Sorry I have to ask this

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Asperger's is said to be autism because people with Asperger's frequently have sensory difficulties and the like which is associated with autism.

Some people with Asperger's even exhibited symptoms of "classic autism" when they were younger, only to become "higher functioning" in an Aspergian sense later on.

When I say "Aspergian," I mean a person who has relative strengths in the verbal realm, and relative weaknesses in the visual-spatial realm. A person who is "higher functioning," and who has relative strengths in the visual, and relative weaknesses in the verbal are usually not thought of as Aspergian--but as somebody with "high functioning autism."

The above distinction is what I've read about previously, and I find it plausible in a general sense.

I apparently had Asperger's all my life. The first time I ever heard of it was from my sister about 10 years or so ago. She asked me if I had Asperger's. I thought she said "ass burgers". I was visualizing this pair of butt cheeks between two hamburger buns. Then a few years later she told me that my grandparents were noticing signs of autism with me, but they did nothing about it. And the first time I saw a psychiatrist, he told my mom that he noticed signs of Asperger's. So now it's official. However, my stepmom doesn't even believe in Asperger's. I keep trying to explain to her why I am the way I am, that I'm autistic, but she says it's bull$#!t. That's on her, I guess.

kraftie, yes, I find it plausible too. All the traits associated with Asperger's are the same traits associated with autism, it's just the severity that is different between classic Kanner's autism and the so-called higher functioning Asperger end of the same spectrum. And yes, it's not only communication, it's sensory processing and other traits covered by autism criteria.

For these reasons I myself have no problem accepting that what I live with is considered to be on a continuum with someone far more severely affected. My generation is the one that suffered because of the idea that only the severely affected could be considered to have autism. I think it's the right thing that it's all been folded together because it does seem to be one thing on a continuum.

I just wonder though if some people would feel it's better to just call it something else. The more severely affected seem to never let go of wondering if the less visibly affected are "real". That's distressing.

This entire topic might just have been the result of asking a basic question or asking for more detailed answers regarding the question. There is nothing wrong with that. If the OP has written previous posts about the same topic, it merely describes someone who still has questions. The conflict of Asperger autism versus Kanner autism is decades old. A few Kanner autists resent that they are too often represented by Asperger autists, and vice versa.

I don't know how to answer the simple question or resolve the resulting resentment. Perhaps it is enough to remind ourselves that, as individuals, we are a constellation of various behaviors, characteristics and personalities; many of which are based in autism. I appreciate that, collectively, we represent ourselves quite well. I believe that, with few other examples, we leave room for each of us to find the best ways to express ourselves without infringing on each others' expressions.

I agree there is absolutely, positively nothing wrong in asking the question the OP has asked.

And there's nothing wrong in someone asking a question then asking again for more information.

I'm not trying to infringe on anyone's expression of anything.

However.......there IS history to this particular OP's discussion of this specific issue.

And in that history, in other threads, not recent but a while ago, this OP showed his true colors and became very, very disrespectful in his expression of what he really thought about so-called higher functioning or "mild" autism.

He argued with me in a way that was outright ugly. He sassed me, he doubted my diagnosis, he mocked my issues as years of "baggage," dismissing a very hard life he is yet to live and probably never will have to go through some of the things I've gone through. I couldn't stand this place because of the OP's attack on me that day.

This particular OP is a known cynic of HFA people. Over and over again he has "expressed" this, and nastily too.

He's put it very innocently and inoffensively in THIS thread, but he's been in the past QUITE offensive about it in other threads.

That is the reason why I've posted my own comments about this whole thing. This particular OP said very nasty things to me historically concerning THIS very topic.

His asking again, with THAT history, is something that someone like me can't help but see as "needling".

Someone who never knew what happened in the past with this stance of his, won't see that at all. A newer member, or an older member who just didn't happen to see that argument on these forums. I'm sorry but I just don't buy it that this question from THIS PERSON is not asked with an agenda BASED on what came out in past heated discussions. You had to be there, to coin a cliche.

Nobody is saying he's not an important part of this community -- I myself say that too. I said so up-thread.

Nobody is wanting him to not write here. I myself have said it, and said it often, that he is remarkable, intelligent, an asset to this site.

BUT -- he has been incredibly RUDE to me in the few years I have been here, AspieUtah. And don't think he did not use that intelligence and that sharp sarcasm on me. We had a terrible, terrible argument on here, regarding this issue. He said rude hurtful things directly to me for which he has never apologized.

I have never suggested he leave so I don't know why you keep saying blah blah blah he's important here. I KNOW THAT. I've never wanted HIM to leave -- I WANTED TO LEAVE.

All I do want is for him to put this crap to bed. Because it's NOT innocently asked. Not from my perspective, with thi way this person has revealed in the past what he REALLY thinks of the HFA people.

What took place on that thread that day made me stay away from here for months. He has made it very, very clear, time and time again, that he pretty much thinks those of us on the so called mild end are not impaired, should not have been diagnosed, are not on the autism spectrum, must have "something else."

You're welcome to "wish him the best" but guess what? He's NEVER "wished me the best" - he has outright attacked me and never apologized. -- he hates the likes of me and thinks WE shouldn't be here.

But noooooo that's okay because he's valuable on here and I'm not. I get it.

I am sorry. My post was mistaken.

I haven't posted in a while, but just wanted to confirm what BirdInFlight has said. The OP's attitude and long-standing history of dismissing the struggles of higher-functioning autistics is one reason why I lost interest in being part of this community months ago.

Several attempts have been made to kindly, patiently, and thoroughly answer this exact question in the past, only to be met with continued skepticism, ignorance, and juvenile lack of respect on his part.

It is my opinion that the OP lacks the theory of mind to understand this issue at all, and that there is zero point in trying to explain it to him any further.

To AspieUtah,

No, your post was not mistaken, only the part about anyone saying anyone should leave or not post or whatever.

The rest was your right to say. You are standing up for him as one should when one likes and respects someone.

Trouble is nobody is here to stand up for me, in what that OP put me through on this very topic.

Back in this incident I was shown deep rudeness and disrespect but nope that's okay, it's only me. Right.



EDIT --


To Ashariel -- thank you. I thought I was the only one who remembers the history and knows this is a long-term, entrenched viewpoint.
Thank you for standing up so that I'm not the only one mentioning this.

I will now probably be banned from WP for having spoken up.

I almost don't care anymore. Because the OP made me too want to leave here, just like you Ashariel.

You won't get banned for this, Birdie.

You expressed an opinion, others expressed opinions.

There were no insults. Maybe a couple of curses here and there.

This is what's called a "discussion." This is something we should have more of.

Ezra are you asking about the past or the present day?