Ignorant Comments About Autism?

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Joe90
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01 Aug 2019, 5:38 am

Quote:

self-absorbed: absorbed in one's own thoughts, activities, or interests. See Autistic

This is why I feel autism doesn't describe me, but I can't say I DON'T have it, because I have the symptoms (unfortunately). I've never really been absorbed in myself.

I do wish they separated Asperger's from autism, because sometimes it does feel like a separate disorder.

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Benjamin the Donkey
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01 Aug 2019, 6:33 am

Joe90 wrote:

Quote:

self-absorbed: absorbed in one's own thoughts, activities, or interests. See Autistic

It definitely fits me. I'm quite "high-funtioning," but unless there's a reason for being with someone else (working on a shared project, discussing a common interest, having sex), I'd rather be alone.

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outerspacenik
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01 Aug 2019, 6:28 pm

Ditto. Who was that actress who wanted to be alone? Greta Garbo? Maybe a late diagnosis. I am self-absorbed only interested in my own projects and may be only realising that now. Trouble is i have too many and am always being distracted by something new. No wonder i never finish anything. I definitely do have a disorganised mind. Caused by the executive function of brain not working properly a characteristic of AS?

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01 Aug 2019, 7:05 pm

I apologise if I have made any ignorant comments about autism. I say things without considering what I have said could upset others.

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Fnord
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01 Aug 2019, 7:25 pm

outerspacenik wrote:

Ditto. Who was that actress who wanted to be alone? Greta Garbo? ...

Yes, that was she.

Public persona

From the early days of her career, Garbo avoided industry social functions, preferring to spend her time alone or with friends. She never signed autographs or answered fan mail, and rarely gave interviews. Nor did she ever appear at Oscar ceremonies, even when she was nominated. Her aversion to publicity and the press was undeniably genuine, and exasperating to the studio at first. In an interview in 1928, she explained that her desire for privacy began when she was a child, stating, "As early as I can remember, I have wanted to be alone. I detest crowds, don't like many people".

Because Garbo was suspicious and mistrustful of the media, and often at odds with MGM executives, she spurned Hollywood's publicity rules. She was routinely referred to by the press as the "Swedish Sphinx". Her reticence and fear of strangers perpetuated the mystery and mystique that she projected both on screen and in real life. MGM eventually capitalized on it, for it bolstered the image of the silent and reclusive woman of mystery. In spite of her strenuous efforts to avoid publicity, Garbo paradoxically became one of the twentieth century's most publicized women in the world. She is closely associated with a line from Grand Hotel, one which the American Film Institute in 2005 voted the 30th-most memorable movie quote of all time, "I want to be alone; I just want to be alone". The theme was a running gag that began during the period of her silent movies.

In retirement, Garbo generally led a private life of simplicity and leisure. She made no public appearances and assiduously avoided the publicity which she loathed. As she had been during her Hollywood years, Garbo, with her innate need for solitude, was often reclusive. Contrary to myth, from the beginning she had many friends and acquaintances with whom she socialized and later traveled. Occasionally, she jet-setted with well-known and wealthy personalities, striving to guard her privacy as she had during her career.

Still, she often floundered about what to do and how to spend her time ("drifting" was the word she frequently used), always struggling with her many eccentricities, and her life-long melancholy and moodiness. As she approached her sixtieth birthday, she told a frequent walking companion: "In a few days, it will be the anniversary of the sorrow that never leaves me, that will never leave me for the rest of my life". To another friend, she said, in 1971, "I suppose I suffer from very deep depression". One biographer claims that she arguably could have been bipolar. "I am very happy one moment, the next there is nothing left for me", she said in 1933.

-- Excerpt from the Wikipedia article

I think that among the most ignorant comments regarding autism has to do with "diagnosing" historical figures (e.g., famous dead people) with an autism spectrum disorder. Such diagnoses are usually based upon (1) an incomplete understanding of what autism is, and (2) an exaggerated account of just one aspect of their personality. Examples:

"Albert Einstein couldn't tie his shoes? Autistic!" :roll:

"Napoleon Bonapart obsessed with ruling Europe? Autistic!" :roll:

"Greta Garbo shunned publicity? Autistic!" :roll:

A valid diagnosis requires: (1) an appropriately-trained and license mental-health practitioner, (2) a series of face-to-face dialogues and observation sessions between the client and practitioner, (3) a review of the client's personal history, and (4) confirmation by an independent source -- one or more other practitioners.

On-line tests may indicate a tendency toward autism-like behavior, but they are skewed toward positive results and, by necessity, must use subjective answers to a small battery of broadly-defining questions.

Leave the diagnostics to the professionals.

nick007
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01 Aug 2019, 8:59 pm

outerspacenik wrote:

Trouble is i have too many and am always being distracted by something new. No wonder i never finish anything. I definitely do have a disorganised mind. Caused by the executive function of brain not working properly a characteristic of AS?

It's not uncommon for us to have Executive Dysfunction. My girlfriend fits most all the criteria/symptoms for it. It's also not that uncommon for us to have AD[H]D as a comorbid. I've been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD since I was a kid. It was ADHD at 1st cuz I was also alittle hyper in addition to the problems focusing. Maybe the hyperness was caused by stress. They later changed it to ADD cuz I definitely have problems focusing & being distracted but the hyperness left.

