If you could push a button or take a pill to get rid of your

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How is this not common knowledge? Asperger syndrome only offers a few benefits in rare cases. Large memorization ability, savantism in a tiny fraction, ability to pick out details in an image due to a poor ability to see the bigger picture, and not being distracted by certain things NTs get distracted by (often to be distracted by even worse things). Okay there is one more benefit and that is depth as salonfilosoof says, but NT people can choose to have depth if they wish to.

If you take two people, one with aspergers, one without, both have an IQ of 160, which one will be more successful? The one who is better at socializing, presenting their ideas, planning out their path to the top, not being distracted by loud noises, being able to generate novel responses and information from their short term memory, seeings the bigger picture, not getting exhausted at the end of the day, not burning out, not having a meltdown at any moment, being able to get what everyone is talking about first, understanding cause and effect, being able to carry one situation easily to the next, multi-tasking, decision making, problem solving, and adapting to rapidly changing circumstances?

Or the guy who memorizes everything there is about Egyptian Gods and the name of each Pharaoh?

Another reason I believe some don't wish to be cured is their addiction to special interests. Any addiction is bad, it can damage the grey matter in the brain and a bunch of other stuff I read. Just like cocaine and video games! If they lose their aspergers they won't have special interests to continually indulge themselves in over and over. Ever single moment is like a hit of dopamine, over and over, tearing away at the flesh in one's brain only making executive function and working memory worse as time goes on.

All things being equal then yes an NT will likely perform better. But the reality is that even with 2 NT's of equal IQ all other things between them won't be equal. From the obvious things like social economic background to less obvious things like variances in personality. The fact is that equality is a political and moral concept and is valid in those contexts, not a biological fact. (please note I am not referring to race here).

So trying to say "if 2 people had same IQ and were both NT, they would do equally well" is pointless as its observably false. The only way it could be true is if every aspect of their lives from conception to the moment of real world comparison were identical. Even in the case of identical twins this isn't 100% achievable.

Anyway the point of this thread is to ask if you would choose to get rid of autism. Not whether you think everyone else should.

I notice many people saying they personally would not as for them autism is either a part of who they are or provides some benefit they personally perceive. I do not notice these people saying EVERYONE should choose their way or that EVERYONE should agree with them. I don't see anyone from this group attacking those who disagree.

Then I see others here who hate their autism and see no benefit to it. Not all of this group feel the need to force their choice on others. But what I do notice is that ONLY people from this group do attack those who disagree. ONLY people from this group think EVERYONE should take a cure. ONLY people from this group get offended by someone who doesnt agree to take a (currently non existent) cure. ONLY members of ghis group seem to think that one person choosing to nit take the cure somehow invalidates their choice to take it. Again not all members of the take-the-cure group do this. But ONLY members of this group take a militant stance.

If you want to take a cure or don't, by all means state your opinions and, if you want to, your reasons.

But unless someone starts a thread asking whether all autistics should be forced to take a cure stop trying to force those who make a choice other than yours to change their minds. It's pointless, changes nothing and only derails the thread.

You're wrong, Forester. I have absolutely been attacked, demeaned and insulted for saying that I would take a cure. Even the supportive types are often condescending. It's a big part of why I'm so defensive on this issue. Everything you say only the people who'd take a cure do? It's been done to me by those who wouldn't.

Also, I don't see anyone here suggesting others should be cured. I have seen it before but nowhere in this thread. Please, don't try to put words in others' mouths.

AJ I said "I see". I stand by that: I (me, myself personally) have not seen anyone who doesn't want a cure attack someone else for wanting one. I do accept that it may have occurred and I did not see it. I am after all new here and have not read through ever page of every thread.

In this thread there absolutely have been attacks made and insults hurled by some of the take a cure camp. For example calling someone little professor because they are proud of an ability.

And I have not put words in anyone's mouth AJ, you are reacting as if I am personally accusing you. I didn't accuse any one person and made a point of saying it was not all members of the take the cure camp.

So I fail to see why anything I said should be offensive or controversial.

