Does this forum help or hurt?

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The way that WP has helped me is that It was there when I was going through a rough time and still living with my parents. Another way that WP helped is that it gave me a place to speak my opinions without people belittling my intelligence. My fellow members have also given me much needed support that I wasn't getting from my family when I was making transitions in my life.

I think everything you said can be said for me apart from living with parents . there are very tolerant and kind ppl here as well as very insightful ones
I hope you had a good Xmas.

WP honestly helps me feel a lot less alone because while I have friends, life is constantly explaining how your autism works which is stressful and tiring. Here I can ask advice and gain knowledge from people who have lived far longer than I and are far wiser. When it comes to people answering my questions and my interactions personally, they have been positive. I try my best to be helpful, polite and not too whiny and it seems the favour is returned. I don't know how I'd cope without this useful hub and outlet.

The only bad thing I find for myself is how sometimes the threads make me feel a bit stupid for my positivity when it comes to my autism and feel guilty for this. However, when I keep in mind most people here are in a different generation and area, I realise our experience varies and for elder people their earlier negative experiences and the views of their peers will mean their experience would be a lot worse than mine. Also I'm lucky to have quite positive sides with mine and basically this negative is good in a way as it helps me exercise my empathy and understanding of others

WP might become more helpful if those allied with the Autism Spectrum/HFA (and experienced with successfully encouraging adults on the spectrum to progress) would boost their presence here on WP - as such a presence appears largely absent.

Even for those who are allied with progress concerning the Autism Spectrum/HFA, it seems that such allies sometimes appear "asleep at the wheel" e.g., why do promising discussion threads/topics receive too little in the way of follow-through??

In a way, I wish I were wrong about the complacency of those allied with AS! "Yes, busy day-to-day lives can yield a 'tunnel vision of sorts!' - hence it becomes all too easy to overlook important issues!"

that is up to you.

i found one of my best ever friends on here. that alone makes it worth it for me.

I have gained a lot of understanding here about autism. I have met some amazing and wise people and received excellent advice for my own problems also. I have a deeper insight into what my aspie friends and students have to cope with.

This forum is a bit of a curate's egg i.e a mix of some helpful and thoughtful people , and those who think being aggressive and confrontational is a fine way to be .

Based on conversations I had around the time I was diagnosed, I believe paranoid traits are typical of late-diagnosed adults. Paranoia is fuelled by the combination of poor theory of mind and the lack of perspective to understand that one has a deficit in this regard.

You notice people are sometimes dishonest and often work in groups, you misjudge motives and perspectives and apply your understanding that people are dishonest and tend to work in groups to assume that others are actively opposing your interests as a group and lying about it when the reality is they're largely driven by their own interests and not coordinating in any significant way. Further, every time you're right about it (no matter how many times you're not) you'll only reinforce this mindset.

The period leading up to me being diagnosed was pretty life-changing simply for the fact that it disrupted this tendency and helped improve my perspective when I feel paranoid in this way.

Sharing WP content with non-WP members who are concerned with AS/HFA might allow helpful dynamics to develop on WP.

LINK to WP thread on further details: 'Anybody Share WP Content W/Those Who Are Not WP Members?'
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=382674&p=8395676#p8395676

Oh man I don't trust non ASD people to come here and not do something rotten. I've seen NT people on other forums, they screenshot other forums and make fun of people's posts in a really uncalled for way, including out of context ,etc.

Or make fake accounts and just be horrible. I really really don't trust Non ASD people. Paranoia, as the person above wrote. But it's not completely unfounded. ASD people stick to rules and integrity and values and not being evil, I think, are innate. Unless they are really groomed to be any other way, or actively try, I don't think they are evil. I thinK NTs do and say hurtful things and don't care, more often than ASD people. Among other things. Dishonesty etc is well accepted by them. That's why I always saw NT classmates cheat.

Actually Musab B. (i won't write his last name for privacy) an Indian boy genius (he said his goal was to take over the world), at my high school (the one which I graduated from) even hacked into the school system and improved everyone's grades over the course of the year ,so they ended up getting into better colleges and universities.

I was the only person in my grade that I know of (who wasn't Satoshi) who didn't ask Musab to do that. And Satoshi was a straight A perfect student, he had no need of it-- i had lots of bad grades. Satoshi was probably the only 100 percent good person AND good student AND good NT in my class. Everyone else was a little bit dishonest, or a lot.
Musab would do it for anyone, and never got caught.
I guess their system wasn't too secure.
My point being NTs aren't trustworthy.

I used to read some articles here per the advice of my doctor. It is different when you engage in these forums however. There's a pretty amazing blend on the spectrum here with different life challenges and life experiences.

The positive side is that people here really do understand the day to day struggles of one another. There is so much in common between us all here.

The down sides have been previously mentioned. Some that I notice are passive-aggressiveness, aggressiveness, and mean-spiritedness. When I've met HFA's in person they are so kind. They never want to hurt anyone. I don't know if co-morbidities are weaved in to some of the posts here or not. I've been naive most of my life, I usually like other HFA's think that people are inwardly nice and want to be friends. It puzzles me how other HFA's/ASP's can be so mean. To have it out for each other. To want to devour each other and screw each other over. Why? Why? Whyyyy? On a lesser note, I've seen some paranoia here but I think everyone has been a little in their lives. However, when it consumes a person breeding hatred and the ideation slips into unreality, there are likely other things going on there. Whatevs. I'm nothing.

Btw, cool write up funeralxempire.

Anybody acquainted with trusted NTs familiar with AS/HFA? Schedule a time to sit-down and speak with a trusted NT.

WP would really become helpful if we boost collaboration on what might be helpful with AS/HFA.

Collaborating with trusted NTs, and discussing experiences here on WP would allow.........WP to become increasingly helpful!!

That sounds like a possible branch operation. A portfolio of creative partners could be presented to entrepreneurs.

???What???

What did you have in mind? Attracting volunteer NT members to pick their brains?

All my boyhood heroes were inventors who recommended finding a business partner so they could focus on R&D. The basis of modern management was summed up by Peter Drucker: "Make individual strengths productive, and individual weaknesses irrelevant."
I need someone with social skills around, because my EQ is very low, and using the IQ as a substitute is both very time-consuming and ineffective. This person has to have learned to trust my judgement where it is clear to me, despite my awkward personality, and be patient with helping me navigate social situations.
TV's aspie, Sheldon Cooper, was surrounded by people who forgave his quirks and helped him socially, in order to further their mutual interests with his more focussed insight.
We would never have heard of Cray computers if not for John Rollwagen, Seymour's partner. Royce was an obscure engineer until he met Rolls, who was more inclined to brag about their cars and hobnob with Dukes.
Despite many such examples, most technical talent remains unrecognised, while business majors cast about and wind up promoting intangibles or worse. A nerd expects his work to speak for itself, but the business community does not have that kind of ear. I suggest we provide it.