Survey about a WrongPlanet Gathering

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How many of you would be interested in attending a large gathering of WrongPlanet members? This could be a media sponsored event, etc. If a network would pursue this, would you come? I know the decision could be based on expenses---but if media sponsored, some/all of the expenses could be taken care of by the network. Some of us have been discussing this on the general discussion under the heading of "people on wp".

I LOVE the idea, esp. the media coverage. We could bring more awareness to so many people. Where would we have this meet-up though? What part of the country? We could invite Temple Grandin and Tony Attwood and Jerry Newport and some other big names in autism to give lectures and workshops. All it takes is enough people interested to give it energy.

It seems like a lofty goal, but if enough perseverative aspies put their minds to it, we could actually do it.

Thank you whitetiger. Awareness would be a huge goal. I have no idea what part of the country---it would probably depend on the network. But the potential here is astounding. I believe we must be the largest group of members of autistics to be found (I think). We do have a voice. I hope there are many willing to pursue this. It could be huge. And I believe Tony Attwood and Temple Grandin would be excited about this---and attend.

You Americans are lucky. The Europeans never organize meet-ups, what with most of them being in the UK due to the language on WP being English. The Brits have their own meet-ups and don't invite the rest of the Europeans.

Nah, I probably wouldn't attend. Knowing my luck, it'd be too far away from me and I'm going to be very busy starting soon. I plan on going back to college and I really want to get a job to start saving up for my future. Plus, in all honesty, I don't think I'd really fit in. Either I really fit in and become extremely popular or I'm a total outcast. That's just how it is.

if all expenses were paid for, if there was unlimited free booze and sushi, then yeah.

I respect your decision here. I am glad you have college and job plans---very important.

I do have to comment on what you said though about not fitting in. Isn't that kind of the trademark of us? We don't seem to fit in. That is our beauty. I can relate to the popular/outcast thing. I was never popular with the in-crowd. But I can remember at a fair once when I was in high school, there was a music booth, and I began playing upbeat tunes on the organ. Before I knew it, there was a large crowd assembled and applauding after I played. Talk about getting the big head! I was the most popular person there for a minute. Then after I left the organ, I once again became the outcast type. But I would never want to get rid of being an Aspie. It is me---and I love my journey through life with Asperger's. I hope you do too .

Oooooh yes please!! ! And I agree with the other poster who mentioned you Americans are sooo lucky. Us Europeans never do anything like this. We are boring!

I would love to meet up and even better would love to lecture!! I have a few wild cards up my sleeve that I know many would find very helpful! Maybe someone could arrange California and I could meet up with my sister, whom I have never met!! Long story, never knew I had one until 2yrs ago and too poor to fly! But to combine it with something like this would BE WONDERFUL!!

Never say us Brits are boring!! We could shock a few of you!! Trust me!

How about the basketball arena at George Mason University

yeah we should totally organise a "Strictly non-UK and non-US WP convention". there would be like, 4 of us?

just about enough for a bottle of whisky to share and for a game of bridge.

I have this unexplainable urge to meet other AS people, and I will quite possibly regret it later, but for now, why fight the urge.

I have been to a Houston meetup, and a San Antonio meetup, and have met two additional members one-to-one.

Last edited by Tim_Tex on 06 Feb 2009, 12:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I have this urge too. I think I can explain it. All my life I have known I was different. Before my diagnosis at 44 years old, I thought I was the only person like me in the world. I truly believed this. But after realizing it was AS, I feel like I belong to a group. But---there are so few of us in comparison to the NT population. So naturally, you and I, and others too, have this urge to meet others like us. I say "like us" in that we are autistic---but as we know, there are huge differences in our personalities, interests, etc.

We call ourselves the WrongPlanet. That is truly how it feels sometimes. So naturally we want to meet the rest of our "species".

I don't know, I might. If it was fairly close.

Media coverage would actually make me less likely to attend.

I would love to but I hate to travel. Southern California would be nice.

I would love to, if there was one in the UK I'd definitly go, providing I know what buses etc to catch and if my mum would ever let me go to some other city, because I doubt there will be meet ups in stoke on trent (city where I live)