"identifying too much with autism"

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How do you know these things? Being diagnosed with AS does not mean that one is mild by any means. That is simply the common assumption because AS is frequently described as "a mild form of autism."

I do not know how one defines most stims as "mild" or as "those of LFA children." I have a lot of stims, and am usually stimming to some degree at all times. Why should I be forced to fit my diagnosis: "You were diagnosed AS, so you should have fewer stims?" Does that even make sense? Maybe I should have been diagnosed with autism or PDD-NOS instead, since I actually meet the criteria for autism.

I don't think it's a contest, though. I think people are trying to understand what effects autism has on them. I know it's been that way for me, and I doubt you would describe me as "young."

I don't see much point to dissecting motivations like this. When you've taken a largely negative and somewhat condescending perspective toward how others try to deal with being autistic, it seems more likely to generate antagonism than understanding.

It's unfortunate that people think their experiences are definitive.

I was not diagnosed as a child. I was diagnosed as gifted, my high IQ was focused on, and I was in several gifted classes as well as the TAG (talented and gifted) program. What happened was that I spent most years either barely passing or failing mainstream school, to the point that I was nearly enrolled in a school where my needs could be accommodated. I really should have been enrolled in that school.

I can't say whether I would be better off if I had been diagnosed as a child, but not being diagnosed and being treated as gifted was no help to me. It made things significantly harder and I had even less support because I was supposed to be smart enough to do it on my own.

Have to second this. If I had any trouble it was always because I wasn't applying myself. I was too smart for any other explanations.

Since my diagnosis did not come until mid-life, I can say what I was focused on was how awful life was and what a loser I was ... I could never "fix" myself, "explain" myself ... I had no diagnosis to define myself by, so I grabbed other "handy labels." The labels I gave myself and defined myself with ... come on. The labels I got from others - not nice. I was hindered by the lack of the "right label" to identify with - good grief. I would have loved to have been successful and to have carefree enjoyment of my special interests. The lack of diagnosis did not afford me either. JMO

Which is why people with ASDs make poor spokespeople when they don't add, "my opinion". The black and white thinking lacks insight into themselves and others.

One thing she neglects to say, not everyone has an interest that's marketable to society -- if they do, there's a chance they'll be too disabled anyway to participate. Some people have a marketable interest and their other deficits allow them to be "successful" (basing success on such a narrow view is wrong though, objectively), and good for them, but it's not everyone.

Someone should really tell her that just because she can do something, it doesn't me everyone can.

I meant that last sentence of mine a bit ironically. because saying it on an autistic forum. Seriously, though, she has a tendency to generalize what worked for her and advise it for everyone. I think she has some good advice, but I also think she has some flawed advice as well as flawed conclusions.

Mostly, I am not interested in how other people think I should view myself, identify myself, and describe myself. I don't care how other people do this, but if I describe myself as "autistic" and consider it an important part of my identity, that is literally no one else's business.

It makes no sense for Temple Grandin to say that other autistic people shouldn't talk a lot about autism.

I was diagnosed with AS in my 50s, and I have a major in psychology, so it is not surprising that I now find ASD intellectually fascinating - many NTs are fascinated by the science of ASD too.

I was in my 20s when autism became an official Dx and about 40 when Asperger's became an official Dx, so I was not diagnosed while growing up. I *was* specially interested in other things besides ASD. Hardly anyone was even aware of autism back then.

But now I find ASD fascinating.

I do realise that I am moderately obsessed with ASD - I often watch YouTube videos of scientific lectures about ASD, and read books and PDFs, and think about it a lot (like repeatedly imagining that I am giving a lecture about it at work). Isn't that like any special interest? I have learnt a lot about genetics and about many other topices in modern psychology: ADHD, executive function, social and emotional intelligence, alexithymia, etc.

But I also pursue other special interests. And I have a well-paid job and I am married with children.

In fact, I would like a few other people to become more interested in their ASD and start giving to the rest of the ASD community - e.g. go mentor an Aspie or Autie student at a nearby school. Help the next generation get along without some of the problems we experienced.

I think Temple Grandin is missing the fact that autism itself is a legitimate specialist subject. But remember her generation--she grew up with the idea that you had to overcome autism. I don't think she understands that autism is a fascinating thing to study.

I do agree that it seems like too many young people are focused on their label. I wasn't when I was first diagnosed and then I was obsessed with it. I have seen people posts stuff here about if something is an aspie thing or not as if they are trying to define themselves by a label. I have an aspie friend who doesn't even think about his label and if stuff he does is due to it.

Imagine being a winner
be that winner
Visualise yourself as being a winner
Smell the winningness all around you
You are a total winner
Everything about you you says winner
So much winning you are drunk on the feelings
Winners are grinners

I don't identify much with people with AS.
Here on wrong planet I noticed that I share more traits and experiences with people with HFA/MFA, and I noticed it even IRL.
I'm not too much focused on my AS. I found out when I was almost 14, though I'm diagnosed since age 6, but I've never been obsessed with it, and don't understand why I should. I have AS, ok, that's all. I have other things to do.

And I repeat - I did not know "about" AS, I was not diagnosed with AS as a child, youth, young adult - the lack of this knowledge, this "blissful protection" from a label and self-identity - as it sounds like she would have it - just allowed me to make my own negative self-labels and I had plenty of negative labels from others. Life was tough, and having the diagnosis and self-knowledge at that time may have changed the course of my very difficult life.

I never was diagnosed with anything and it was only in the past several years that I even heard of autism being anything milder than a child who can't talk sitting and rocking oblivious to anything around them.

That didn't help me any. Instead I got the unofficial diagnosis of "weird" and "bad kid" and never managed to get an education or work.

Please explain how you mean a false division, or dichotomy.

Are you saying that I have taken a largely negative and somewhat condescending perspective towards how others try to deal with being autistic?

Obviously you are antagonised and that was not my intent. Now you have attacked me for posting my opinion, which i had said part of it i wasn't done figuring as it's confusing.
When i see normal NT kids stimming that can be confusing. SO the criteria can be random, yes i realize this. If you have someone who is Aspergers who has several typical stereotypical stims such as flapping, and then others mentioning sensitivity issues.....

Maybe it's confusing as i have no idea who has what diagnosis.

Anyhow hopefully DSM-V will clear it up. It's not so bad being HFA in the spectrum i'm sure ya'll who get merged into the spectrum will be fine. The site is for the Spectrum and other mental disorders that are mentioned.


As for "mild" and "LFA children" watch how you qoute me please don't take my words out of context and twist them.
You are not in my head and have no idea what i meant.
I don't know you and you have no reason to go off on me, obviously i hit a nerve with you.