Are you proud of having Asperger's?

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Coadunate
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14 Oct 2009, 3:04 pm

blaine209 wrote:

Quote:

Okay, I've noticed that a portion of users here say that they are proud of having Asperger's and some even think that "there mind is even better than an NT mind".

Well, I don't feel that way at all. I'm not proud of having Asperger's because I HATE hving Asperger's in every sense of the word. Asperger's hinders EVERY aspect of my life and in many ways just gets worse the older I get. I am not at all ashamed of having Asperger's because I did not ask for it. What sane person would ask for Asperger's? I also have a stuttering problem which I don't like, I'm not proud of it, but I am not the least bit ashamed of it because I didn't ask for it at all. Even though I do not understand why almost everyone is content in our unfair, and chaotic world, I think I would it make life much easier t be able to focus and concentrate during a 1-hour class period, have the same interests as everyone else my age, and have average coordination. I can't speak for everyone who has Asperger's but I for one, have a difficult time just sitting to watch a 1/2 hour show. Focus is almost impossible for me. I once read a horse has an average attention span of 6 seconds. (Who know's maybe I have some horse genes!) Talking is almost impossible for me, it's a struggle for me to even say my own name which 99% of people take for granted. Whenver I am forced to give a speech in class, it takes me 20 minutes to say what it takes most people 5-10 minutes. And it sure would be a lot less lonely to have at least 1 friend and not get stared at for being all alone at break and lunch. Also what I don't understand is that my IQ has been tested to be 122, yet learning is almost impossible for me.I am just glad I was able to learn to read and write, even that was difficult for me. But yeah, other people can sit through a class and learn at least half of what the teacher is saying. Usually I comprehend nothing or sometimes just one detail. I don't know, maybe I have been misdiagnosed with Asperger's maybe there's some unknown glitch in my brain that causes my stuttering, lack of interest in life, inability to concentrate, inability to learn, inability to pick up social cues, and inability to play sports.

Anyway, If I do in fact have Asperger's and other Aspies' are kind of like me, please try to explain to me how you feel proud of your condition. I am very interested to know. Sorry if I sound short and harsh, (typically I am a go-with the flow type of person who hides how he really feels) but around the New Year for some reason every year I become more depressed than usual.

Go to this web site and start watching the movie from the 27:00 minute and watch it for at least two minutes and you will have your answer.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTEzNTMzOTY=.html

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14 Oct 2009, 3:09 pm

Are you proud of having Asperger's?

I'm not one who is given to feelings of "pride" so my base answer to this would simply be NO.

AJY
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14 Oct 2009, 9:08 pm

Pride has nothing to do with it.

Having Asperger's or any other deviation from the glorified "average" is like being given a certain hand of cards before a long game. Some people get a lucky hand, some do not. Asperger's is like getting one or two aces among a whole bunch of cards that truly suck. The outcome of the game, however, is far from certain. Play your unlucky hand right and you win. Just as true, having all the good cards does not guarantee a happy sailing to the end. There are tons of NT losers out there.

I believe that social skills can be learned, speech problems can be reduced with therapy and sensory issues can be understood and come to terms with. It's a long road with many potholes on the way, but how far you go is up to you.

The special talent that usually comes with Asperger's is something that cannot be learned, is rare and very valuable. If you discover it and develop to full potential, you can stand way above the average, typical and mediocre.

Whatsherhame
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14 Oct 2009, 9:25 pm

You can't be proud of something you didn't do, so I'm not 'proud' of being my autistic self, but I am definitely not ashamed of it.

Blindspot149
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15 Oct 2009, 1:10 am

AJY wrote:

Having Asperger's or any other deviation from the glorified "average" is like being given a certain hand of cards before a long game. Some people get a lucky hand, some do not. Asperger's is like getting one or two aces among a whole bunch of cards that truly suck.

Maybe this depends on where you are in the spectrum? (More or less aces and more or less 'cards that suck'? BUT you seem to actually make this point below anyway :wink:

)
In my case I would concur with the 'two aces' part

AJY wrote:

The outcome of the game, however, is far from certain. Play your unlucky hand right and you win. Just as true, having all the good cards does not guarantee a happy sailing to the end. There are tons of NT losers out there.

