Are we aspies missing something?

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That is not entirely accurate, autism does not specifically mean we spend more time concerning over ourself than others, compared to the average person. The difficulties in interaction cause difficulties in reading others and interacting with them which causes one to be more closed off if that makes sense.....its not the same thing as focusing on the self vs. others, more maybe being less aware of others, but that is a byproduct of the wiring not an intentional thought process as you suggest. I think how much an individual with autism focuses on them-self varies...I myself have more issues putting other peoples needs or what I think their wants are ahead of my best interest/needs but it could be different for others.

But can you name one specific thing autistic people collectively are actually better at then neurotypicals collectively?

Gathering insane amount of information about one specific topic. However, that is potential not a positive as the specific topic varies vastly to useful stuff to not so useful stuff.

Exactly, so that is one of those things that can be helpful in some contexts, but not so much in others....so not always a benefit necessarily. Also I can't help thinking this could partially contribute to some of the anxiety issues people on the spectrum have since its more than likely the mind will also ruminate about anxiety provoking things and potentially obsess over that as well.

Yes I spaced out a lot at school after the age of 12. The teacher would explain something, and then when they said "OK that's how to do it, now look at page 27 and answer the questions," I'd come to and realise that while everybody else had processed the words, all I'd processed was the shape of the teacher's nose or something. If we had to go to a new classroom, I'd be the only one who mysteriously didn't know how to get there. I missed enrolling for an exam once because I hadn't heard there was a deadline for that, and had to wait a year to do it again. I still have the same trouble now, but I'm out of the educational system and the world of work, so these things only happen if I have to phone or meet somebody "professional" to talk about fixing a problem. I've learned to control it to some extent, so a lot of the time I can pick up enough info to get by.

I think the reluctance to see AS as a disability can be a "political" reaction to being excluded and called inferior so much. If I read stuff on AS Partners or see an Autism Speaks ad, the idea of me being disabled seems to vanish from my head.

Complaining.

We might complain more, but I bet NTs are better at complaining effectively and getting results.

Because they inherently lack the motivation to be honest and sincere. If they don't SAY IT out loud, they can deny it, while communicating it anyway.

What we lack is the inclination to play those kinds of mind games.

I don't think we're missing anything. I think NTs miss out on the creative world us autistics live in.

I see the situation as analogous to PCs and Macs - NTs are PCs in that they're more popular, have more applications, and have better support; while Aspies are Macs, in that we do many things just as well as a PC (some things better, some things worse), and that working with a Mac takes someone with a little more patience and an open, flexible mind.

That and PC mice tend to have two or three buttons, while Mac mice tend to have only one (at least, the earlier versions did), thus requiring a little more finesse on the part of the user to input data just right.

As so often, I agree with kraftiekortie: a lot of NTs miss social cues, whether unspoken or spoken, visible or merely implied, and are extremely awkward in social or professional situations. A lot of them - and this is an increasing trend - also view things purely in terms of their own needs, as if the world revolved around them. So it is not a uniquely autistic problem.

If society had a greater awareness of autism, NTs and people on the spectrum might find ways to share their individual viewpoints, a process that would be of enormously enriching for humanity in general. Raising public awareness is one of the main aims of autism organisations everywhere, and those on the spectrum and 'autistic-aware' neurotypicals can play their part in helping achieve this. Part of the work I do involves bringing artists and autistics together, because these two groups have a very similar worldview, an essential disconnect with mainstream society. Artists, too, are often regarded as 'weird', people who don't behave according to established 'norms' - and yet they make a vast contribution to the world.

So no, Aspies aren't really missing anything. What they need to do is learn to communicate their often unique way of seeing things, because this will benefit everyone.

(BTW Fnord - as a dedicated Mac user I like your analogy about PCs and Macs )

It's funny you used this analogy. I just posted a thread somewhere about Aspies and pc/Mac