The use of the word "aspie"

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You're right that it is ridiculous to single out Asperger's Syndrome from autism, but WrongPlanet.net separates the two. WrongPlanet is setting the example of singling out Asperger's Syndrome from autism. Look at their logo.

They even do so on the main page:

P.S. The word "aspie" bugs me because it feels like it's a making-fun word. For the record, I never use it for myself.

They are seperating Kanner's from Asperger's.

I like the word aspie.
It's way better than "aspergian" uhhh shudder, it makes me think of them crazies that made that story about origionating from atlantis or whatever it was.
I like the word "sperg" or "spergin" which is an internet meme used on somethingawful.com, I think it's funny and catchy. Also am I the only one that finds the word "ass burger" funny and likes using it?

I know. I wish WP wouldn't differentiate "autism and Asperger's". Maybe when WP was first created, they seemed like different things; but we know better now. It should really be changed.

What would it take to get Alex round here to talk about making the change to have it just say "the autism spectrum"? "Autism and Asperger's" is like saying "fruit and oranges"; it's really not correct, and that bugs my picky little Aspie brain.

At first i didn't particularly like the word but now im used to it.

I simply find it convenient to have a noun form to describe my condition, just like you might call someone with autism an autist or, in less formal situations, an autie. It doesn't strike me as a term used to deny anything about AS. I have noticed that sometimes people on here seem to use the word "aspies" when they're just speaking generally to other members, as in, for example, asking if "other aspies" have a certain trait. I find this a bit annoying; although I know most probably don't want to exclude anyone, I just feel that the emphasis is so often on people with AS and maybe the autists get left out a bit.

But what really irks me is when an NT uses the word "aspie". To me it's like how African Americans get offended if a white person calls them "n****r" but they call eachother that. I have no problem with other people with Asperger's using the term but I get extremly offended when NT's do. The mental image I get when someone says "aspie" is of an obese, cross eyed child with buck teeth. The term aspie is a pejorative. The mental image I get with "Asperger's" is of a distuinguished college professor. I wish NT's would simply say "Asperger's" or "autistic".

I must admit I dislike the use of that word. It seems wrong, and everytime I read it I remember that guy with the avatar of a snake with the word printed over it.

Autistic works well enough, considering that AS is just a "sub category" of Autism.

I just automatically use the word 'aspie'. It takes a lot to type out Asperger's and when I tell people I'm autistic they say I'm not or feel really sorry for me, because they think I am LFA or something. I'm not in denial about being autistic. I know I am but sometimes it's easier to use that word.
I don't use it around NT's because they probably don't know what it means. I only use it on this forum because it's short and people get what you mean. I use "AS" more often because it's shorter.

You know what annoys me? When people use CAPITALS like THIS. I know it puts emphasis on your words but it irritates me. See? Everyone here gets annoyed with little things.

The word "aspie" kind of irks me. It sounds too cutesy...like saying bunny instead of rabbit, or tummy instead of stomach. Not that that's bad or wrong, just...irksome.

That's exactly why I don't like the word. It sounds cutesy, almost like the name of a flower.

I think the word "aspie" also takes away all that comes with it - the bullying throughout school, the (possible) depression or anxiety disorders that can occur because of it, the struggles of having to learn how to do what everyone else doesn't even have to think about doing. Then even once you've learned it, still having to think about it for the rest of your waking life.
"Aspie" just doesn't explain what some (or most) of us have had to go through or are going to have to face. It's like people just want to nickname problems to make them sound like they have less of an impact on lives than they actually do. "Aspie" also sounds completely totalizing, like that's all there is to you. Where as if you say "someone with AS" it sounds like you are saying it's only a part of them, which is the truth. You are more than your diagnosis.

Even though I consider myself guilty of using the word myself, I have a feeling of ambivalence towards the word. While it's shorter than saying Asperger, it's way too close to ass-pie for my taste (even though asperger is close to...well, you guys probably know. ).

I couldn't care less what term someone else uses to label me.

One of my friends recently asked me if my IQ would go down because of my 'Alzheimers'

I couldn't figure out if he was joking or not, EVEN when I pointed out that I had Asperger's and NOT Alzheimers.

I suppose a good AS retort would have been to point out that SINCE those with AS TEND to have an average or ABOVE average IQ, that my own 'IQ chart' would probably enjoy 'strong support' at or above the 100 level

I don't like it myself. I just don't care for the way it sounds, it seems hokey and lame somehow. I only use it on here, and only for brevity's sake.

I guess this is why I like the word, and I understand where you are comming from too, but after all that I went through as a child, and I have just found out about AS, Aspie kind of softens it, and makes it seem like something not so bad or harsh for me, for me finding out was a relief, gave everything a reason, and I guess I want that to be a soft thing. Hope you understand me, I am not good at putting feelings to words,

Trace

I don't care for it. Sounds childish. I do use it, sometimes, though.