AJY wrote:

I believe that social skills can be learned, speech problems can be reduced with therapy and sensory issues can be understood and come to terms with. It's a long road with many potholes on the way, but how far you go is up to you.

The special talent that usually comes with Asperger's is something that cannot be learned, is rare and very valuable. If you discover it and develop to full potential, you can stand way above the average, typical and mediocre.

This in my opinion goes to the very heart of the issue of AS 'pride', which I tend to think of as comfort with AS.

GaryG
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25 Feb 2010, 10:46 pm

I have learned to use my Asperger's to my advantage. Set backs; there are a few, but they are irrelevant. I have found how to think, how to socialize, how to succeed, and how to independent. MY family and I still stay close, but I have my own place that I rent; it is closer to the university which helps a LOT. I'm making mostly As and Bs, which is enough for me to keep my scholarship and stay in college. I have classmates, lots of classmates, that would benefit if they could think and see things the way I do, but they can't. I would never give up who I am, it is part of me, just like an arm or an organ. It has helped me on life dramatically. I see the typical people, and look at them as neither superior nor inferior, but as incomparable. Who knows, maybe one day, THEY could be the ones that are different.

MathGirl
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25 Feb 2010, 10:56 pm

AmberEyes wrote:

I was never ever proud of 'having' anything.

I was always proud of being myself though.

This. I am proud of some characteristics that may or may not be a result of AS, such as independence and motivation to pursue my interests. I have to admit that AS is still a disability, and I don't think anyone would ever be proud of having a disability.

I have come to accept it, yes, but the symptoms often take a lot of effort to cope with. I sometimes can't help but look at other people and wonder how they can do certain things so easily.

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Last edited by MathGirl on 25 Feb 2010, 10:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

ursaminor
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25 Feb 2010, 10:57 pm

I do not feel content with how I am, I never have.
The only thing that might be useful somehow that I do not have is an all encompassing interest.

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25 Feb 2010, 10:59 pm

I would never give up my two prominent special interests.

I would never give up my accent.

I would never give up my personality and my Modish looks.

I would never give up my love for Routemasters, my third special interest.

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Delirium
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26 Feb 2010, 9:28 am

Not just no, but HELL NO. I especially don't get the people who want to have it, or who look down on NTs.

The only reason why I don't completely hate it is because I'm intelligent, and even then you can be smart and still be NT.

And the world "Aspie" makes me want to puke. I had depression, but I didn't go around calling myself a "Depressie." My cousin has Down syndrome, but she doesn't call herself a "Downsie." So WTF is with the cutesy name for it?

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Last edited by Delirium on 26 Feb 2010, 8:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

memesplice
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26 Feb 2010, 11:44 am

I didn't even know I was an Aspie until two weeks ago.

Bit like the ending of The Usual Suspects.

Don't feel to be angry anymore, have need to be sarcastic and dark every now and then. Maybe that will pass too.

Pride , no.

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26 Feb 2010, 3:12 pm

No it's not like it's something I've won so how can I be proud? I'm not ashamed either because I haven't done anything wrong or lost anything.
I just don't care. And I don't see where all this pride is coming from, I don't understand being proud of having an annoying disorder, now being normal without any labels or anything at all, now that is something to be proud of! It seems everyone fits into a category these days...

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ruveyn
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26 Feb 2010, 3:17 pm

Are you proud of the color of your hair?

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justMax
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26 Feb 2010, 3:55 pm

I was more proud of being a cat.

I'm proud of being who I am, and proud that I was able to figure that out to a deeper level.

The specifics of that, be it my stutter, kung fu ability, math visualization skill, or the number of freckles on my ass... they are all just a part of the tapestry that is me, as is Asperger's.

otago
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02 Mar 2010, 9:58 pm

I would cut of my right hand if I could be like most people.

League_Girl
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02 Mar 2010, 10:01 pm

Neah. I used to be proud though but then I decided to not be proud of it.

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