Next person to say AS "symptoms"...

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Sora, I understand what you are saying, but I've never personally put any faith in the notion all arguments are equally valid. There is a certain purity to the world - definite conclusions.
I've never made any secret of my ego.
If grander facts overwhelm general consensus, I pursue or produce those facts, regardless.
I've often half-joked the world would be a far better one if everyone would just do as I say from the get-go, instead if having me produce theory, evidence, conclusions, play the political machine to win common trust, before securing even the beginnings of resources to take actions. The end result is always the same - I am right - but it would really be a lot more convenient if I could be the dictator I, perhaps, ought to be. I have, perhaps, a unique humour in that sense.

Ish, I'm rather big on semantics and the value of word choice - but in this case, I think the application is being selective on the basis of something I am having difficulty relating to. These evidential traits, by the very definition, are symptomatic of a condition known as AS, part of the Autistic spectrum. You have a strong correlation between the terminology and the diagnostic state, but this is not necessarily as shared characteristic with others (who may not even make the same connection) and it is impractical to expect to dictate the actions of others. Of all the offensive things experienced and shared related to AS, this does not rank among even the first pages of consideration for me.


M.

do not mistake your own perceptions as being "common perceptions", after all, you are an aspie
and it may very well be listed as a disease because it causes most of those who have it a state of "dis - ease", for example, one of the "symptoms" can be depression

Why not just have done with it and call them 'virtues' ?

When they cease to be disadvantageous, you can stop calling them symptoms.

Anything that causes the intensity and volume of misery and unhappiness that ASD's do, must surely qualify at least as a dysfunctionality with 'symptoms'.

AS isn't an illness, but it IS a pathological condition.

Quit it with the balloney bravado, accept it for the POS, life-crucifying condition that it is and move on.

Denial will only make it worse.

How can we ever hope to cure it if people keep claiming that it's a great life-enhancer ?

It's just a shame that I can't give my AS to people like you.

For that, I'd be willing to pay a LOT.

If that works for you; virtue is a good word. Symptom is a word that apparently has some darker, ulterior meaning for others than it does for me. Being symptomatic, in any regard, does -not- have a negative connotation for me - a symptom is something which shows evidence of status or condition. It is how YOU feel about it, not the word chosen, that has meaning. I'm sorry that is how you feel about your condition, but it is not an opinion shared by me, or all others... I don't want a cure, I want to learn to use it.

It's just a shame that I can't give my AS to people like you.

Such a sad statement... I'm sorry you feel that way.


M.

I never said AS in itself is negative, but most of the symptoms people refer to (inability to develop rapport with people, lack of empathy,ect.) are generally percieved to be negative, because they are. that's not to say good hasn't come out of it, and that's not to say everyone was made for their special little purpose. If you (with your almight power to think logically) cannot come to the conclusion AS is loaded with negative traits then your delusional. Nothing more to be said here

symptom
1. any phenomenon or circumstance accompanying something and serving as evidence of it.
2. a sign or indication of something.
3. Pathology. a phenomenon that arises from and accompanies a particular disease or disorder and serves as an indication of it.

No problems here.

Your talking about a condition in which alot of people live in special facilities, feed off of the government and/or live at home with their parents. And your trying to say it's positive? Why dont we ask the parents how happy they are watching their children not develop into functional members of society? Or how about we ask the taxpayers who are supporting all their SSI checks? I dont know where you are but I live in a little old place called reality. It's a b***h, you should visit it some time.

I don't get why you don't.

How can ANYONE be genuinely proud of a condition that incapacitates and irritates to the extent that AS does .... without it really being bravado ?

They can't, is my answer.

How can being regarded as a spazz or a ret*d be life-enhancing or cool ?
How can being unable to control stimming or melting down due to sensory overstimulation be a source of pride ?

It can't, is my answer.

How can being ostracised and disliked be 'an advantage' ?

It can't, is my answer.

How can completely screwed social and curricular life-chances be a useful 'difference' ?

