Asperger's can't explain Newtown school shooting

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http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/natio ... story.html

horror happens often, it's just when aspies do it, the media puts up propaganda to make them want to kill us

I'm so very disappointed that this tragedy has been linked to Aspergers. Like Dr. Farley has so astutely written, AS does not equate to violent mass murderer.

Ironically, very recently, but before this tragic school shooting, there was a post about AS and whether we are (latent) mass murderers. Firstly, I am saddened that some Aspies, maybe especially those who are really young, feel they are 'bad' inside, as if they are potential killers. Of course you are not - in fact, the contrary.

Anyway, what I wrote in that post still stands true: those very few deeply disturbed individuals (AS and NTs both) who commit such a heinous act are truly beyond societal bounds. Further, they are beyond diagnostic boundaries as well. That is, any 'label' is essentially a moot point. Such a miserable killer is 'on the fringe' of our society and, in my opinion, eludes our 'normal' understanding of any given rules of assessing one's psychological state of being.

For an analogy: Vincent Van Gogh (certainly not a killer! and that's not my point here) was undoubtedly a disturbed individual. Van Gogh's art demonstrates his astounding talent as well. I think we can all agree he was a 'misunderstood' and sensitive individual who suffered in life. Now, I've read lots of compelling evidence that Vincent was likely 'on the spectrum.' And I agree - he may have been. But, regardless of autism, Vincent displayed deeply disturbed behaviour that was far and away beyond the scope of autism. Indeed, he experienced psychotic breaks - that's not autism. By consensus, those who've researched Vincent's tragic life know that he was (at least) depressed and had plenty of other problems (e.g. putatively bipolar, etc.). So, by extension, those who are violent killers, such as the Newtown school shooter, may be on the spectrum but that was not the mitigating factor. Alternatively, their deeply disturbed pathology, autonomous of autism, drove them to take the lives of those innocent victims. I am so sorry we've been sort-of 'linked' to this sickening tragedy. In all honesty, from my experience, and from most of those I know on the Wrong Planet, Aspies demonstrate a kindhearted innocence, a sweetness, that eludes most of the typical populace.

And yes, like henry14488 just posted, the media is making a mockery of this. Isn't that the tragedy? To be misunderstood?

Hi I am new to WP. I have a teenage son who is an Aspie. My heart and prayers go out the the families of the victims of this tragic event! That the shooter has been said to have AS has affected many, including my son. Yesterday one of my youngest son's teacher, in an attempt to "educate" her students stated that people with Asperger's do not have emotions and are violent. It is very sad that an educator did not take the time to educate herself before spreading misinformation. My son who has a difficult time trusting other people enough to share with them that he has Asperger's was hurt to the core, and now is even more afraid of what his peers would think of him if they find out he is an Aspie... I am very proud of who my son is! He is a smart, funny, and compassionate young man! In my experience with children and adults with Asperger's I have found that they (contrary to what the teacher stated) are very sensitive, loving and compassionate. I just wish my son could see himself as I see him, talented, sweet and amazing in every way.

~Ela

Ela, I'm so sorry that happened to your son - and to his class, who are now all misinformed. I hope someone will take the teacher to task for such idiocy.

I'm sure being still more ostracized, abused, traumatized and said to have "no feelings" will make aspies much less likely to "snap" and do something crazy.

I am willing to bet the bigotry against people with Autism or Aspergers will increase dramatically as a result of the Conneticut shooting.