Does the idea of ASD culture represent seperation?

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_culture#Criticism

I'm a label-free Aspie and proud of it. I never felt estrangement from the NT environment, and I dislike the term generally. I don't like the term "ASD culture" or something along the same lines because I find this concept sort of alienating.

What does the rest of WP think?

I think "ASD culture" is just a vague concept with no basis in reality. Most people with ASD's are too geographically separated from one another for one thing and also we have dissimilar opinions on everything from politics to religion.

The term "gay culture" has some semblence to reality. There are gay enclaves in some cities. And music and dance styles have been created in gay society that have spread to pop culture in general.

Aspies have yet to do anything comparable. Thanks to the web we all can communicate as aspies/auties like never before. So theoretically we could evolve a kind of global aspie subculture in the near future. But I dont envision that actually happening.Like Tallyman said aspies are too scattered, and too small in number, and too diverse in opinions, to coalesce that way, even with the web. So if you DONT like the idea of an 'aspie culture' then dont worry about it happening. If you like the idea than youve got alot of work cut out for you to make it happen.

All the ASD people I have met in real life are trans people with an ASD (except perhaps my brother who my autism doctor said sounds like he has an ASD). At past jobs the owner or co-workers would bring it to my attention by saying something equivalent to "person X is like you", meaning having autism and being trans. One time, on a job interview, the hiring managers did this too.

So, people will lump you together with other people with the same condition, and assume you share a bond.

There is, definitely, an ASD culture on the internet--but, like the earlier poster stated, we are too far apart geographically, and perhaps too shy, to form a cohesive community unless we get together in some kind of mass gathering.

One could have an Internet-subculture. But the only things that appears to unite us is that we are on the spectrum and most of us (on wrongplanet) seem to be from the Western world culturally speaking. And those two are in my opinion not enough to claim the existence an ASD-(sub)culture.



Then I would like to know what the characteristics of said culture is. I have not noticed one, alto I have not spend much time on forums like these.

Label free huh.

To address your topic, Any "aspie" who thinks they are superior to "NT's", who thinks they are the next stage in human evolution, or thinks the whole of society should be aware of their needs and get a doctorate in ASD behaviour signs s and symptoms, is delusional and to my mind very annoying, Just the term ASPIE pisses me off, let alone the "aspie elitists"

What is a "label free aspie" anyway?

And isnt it a double contradiction in terms to proudly label yourself an aspie, and then to label yourself as one who is "label free"?

Although I am diagnosed I don't use the term ASD or Asperger's that much nowadays to describe myself. Not that I have a problem with it.

Just because you are diagnosed with something doesn't means it defines ALL of you.

I can guarantee I'm like none of you. We are all different.

Identity is important but identity is personal.

Online it is more than apparent that folks with or self diagnosed with an ASD are very diverse in personality, interests and everything else that makes up a human being other than a label.

In real life I attended an ASD support group 'get together', and it was like folks representing scores of countries with no ability to understand the language of each other.

Even if it was logistically possible, as far as I can see, and that is quite a ways, it will never work in real life, and real well online either, unless one is willing to follow a prescribed set of social rules; something not many folks with ASD's are proficient at, again, as far as I see.

Yes, I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Hmm, which reminds me my wife bought me a T-shirt with that 'slogan'.

It's a nice T-shirt, but i didn't pick it out. ;)

It is not so prevalent now, but a few years ago there was a bunch on here who thought that it was a marvellous thing to be an "aspie" as this DX conveyed superiority in relation to the rest of society. There was even congratulations when some one got their DX and rose to the lofty ranks of "aspie". There are other sites where this is the prevailing view, that "aspies" are so logical, so much more intelligent, are the only ones capable of major scientific breakthroughs and the "NT's" along with being shallow, two faced and illogical are also riding on the "aspie's" coat tails.

So basically this aspie culture being referred to is a form of (intellectual) snobbery?