Critical of self diagnosis - you shouldn't be

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Shut it, you f*****g idiot! If I want to say something in support of people then I will.

I didn't see any of the posters arguing against self-diagnosis or not sure about self-diagnosis insulting others, using curse words, mocking others, telling people to burn in hell, or suggesting that someone is a psychopath. These negative behaviors, I am seeing from some posters who support self-diagnosis and want others not to discuss an important issue on a forum without a rule prohibiting such discussion.

Shut it, you f*****g idiot! If I want to say something in support of people then I will.

I didn't see any of the posters arguing against self-diagnosis or not sure about self-diagnosis insulting others, using curse words, mocking others, telling people to burn in hell, or suggesting that someone is a psychopath. These negative behaviors, I am seeing from some posters who support self-diagnosis and want others not to discuss an important issue on a forum without a rule prohibiting such discussion.

Does anyone know of another autism discussion group that is more compassionate towards self-diagnosis? where perhaps this type of criticism and debate is simply not permitted?

This arguing coming on top of the forum upgrade is really making me want to stop posting here altogether.

And the guilt-tripping begins.

I have no desire to see BirdInFlight leave, but I am not changing my opinions to make her happier either. I'm not repeating my earlier thoughts in this thread because there's no point, but I stand by them.

No one wants you to change your opinion, but you could be more respectful in the way you express your opinions. You are by far one of the most belligerent posters I have ever seen here. You've personally attacked several posters including Skibum and Joe90 who did absolutely nothing to warrant it. You have also made it clear that you don't care how others feel and you're going to say whatever you want regardless of how it affects anyone.

You have been getting by with it here because people feel bad for you and the circumstances you are in, but you are unwilling to extend the same kind of consideration to anyone else. Having a little guilt, in the sense of humility might be necessary here.

Q1. What percentages of self diagnosers on WP went on to successfully get an official diagnosis? (first time)

Q2. What percentages of self diagnosers on WP went on to successfully get an official diagnosis after more than one attempt?

Q3. What percentages of self diagnosers on WP have not attempted to get an official diagnosis?

Didn't sound like guilt-tripping to me.

Though I think it's reasonable to leave for 'the attitudes of a few.' I'm just not a very tolerant person, so...

I’m on WP questioning the suspicion of an ASD label and learning about practical solutions to lifelong problems. All this talk of valid/invalid is something that does not currently impact on me, I have basic human needs issues to resolve while I’m learning all these new things about myself. What concerns me is the politics of WP, thank you to alex for clarifying the inclusionary ethos, as I am curious about the practical implications of this discussion on the participation of self diagnosed members.

Just one practical example of a personally *valid experience that stemmed from reading here and led to research; understanding my noise sensitivity issue has been liberating, I have stopped trying to desensitise myself through methods that I now consider self harm. No one is attempting to invalidate that reality, nor can they. Based on the deleted posts, only a minority take issue with this practical type of WP participation.
But, if I start an aspiegirl blog and self promote on youtube claiming to be representative of ASD women, reference WP or post a link here to share, the majority will take issue with this type of behaviour, because I do not have a valid diagnosis.
Two different approaches.
I have to point out the culturally differing expectations regarding diagnosis, and question if I have to achieve the valid/invalid diagnosis standard set by the privileged from wealthy progressive countries to participate as a *valid voice on this site? Or, is this support site actually inclusive of and a resource for those living in the bottom percentages of global wealth too?
Thank you to the anti self diagnosis group; I’m starting to appreciate how patient and tolerant many of you were. It’s better to have this culture out in the open.

If anyone wants to start that poll about who wound up [b]right[/i], feel free to include my response.

I turned out to be "right." I got diagnosed two months ago after seven years of actually very painful and shocked suspicion that I seemed to have the traits of Asperger's.

Before I got handed that confirmation two months ago, trust me, I'd started out positively NOT "wanting to have it."

I'm not going to make this post much longer than it is, and I don't want to stay in this discussion after posting this -- indeed, I don't even like to come to WP anymore -- and that's AFTER being told I AM in fact one of you guys...

I'm one that "left" after being diagnosed positively rather than leaving because it was a negative. Why did I leave despite learning officially that I AM on the spectrum?

Because I became DISGUSTED at attitudes like the ones on this thread and other times like it when this stuff would come up even in a thread discussing something else. Because for the most of the year I was on here before being diagnosed, I ran into A LOT of "Well how can you give advice or say anything accurate when YOU are not yet diagnosed and don't even know for sure if you are on the spectrum?"



And also, another thing, speaking strictly for myself.

I have NEVER suspected I was on the spectrum for purpose of "belonging" or fitting in OR making "excuses" for my life. .............................................

I have said this before and I'll say it again:

I stumbled upon the traits while not even thinking about my own self or my challenges. I ran across the traits not because I was some kind of hypochondriac looking for something to be wrong with me, or looking for an excuse for challenges and failings I had suffered all my life. I looked it up because a public figure revealed he had been diagnosed, and I thought that seemed surprising (because I knew nothing about it) and so I looked it up just to see what HE was dealing with.

And when I recognized myself in the most profound difficulties, no not just "Ooh yeah I'm socially awkward, a bit!" it was a shock, not a welcome thing. I spent the next SEVEN YEARS denying even the merest possibility to myself. It took a long process of denial then research then finally my diagnosis at the age of 52 (then) and I took none of it lightly. ...................

Anyway, if you do that poll "How many thought they were then got the official diagnosis confirming they were right" count me as one. Even though yeah at the same time I also left WP following diagnosis.

Because I felt extremely vulnerable after my positive diagnosis.

...And, by the way, I did always insert the information, back then, that "I at present am only self-suspecting and not yet diagnosed" before going on to offer whatever I was trying to offer. But I was slyly beaten up in a covert way over and over on this place. One member in particular -- EVEN THOUGH I WAS COMPLETELY UPFRONT THAT I ONLY "SUSPECTED" -- actually seemed to follow me around injecting his cynicism into threads where I was...

Why would an individual who has the confidence to self-diagnose (i.e. going from suspicion to certainty), seek a professional diagnosis? Unless, they are seeking services? After all, don’t they already have extreme certainty in their own autism assessment?

Please note:
1. I asked the following question in a different thread on a similar topic.
2. I am not trying to criticize or pass judgment. I am simply trying to understand what’s going on inside the mind of someone who self-diagnoses. This goes back to my earlier post about confidence. I suspect that those who self-diagnose are, as individuals, simply more self-confident than those who are unwilling to self-diagnose. I wonder if that suspicion is true.

I think it was Dianthus who said, interestingly that she wondered if we split into 2 camps sometimes, the ones who are really good literal analysts and others who try to express emotions in words which needs a leap of empathy from the reader to get what they are aiming at............
The friction gets a bit hot sometimes because of these approaches (I tend to do both at different times depending on my mood!).

I don't choose to leave WP because half the posters (or however many) are self-diagnosed and intend to remain that way.