I think Aspergeans should NOT have children

Post Reply New Topic

To quote my previous reply:

"The problem is that game theory models show that Cooperation is superior to competition as a survival strategy. On that basis alone NT's are superior. Additionally, NT's do not lack attention for the environment, they simply have it in lower quantities. As a matter of optimization it should be able to hybridize NT's and AS's to have a person capable of attention spans necessary for technical or scientific fields without it affecting their social life or happiness."

Additionally, your statement is horribly anachronistic. We do not live in a society where major scientific breakthroughs are made by individuals locked away in labs; they are done by group efforts where intelligent people divide tasks and share knowledge. An Aspie would be useless in that sort of setting.

Ooh...Tough one. First of all we do have a daughter and, and yes she is on the spectrum. Here's the deal though.
We (on the spectrum) are genetically unique. Absolutely. We are often the "movers and shakers" in terms of advancement of the human race. Our species needs us. This genetic "mutation" that ultimately results in anomalous thought patterns and behaviors is responsible for the crystalization of what separates us (human beings) from your average house pet. We are usually smarter than the people around us and exhibit innate talents that often leave those near us profoundly moved and thought provoked. We question, push, buck the system, create, and think-and-think-and-think some more, and incite those around us to do the same. Perhaps not to the same degree, but the cogs start turning. We are cultural, intellectual, and social catalysts.
However, Mother Nature is a b***h and there is an exchange. For these epiphanies and flashes of brilliance we do not receive instincts that allow us to "belong" to assimilate ourselves into the safety of the social net, or at least, it is not easy for us to do so. As a result we stand out and are more personally at risk. Also, there is always a chance that this brilliance may be locked into a body that can only rock, flap and babble and not communicate the kaleidoscope light show inside. A person who is a liability to the group as a whole because they must plug extra resources into maintaining a member who cannot maintain themselves, makes the group in general stand out at risk, and is possibly incapable of contributing anything. That is a tragedy, and it may be part of the genetic pay-off cum-back-lash, but it is none the less.
Any human who reproduces is rolling the dice on a gambit of recessives. In the case of Autistics or Aspies we are in fact running a much greater risk of bringing a child into the world that will be incapable of doing anything but sucking resources and contributing nothing. We also have a much greater chance of bringing up the next Nobel Prize winner. The risks are greater for us but so are the gains.
I think that we have a responsibility as individuals to ask ourselves some questions before we have children. Are willing to take the risk of having a child that may be completely dependent on us for the rest of their lives? Are we up to the task of dealing the quirks that go with what we are and teaching our children how to manage those? Will we be able to guide a child that may have a contribution that will change and advance the lives of many people? Will we be able to teach them how to make those contributions positively and productively without giving in to the anger and resentment that can come with being constantly rebuffed by the people you are trying to help? ...And a whole slew of personal soul searching in that vein. Chances are if some one on the spectrum does decide to have children they won't have to deal with a child that will never be able to communicate with them or the next break-through-scientist in genetics. But for us the risk is greater. Greater pay-off is counter balanced by greater risk evolutionarily speaking. Period. It is up to us as individual to decide what chances we are willing to take.

" We do not live in a society where major scientific breakthroughs are made by individuals locked away in labs; they are done by group efforts where intelligent people divide tasks and share knowledge. An Aspie would be useless in that sort of setting."

I totally agree with this point of view (you are very rational and smart). (I can't help think thou that NTs are great event planners...it's a smart ass comment from me, I am sorry, I am not trying to invalidate the compliment I gave you).


I agree with pheonixiis also. I was shocked too about the sugestion of mutilation as a funny comment...

Last edited by cerasela on 08 Oct 2007, 1:08 pm, edited 3 times in total.

I think that controversy is what sparks solutions. You don't come up with answers to problems by pretending the problems aren't there. Discussion, communication is necessary for understanding and resolution of conflict. I think that we have a responsibility (please note the spelling for future reference) to address controversy in a rational manner.
On another note; I know you are irritated but I have to question the inherent responsible tendencies ( and sanity) of anyone who would make inferences about someone else's genitalia involving removal because they have an opinion that differs from your own.

Droopy, congratulations on your children's achievements!! !

Hey!! I said that in my profile. But I don't have a diagnosis. I can be a stickler for the documentation thats all. Maybe he is the same way.

And there you go. It isn't whether a person has AS or not, but what kind of parent they are. I truly believe that I could have been very happy (I am now, for the most part) if only I would have had the support, love and caring that my own children receive. The things ALL children should have.

martin_nyc says:

Funny...and a little sad and troublesome also, but true.

