USELESS AS sites

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Why is every site about AS so damned clinical???

It is REALLY hard to find sources to help explain AS to people that don't glaze your eyes over with clinical, medical references. It's all cold fact. And I get the impression that most of it is presented from a clinician's point of view - ZERO interpretation.

for instance, there is a lot of "eye contact" mentions - but no reasoning behind this. no one ever stops to ask why eye contact is uncomfortable. or why lights are bothersome. or certain repetitive noises infuriating. or clothing tags unbearable. or why facial expressions are forced. or why we tend to be self-centered or have long-winded conversations about our favorite subjects with ourselves at other people?

When I try to refer my friends and family to sites that will explain AS, all they get are the cold hard facts and no practical application! It's really very frustrating to me.

Does anyone know of any websites that explain AS from an AS point of view? I was even surprised to find that the "What is Aspergers?" link on WP is clinical-sounding and factual, rather than an interpretation of clinical findings. Very disappointing...

Last edited by Jaded on 08 Apr 2008, 6:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

WrongPlanet.net is a good resource.

Seriously. Search past posts. There's a wealth of information there. Maybe you could copy from them and paste & type together a document explaining your experiences with AS.

Yes, I know this place is a trove.

I'd rather not refer people to a site where I post. And people should not have to delve into reservoirs of threads on autism to find applicable information about AS.

My main complaint is that there is no practical application of AS within reach of the general populace. 90% of people are going to stop at Wiki's explanation of the disorder. Does that sit well with you??

It can be a mire, not easy to figure out. The thing is no one is the same and with some of us, other things come along for the ride. But yeah, there still are some generalizations that I don't understand and don't think to ask. One, for an example was, do you think in pictures. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many others didn't understand that concept either. It sounds so simple, so straight forward, but it isn't, because, we're all different. This is a personal journey of discovery, we just get a chance to do it with others. But, there is only one you and one me and there will never be another like either of us. And that I think is pretty cool. I dunno maybe some one will write Aspie for Dummies, hell maybe I'll write it. The sites have to be in the medical, the clinical and it's poor at best, but it's a start and it's a door opener.

I can make eye contact, but I'd rather not, I can't think and do both. I don't know why the light bothers me. I like some repetitive noise, same song for hours and sometimes days, it stims my brain. Clothing tags itch. I look self centered and dominate a conversation because if I don't, I loose my train of thought. And yeah, sometimes I think I'm a hellava lot smarter and worldly than I really am, I take care of that myself periodicaly, I do know how to get humble again. I don't force facial expressions, but others might. Every one of these is just me, some will and can relate and others won't. You asked and I gave you my thoughts. Do it again.

Last edited by postpaleo on 08 Apr 2008, 5:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

autistics.org has many essays and descriptions about autism which are non-clinical, though the server is currently down for maintenance. I've pointed to Wikipedia in the past, which isn't perfect but is relatively concise and has a section on the cultural aspects.

Yeah, there needs to be more depth to the clinical definition. It leaves a lot to ponder. Some of those behaviors dont seem to have much explanation to them.

I know I dont like to make eye contact because eyes tend to distract me. If i look someone in the eye, i cannot concentrate on what they are saying, just on their eyes, and its a little Disorienting. Maybe its a primal thing. I know in the world of cats and dogs, eye contact can be viewed as threatening or a show of dominance.

With itchy clothes comes unwanted distraction too. I cannot concentrate on other things if i am constantly bothered by elastic or tags biting at my skin. Its hard to think of anything else when you are miserable in what you are wearing.. The wrong shirt can mess up my day.
as far as thinking in pictures, i dont know any other way to think. Concepts and mathematics are difficult for me to understand, because I cannot picture the solutions in my head. Even graphing is hard because it is difficult to understand the formula's connection with the visible plot points. It just looks flat.

Those people don't give two s**ts about how we feel, just how we act. That's why they're so cold.

That was me. He forgot to log out again.

I'm not sure about eyecontact, though I find it strained, but lights tend to blink, or be bright, in a way that is painful. Noises are the same. The self centered and conversational attitude is due to the joy of learning, and certain tendencies to not react to some responses. I guess the lack of reaction tends to create te need for forced expressions.

I guess others already may know all that but not believe and/or understand it.

Hey, AS for Dummies is not a bad idea. On the one hand, it's nice that autism is getting more media coverage of late, even if a lot of it is over the stupid vaccine connection tripe, unfortunately, all media attention seems to focus on the low functioning end of the spectrum, which is fine for the organizations funding treatment research, but does nothing to help those of us who appear on the surface to be healthy and "normal", but who in fact do have serious disabilities when it comes to workplace functioning and maintaining a stable (much less fiscally lucrative) career.

We need something akin to CNN's "autism day" to press awareness of what it means to be a high functioning autistic, and why those people in the workplace who sometimes don't respond the way that's expected, aren't being obstinate or stubborn or intentionally uncooperative, but actually cannot conform to the will of the type A middle-management notion that "shaking you out of your comfort zones" is the key to positive personal growth. (yeah, grow this, bossman)

I think this is a serious issue and Wrong Planet is the perfect place to brainstorm a media blitz. As a writer, I think a tongue-in-cheek idea like 'AS for Dummies' might be a way of both amusing and informing people who otherwise simply wouldn't care about ASpies. Key is to make sure it doesn't come across as in any way offensive or demeaning to anyone else on the spectrum.

Unsightly sites topic

Check members asplanet, gbollard and contact Strapples for info in ordinary language. Anbuend may have other ideas, too.

Good point. I refer people to WebMD or the Mayo Clinic for a non-technical description of the symptoms. I hope this helps.

I'm glad you asked this question because I've run into the same thing. I want to tell someone about AS, but I can't find a site to refer them to that isn't:

1. Overly negative (IMO)

2. A place where I post

In the past, I've just settled on not telling anyone, but this thread is bringing up some good ideas . . .

Since it's a medical condition, it's going to be clinical and sterile if you're reading clinical sites; kinda like why they don't explain what it's like to experience any medical condition. This is objectivity in action without personal opinion.

Forums provide a good source for subjective opinions, which are good and all, especially if you can relate to the explanations. This is subjective, so it comes with its pitfalls, i.e., people can explain the exact same symptom in different ways, but it'll be more personal and real if you like that sort of thing.

If you were to ask me why I have trouble with eye contact, I'd just say that I simply cannot do it for when I attempt doing it it physically hurts my mind, and I also cannot talk when I'm looking into one's eyes, so I have to look away.

Someone else might or might not give you a different answer to that question above.

I did explain why aspies are sensative to load noises somewhere in this site

I keep forgetting this is a literal group

My questions in the OP were merely more of a PR nature. I know why eye contact is difficult because there have been several threads about it. I know why clothing tags are bothersome. I know why loud noises are psyche-shattering. WE know why things are the way they are, but there is literally no explanation on any of these sites. If they exist in a capacity to inform and provide understanding of the "disorder," shouldn't a thorough explanation be offered??

Just another thing that pisses me right off.

I get that. But when someone announces they have diabetes, there is a general understanding "OK, this guy has to monitor his blood sugar level or else x y or z might happen."

I don't really see it as a medical condition. I think that the medical profession sees it as a medical condition. And because there aren't any forward-thinking websites out there with adequate descriptions of life with AS, nobody knows differently. It rubs me the wrong way because alone, those clinical statements make me look like a freak. They don't even attempt to explain that normal senses are amplified.

WP should try to interpret AS in their informational section.

But I'm about to hijack the wiki page