It can't, is my answer.

See why I'm so sceptical about the reasons for your claimed 'pride' ?

It's like thanking the bloke who comes along, shoots you in the spine and makes you a cripple the rest of your life.

It's sick BS, and everybody knows it.

But what's really perverse is that people continue with it regardless.

Be man enough to acknowledge what it actually is, instead of retreating into ostrichlike denial.

That way, you stand some chance of achieving self-acceptance.

Did I mention pride in my posts above? No.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I am proud of who I am, who I have become. I don't need AS to define that, although I can be proud of myself for continuing in the face of the challenges. AS is a condition that affects my life; it is not the whole of my life. So I can be proud in that aspect. I appreciate your opinion, but respectfully disagree as described above. Bravado... that is a great word, but one that does not fit here - it is not phony, or extended cheaply.

You are the only one who can empower the opinions of others to affect you; it is whether you consider yourself a "spazz" or "ret*d" as you put it (do not care for those words) that ultimately will affect you.

I'm not proud of my meltdowns and shutdowns... they can have a tremendous impact on my life - but again, I refuse to let them rule me, and will continue to improve myself and press on.

Your answers are your own, but they are not the only possible answers.

I am a composer; I work best in freedom and isolation. Find a path where things become strengths instead of weaknesses, and learn to think differently. Being different does not necessitate being ostracized or disliked; that is a personal event, not a general rule. As for the "screwed social and curricular" chances - there are no guarantees. Find a different route.

Your skepticism, in such a form, will prevent you from seeing even the glimmer of possibility. Whether you choose to change is up to you.

Again - read what was written. There was no reference to pride there, and I have addressed the matter in this post. If it doesn't work for you, that's too bad... because it does work for me, and for some others. There is no one-size-fits-all solution - including your own. Right now, I'm pretty happy... are you? Not asking to be a prat, but I am genuinely curious if you are happy being this way.

There is no sand upon this brow, and I accept who I am and who I want to be. To borrow an old adage, birds of a feather flock together... whether eagles or ostriches. Where do you want to be?


M.

I agree with the OP, I dislike the word symptom. I generally say trait when speaking of handflapping or spinning, things others would call symptoms.

Bit of a climb-down, isn't it ?

Everybody's rejoicing in the 'advantages' of AS.
Now all of a sudden, we're 'managing in spite of it'.

The first step towards liberation is acceptance.

Bravado is still no way to go though.

I'm delighted with who I am.

I'd just rather not have to put up with all the compromises to my life that AS imposes.

I choose to be honest and say so.
You like the majority of others here, choose to deny that AS compromises your life in any way at all.

That doesn't sit right with me.
Why ?
Because self-deception is the enemy of progress.

Thanks a lot for that background explanation, Ishmael. I value your contributed ideas though I rarely agree with your presentation of these, so this now helps me to understand why I disagree so much with you. (I'm exactly on the other side of this, rarely concerned if humanity gets it on or not and tend to enjoy the state of the world as it is.)

Even worse is when people call Asperger's a disease or an illness I want to kill them. I work in a seond hand bookshop I donated a couple of copies of All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome one day these very ignorant old ladies said "you have to be careful you can catch things from cats" I didnt know weather to explain or let it go I do the later.

they're just words, I think some of you are too sensitive about these words. For humor, lets call the symptoms we enjoy(if any) traits and be proud of that and the symptoms that we dont enjoy symptoms as a reminder to work on them? then again wtf do I know?

This isn't about being proud of who you are here. That's for another post another time, this is about being proud of having aspergers syndrome, now that is just plain....nvm.

stimming is just a trait, lots of people do it. I twiddle my fingers and tap desks and such, this is just a trait because it doesnt negatively impact my life. But my inability to form friendships with people and a strong rapport with friends, family, and females; that's a symptom in which is a continuous uphill struggle for improvement. Us with AS should have alot to be proud of in the sense we have alot to overcome, and when we do success will be sweet.