Don't tell people because it will affect your 'brand'

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Someone told me today that I shouldn't go around telling people I am aspie because it will affect my 'brand'.

I am uncomfortable about the implication that being a known aspie is a negative and even if it is, why not let it be known and play an active part in reversing that perception? Its the same old trap carrying around a false personae because its what society prefers. I reckon its far better to just be what we are as people and then let the 'brand' sort itself out.

Even the idea of us being 'branded' products is somehow repugnant and dehumanising and I think thats what is bothering me.

What do you think of this? To what extent should we pay attention to our appearance and marketability? Is it worth doing or is it better to just let it all go?

Well in what way are you "going around" and telling people you are an aspie? Like my being an aspie is family and close friend knowledge. If I tell everyone I'm opening myself up for bullying and judgement and misunderstandings. That's just the way I see it. And I agree 100% with everything else.

I'm not going around and telling everyone and I only tell them when its possibly going to add some value such as to ensure people don't have incorrect notions about what sort of jobs I might move into in the future. Its actually quite helpful because if people know what makes me tick it helps to prevents unfortunate incidents such as metldowns. Its not as if I have an issue with bullying because I'm a physically large person and secondly, atttempts at bullying generally backfire (for all concerned including myself). I get really angry and people then back off quite fast. Its good for people to know what sets me off like that because they can assist me to not go off the edge and therefore keep a job for a longer period rather than constantly job hopping. Basically, keeping my aspie status a secret is just as much a cause of misunderstandings as is telling people. So I have chosen to tell a limited audience in a considered way that hopefully has positive results.

The idea that my personal 'brand' would be adversely affected is an interesting one i.e is it really a bad thing? Is the maintenance of a personal 'brand' beneficial or just a plain stress factor and a waste of effort?

I don't want to be a 'brand' I want to be a human being. This modern attempt to sell people as if they were products is quite frankly too dehumanising - regardless of whether you are NT or ASD!

It sounds like you are doing what is best Jabberwocky.

I think you just have to mark up some people as less worthy of your disclosure when they come out with rubbish like this. Yes, apparently some people do think like this. I would not dwell on it too much in a reflection on yourself, instead use it as a learning experience to aid in your discrimination of whether someone qualifies to receive this important information of a disclosure.

Why would you worry how other people percieve you?