COMMUNITY : FORUMS : OFFBEAT

I would say it is rather, "lack of interest".....I listened to the entire 20 minutes and questioned whether it was REALLY a full 19:44 long.  :-)   Just a difference of interests...

Still, the world DOES need all types of thinking methodologies....including NTs, but each where they suite best,  and none of them "placed in dungeons or hospitals" unless they are dangerous or unable to care for themselves.

I am seeing people that don't want to live near "these damaged people".  Everyone has their own set of difficulties I suppose.  ;-) 

NT = Neurotypical    yes.

You wrote:
Maybe I'm just blind, but I haven't seen where Aspies are being discriminated against like that.

Of course, in this day and age, it is metaphorically so, rather then physically so.

The lack of education on the subject tends to created "sides",  "titles", and "little boxes" to categorize and separate, rather then understand and integrate.

The "adult" aspie, that has trying to cope for a long time, yes, is hard to tell in an normal setting from others, unless he/she has Schizoid Personality Disorder (abject avoidance of others),  or some other co-morbid. This is due to human beings able to adapt: but many on the Spectrum (autism) are very easily picked out as children, anytime before their 20's or 30's.   The very large chasm between "knowing a lot" and emotional maturity is more than obvious.   This happens to be when most on the spectrum become isolated rather then "exposed" to things.    My own Dad did not know what to do with me,  and the best he could do was to buy an Encyclopedia (which I did go through most of the 18 volumes that first year we had it).  Otherwise, there was little involvement with my development and education from him nor from my Mom (who was handicapped with a loss of hearing from a young age). I didn't "really" get exposed to electronics until I was in my 40's. 

I understand your point,  it is actually how the book:  All Cats Have Aspergers  ends, that is, "...we all have a little asperger's in us."  

It is the extremes that have the difficulty getting along, in school, at work, in social settings, etc.   And, because it IS a spectrum,  it is harder to "pin down" then say, a physical problem or difference.

Yes, in my case, my "coping skills" combined with the abject and consummate loneliness I grew up with have pushed me to make attempts at social interactions.  They still remain limited; store clerks etc.,  those in my church (especially the younger ones and the much older folk;  one young person I know has several real neurological problems, and we get along famously :-)  and of course, those on line.

My second trip to NYC, unlike the first one that was only about 12 hours long, will last for 3 days; it will require "some" interaction (probably a "room-mate" even) etc.  but it will be amongst a group of Geeks, Phreeks, and fellow Aspies (identified as such or not).  Even then, it will be difficult for me as I just don't have the experience in opening conversations.  I believe I mentioned this before, but once I drove home a young lady (way back when I was single) from Nearing, ILL  to Indiana and did not speak a word, because she didn't initiate any conversation. :-(   (she was smart, and bookish, but attractive....*sigh*,  it is hard to give up dwelling on the things that could have been, had I made different decisions in my life).

Looking back, and I can't do it often, it makes me depressed with regret, but I was not exposed to much of anything before my 21st birthday.  And then, it was a bit late for me to get into a field that was already closing it's doors somewhat.  

Had I had a bit more exposure to electronics as a youngster, there is no doubt in my mind I would be an electrictronics engineer and not a computer tech. in a small insurance company.

But dwelling on things like that is a waste of present day time :-) 

When I get down, I ask  myself  "what have you given to society?"

Yikes,  I never ask myself that, or I REALLY get depressed  LOL 
I still hope I can contribute something worthwhile...soon.

Way ahead of you:    But dwelling on things like that is a waste of present day time :-) 
Mar 1, 2010. 10:37 PM

Yeah, I would have liked to contribute to both animal world (even if only in the small way I do, by rescuing Cavies turned over the the local Shelter) and the human world. 
I could have been a chemist (I liked it in High School) or programmer (adult ed class, I graduated during a recession), or electronics engineer (and developed the first normal temp. quantum computer); but here I am,  operating a computer bank at an insurance company....I haven't the resources to do much of anything on my own though.
But I don't get depressed about it (often), just a little regretful at times.

Wait, caitlinsdad,  are you saying my "taking up space and using resources" is a contribution to society?   I never thought it would be so easy >:-)

I would have thought it was the other way around:   the Grouchos,  I mean the Nacho's of the world balance out the sickly sweet ones of the world ;-) 

Ack !  Rearrange the chairs and I am likely to get all caught up in them !  :-) 

That is one band I don't want to be a player on though....

I think the point is that, at the present time; "MOST" aspies are considered "broken" when they make up the innovators of the world.  Those that see things from a perspective that is not "already set";  the inventors, etc.  And they are being holed away as "diseased" or malfunctioning.  

If you want to see "theological aspies" in action, make a connection with the Christadelphian church.  If ever there was a religious gathering of mainly aspies, that is it. 

That's the point you see:  they make up a sector of people that believe you "must be totally informed and logical" about it.  They are "not the emotional panderers" and those that "sell religion by the Hallelujah bucketful".

If you don't know (haven't read and studied and reasoned it out), you can't understand, if you can't understand, you can't be a part of the group.

^{Nothing can "save the world" from itself.}  ;-) 

Caitlinsdad, are you referring to LR as a Cheerleader?  >:-)   But what if they don't NEED saving.....

I think I already did   ;-)

I thought you might ;-)