On the OP: Fol De Rol, Its a troll.

Claim to have children.. pfft. Claim? Some of us DO.

All aspies have to be good at math? Since when?

I say breed. breed away to our hearst content. that way, when everyone is an aspie, we wont have any social problems, because everyone will be doing the same thing. Let us become the majority, and then we can write diatribes about the poor disdvantaged ret*d NTs.

I wouldn't go around telling other Aspies they can't/shouldn't have children, but I personally agree with at least half of OPs points. If I ever wanted to be a parent, I would settle for adoption. I wouldn't want to pass on my genetic code to a child for they may not only be on the spectrum, but they may have a worse case of it than I. The last thing I would ever want is a child that wouldn't be able to fully take care of themselves and live happily at the same time.

Just because I am aspie and I'm fine with it doesn't mean I'm proud of it.

i think anyone should be able to have kids, the other day on my skyride i saw a dwarf with his wife and kid enjoying the ride just as much as any other couple i saw there.

Your lack of knowledge on Asperger's as opposed to straight autism is appalling. Is the work Einstein did, in a lab, worthless? I'm glad to know the work I've been doing with my college is worthless too. When we get more discovered regarding Autism, I'll be sure to burn it all because it is worthless.
You do not have a clue what you are talking about. MANY aspies work in groups and can function properly. It is a SPECTRUM disorder, meaning higher functioning to lower functioning. Regardless, there are issues we face, but name one n.t. that faces NO issues. Should people with ADHD have no children? What about someone who has a genetic disability? What about those who have birthed a child with down syndrome? Should they have no more? Are the children born with disabilities worthless to this world? I believe someone here has an issue with those who are not "normal". Who decided what is the "norm" and what is "acceptable"? You certainly did not, and thank God for that or you'd have all those who are not completely neurotypical locked away somewhere. I contribute a LOT to my field, and once I attain my doctorate, plan to do even more. I will be sure to reject all Bill Gates (those with doubts, he admits to his Aspie status...talked about his need to jump on a trampoline to think things through appropriately) has done as worthless because he's an Aspie. All the writing and music done by Aspies should be ignored as well by your point of view.
You are very narrow minded. It is people with this sort of attitude that mistreat those who are different. And if you are an Aspie yourself, does that mean your own life is worthless as well? Come on! The only way this world will ever achieve what it really could is if people learn to accept the differences, celebrate the similarities and the accomplishments and GET OVER THEMSELVES!!

It's time to start an AS Breeding programme. Every Aspie should do their duty!

By the way, cooperation is something Aspies do very WELL!! ! From what I've observed through my interactions with others in a group intellectual setting, the NT's are the ones with competition issues, not the Aspies. They always have to try to look like they are the best and the most intelligent. Me? I could care less what they think because I know that logically their opinion is of no value when it comes to my own self worth. They do NOT have that concept down yet. That would make ASPIES superior.

Ok, I will volunteer for the trials...

Some people need to lighten up a bit here, the ones that make big bombastic insulting angry statements...AND act like they know all the sh.. about everything.

I don't get it, what is the BIG difference between autism and Asperger? Honestly, you must be the person that "invented" the concept of autism...an authority in the matter.

Yeah, many aspies work in groups very well together. When we are talking about huge contributions, someone has to have the brains to make the research and other people have to clean the lab, some people have to finance the project for some reason I just can't see a "mad scientist" like Einstein remembering to pay the bills, but maybe that's just me etc. I actually know what bothered me in the post, I can sense anger...I don't like it, I can feel it even when it is between lines...virtual anger

Last edited by cerasela on 08 Oct 2007, 3:06 pm, edited 3 times in total.

who cares who is more superior and who is inferior. I don't think we are inferior at all and that attitude was probably taken in our presence to appear the best and more intelligent just like Annabel said. I have that happen to me alot and don't quite get it until I talk to someone about my experience or someone around me while it's going on talks to me about it.

We are all human beings and have the right to co-exist. I think it's just time for us to come together and let people know that we as higher functioning autistics aren't out to replace their jobs, aren't out to make them look stupid...are you? We have to make a living too. Sorry if I don't feel like being apart of the game of bullshitting right now which HR's seem to have their position because they play the game well not because they know about the jobs that they are hiring for or have that knowledge. I'm sick of that treatment and now I'm going to make it a point to make this clear to others because it's becoming clear that it's not because I'm a freak. It's because they are scared of others that they know seem "off" to them or not on their wavelength.

Does it sometimes feel like that tv show from the 80's Alien Nation? The good news is, if people actually take the time to get to know you, they stop being mean and threatened.