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Rainbow_Belle
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02 Aug 2019, 3:10 am

I ignore ignorant people and their uneducated, ignorant comments. Ignorant people are not worth talking to and they are only looking to start trouble. I do not waste my precious time trying to explain my issues to ignorant, uneducated people.

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02 Aug 2019, 10:20 am

Rainbow_Belle wrote:

In a perfect world that is how it should be. In the real world ignorant people can effect your life. Students can not just ignore their ignorant teacher. One can not ignore a bureaucrat who job it is, is to decide if you get benefits. Ignorant people convince people who have no opinion about autism to have the wrong view of autism increasing the chances you will have to deal with people who are wrong about autism.

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livingwithautism
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02 Aug 2019, 3:25 pm

Using functioning labels.

ConverseFan
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08 Aug 2019, 12:50 pm

livingwithautism wrote:

Using functioning labels.

I don't like functioning labels either. My parents use them though. They also talk about me like I am not there while using functioning labels to describe me. It makes me feel annoyed

skibum
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08 Aug 2019, 4:20 pm

League_Girl wrote:

skibum wrote:

I actually had a counselor tell me that all Autistic people are defiant and love to argue.

That is probably her perception. I don't think they like to argue, they just get into arguments because they think you are not understanding them so they keep "arguing" when their intention is trying to get you to get it and understand. They have no idea you have a different perspective or that you see it differently.

Every autistic person is different so not all of them are going to "argue" and they will instead think you are an idiot and not bother engaging with you or think you don't really care and don't want to get it so there is no point in that discussion.

I do not love to argue, in fact, I don't like to argue at all. But if I am logically correct and the other person is just wrong, I will argue quite passionately. And by the same token, once I see that I am wrong, I will accept and admit that right away but I have to actually be wrong. Usually when I argue with an nt it is because I see things very logically and factually and the nt sees things emotionally and socially and those things have no real ground to stand on. Emotional and social premises change in a moment depending on how the content makes one feel so there is no conviction. Logic and facts never change no matter what one feels. I get accused of speaking with authority like that is a bad thing. But the authority that I speak with is not my own. Sound familiar? The facts speak for themselves, I don't have to have authority in and of myself, I just have to keep the facts straight. But a lot of nts don't like that if they happen to be wrong so they accuse me of being argumentative.

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nick007
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08 Aug 2019, 7:24 pm

skibum wrote:

League_Girl wrote:

skibum wrote:

I actually had a counselor tell me that all Autistic people are defiant and love to argue.

There's a saying I try to remind myself of that goes "Pick Your Battles". I dislike it when I know others have facts wrong & aren't making logical sense but I eventually started realizing that lots of people tend to not care about the facts or logic I use to debate. People also tend to hate being wrong or at least hate admitting they are wrong, maybe it's a pride thing. Sometimes disagreeing with someone causes them to become more closed minded & stubborn cuz of the fact that they do NOT want to be or at least admit to being wrong. Look at the way hardcore consecrates & hardcore liberals debate politics at least here in America anyways. They both insist they're right & refuse to back down & will argue about facts till they're blue in the face. If your listening to their argument & know nothing about the issue & background & facts, you will have no clue what to believe. & after you do some research & get some background & facts on the issue, you realize that at least one but sometimes both have their heads up their a$$e$ & don't know jack sh!t about what they're arguing about. There's actually still a few people here in America who vehemently argue that the world is flat & there's NO facts & arguments that will ever sway their belief. I don't think it's worth my time, effort, &/or frustration to be dragged into a sh!tstorm like that just cuz I want to correct someone on their facts & logic. There's also another saying that goes "You Cant Fix Stupid" so I try to just let dumb-a$$e$ believe whatever f#cking ret*d crazy sh!t they want.

skibum
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08 Aug 2019, 7:30 pm

outerspacenik wrote:

You have autism and you're still alive? I was about 64.

unfortunately, that is actually a valid question. It's a shame but I completely understand it. With everything I go through on a daily basis, my therapists do not understand how I am able to stay alive because I am so severely affected. With the depth of how severe my Autistic issues can get, along with a couple of related comorbids, I should not be alive and no one can understand how I still am.

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skibum
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08 Aug 2019, 7:31 pm

Joe90 wrote:

Quote:

self-absorbed: absorbed in one's own thoughts, activities, or interests. See Autistic

Not every Autistic person is that stereotype.

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skibum
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08 Aug 2019, 7:37 pm

nick007 wrote:

skibum wrote:

League_Girl wrote:

skibum wrote:

I actually had a counselor tell me that all Autistic people are defiant and love to argue.

Yes, sometimes you just have to nod and recognize stupidity where it shows.

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outerspacenik
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09 Aug 2019, 7:07 am

Hi skibum. I real really compatible with you like we are in tune. Your comment on my comment about still being alive when all the odds appear to be stacked against us shows how special we are. Why we should never put ourselves down or never let anybody do it to us. I am only seeing this for the first time in my early 70s. I am not copping any putdowns from anybody anymore.

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