Aspie As The New Cool Term

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I argue that autists should disclose their autism to as many other individuals as they can. There is a precedent for it. When slaves in the United States were freed, they complied with the social expectations of the time to avoid getting "uppity" and know their "place" despite having the same constitutional freedoms as their antagonists. In time, many of them said "no" to the invisible plantation and lived their own lives. Some years later, workers did the same thing, as did many other minorities including LGBT individuals and women. Now, it is time for neurodiverse individuals to do the same. Admit. Disclose. Come out. Describe. Articulate. Promote. Debate. Argue. Defend. Having lived through this strategy as a gay man, I advise this because it works. Want inclusion? Ask yourself what you are doing to achieve it.

But, let's not say that, because we don't see other people becoming their own examples of neurodiversity, that somehow, it is a self-fulfilling prophesy that we shouldn't be so. Choice is a big deal to minorities, but let's not denigrate those whose choices are not what we would hope for.

I don't know if this opinion makes me angrier than Jim Sinclair, but I certainly hope it does.

Last edited by AspieUtah on 27 Apr 2016, 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

Well, I have three other shirts which say exactly that in various ways.

I would wear a wrong planet shirt because it supports WP and WP really helped me tremendously and still does. It's a community of people from which I have made friends and people have supported me tremendously and are always there for me and let me be there for them.

As far as a shirt that blasts "I have Autism" all over it, I would feel a little uncomfortable wearing that. I do wear my Autism walk/expo shirt a lot though. I would also wear one if it had a small symbol on the sleeve or the chest that shows support for Autism but that's probably about as far as I would go. I actually feel very uncomfortable when I see people blasting Autism on their shirts or even on their cars. I appreciate what they are trying to express, it just makes me uncomfortable. It's probably the same reason why I only wear my Special Olympics shirts to Special Olympics events when I am asked to wear them.

I think maybe the reason is that Autism is such a part of my personal identity and the challenges for me are very sobering and humbling and difficult so it just feels so incredibly and deeply personal and vulnerable. I think it would be hard for me to wear something that blasts such a personal and vulnerable part of who I am.

I speak very openly about it though to whomever will listen and am a big believer in educating anyone who wants to be educated. I will talk to almost anyone, anytime, anywhere and will speak openly and candidly about anything to do with my Autism. But to wear it loudly would make me feel uncomfortable. And even if people who do choose to wear it loudly make me uncomfortable as well, I understand that for them, they have a desire to express it this way and I can respect that. I tend not to initiate talks with them though because of my own insecurity.

I have nor had heard the term Aspie until I looked into it. For many, self-diagnosis is the only way to start and for many, the only option.

Until my support group last week, or running into people at the Doctor's office, I've never knowingly been in a room with other Aspies.

I use the term here because it's just easier to type.

I would not wear an Aspie shirt for the exact same reason I would not wear an "I'm an artist" shirt. No other reason. In the right setting, I would wear a shirt of WP or some such to support an organization I believed in.

When I first started to investigate with doctors, I did get shined on. I was asked questions like "Well, you obviously have learned how to cope. What do you want out of this?" What was striking is that I always started out about self knowledge to find a direction. So...why ask again?

I dunno. I felt challenged because I don't fit the expectations.

Maybe for the younger crowd, being 'Aspie' is just the current phase like being Goth or something. They just don't understand what it really is. Just an excuse to be socially inept or something. Maybe just disaffected people just searching for somewhere to fit in. I dunno. But, there are articles supporting the idea that it is a trend of some sort with a young demographic.

Aspie isn't a cool term at all, it's derisive more times than not outside of this website. Aspergers in general is awful awful sounding name, no way around or to dress it up. I prefer to say the spectrum or ASD. Ass-pee, Ass-burgers, it's a joke to most people.

That's good to see people talking about it.

How so?

If you follow the old aphorism of "Any publicity is good publicity" then it is.

Depends on the point of view.

I consider it more an example of the Delphi Method.

Had to go look that up. I'm just using the old entertainment industry approach as my starting point. It's been raised to an art form with intentional release of 'negative publicity' items by people. Things like 'stolen sex tapes' that are just really people leaking things to get attention.

Sure, but what accommodation is made for those (like myself) who actually, really, truly enjoy the positive publicity of nomenclature and, silly as it sounds, the resulting odd Frisbie or T-shirt? Apparently none, if one were to read only this topic and nothing beyond it. The socio-political activist group Aspies for Freedom accomplished much with its work regarding such positive publicity. Contemporary groups like ASAN Autistic Self Advocacy Network and others which openly oppose Autism Speaks have successfully built on that kind of work. Temple Grandin, John Elder Robison and WrongPlanet.net's own Alex Plank have argued similarly.

And yet, we have at least one commenter suggesting that a return to negative publicity is the path to real change. Given the recent accomplishments resulting from the alternative, how effective could that be?

If you didn't like talking about it than there wouldn't be 5 pages in this thread. Who is making you post?

I simply through out my opinion. Thing is , I'm not on a crusade to change anything. Call yourselves anything you want . It has no bearing on my life.

I happen to think it's cool that some people cared enough to share their struggles.

Anyway enjoy.

I am not questioning ifi ti effective or not. I just note the general populations perception of how things are based on how they promote or market things.

For instance, I was really dismayed when I saw the head of Autism Speaks on a news show taking about Autism. It was a live set of what is called 'Tragedy Porn.' It was nothing but reinforcing the classic, non-verbal, non-responsive idea as the only thing to look out for.

It's that sort of thing that I refer to and applied to how it also applies to perceptions.

As for where it leave you? Well, let it fly as you see fit!! I stand for your desire to be 'out' as it were. I'm still preferring the Aspie closet at this time. But, I am actually glad for people such as yourself. You are a much better advocate than I can be.

For that, you have my respect.

This post will help numerous people. I enjoyed reading it.

Did not know this. But it is the positive media news that should be better made known. Talent, difficulties and acknowledgement and thriving because of proper information.

In 2013 she revealed that she had been diagnosed the year before with Asperger's syndrome. Boyle shared the diagnosis after reports that she was struggling to cope with her fame.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/08/showbiz/susan-boyle-aspergers-syndrome/
"I am not strong on my own," she said at the time. "When I have the support of people around me, I am fine."

A positive role model, who wowed the world, came out and is not ridiculed for it. It's a beginning. No speculation.

I like this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdrl9kt6v2I

The only thing I would ask her more about is the suicidal thoughts and some of the other conditions she mentions she has. I think that like they are with me, they might actually be Autism related. Of course I am not her so it might be different for her but for me, in my case, they are Autism related.