Critical of self diagnosis - you shouldn't be

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For sure I have my moments, like most people, both kind and unkind. So does Dianthus. Even you, NCOT..!

Love that smiley and heart. You have your ten league boots on today!

I do indeed have my moments... >.>

EDIT: @B19 - Cheers! Have two more!

Completely agree.



I do not find fault with that behavior. I do, however, find fault with the implication that such steps have anything whatsoever to do with self-diagnosis, as the only prerequisite for treating and accommodating one's symptoms is identification of the individual symptoms, not self-diagnosis. I can't tell if anyone is making that implication or not.

The context of the partial quote you chose is not about avoiding criticism, it’s highlighting a smothering climate of suspicion. (Though as per your suggestions it could be totally avoided through chosen censorship based on that culture of fear and suspicion.) Constructive criticism and open debate about this topic could be progressive in the long term.

I am speaking from a basic human context, recognising inequalities and acknowledging socio-economic nuanced realities as described by posters since this thread started.

There is another issue at stake here, recognising the broader implications of diluting the official/legal validity of posts on this site. If those secure in their diagnosed status take aim at members choosing to be honest and well established long term posters, this sends a obvious message to all lurkers; it is not safe to click the non diagnosed options in your profile and participate. Unless of course you are prepared to be labelled/categorised based on the personal information you choose to disclose, this I believe would create a need for a sub culture of online quasi diagnosis, which is totally confusing because it’s the opposite of Fnords signature statement and Btbnnyrs message.

This IMO will do much more damage to the culture of legally valid posts here, as with human nature, people will usually choose to avoid making themselves a target, especially I think if your already familiar with avoiding being open to constant criticism in real life. Create boundaries for an actual climate of inclusiveness and more lurkers will choose to be transparent, as it is a viable option.

I believe that if people are suppressed through censorship, personal agendas will become the motivation in posts, instead of on topic progressive discussion.

Well that kept me busy, I have communication challenges, so if anything I have written is unclear, please ask me, I will answer tomorrow.

Yes, Amity, I too see this debate going to the heart of what kind of culture the majority of members and Alex wants here (particularly Alex, it's his site).

I want a culture which is, above all else, validating of the ASD affected lives that people have lived and are living every day.

I don't want a culture that trivialises, miminimizes, discounts or ignores that experience.

I want a culture that values, recognises and affirms that experience.

Alex has already created a cultural framework for that and there are always opportunities for members to expand it via their actions.

I guess you haven't noticed who's been making all the threads about self-diagnosis: the people in favour of self-diagnosis. If you don't want to trigger a massive debate, then stop banging on and on about it, because all that will accomplish is the other side banging on and on about it in response.

Don't the self-diagnosed take any responsibility for their actions?

By the way, I don't even look at people's profiles before answering their posts. Apart from a few regulars, I don't know if most people are diagnosed or not. But yeah, I'm contributing towards a "smothering climate" where it's "dangerous" for newcomers to click the non-diagnosed option.

I believe this information is no longer listed in the profiles, since the software upgrade, which may be one of Alex's responses to sensitivities around this topic.

Heck, you're right. I just checked my profile and your one, and there's nothing there about diagnosis at all.

I think it's good that it has been removed. Self identification should be sufficient for a forum such as this. It shouldn't be an issue. What people actually say is what matters.

I believe WP is an inclusive Site.

It's for people with all sorts of autism/whether officially diagnosed or not

It's for people whose friends/relative have autism.

It's for people who are interested in/fascinated by autism

It's for people who have a vested interests in the success of autistic people.

Debates making use of the virtuous exchange of ideas, without attacks of a personal nature, are an essential part of any viable forum.

Choosing the diagnosis profile option was self-identification and was identical with "what people actually say." There certainly wasn't anything official about it.

Also people's ages aren't shown in the new format... although that was a choice, and in the old format one's dx status was visible to anyone who clicked on "profile."

Please re read my post, you have twisted my words into something I did not say ...a personally tailored insult/personal attack aimed directly at you? I don't know you, this I believe is our first direct interaction.

Obviously self diagnosed by the nature of honesty, are open to taking responsibility for their actions.

But, if you’re making personal reference to the spats since this thread started, I find it all distasteful, personally motivated, completely unnecessary and off topic in a manner I am not and have never been interested in.

Prohibiting people from communicating their ideas against self-diagnose will not change the community into more of a supportive site. It would worsen the situation, because no one would be able to share their perspective and argue it out. It would perhaps provide an illusion, but there are many negatives to that. If you want this same effect, then don't visit self-diagnosis threads.

If anyone truly cared and had the idea that this site was dedicated to support at the forefront of their mind, there would never have been so many negative threads about NTs. I have not yet been a member for a year and I've witnessed a countless amount of these threads/posts. One might argue that the main audience of this site is not NT, but without a diagnosis (or self-diagnosis, I suppose that depends on point-of-view), for all sakes and purposes, a person is considered NT. Parents and friends visit this website anyway, and I am one of them.

I definitely understand the feeling of 'not belonging', I'm fairly certain most here would, but I don't feel it in relation to this website, despite my 'outsider' status. I don't understand how some others can feel this when it has been they who observed and/or participated in the NT threads, without care for the notion of 'support site'.

What does it matter to a person that is self-diagnosed if another user considers that to be invalid? That person's opinion is innately only as valuable as yours. It shouldn't be devastating to have a person around that views self-diagnosis in such ways, especially as it is a concept rather than a personal thing.

This issue isn't so polarizing to be two groups, the insensitive, hateful/aggressive group against self-diagnosis and the caring, supportive group for self-diagnosis. Those ideas are only projections, for the most part.

Last edited by Norny on 01 Dec 2014, 7:23 pm, edited 3 times in total.

I mean self identification as autistic, specifically.

With regard to requiring the self-diagnosed to identify as such, I don't see why this is necessary. It is irrelevant whether someone is self diagnosed or not, what they say in their posts is what matters.