As far as special interests go, I do have big problems with that. For example, I really like making video game sprites with Perler Beads. But I would sit on the floor and organize the beads one at a time into the right colour containers, and this activity would go on forever. I would finally take a break and then continue the next day. While there doesn't have to be anything wrong with this, it was ultimately the amount of time that I spent on it and the fact that I would take no breaks until I was done.

Doing this didn't help me at all. It just wasted my time. It took my therapist explaining how the activity was pointless to finally make me stop. I had spent my entire life doing similar things, and it wasn't until another person helped me that I could begin to end these kinds of problems. But if he had not pushed the issue, I would still be doing all sorts of obsessive activities without any intention to stop or even thinking that something was wrong with it.

Before anyone misinterprets me, I am only talking about my own problems and why I desire a "cure" for myself.

((EDIT: I had to delete this post and repost it because I accidentally used the wrong word and was no longer able to simply edit the post.))

I apologize if I was too harsh or confrontational. As I said, I've been attacked for my views before so I get a little defensive. I did not read the right tone into your post, either... the "I see" had a different implication when I read it than what it turns out you meant. That's my bad for not reading more carefully.

That said... yes, attacks and insults have happened here. They should not have. What I took issue with though was mentioning the idea that people think others should have to be cured. I have not seen that anywhere in this thread, so it's something of a strawman to bring it up. It's really not fair to do that and I felt the need to call you out on it as a result.

I apologize for the use of the phrase little professor.

I think we all might (might, not are) be guilty of misinterpreting what others mean here because we all struggle finding the right words . For sure I can say that I absolutely am.

I apologize AJ, I should have taken more time to more properly explain myself. I also should have made the distinction in my own head and in my post when I said some seem to be trying to say they think others should be/want to be cured.

What I should have said was that some of the comments feel or appear to me as attacks (misperception or not that is how they look to me) and that these perceived attacks create a perceived impression to me that the attacker is militanty insisting that everyone should want a cure.

Totally a case of perception. May not be what's really happening.

Still not sure I am explaining myself properly.

I appreciate the apologies AJisHere and jhonnyh. You deserve an apology from me as well for mispercieving what you meant and for not being clear enough with what I said.

I apologize.

Over the last few days as I am coming to grips with my newly diagnosed autism, understanding the ways it affects me (more than I initially realized) and the impacts in nearly every aspect of my life my vote is changing.

Initially I thought, as many have said in one thread or another, it wasn't all bad. Sort of like superman with kryptonite... superpower with some downsides that can be overcome by avoiding the kryptonite.

Now. After realizing just how much executive function I lack (just one example), and how badly it actually affects me I think it's more like Superman on a planet made of kryptonite. Superpowers, sure, but with constant inescapable kryptonite that renders them mostly useless.

My vote for myself is now yes, if I could get rid of the autism I would.

Welcome aboard the healing train.

Remember, take small steps at first. You have a lot to process.

Would you like a cannoli?

Those look good!

Nope. I like being able to hyperfocus, and being so excited and passionate about my special interests, even if others don't understand. I also like being able to notice things that others don't, it's helped me be a better writer. A lot of people who have read my writing really like the details I choose to show. The world can be overwhelming at times, and not everybody is tolerant of my eccentricities, but I feel like I do have a place in the world. It's just a matter of finding it. If I didn't have autism, I wouldn't be able to fit in that place. If that makes sense.

This is one thing that I notice a lot when I compare my writing to other people's. I sound nothing like a normal person. Every little detail is emphasized and stretched to show the beauty of emotions.

I would be interested in reading your writing if you have a place on the internet where you showcase it.

@RabidFox, I'm still trying to find places to officially publish my more involved stories, but a lot of my shorter ones are on Fanfiction.net and Fictionpress.com. My username is littlemisslibrarian. Warning: I still have some up there from when I was 13. Do you have anywhere online where you showcase your writing as well?

Yeah, absolutely. That's one of the most wonderful things imaginable and something I wouldn't experience without AS. I wouldn't trade it for any skills and traits, it's such a joy.

Absolutely not.