Asperger's is losing it's meaning for me

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Between the jokes people make as to the pronunciation of "Asperger's" to the bragging right the nerdiest of people have about "possibly" having the condition, do you feel that having Asperger's is losing it's meaning or value for some of you because I feel it's become that way for me. With the rapid rate of children being diagnosed (some improperly) we're already near the breaking point (or probably already past) where we're no longer being taken seriously by society. NTs either sees AS in an extremely negative light or just think it's a complete fake. I just people would take us more seriously. It's even more disheartening to see Aspies arguing with one another over what should be taken seriously and what shouldn't in regards to having AS (it's already bad enough that alot of NTs don't care for the thoughts of the people who actually have AS on the subject of AS). Yes the media is giving AS more attention but there's just something usual about it, almost unrealistic and inaccurate in a way. I can't put my finger on it. Most portrayals make me cringe. And in some cases, the portrayals do more harm than good for the reputation of AS.

It's ironic because for years I couldn't find someone who knew what AS was. Now it's like they hear the word and all they can do is either snicker at the word or be like "whatever". I really want AS to have some sort of meaning or value for me but when I see how the world even looks at the term alone, it seems like a hopeless endeavor. We're either considered a joke or we're full of it.

Anyone get what I'm saying?

Yes, and this is why I do not talk about AS in real life. I just don't even want to go there with all the misconceptions people have about it.

I feel the same way. It's for those reasons that I try not to tell people I have it, and instead describe myself as "socially awkward with odd behaviors".

don't worry, within this decade autism will be left in the dust and some other condition will be hyped and over diagnosed and twisted.

Yes the 'trendy diagnosis' statement is starting to sit with me.

I'm just exceedingly Spock like rational more than anything else

I have Vulcan Syndrome

Just to weigh in on the other side of the argument, why is it that you equate "knowledge" and "more people being diagnosed with it" over-diagnosis?

Popular opinion will be what popular opinion will be, but for those newly diagnosed (of which I'm currently pending diagnosis) it's just as real as anyone who has been diagnosed for years. It's not fair to say that just because it's a "mild" form that went undiagnosed for so many years, then a diagnosis isn't needed. Yea, I survived, but had I been diagnosed (as I should have been) then life wouldn't have mainly been about just survival. Even adults in my life who spoted signs didn't say anything because (it seemed like you worked around it") but working around it isn't the same as being helped. Maybe I'm "high functioning" and it's "mild' -by definition asperger's is mild compared to classical autism- but "mild" is not the same as nt and still needs help too.

So, while I haven't been around forever, asperger's doesn't mean any less to me because of the way others see it. it is who I am (reguardless of diagnosis or not) and it's nice to know I'm not the only one.

As far as nerds "possibly" having asperger's, there are differences between a nt nerd and an aspie, though they probably get along and look similar to an outsider.

Tell me about it! I FINALLY find a name for all the symptoms I have, and I find that psychiatrists, etc... have been so CAPRICIOUS and just STUPID about diagnosing it, and criminals claim to have it, that they have decided to trash the term!

From what I've noticed at my college personally, my friends cannot take those with AS seriously who they have seen deteriorate (their symptoms/inappropriate behaviors get worse). But they appreciate those like myself who they've seen constantly try to improve and cope rather than just whining (I know people w/ AS who do this CONSTANTLY).

Perhaps . .

'Are you hip to a person being aspie?'

and put them on the spot a little bit.

I still don't get the whole "trendy diagnosis" bit. When did autism become hip?

Asperger's lost it's meaning for me the minute I decided to be myself. I'm not the biggest fan of groups, and looking back, I never really was. I decided there are much better ways of explaining who I am than using an oversimplified cliched diagnosis that's all the rage these days. I'm much more similar to others than I am different, and that's even true despite the fact that I stand out everywhere I go, even in Asperger's groups.

I wear my "label" like a badge of honor cause I deserve it....after years of thinking I was horribly screwed up and there is no else like me and no else could possibly ever understand why I do the things that I do....it is a blessing that it has a name and that I have ya'll to go to who understand me better than anyone in my life ever could. All the media blitz and related nonsense will not make any difference in how I feel about being AS. AS is my curse as well as my blessing...it is so much a part of me that if I were suddenly struck with NT...I would be a totally different person. They can say it is bogus all they want....just let them hang out with me for a week and find out how much it impacts my daily life and I dare them to try to tell me that it is not real.

btw...there is a difference between being a nerd and having AS. NT nerds do not have sensory issues, executive function dysfuction, language based learning disabilities, emotional disconnects, meltdowns, sensory shut downs, strong resistance to change in routine and difficulty in interpreting socail situations.....need I say any more?
NT nerds just lack the herd mentality which makes them outcasts from the herd but they are not aspies....but neverless cool.