The Aspie Poseur

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Actually, I was able to point out to one of my more social profs that it is pretty likely that a good percentage of their colleagues are probably fairly high on the scale. I think it helped him see some of the supposed slights in a different light.

I'm just going to give my two cents on this.

At the moment I don't know whether I have AS. I suspect I might, because reading descriptions of the symptoms is like reading a description of myself- there are problems listed there I've had for as far back as I can remember that have always been a mystery to me. If I'm not AS, I have an amazing number of the symptoms by coincidence.

Where am I going with this? I can understand how it would be easy for someone like me to make the leap of faith and self-diagnose before they're really sure. The allure is obvious- you've had all these quirks your whole life that embaress you and get you slagged by your friends, that you're afraid of even acknowledging to yourself. You're seriously considering the fact that you may never be able to have a lasting romantic relationship. And then you discover AS, and all of the puzzle pieces fall into place. I can understand perfectly why some people may decide prematurely to self-identify as an "aspie" and then stick to that identity.

I'm rambling here.... basically, I don't think it's right to paint all fake AS sufferers as emo wannabes trying to be cool and hip. If you've been different your whole life, the urge to finally belong somewhere is strong.

This is the best forum on AS in my opinion. I've learned plenty from the people posting here. The tent is big enough for everyone. If someone wants to fake it, it's not my problem. I really like the feeling of community that this forum offers. But It just seems to happen - a wedge forms in a group - those that belong and those that don't - and who needs that kind of garbage? Baloney. Depressing.

Well said

We are already our own wedge of society without dividing ourselves up even more

I've been around the block enough times to know that change is inevitable. But if someone provides me with a logical explanation as to why the change is necessary, or how the change will be an improvement, that helps a lot.

Ironically, at work, on my most recent year-end performance review I got high marks for being adaptable to change. I guess my supervisor didn't take into account the fact that I dress the same way every day for work (black khakis and a black polo shirt, with a black sweater in winter), I eat the same thing for lunch every day, and that one can almost set one's clock to my break times.



Very true. I've made out okay -- I have a steady job that I like in a company with legitimate career potential and opportunities for advancement, I own my own home, I have a small circle of friends that I see once in a while...

For me, AS is what gives me an explanation for all the obstacles I have to overcome, and still occasionally have to struggle with. I may have learned to use good manners and a deliberate facade of calm friendliness to compensate for my lack of social skills, but I still can't "read" other people, I am still clueless about the emotional states of other people, I still have my slight problem with face recognition.

One thing about poseurs is that sooner or later something else will catch their attention and they'll go away.

Well HEY, I wear the standard consultant "uniform".(AKA Business casual) Normal khaki khakis(tanish), dress shoes, and a dress shirt. OK, my SHIRTS are different.
I usually eat the same thing for lunch. As for break times? I guess you maybe could, although I don't do it by time.



Wow, that kind of describes me. Only a few days ago my boss tried to placate me with lies, etc... I learn a LOT surprisingly about certain things, and have gone to places some go to learn that garbage. The way I USED to be, I would have just quit and left them high and dry after giving them a few clues as to why. I just kept my mouth shut though. I guess I AM going to have to work at being able to just fly away!



I can't believe ANYONE would pretend. If you claim something positive, what if you have to prove it? ALSO, the only REAL good is for YOU, and saying it doesn't make it so. Why would anyone claim the problems?

"I can't believe ANYONE would pretend. If you claim something positive, what if you have to prove it? ALSO, the only REAL good is for YOU, and saying it doesn't make it so. Why would anyone claim the problems?"

I think it's like being able to say "I was in such and such war, and I came out alive", battle scars and that sort of thing, as if it makes other people think they're tough, I remember when I was younger comparing physical scars with some of the people I knew, it's like some sort of badge of honour, I suppose in a way it's complimentry, but I doubt that's the only reason, some might be seeking attention, or just to be different, there could be as many reasons for why they do it as there are psychological disorders.

That's a good point, reading comments on AS boards, you'd sometimes be lead to believe that everyone but Aspies and Auties always gets it absolutely 100% spot-on socially, all of the time.

I know exactly how you feel. It really frustrates me when people insist on me doing things that has no rational or logical basis.



I feel like that too, even though I don't know if I have AS. A small part of me wishes I do because it would give me some sort of excuse (to myself as well as others) for my anti-social tendancies. I know I shouldn't need one- be yourself and all that- but still....

Aspie poseurs?

Who the hell would pretend to have a neurological disorder? That's just stupid. That's like pretending you're in a wheelchair just so you can use the ramp.

There are people who pretend to have cancer or AIDS or all sorts of things. People are weird.

I actually went to highschool with a kid who had had some sort of leg injury and got his doctor to write him a note to allow him to use a wheelchair in school (even though he could have gotten along on crutches). Once it was healed, his doctor stopped giving him permission to use the wheelchair, but the kid wouldn't give it up. The school tried to say that he had to give it up, but his parents came in and made a fuss about it and he was allowed to keep using it in school. He just liked the attention and stuff.

He was a jerk in other ways too. Fortunately he got hit by the LightRail train thing a few years later (entirely his own fault) and died.

I pretended that I was blind, but it was for a project, so I don't think it counts.

Well, it isn't all bad. Who is to say it is a disorder anyway? As for the wheelchair analogy, pretending to need a wheelchair so you could use the ramp would make MORE sense. You could STILL use the wheelchair, etc.... Pretending to have AS wouldn't make you different, and AS people are less likely to see any funds, etc... than HFA people anyway, so there wouldn't be another point to it.

Steve

if someone were to offer me a cure for this astral travel, heck yeah i'd try it. it's weird to be a three year old and know you are different...
gee, wish i could fake being the norm sometimes; tried and it don't work

Just like NTs can tell an Aspie even if they are "pretending'' to be normal. The same as Aspies can spot a NT pretending to be an Aspie.

I think you are right, so many times people have thought I was a bit different; if only I had explored that earlier, I just thought they were being nasty and just didn't want to talk to me or include me, now I realize that it was one of those signs in life that come up.

I can be fairly normal now I know about my Aspieness except that my tutor thinks I am the quietest and too quiet in class.