You too, can overcome AS!

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I'm not in a pisser, just making my voice heard, tis all.

I understand your indignation peaguy, and I expected this reaction to Alblurt's post at some point. I urge tolerance toward our new member, though. From what he said, it sounds like he is younger than many of us here, and quite enthusiastic. I don't think he meant to hurt any feelings.

I find Public Speaking fun and easy. I love the sound of my own voice.

But that doesn't make me better than anybody else.

I know al is young and will therefore give him the benefit of the doubt, but I'd like to make some observations:

Two things: 1. "...a lot of you people with AS..." makes me wonder - do you not feel as you fit the AS criteria? Do you not feel a member of the AS community? 2. Where did you get the idea that people with AS "...have trouble speaking in front of people..." I've never seen that in the literature anywhere. Just because we have social issues does not mean we cannot speak in public. Like a lot of the people who posted before me, I find it easier to speak in front of a crowd than one on one.

This is the part that struck me. Do you really belive you have overcome AS? I would argue that, as it is a neurological disorder it is impossible to overcome, HOWEVER, it is possible to adapt to it.

I really hope that you spend some more time among fellow aspies and learn some of the adaptation skills and come to find a sense of community.

Aye.

First, I'd like to offer my apologies for causing a mountainslide of rants, raves, and flames. They are much deserved. I didn't mean to make this thread into one where it made me look as bad as it has seemed. That was not the intention. Nor was I trying to show off in any way. I was just stating that as a person with AS, I have overcome much, and anyone can.

I'm on this forum just like everyone else--to help others and to understand myself better. If I came across as showboating and show-off type, I really apologize. I didn't mean it to be that way.

To sum it up, I probably haven't overcome AS. It just feels as if I've come along way from it, and become someone better.

Seriosly, don't let them get you down. You have just learned the hard way that the surest way to piss people off here is to suggest that they can improve some of their AS symptoms (well, second surest- surest is to promote a "cure" but this is uncomfortably close). See, peopel tend to not see that saying "All people with AS can't do this because I can't" is just as bad logically as ""All people with AS can do this because I can." I'm glad you shared a bit of hope, here. No, not everyone with AS has the same level of fucntionality. Yes, I do believe some of us CAN do what you have done. You post was for the latter. The former need not get so horribly offended, alblurt meant well!! !

I agree with Serissa. Ignore the jealous ranters, or should I say ranter, who has jumped on your case. He's like a siren with that particular wail about superiority. Sounds to me like he's got issues. Good on you for doing well, Alblurt.

I have learned to speak in public in front of many people. Though it has been a few years since I had to publicly had to speak in front of large groups of people. I had learned that I could do that and that was more important than not being able to do it in the end. I learned to speak before people even before I knew I had AS in the end. It was hard in the beginning but I got better over time. Learning to talk before people was a very experience good for Me in the end.

I don't think adapting AS is about "willpower" so much as it's about what type of situation triggers anxiety. For me, it wasn't being around others that was scary. It was the expectations put on me to socialize like everyone else yet not being able to do so.

I was once in a big choir at one church that had over 5,000 members. Strangely, singing in front of all those people didn't bother me as much as it would've if it had been a small congregation. I could just "blend in" with the rest of the choir and not attract too much attention. However, if I was in a situation where I had to socialize with the others and games or sports weren't involved as kind of a buffer, I was at a lost for what to say nor could I understand much of the conversation. In other words, I get far more anxious conversating with four people than I would singing in front of 4,000.

I thought your first post was OK, though perhaps some people took the title too literally. There are lots of things I did, before I knew what AS was, that I don't think I'd have attempted if I'd known what I do know. Sometimes the endeavour to achieve a goal is more valuable than the goal itself, especially if you are young; it will equip you to deal with the trials and tribulations we all encounter during a lifetime— and there are many.

Danlo can't get enough with his personal remarks, it seems. And he accuses me of having issues. :/

I only recently found out about my having Asperger's, but I've always enjoyed public speaking. I've been on the debate team in both high school and college, and my major was Communication Studies.

Thanks for the support you guys.

Instead of making this seem like a thread where I seem like the evil guy (maybe I am, who knows ), how about we make it into a thread where people just discuss what they've overcome even with their AS. I think it'd make a great inspiration for people to read.

Thoughts?

I think you should probably start a new thread for that, alblurt. Reconstruct your initial post and factor in the new direction you want it to take. But it's a good idea. Go for it.

That's right, I can't. You continually talk about how people think they're superior but they aren't, just because you can't handle the possibility that they might be. One can only listen to the wail of a siren so long, before noone wants to hear it anymore. Face it, thepeaguy, there are people out there that are better than you. Deal with it.

I'll vote as for the previous post... a new thread with that slant. Otherwise newcomers will have the initial exchanges to go through. Not that I regret mine, but it's a diferent aproach and tone being aimed for.

Danlo, I suggest that you see someone professional in regards to your imaginary perspective of me because this post of yours is absolutely hilarious to read. I love it.

What the hell are you going on about? Acting as if you know me so well despite the fact that you are using your own personal inferences to justify your hostility towards me?

But you can't help it, can you? You use these personal arguments to discredit and put off a person's viewpoints, thinking that your efforts would allow your opponent to "see the light" in some way. Please. You don't even understand why I even made that small rant in the first place (even though I admit that I could be a bit more appropriate ).

What I was against was not his personal accomplishments (fair play), but his remark in saying that "you can overcome AS!" as if it was some sort of behavioural disorder to correct when it isn't. Autism has nothing to do with a set of specific behaviours which needs correcting.

Last edited by thepeaguy on 28 Jan 2006, 8:08 am, edited 1 time in total.