What makes you proud to be an aspie?

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We are more moral and think outside of the box more often than "normals". However, if I may quote a joke. Normal people are those we do not know very well.

Thank you... So well said.

I often feel that current western society does not value by and large these types of strengths. Just look at how shallow marketing and TV are. Education system wants to make you well rounded, rather than to identify your strengths and help you become a master at them.

So many more examples one could give.

Good point.

I kinda agree. I had no choice being what I am. However, lets speculate. Suppose I'm a piece of poop. Does that mean that it is wrong to flush me down the toilet? Nope! Similarly, and oppositely if I am a genius, I would not deserve the success that goes with that.
What one deserves has nothing to do with reality. It is only a hominid superstition.

"Aspie Satisfaction, - Being happy with the fact that we're different."
What a good way to put it!

Oh yes, absolutely. I'm very proud of the fact that I can intensely concentrate (sometimes to the exclusion of other things; sometimes I get "int he zone" and can't stop whatever I'm doing).

One thing I've noticed about myself is that where other people see conventional approaches to problems, I come up with several different options to potentially solve them. I've found this to be a strength in my line of work; I'm an editor and I find that there are many, many ways to say something, better.

I also have that "improver" streak; I want to take something and make it better. Sometimes I come off as hypercritical, but I mean my best. Probably also linked to me perfectionistic tendencies, where I obsess and think about something until it's "just right" in my mind.

Hyperlexia--I was hyperlexic as a child, and while this leveled off as other kids caught up to me, I'm still proud of that fact.

Ability to absorb large amounts of information, as mentioned above--I'm not good with classroom learning, but if I'm on my own and i'm intensely interested in, I'll learn every single thing I can about it. Goes along with the ability to hyper-concentrate.

Also the ability to see and understand all sides of an issue--although the downside is that I'm very indecisive because I can't choose just one. They all seem viable to me.

You and I LucySnowe, sound like identical twins, except for on your last point. I have always tended to be very black and white in my thinking. I was a lot worse when I was a child. As I've matured, I've come to learn that life isn't like that - that there are shades of grey but when I was a child! Things were either right or wrong. Good or bad. This or that. I could see no middle ground. I was right and nothing else existed. I’m glad I’ve changed since then.

There is nothing that makes me "proud to be an aspie", I actually find that statement to be quite outlandish. Having a neurological disorder that impacts my life in a negative way nearly every second that I exist that makes me prone to depression, anxiety, unemployment and the desire of suicide is nothing to be "proud" of. We didn't do anything to "achieve" this disorder and for people who ACTUALLY are ASD sufferers would know that no matter how much we like being ourselves, there is nothing positive about trying to live with it. Maybe in a different era or on a different planet sure, but humanity and life on earth in this millennium is no place for someone with ASD.

I used to be very black and white, when I was younger (I'm in my 30s now so I've had a bit more practice. I wonder if my ability to see all sides of an issue is a result of this overcorrection thing I do--where I see a problem and then over-fix it. Like my stoic facial expressions now, whereas I used to be much more expressive).

I don't think i proud to be an aspie, but I like myself and I just happen to be an aspie. I'm not ashamed of it, it just is.

Yes, and like any other kind of personality/nature or what you like, it has its advantages and disadvantages.

Just being unique in my own way, I guess.

I also don't consider myself any better than others... Cause that's just stupid.

I am happy to be the unique way that I am. I wouldn't say proud though.

If I am proud of anything it is what I have managed to accomplish with all the many enlarged and disproportionate hurdles and booby traps I have had to navigate to get there.

For me I think it is far more important to accept my uniqueness and not feel ashamed of that rather than be proud.

What's there to be proud of? That you're an outsider? A trespasser in your very own neighbourhood? Prone to bouts of anxiety and depression? Not being able to relate to your peer group? Being seen as the quiet loner? We know what society, and the media, feels about quiet loners.

I think the Aspie pride thing is to focus on your strengths and not your deficits. Be positive and accept who you are. Of course I agree it's kind of lame to climb on the Empire State building and scream from the rooftop that "I am an Aspie hear me roar!!"

Well, we have to figure out SOME way to get NTs to listen to us. The Empire State Building example is not too bad.