Why does society view us this way?

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We may have our problems, but then so do many NTs...
A consideration most seem to forget...

There are NTs who feel different as well. I just think its our job to go out and search for people who are accepting. Just waiting for something to happen isn't going to work for us. We have to be deliberate. Otherwise the rule of numbers is against us. This is what I've realized.

So, if you see a precious child run into the street and about to be hit by a car you would not run out save her because you do not know if she is an aspie?

(I acknowledge that there are actually some people who would not run out if the child was from a minority they hated...)

This is not to you in particular,, but just in general-- anyone who responds to me please try to think and not just make mechanically, emotion reaction fueled and/or in general by rote responses....

That's not what he's saying at all.

Be aware that sympathy and empathy are two different things, as well. Empathy is all about the ability to feel what another person is feeling. He's saying that if two people think and feel differently, they aren't going to be able to empathise with one another.

The reason most people often ignore or make fun of people with autism or Asperger's is because of two things: ignorance and lies in the media. Neurotypicals, or NT's, don't have it, so they don't know what it truly is. It's natural for people to be afraid of differences, but that doesn't mean it's okay for them to make fun or ignore Aspies. The media is partly responsible as well. People who talk about it, whether on TV or the radio, don't know what they're talking about. They don't realize that the statements they're making are almost always false. That, as a result, causes people to make misconceptions about autism or Asperger's. It can get frustrating, I know. But we all just need to be patient, and be strong.

Well, thanks for trying to communicate but you have completely missed seeing what I am pointing at. In order to understand this very important point it may be necessary to not only think very deeply and actively, but even to take a great big leap (and I understand that is not so easy for any of us to do). Yes, I agree with him that people are more likely to have empathy for someone whose neurology is more like their own. That is obvious, but I am talking about empathy, not sympathy. Strangers risk their lives to pull another out of a burning car that is about to explode any second. They do not know if the person in that car is autistic or nt or whatever and are not even thinking of that.

To help you out, here are some definitions:

From eHow.com

Sympathy
Sympathy is when you feel sorry for someone when she is in a situation that is less-than-positive. It doesn't mean you necessarily feel the same way as her, but you do wish she would feel better. This means that it is an easier feeling to muster up than empathy because it doesn't require you to actually understand the person's situation, but rather just hope it improves.

Empathy
Empathy is an actual understanding that comes from the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. It is different from sympathy because rather than just wish someone feels better you actually understand how they are feeling right now. This also means that it doesn't just have to apply to negative situations. It can apply to someone else's happiness just as effectively as it can apply to their sadness.

and from DifferenceBetween.net

It is fair to state that both sympathy and empathy are acts of feelings. With sympathy though, you feel for the person. You pity or feel sorry for them but you do not necessarily understand what they are actually feeling. As a result of this you tend to have no choice but feel sympathetic for the person because you do not understand the problem or predicament that they are presently having. Empathy on the other hand takes a little more imagination, work, or even similar situations to gain empathy for someone. It is most often referred to as higher order in the overall complexity of the human emotions.

You can describe empathy as sharing a feeling with someone. So do you notice the difference between the two so far? With empathy to an extent you are placing yourself in the persons place, you have a good sense of how they feel, and you also understand their feelings to some degree. Sometimes it may seem impossible for someone to feel empathetic to a person’s feelings because of their reactions. These reactions involve their thoughts and feelings towards the issue are going to be unique to each and every individual. The idea of empathy though implies a much more active process than sympathy does.

Here's a post I made ion another thread that relates to this (click here)

I don't disagree with people blaming the media or socialization or whatever else aspects of our "nurture" element, but I think there's possibly a "nature" element to this question too.

Aspergers is an abnormality of the brain. That doesn't mean we should be treated badly or looked on as lesser than people who have a perfectly normal brain. But people may have a built-in instinctual ability to subconsciously identify abnormalities such as psychological conditions, that can cause them to react adversely to them in some way if not countered with more conscious and rational thinking about it.

Just a theory I've had regarding bullying and social ostracization that I've been thinking about for quite a while. Psychology is one of my special interests, you could say...

Nailed it.
General understanding of the spectrum is still loaded with misconception, rumour and half-truth.
Similar to aversion to homosexuality not long ago.

Generally, physical differences are seen and understood, and "categorised" in how to be accommodated eg deaf, blind, wheelchair.
Mental differences are still seen as possibly dangerous, and approached with caution.

We are in the early stages of educating the wider society.
Our grandchildren will wonder what the fuss was.

I agree with the ignorance inspiring aspect of the media.
I believe one of the main reasons is selective reporting in regards to autism.
Most media stories/reports I have seen about autism focuses on profound autism which is a minor subset of those on the autistic spectrum.

"It won't happen overnight, but it will happen"...
As the old shampoo advertisement stated...

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi oi oi!...