Why are we represented by puzzles?

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18 Dec 2013, 11:37 am

Surely you must have seen all the logos and stuff?

So yeah, the question is why are we -- as autistics -- represented by jigsaw puzzles? That question has been a puzzle to me. I've yet to be given a clear, coherent reason as to why puzzle pieces are used to represent autistic people as well as the cause of autism awareness. I'm also unaware of the history behind this symbol. Some answers would be great!

Also, how do you all feel about it? Do like its usage or is there any of you that might dislike it?

Sherry221B
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18 Dec 2013, 12:07 pm

Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.

superluminary
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18 Dec 2013, 12:25 pm

Good question. I have absolutely no idea

Aleithei
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18 Dec 2013, 1:04 pm

Because puzzles are fantastic? and occasionally frustrating?
I really dont know, but i love jigsaw puzzles.
My question would be why are they always shades of primary colours?

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CyclopsSummers
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18 Dec 2013, 1:51 pm

Aleithei wrote:

Because puzzles are fantastic? and occasionally frustrating?
I really dont know, but i love jigsaw puzzles.
My question would be why are they always shades of primary colours?

I guess that's a question of aesthetics. In the ribbon logo and other logos that use multiple pieces, the primary colours help pronounce the shape of the separate jigsaw pieces, so that one sees more clearly that they actually are jigsaw pieces.

I'm unclear about the origins, though. Hoping someone else can chime in on that one.

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alphaEmpathy
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18 Dec 2013, 1:56 pm

I think it's because we are a puzzle to figure out.

I mean, we aren't too different, but some people have a hard time filtering out the parts about us that confuse them. I guess the puzzle symbolizes the ways they try to understand us better, and that understanding us is actually supposed to be the goal. I think the symbol itself should be a big slap in the face for those that want to cure us, though they might internalize the symbol to mean to understand how to cure us instead. In general, it's supposed to be about understanding about us in some way though.

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18 Dec 2013, 2:05 pm

This post gives some background on the puzzle piece's origin. Hint: It has nothing to do with autistic people "not fitting in" or "being like a puzzle to figure out." At least not originally.

http://autisticook.wordpress.com/2013/1 ... zle-piece/

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18 Dec 2013, 2:30 pm

FishStickNick wrote:

Funny you should say that. My google-fu had already reached as far as the NAS being the originator of the puzzle symbol, but founding member Helen Green Allison (1923-2011) said in a conference in 1987 that:

Quote:

It first appeared on our stationary and then on our newsletter in April 1963. Our Society was the first autistic society in the world and our puzzle piece has, as far as I know, been adopted by all the autistic societies which have followed, many of which in their early days turned to us for information and advice.

The puzzle piece is so effective because it tells us something about autism: our children are handicapped by a puzzling condition; this isolates them from normal human contact and therefore they do not 'fit in'. The suggestion of a weeping child is a reminder that autistic people do indeed suffer from their handicap.

(The original logo had a picture of a crying child on top of the puzzle piece)

EDIT: In other words, scroll down to the comment posted by Quarries & Corridors.

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Norepinephrine
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18 Dec 2013, 3:54 pm

[img][800:388]http://snichol.freeserve.co.uk/nas%20logo.gif[/img]

Whoa, this is where that symbol originated? What a horrible way to treat our condition. I hate talk of us being "imprisoned by our condition." I'm so glad The National Autism Society changed its logo to its current one. It's great how autistic self advocates could accomplish this, and I only hope the same can be done for organizations like Autism Speaks. A bit of sensitivity is needed.

As for my personal opinin the symbol, I'm not sure I like it so much anymore...

Willard
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18 Dec 2013, 4:10 pm

alphaEmpathy wrote:

I think it's because we are a puzzle to figure out.

That's the general attitude I've encountered all my life. Neurotypicals just do not get they way we think, it's a complete mystery to them why we think, behave and talk the way we do. Of course, I feel the same way about them, but I can't think of a symbol for NTs that would at once represent something puzzling and something utterly stupid and boring at the same time.

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18 Dec 2013, 4:12 pm

Norepinephrine wrote:

Whoa, this is where that symbol originated? What a horrible way to treat our condition. I hate talk of us being "imprisoned by our condition." I'm so glad The National Autism Society changed its logo to its current one. It's great how autistic self advocates could accomplish this, and I only hope the same can be done for organizations like Autism Speaks. A bit of sensitivity is needed.

As for my personal opinin the symbol, I'm not sure I like it so much anymore...

Well, you have to place it in perspective. This was the early 60s. Autism research was still in a relatively early stage, and much that is now common knowledge, had yet to be figured out at that point.

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superluminary
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18 Dec 2013, 4:47 pm

Willard wrote:

I can't think of a symbol for NTs that would at once represent something puzzling and something utterly stupid and boring at the same time.

Toast crumbs in the butter?

Last edited by superluminary on 19 Dec 2013, 3:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

Norepinephrine
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18 Dec 2013, 5:12 pm

CyclopsSummers wrote:

Norepinephrine wrote:

Whoa, this is where that symbol originated? What a horrible way to treat our condition. I hate talk of us being "imprisoned by our condition." I'm so glad The National Autism Society changed its logo to its current one. It's great how autistic self advocates could accomplish this, and I only hope the same can be done for organizations like Autism Speaks. A bit of sensitivity is needed.

As for my personal opinion the symbol, I'm not sure I like it so much anymore...

The logo was still in use by 2002. The fact that it maintained such an insensitive logo for so long is still concerning. But through the integration of autistic people on their board, I'm pleased to hear that they've managed to changed it.

Last edited by Norepinephrine on 18 Dec 2013, 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

FishStickNick
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18 Dec 2013, 5:13 pm

CyclopsSummers wrote:

FishStickNick wrote:

Quote:

(The original logo had a picture of a crying child on top of the puzzle piece)

EDIT: In other words, scroll down to the comment posted by Quarries & Corridors.

Ah! Good catch.

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18 Dec 2013, 6:06 pm

I honestly can't stand the fact that we're thought of as puzzles. If the NTs who say that would take the time to get to know some of us, they'd see we're not that hard to figure out, we just have a really different way of thinking. It just makes no sense to me because I don't think NTs are puzzling, so why should they think I am?

Sherry221B
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18 Dec 2013, 6:14 pm

Quote:

If the NTs who say that would take the time to get to know some of us, they'd see we're not that hard to figure out, we just have a really different way of thinking.

I agree. It's very easy to judge and talk without knowing instead of trying to understand.

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