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Is It Acceptable To Be Proud Of Having Autism?

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magnum233
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03 Aug 2016, 8:13 pm

AdamLain wrote:
magnum233 wrote:
I dont think its really something to be proud of anymore than having a leg or arm is. Its just a condition we live with, in many ways it benefits us because we are able to solve problems in faster and more direct methods than people who do not have aspergers can.

On the other side of the coin, i have a friend in a wheel chair who ive often asked "if your legs suddenly started working would you like that?" his reply is always "Ive adapted to living without them so no i dont want my legs to work"

Most people would think, what a strange reply. But when your mind has learnt to cope with the way it is its not strange at all rather its very comfortable and preferable. I often think, i wish i didn't have aspergers but then i revel in it at other times thankful that im not a stupid 'normal' person.


Honestly, it's probably a little insensitive asking your friend in a wheelchair if he would like his legs back.


He doesn't mind, and says most people in wheel chairs have a good sense of humor. Hes a developer. Also not a very good friend if i cant speak openly with him and be myself. The c**t word is used liberally hehe.


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03 Aug 2016, 11:44 pm

I think it's very acceptable to be proud of being on the spectrum. It's not so much the diagnosis that I'm proud of. I'm proud of all the things that I've accomplished and I also like to celebrate my special interests as well. It's my differences that I celebrate rather than the label.


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04 Aug 2016, 3:49 am

Let's just say I'm not proud to things I taken for granted.
I'm proud to laugh at the face of so called 'doomed fate' of being an autistic. :twisted:


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EzraS
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04 Aug 2016, 4:19 am

Well I'm not ashamed of being autistic. I have my pride as far as wanting to be independent as possible.



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04 Aug 2016, 5:03 am

What am I supposed to be proud of? It is not an accomplishment.



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04 Aug 2016, 5:12 am

kraftiekortie wrote:
Why not be proud of your strengths?

Trust me: you'll have people who will try to emphasize your faults.


Agree with this. I'm proud of being able to do things 95% of the worlds populations is incapable of doing.

As for Aspergers, i'm indifferent since i'm high functioning and sort of between the low functioning ones and neurotypicals, my problems are mostly social and most people who meet me say "i could never have guessed that you have Aspergers.", that's mostly because they don't see me in my loneliness at home, relaxing from the daily stress that comes from commuting to work and interacting with people.


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AdamLain
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04 Aug 2016, 5:46 am

Ichinin wrote:
kraftiekortie wrote:
Why not be proud of your strengths?

Trust me: you'll have people who will try to emphasize your faults.


Agree with this. I'm proud of being able to do things 95% of the worlds populations is incapable of doing.

As for Aspergers, i'm indifferent since i'm high functioning and sort of between the low functioning ones and neurotypicals, my problems are mostly social and most people who meet me say "i could never have guessed that you have Aspergers.", that's mostly because they don't see me in my loneliness at home, relaxing from the daily stress that comes from commuting to work and interacting with people.


This sounds like my experience, although in the last year I decided to start my own LLC. I sort of realize now it's because I have a hard time holding a job and I was in denial about that forever.



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04 Aug 2016, 10:48 am

I personally can not use something I was born with to be proud, but I do find it acceptable if it is used as it is used a vast majority of the time as a coping mechnism to counter all the negative stuff bieng thrown at us every
day. If it eases depresssion and improves self esteem that is a good thing that is sorely, sorely needed.

Of course if someone overcompensates for the negative stuff and becomes Autistic elitist or supremacist that is bad. I know that if a person is an autistic rights/ND movement supporter or proud of thier autism the conventional wisdom is becoming if it is not already is that that they are probably a elitist/supremicist. I feel for the most part this idea is false and harmful and is making "fragile" people defensive, if not putting right back into thier depression and suicide ideation. Even if you view autism as negative impairments how does this shaming help the impaired
?


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Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 04 Aug 2016, 10:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

kraftiekortie
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04 Aug 2016, 10:50 am

Being proud of your autism does not mean you think autistic people are "superior" to others.

It's better to be proud than to be ashamed.



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04 Aug 2016, 11:13 am

One shouldn't be shamed of course but reality is the those disabled are vastly under served and that is where I think the majority the attention should be given instead of highlighting how great such and such aspect is for some specific person. Why should I care if Einstein was supposedly on spectrum? Am I expected the compete with this person now?



ouroborosUK
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04 Aug 2016, 11:24 am

I second other people who said there is little point of being proud (or ashamed) of something you have zero responsibility for.

On the other hand :
- If your autism somehow help you do some good things, I think there is no reason you shouldn't be proud of them :)
- Autism is disabling. The world and society around us has been designed by and for people who are not autistic. We start at a disadvantage. I think we can be proud of achieving whatever level of functioning we individually reach, and of the success of our effort at being happier and better people in a (more or less) hostile environment.


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04 Aug 2016, 2:38 pm

AdamLain wrote:
6 months ago I was diagnosed and although I absolutely don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, I really feel proud that I am actually a savant that can play piano and write any type of music on FLStudio without ever actually having learned to play or read and write sheet music. But I know very few have my same experience, only 10%.

Hi Adam, I have these abilities as well. I've made lots of music without having a good understanding of sheet music or being able to play instruments professionally.

I do have the ability to learn a song on an ocarina within 20 minutes. Never took classes... just kind of pick it up and figure it out.

Rather than pride, I believe in humility as the superior choice. Instead of taking pride in my ability, I can give God thanks for this gift with an attitude of humility. And I am happy in that way. Pride is unnecessary.

We can even be thankful and humble about our autism as well. Even though there are struggles involved. If we were all humble, no one would be viewing themselves as better than others, yet we could love and admire anyone without a shred of envy.

I do believe that God has given you a gift, and it IS good for you to be thankful for it.

I'd love to hear some of your music sometime! And I'd be glad to share mine.


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04 Aug 2016, 3:26 pm

@marcb0t, you can be proud of yourself and humble and thankful that God gave you the opportunity for success at the same time. I'm Christian, and that's how I see my successes. I know a lot of people who have God-given talent and don't put in the work needed to reach their goals. So the hard work you do is still something to be proud of as long as you don't get a big head over it.



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04 Aug 2016, 4:10 pm

What about being proud of reaching your (e.g. work-related) goals despite being neuro-atypical?



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04 Aug 2016, 4:12 pm

rats_and_cats wrote:
@marcb0t, you can be proud of yourself and humble and thankful that God gave you the opportunity for success at the same time. I'm Christian, and that's how I see my successes. I know a lot of people who have God-given talent and don't put in the work needed to reach their goals. So the hard work you do is still something to be proud of as long as you don't get a big head over it.

What you are saying is true, ONLY if you are living out the following scripture by the Holy Spirit:

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,
Galatians 6:3‭-‬4 NIV

Notice though, before the mention of pride, that the humility MUST come first before that kind of pride remotely becomes acceptable.

Here's a question worth asking. How come everyone talks about pride, but almost never mentions the greater importance of humility?


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AdamLain
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04 Aug 2016, 6:12 pm

MsV wrote:
What about being proud of reaching your (e.g. work-related) goals despite being neuro-atypical?


AdamLain wrote:
I am proud of my achievements as well, I went to college and had a 4.0 average in a Computer Science major, I had a job as a IT subcontractor for a while and worked in the restaurant industry as a cook and waiter which was so hard for me, I lived with my ex for 7 years.


Be proud of all your achievements!