Psychopathy" refers to a personality disorder, i.e., Autistic PD.

I don't think it's going to change anytime soon, and I don't mind it, as it's just named after the man who wrote the first paper on it. Though, it'd be fair to rename Autistic Disorder to Kanner's Syndrome, as he wrote the first paper on that.

Haha I thought about this before because I was under the same impression (haven't read that paper though)

You could say that because Asperger described the condition, whatever he described IS Asperger's Syndrome. Because, you know, it's his name and all.

Others who disagree with his description and have written up their own definition wrote about another syndrome, an aspect of Asperger's work, but whatever it is, since they weren't Asperger, it's not the real Asperger's Syndrome they described.

Actually, I'd be strongly in favour of that. Just doesn't make sense to me otherwise, using the name to redefine the syndrome when it's only called Asperger's Syndrome because Asperger defined it in a certain way once.

Wing's syndrome... now that sounds unique.

That's not quite correct, but I don't know how close English speakers can actually get to the correct pronunciation?

So just in case anyone wants to be pedantic, Asperger and those who knew said the name like 'ahs-pair-ger' like British 'a(h)', 'pair' like 'p' plus 'air' and hard 'g', accent on the first syllable.

my ideas:

aspergerboros

evolved humans

aspie lords

superior mindset syndrome SMS

time lords

FOXDIE syndrome

awesomebergers

god syndrome

the les enfantes terribles project

T- veronica syndrome

las plagas

galvatron syndrome

I'd skip Asperger's for that.

I use both 'Aspie' and 'Aspergian' to refer to myself and others. I do NOT, however, like being referred to as autistic.

These suggestions give me a big case of the happies.

I don't know.

That's the problem.

I have a problem with the concept of saying "I have" for something all pervasive and is the entire person's being like the first example. It's still, in my view, non-sensical to say that you "have something" that is actually you genetically.

If I were in charge, I'd do away with the word "syndrome" altogether too. When people mentioned this word to me, it wasn't as a compliment or an offer of genuine helpful guidance.

How can you say that you "have" something that's all pervasive and based on subjective criteria?

Saying something like "I have a type A blood group" is certain and measurable.

Also saying something like: "I have parts of my brain that are wired a certain way, this leads to my behaviour." Would make sense to me.

I don't think you can really "have" a behaviour.
A behaviour is something that you do.

Last edited by AmberEyes on 01 Jun 2009, 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

No, they do it because they're.... well.. people with "anal personalities."

Hominids Superior? (I know, it's meant to be homo s. but that's as bad as Assburgers)
Cyborgians
Thenextlevelarians
Logicals

Phew.

Now that I like
What about:
awsome-itis
cool syndrome

Anyway seriously though, I don't think it should be changed, I'm fine with the name.

A new race of Atlantian Supermen?

I've no problem with the name 'Asperger's syndrome'. But I also have no problem with saying that I HAVE Asperger's syndrome (though I will just as easily say 'I AM autistic' [without wanting to get into the discussion of whether or not Asperger's may be called autism or not]), and calling it a disorder.

To me, it's not any different from saying 'I have so-and-so blood type', just because blood type would be 'certain and measurable'. I have brown eyes. It's as much genetic as my AS is. I have brown skin, I'm wrapped in it. Some would let that define them.

I know that some folks on the message board feel that their autism or AS defines their person, that it is who they are, whether it's because of their experiences in life or it's simply the way they view it. But I don't see autism as the be-all and end-all of my person. For me, it's just one aspect among countless aspects. And that's why I see the syndrome as something I have.

Have to agree with Sora that "Wing's syndrome" has a nice ring to it.