Michael Jackson had Asperger's?

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He was listed somewhere. I saw it. They always of course dispute things like this when people are deceased and no one can know for sure but he was listed among people thought to be on the spectrum. I believe he was on the spectrum but that's my own impression and personal opinion.

An irish psychiatrist, can't remember his name, listed MJ as having AS. The same guy also "diagnosed" several people post death, including Hitler.

His claims cannot be confirmed but I agree he's on to something because MJ definitely has AS as a part of what made him so unique. It wasn't the only contributing factor though.

Some will believe he was, some will believe he was not. I am one who believes he was not. As I have said several times, I'm not going to label someone "autistic" just because they are eccentric or odd. And no one can really say whether or not Michael truly WAS Aspie or was NOT Aspie unless a true diagnosis was actually ever made. Now that he is no longer with us, in my opinion, I don't see what good it does to speculate.

Also, lists of autistic celebrities and deceased autistic historical people are only speculatory. If there is one of current celebrities who actually have been diagnosed, that is wonderful and I'd love to see it. But if it's just a list of people who were probably autistic, then the people on that list are probably autistic. Not confirmed.

(Please note that this post is not directed at any one single user, but rather at no one in particular).

Fake autists believe that autists can't dance or "be cool". They project their own ugliness on the entire diagnosis to make themselves feel better. Obviously, a superstar with moves like MJ "can't have AS" according to these pitiful people.

This wasn't directed at anyone in particular, just speaking generally.

Speculating is perfectly okay.

I have always been extremely agile and have the more classic autism.

Last edited by Meadow on 10 Feb 2010, 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Unable to find a valid list as such; if you're unwilling to discuss the matter or contribute to the conversation, then that is your valid choice. No one is hurt by your decision.


M.

Don't take it personally. Your point is invalid.
I went looking and couldn't find it. If I happen across it again, I will post it.

From NAMI:



So why are those who acknowledge the DSM, and the fact that poor motor skills are generally (not absolutely) associated with Asperger's, now fake autists? The two do not appear to have any correlation, other than your own distinction - I would just like to ascertain that this is the case.

[edit] Thank you, Meadow. It is appreciated. [/edit]


M.

I guess that's why they call it a spectrum and people need to get used to that and not expect everyone to be exactly the way they are.

mukuranososhi, I'm aware of the criteria and that's exactly why I criticize it.

In fact, Michael Jackson had "poor" motor skills in some ways. He had extreme control of his body and muscles but all his moves were either extremely rythmic and/or rigid. He wouldn't have been able to handle for example classic ballroom dancing very well because it requires a completely different, much more flowing, posture and way of moving than the tics-like James Brown dancing he evolved into his trademark artform.

In fact, the most ideal dance forms for autists are street/hip hop and rythmic african/latin tribal dancing like salsa/son. They excel at this but are poor at ballroom dancing.

There's also a chance MJ was limited in for example ballsports. Some aspies can do advanced and rythmic and awe-inspiring dancing routines but they can't juggle a football 3 times on their feet even with a lot of practice.

People are blinded with the popular idea of aspies as clutzy and "crude".

The DSM is based on a lot of false information where "braindamage" type autism is being lumped together with "advanced" autism. MJ was of the advanced type. His inner world was far more dreamy than that of most average middle of the road autists but his imagination and awareness of things around him, as well as his dancing motor skills, were much more advanced.

"Fake" autism is really more related to normal retardation than what's the case with advanced autism.

Please, let's all be nice to one another. No opinion is stupid and there is no need to fight. I find this topic very interesting ( maybe I am biased bc I love MJ, lol) but nothing I've read so far has been stupid at all.

I am still new to AS and just learned that some people might think I have AS, so I am still learning about everything and so far I relate very much to everyone here and a lot of posts I can relate to very much.

About abuse...since I was born I have been a very quiet and observant, strange child, however, around 7 I experienced some violence and trauma in my life and that made me withdraw even more and if I am being honest I can say that it screwed me up and I am still screwed up from it and tend to stay inside myself a lot. So I don't think it's far fetched at all to say that abuse can make someone seem to have AS-like traits. Violence can do a lot to a person and affect people in many different ways. IMO, I've always suspected perhaps MJ suffered some form of abuse himself that went beyond physical abuse.

I am still not sure I believe Michael Jackson had AS. He even said himself his shyness and being a loner seemed to catch him during the teenage years when he started having acne and a big nose and his family made fun of him and he was no longer "little cute Michael". All I know for sure is, he was a complex man who no doubt was bound to have some very tough problems in his life to cause him to turn out the way he was.

Autism can be found among abused people. I am one example of that. When you rule out autism because of abuse, it is wrong. Just that simple. Most abused people don't become brilliant, talented, sensitive, kind, gifted people.

No one is saying it can't be found among abused people Meadow

Correct me if I'm wrong, but some autistic people don't become brilliant, talented, sensitive, kind, gifted people either?

That's right.

talking about fine motor skills, I can go ripping around a guitar neck with both hands but CANNOT write legibly or hold things properly and lots of times I miss things I try to pick up.

So I'm sure MJ could have poor fine motor skills but because he practiced he could do the dancing.

There are athletes who are on the spectrum. Being clumsy is not an end-all precursor for autism.