Thread devoted to autism/aspergers myths

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* a wild myth appears *

Myth, myth!

* hops away *

I think the myths of empathy show a shortcoming on the part of NT's. They really only accept what they see happening under their noses. Just because a person cannot demonstrate something in real time during a social interaction doesn't mean they don't have it. I have lots of empathy, I just cannot seem to show it in real time.

I told someone that I had Aspergers and they said I didn't look like I had it. As far as I know, we do not have a certain look about us. The same person said that Aspergers originated in the Middle East. Posted that on one of the Asperger sites on Facebook I'm on and no one had heard about that.

Lack of empathy and devoid of feelings. I know for me, I feel things a lot more than most people. And we can lie! I don’t like to, but I can do it if I need to and I can do it very well.

That if you are an adult able to use eye contact, and have any degree of social intelligence, you are not Asperger's. It's like the concept that these skills can be improved with time and effort goes completely over people's heads. It's especially annoying because it's like all your hard work and suffering has been unacknowledged.

* a wide-eyed woman appears *

Yeth? Yeth?

* walks away *

This might sound like a great idea on the face of it, but frankly would not work well. First of all, there are too many myths for a single thread. Second, and here's what would make it get really hairy pretty quickly, there are also many "myths" that a lot of users here subscribe to as "truth."

I'm not going to get into which is which, otherwise this thread will become just like that.

Anyway, even threads that only cover one supposed myth most often degenerate into bickering cesspools of sniping arguments. Think what would happen to one containing every supposed myth in existence.

Experience shows it would be a nightmare that would likely have to be deleted and/or locked before long.

Very much so.

<insert name of famous person here> had Asperger's.

<insert name of famous person here> can't have/couldn't have had Aspergers. It goes both ways.

MrXxx, I see your point, and I didn't mean this thread for biting arguments. I will definitely watch out for that on this thread. If it is just something that needs a little clarification, I will try to clarify, but if it just becomes as you said "bickering cesspools" where it goes from sharing to getting mad with each other needlessly, I will definitely try to do something about it(get it deleted/locked if necessary). Right now, I will do my best to keep it from the disputed myths.
I agree that the 'aspergers=lack of empathy" myth is so untrue. Just to add proof to how untrue the Rainman myths are, the guy who played the character didn't have it, and i found out that the guy who it was based off of had something different from autism.

I also don't like the lack of empathy myth. I have empathy for everybody in my life. It's just that some people don't have any empathy for me. It's pretty bad when your own mother doesn't have one ounce of empathy for you.

I agree with the empathy thing. It would seem that NTs are very quick to judge on outward signs and appearances. Just because I don't show it, doesn't mean that various emotions are not happening inside me. In fact, I get the sense that my empathy/emotions often run stronger than what NTs show, but I choose to keep them inside, like much of what I feel & think. Just because Aspies are not the most physically & emotionally demonstrative people doesn't mean that there is not a real thinking and feeling person inside.

Another thing that I find bothersome is people thinking that Aspies are "dumb." Like all people, we run the range if intelligence. Again, just because I don't show that I think, doesn't mean that I don't think.

I do lack empathy.
I don't, however, lack care, compassion, or a conscience.

People on the spectrum DO have empathy, they just don't show it often, or when they do show it, it isn't in socially appropriate ways.

Not all autistics are like Chris-chan in that they continually embarrass themselves all the time, have very inappropriate fixations, and have excessive difficulty controlling their behaviours.

Not all autistics use their diagnosis as an excuse.

"Aspies don't have feelings."

I have feelings, I just don't show express them as others do.

If someone gives me something that I like, I say, "That's very nice. Thank you." I do not gush, clap my hands, squeal, or get agitated.

If someone provokes me to feel anger, I usually clam up, grit my teeth and go about my business. I do not get in their faces and tell them to f*** off.

If something makes me sad, I get quiet. No tears, no sniffles, no rending of clothing, and no paralyzing pity-parties.

This does not make me mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or unable to feel emotion. It simply means that I do not express my feelings as much as other people do.

Found a page that deals with myths http://www.asperger-syndrome.me.uk/myths.html This was the best page on the site, but there are a few problems i have with it. Most of all i dislike how they put autism as a "development disability". However, the reason I posted it here is that the myths page of that page does have several good examples of how certain myths aren't true.(I am sure you know which ones are and which ones aren't)