Asperger's is losing it's meaning for me

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I think NT's have created the preconception that people with aspergers are just shy nerds without real problems, and I don't think it's even slightly true.

Perhaps the problem is not only in NTs - after all, with so many aspies saying "it is not a disease nor a disability, it is a difference!", it is natural that many NTs will think "these people does not have any problem, only an unusual personality".

What she said.

NTs normally have difficulty discerning nuances and fine distinctions with everything, not just Aspergers and Autism.

Many Aspies, on the other hand, excel in memorizing insignificant details. I can not only remember several definitions for a word or concept, but also remember common missuses of the same!

Autism is in fact a spectrum--folks on the spectrum will exhibit widely varying abilities and problem areas. Adding to this confusion are psychological issues which we may have that sort of look like part of Asperger's but really aren't, like Obsession Compulsive Disorder and Social Anxiety. Even worse, we often have few friends and family that we know well enough to establish a baseline on what is "normal"

Yes, I agree with this, I actually do have a problem with Aspies using this wording so strongly. I think being proud of who we are is all well and good, but denying the problems we do face is not going to help anyone.

Asperger's IS a disability and to deny this in my opinion is misinformed. However, that doesn't mean that Asperger's can't also be an ability - to see things differently, or perhaps have unusual strengths. I think it's problematic that people can't see that Asperger's can be both - it doesn't have to be only one or the other.

I propose we coin a new term: Differbility

Hearing your comment as a serious one, I kinda like that as an informative-conversation starter with others.

I am being serious. Although it's funny too. That's just a bonus. Though people might just think you have a lisp.

I had thought you were being serious, but then "hillbilly" also popped into mind since my surname just happens to indicate "high dweller" (in German, I think) ... and so now all of that means "Differbility" seems to fit me all the way around!

Not their sensory issues, or major burn out. But like myself, they get freakin' pissed at people who become more narrow minded and immature (socially deteriorate) and blame it on their AS.

Agreed! - But when you'we tried to conform, and "become" NT for some 43 years, with all the pain asociated with that struggle, and then find out that you fought in wain. - I'll tell you, its really like comming home, to have a dx!! ! - No matter how many we are...
Anyhow, you're right. - Its not anyone that gets to know that I'm Aspie. - By far!! !

I am upset with the over diagnosis as well, however not talking about it, and ignoring it, and never telling anyone you have it does nothing, it is just like sitting down waiting for something to happen. Frankly if anything is going to be done someone or a group of people with real Aspergers needs to teach the public about it, and correct what the doctors think it is. I mean I was diagnosed in the mid 1990's and I have seen a recent climb in Asperger positive children, and I believe this to be because of the recent awareness, and the fact that it can lead doctors to misdiagnose. Also because it is relitively new to many doctors, they may be having a difficult time telling the difference between it and other things.

But I feel it's a lose-lose situation for us.

We can either tell people we have AS and not be taken seriously.

...or...

We can continue to be constantly judged and called out by the NT world for personality and social flaws (poor eye contact, lack of talking, lack of facial expression etc) that we really can't control and be dismissed at rude, mean, freakish, etc. and be harassed into changing a part of ourselves that cannot be change by our own will.

Stop the presses, doctors are human.

As far as people picking on us for social flaws and such that we cannot control, Pardon my french but Who gives a F**k what some thick skulled ignoramous thinks about who we are they cannot tell us what we know or don't know they don't have it so they cannot judge it and if they do just ignore it because it is not true and they dont know what they are talking about. Also when my school actually educated my class about my Aspergers and how it effects me they layed off me and the bullying stopped which just goes to show you people can be taught.