What the living hell is this?

[thistle_chaser]

This post on an Asperger comm boggles me. I actually stopped chewing dinner to just sit and peer at the screen. At first I thought I was misunderstanding things. The first line is:

I have just learned that my toddler nephew is on the spectrum! I can't tell you how excited this makes me.That read like she was happy the nephew had it. That had to be

Comments

[hamburger]

Do not get me started on these people. There's a reason I stopped reading that community.

[thistle_chaser]

I'm glad it's not just me being behind the times or missed some big fact of reality or some such. Ugh!

[hamburger]

I had to go through childhood with Asperger's, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[thistle_chaser]

The person who wrote that post found mine. *cough* *BLUSH!* We're having a conversation below, if you're curious about it (though it sounds like the comm was enough for you).

[estarcollector]

*ahem* I was sent this way by the pingback bot. I'm sorry to have offended you. Perhaps I should not have been so enthusiastic.

I, personally, don't see Asperger's as a disease; however, I am very high-functioning. I was excited not to be the only official Aspie in the family anymore, and also weirdly glad for him because he has someone (me) who can help him and his parents. They won't be alone going through this.

[thistle_chaser]

Oh, well hello! I forgot the pingback bot existed. (Guess that shows how often people link to me, huh?) Thanks for coming and commenting!

I, personally, don't see Asperger's as a disease

If you don't mind me asking, what do you see it as? The scientific/medical community sees it as a disease, why do you think they're wrong? (Since tone is really hard to read through text, I'm not being sarcastic or attempting to be cutting, I'd really like to know. I don't understand your point of view on this.)

and also weirdly glad for him because he has someone (me) who can help him and his parents. They won't be alone going through this.

That part I totally get. :)

[estarcollector]

I see it more...gah, how do I say this without sounding like an idiot?...more as a difference. We communicate differently than NTs do, although in my experience we tend to do better with our own kind. We do have trouble sometimes understanding that people don't see the world the way we do--but I've noticed neurotypicals do that as well, so maybe it's just a human thing? The sensory issues, for me, are the worst; however, I remind myself that I'm in a world geared for the majority. Makes it easier to cut the tags out of my shirts. ;) I'm not about to demand a redo of thousands of production plants over a simple thing like that. (As for the light/sound problems, I do my best to avoid my triggers. Only way I can cope

[thistle_chaser]

Huh, very interesting, thanks!

Temple Grandin was once considered very low-functioning, but with the right environment she has gone on to achieve great things

I saw the HBO(?) movie about her, it was quite amazing.

Also, I keep wanting to pet the kitty in your icon.

It tends to have that effect on people. :D

Sorry if my original post offended at all, I should have let the whole thing settle more instead of posting right away.

[machinegirl]

I've found that most people that are "OMG I HAVE ASSBURGERS" don't. They're socially awkward and self diagnose themselves on the internet.

I also really fucking hate the term "neurotypical". It's mostly used as a snotty way to say "people outside my clique".

Ugh. I'm so full of rage I can't even figure out what I want to say.

[thistle_chaser]

That's how I was seeing it, 100%. I have dyslexia, diagnosed when I was a kid, I went to years of training for my eyes/brain so I could learn to read. Then suddenly it became the flavor of the month, anyone who couldn't spell claimed to have it. My eyes are still rolling. I see Asperger as the same thing.

[machinegirl]

It's like that with migraines. People equate a migraine with a bad headache, when it's not that at all. When I get one (and I've only had one since I moved back to Texas), any light at all hurts, any noise at all hurts, moving even the littlest bit makes me want to throw up and all I can do is take my zomig and hope I fall asleep with it kicks in.

[thistle_chaser]

Yes! Exactly. (And sorry you get them!)

[juliansinger]

Technically, given as it's inborn and not caught, neither Autism nor Asperger's Syndrome are diseases. However, in the general sense I agree with your general point, which is that you don't particularly want to be dealing with having someone on the spectrum in your family.

But I don't consider Asperger's or other forms of high functioning autism to be much of any kind of a spectre, and they can be interesting ways of living in the world.

(Low functioning autistic folks have more issues, obviously, and I know of many who'd get cured if they had a chance.)

[thistle_chaser]

Oh, good point on the term 'diseases'. Sloppy choice of wording on my part (both in writing and thought).

(Low functioning autistic folks have more issues, obviously, and I know of many who'd get cured if they had a chance.)

Yeah, I'd think so.

[revengesong]

'Disease' is much broader than that. Heart disease isn't 'caught'. Disease is defined as an abnormal condition affecting the body, that is all. Autism does in fact have a 'disease process'.

In medical terminology, disease is an incredibly broad and vague term. So you weren't incorrect entirely, though 'disorder' is probably a better word.

I'm not trying to be obnoxious or insulting, really just offering a dictionary standpoint. The word is nothing to be offended by ;)

[thistle_chaser]

Oh, good point, too. And no worries, you didn't come off as obnoxious or insulting at all. Thanks for commenting! I hadn't thought about the 'heart disease' end of it.

[avocado_love]

No you're right to be boggled by that. Yikes. Just... YIKES.

Hopefully if the kid is 3, they can get him into therapy (and away from this woman who sounds like she would only encourage abnormal behavior!) real quick.

Edit: It occurs to me after I post this that perhaps the boggling reaction is possibly because she's on the spectrum and didn't actually mean that, but communicated it wrong and... ugh. My brain hurts.

[thistle_chaser]

She found my post and we've exchanged a few comments. There's some miscommunication and some disagreement. I understood what you meant though!