hypothetical: if a "cure" existed and you took it.

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Some of you have almost hit on what I'm thinking, but not quite. If I took the "cure" I would lose or lessen some of my talents, perfect pitch and some of the other things already listed here, but there are much more frightening things in this world. Based somewhat on an experience I had about two years ago, I've concluded that a complete rewiring of the brain would change me literally into a different person, as if they'd surgically replaced one brain for another. It's pouring out the "diseased" contents of a vesil and replacing it with something mostly different. So then, if my essence has been lost, or I no longer exist, I've died. And what a horrible, agonizing way to leave this place. Hopefully I wouldn't feel too much of this new "cured" person as she took over my consciousness and I passed away. And no one would ever morn, because they wouldn't know.

The life you had before a cure doesn't change just because you have been cured. You'll still retain the memories, and if they're bad memories, a cure doesn't equate to a better life, especially if you've identified with AS as part of who you are. A lot of psychological issues would remain, even if somehow the hardwiring were 'corrected' (that terminology being up for debate).
Cures late in life don't make sense.
Cures early in life raise issues on how to regulate whether or not a child is being forced, and what level of functioning is considered too high to warrant such a drastic thing.
Ultimately, it's going to come down to fetal testing. And people don't generally do that unless they already have seen a genetic issue in their family - like my sister-in-law getting fetal screening for Tay-Sachs because she and my brother are Jewish.
Most people just don't bother. And those who do, and would terminate based on an autism dx (autism does not always mean AS!) probably shouldn't have autistic kids anyway.

Assuming that I have aspergers (I'm not 100% sure), the main consequence of a "cure" is probably that I'd be miserable and lonely. I might become bored all the time, instead of always having something to occupy my mind. My own company would no longer be enough for me. But I wouldn't suddenly develop social skills overnight, because even NTs have to learn them. So I would no longer want to be alone, but I'd still be alone.

You're right, in that the memories, or her memories, would be the same, and issues would remain, but I am NOT speaking of a name I might use to identify myself. I literally speak of death, the death of a conscious being (though not manifested physically). We don't even need to use AS as an example. What about people who have been so drugged up, for whatever reason, that they aren't really aware of themselves or their surroundings on a permanent basis? And how much of you would be you if someone lopped off some of the front of your brain? Yes, physical diseases, such as blindness, and mental ones should be cured. Also the right meds I believe can improve peoples' lives. But when they start tinkering with our natural circuit boards way too much, and for the sake of conformity, I think self-preservation.

Schizophrenics and people with bipolar disorder, by an overwhelming degree, often need harsh drugs just to get by.
That said, I wasn't saying that a cure later in life is a good idea. I think it's a terrible idea - a lot of the people or parents seeking it would be under the misunderstanding that a cure will fix a thing. A cure later in life can only work if the person is willing to continue working closely with people who can guide them through the process.
If, in the next 36 hours, the AS diagnosis is made for me - I wouldn't change it for the world. But I do still need help with coping over certain issues. This isn't to be more socially appealing, because I don't require much social contact to be 'okay'. My issue is mainly with improving my social skills enough to maintain my current relationship (I couldn't ask for a better partner, honestly, and I really owe it to him to learn to understand his needs as much as he understands mine), to at least survive in the work place, and to maintain an appropriate living environment (my house is gross and I have major issues with correcting this. nothing is working and a new perspective that is hard-wiring related, rather than accusing my actual will, may yield the necessary results).
I am pleased that there are people who have managed to cope with very little help. I need some help. Realizing this has taken a lot off my mind. But to cure me of my symptoms won't cure me of my whole life. Habits learned will be hard to break regardless if there is a change in mental processing. If I were cured, I'd still have to learn the social things I'd missed, just like I had to learn how to hear with hearing aids.

ETA: I mean to say, basically, that a cure for the hardwire issues is not a cure for the learned and remembered issues. Either way, the person who feels the need for a cure from AS (not the lower-functioning autism) is likely in need of help, either with AS, or after any wonderful and magical cure.
Even people with cochlear implants need intense therapy to learn how to use them. Fixing the hardware doesn't automatically make the software compatible.

RampionRampage, I think you see what I mean, and vise versa, but I just had to say you're not the only one struggling to keep a good relationship. I have an appointment to go back to therapy later this week, partly for couple therapy so my fiance and I can communicate more effectively and get some of these issues resolved. He's staying at a friend's place until we find a house, because I can't live in a studio apartment with someone else or I get depressed. His idea of personal space is an arm's length, while mine is a cave with running water, electricity, and internet, where I can venture out when I have the desire to socialize. Also I tend to misinterpret things he says, so I think we both need help. Thanks for sharing that though, it's encouraging that I'm not the only one dealing with this stuff.

You would be surprised, but I have worked in real estate offices and I have met several aspies who work as real estate agents.

It is a profession with an incredible amount of ethical and legal complexity and I think some aspies enjoy learning all the little laws and by-laws and clauses and applying the do's and don'ts to their work.

I think it can also appeal to some aspies because it gives a person a great deal of autonomy- they work as a contractor so are not "working for the man" in quite the same way.

*perks up*

French horn?

You know, you definitely have a point there. "Curing" AS would probably just make matters worse.

Yep; I was 1st chair in high school in French Horn. Unfortunately, braces made it too painful. I also won a lot of gold medals in piano, but could never move to state because I did not have enough emotion in my music (surprise surprise). Guitar came later in life because my dad is a guitarist.

I'd be a normal teenager.
... Ew. No thanks.

I have been thinking of it, without a cure, I would like to mechanic this world, scrap the useless parts, and make the rest work without distraction.

Joe Stalin had the right idea, the cause of most problems is too many people. There are those who will work for my greater good, and those who will help by not existing anymore. They also serve who fill the pits.

Naked with explosive neck collars would make the best humans. Boss of Bosses is the only job to have.

As soon as I have a will to socialize, I will put the plan into action.

Till then, Sonoran Estates, where the sun shines everyday and you are never bothered by rain. Why rent? Spend you life paying for a lot? You can own a whole Acre in Sonoran Estates, eight lots, and be free from neighbors. Other people are the root of all problems and you can be free!

Nothing down, low monthly payments!

Why not ask formerly autistic persons who have already been cured? There are lots of them out there. None of the autism treatments made me worse in any way. They only helped the negative symptoms.

Since there is no cure for autism, please tell me where these "formerly autistic persons" are.

If you use circular logic and conclude that everyone who has been cured was never really autistic to begin with, then you will never find any.

Here's some more videos of formerly autistic persons:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... rch=Search

[quote="Inventor"]I have been thinking of it, without a cure, I would like to mechanic this world, scrap the useless parts, and make the rest work without distraction.

Joe Stalin had the right idea, the cause of most problems is too many people. There are those who will work for my greater good, and those who will help by not existing anymore. quote=]

Inventor, it'd be great to remake the whole world, but Stalin made a grave error. All we have to do is make a world mostly full of Aspies, so the "negative" symptoms won't look so bad anymore. IE, slowly replace, or cure the NT's. With our brilliant minds, the world, and humanity would suffer a terrible loss if they sought to get rid of us.