Just because I have AS, do I have to respect all autists?

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Sociopaths are often charming and glib, they have superb innate social skills and their use of language is dazzling.. I don't see that the two dx'es can really co-exist. I've known quite a few and while there is a kind of commonality in their 'blankness' about people it comes from very different causes. That's about all I find in common with the two dx'es.

This is not a socipath support group, there is no reason for anyone to express support for sociopaths here.

Diagnostic criteria for 299.80 Asperger's Disorder


A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by
at least two of the following:

(1) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors
such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and
gestures to regulate social interaction
(2) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to
developmental level
(3) a Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment interest,
or achievements with other people (e.g. by a lack of showing,
bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
(4) lack of social or emotional reciprocity

Sociopaths might meet criteria 2 & 4


B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests,
and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

(1) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and
restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity
or focus
(2) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines
or rituals
(3) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger
flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body, movements)
(4) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

Sociopaths might meet criteria 1 and 2, they're inflexible about getting what they want.


C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in
social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language
(e.g. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by 3 years)


E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or
in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior
(other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.


F. Criteria are not met for another specific
Pervasive Development Disorder or Schizophrenia.



I think my objection to Zoonic and his prosyletising of sociopathy at this site is that he posits himself as an aspie ubermensch, the fact that he can do what aspies can't is in his mind due to his superiority, as though he has overcome the things that limit aspies. That's not how I see it. Ultimately sociopaths are shunned by people in the same way aspies are so I can see why they would relate to the condition and wanna hang around us. Personally I can't get away from them fast enough.

Short answer, No.

I work in the same section as a guy who I strongly suspect is on the spectrum. He is one of the most difficult people I have to deal with. He is bigotted, misogynistic, and unfortunatly for me -loud. I've been told that they can prove/ deal with his bigotry and misogeny, but they can't prove/deal with him over being loud - even though he is deliberatly obnoxiously loud when I am around, and there is no-one of authority to witness it. He has also incited others to do the same (I can hear him for chrissake!)

But he knows the right people, who don't have the balls to do anything.

People with autism can function in situations and environments that they choose, they can function well when they are within their element i suppose you could say. If i choose exactly what i am going to talk about, if i have learnt from trial and error how to direct a converation (regardless of wether i am reading emotional states or not) then i would be able to function extremely well. Sociopaths choose what environments they will be in, it has a lot to do with control. Of course, i'm not suggesting an 8 year old child with aspergers would show sociopathic traits, the inherant disabilities present in aspergers and a lack of time to make up for them would prevent it, although an NT child most definately could. There is nothing saying however that an 18 year old with aspergers could not show sociopathic traits, it is possible to learn to enough to fit in and for somebody with the right personality/upbringing they'd do nothing but try to learn this.

And i wasn't "supporting" sociopaths as such, this is 100% about autism, i'm merely against the banishing of certain autistic traits that people don't find desirable. Everything can be good or bad and people with autism CAN be pure evil, we can also be extremely nice caring people, if people can only see something as bad then that is their problem not mine, but they shouldn't be trying to skew the diagnostic criteria (or delusionally changing it's meaning) to disinclude things they don't like. My answer to the OP's question is no, you don't need to respect all autists and if you want to dissociate yourself from them, do so on a personality basis, not on a diagnostic basis.

here's a quote from sociopathworld.com

"too true, jane. particularly because if we, for whatever reason, needed to be "out" or part of an acknowledged acceptable neurodiversity "minority," we could just masquerade as aspies by toning down the charm, playing up the social awkwardness, and pretending to be obsessed with something bizarre like '80's action movie music scores. right aspies? "

http://www.sociopathworld.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

In terms of the topic, I realise this may be unpopular but I will admit I do not entirely trust people who self diagnose, and proclaim themselves AS without any kind of proffessional corroboration. Unless there is a valid reason such as no access to someone qualified to give an objective opinion. But perhaps that is because I did not choose to seek diagnosis, the choice was made for me by my doctor, with input from my family.

Of course this may be coloured by the experience of having known a raging hypochodriac, who I began to suspect either had Munchausens, or was a pathological liar. They seemed unaware of how bad their problems with lying and misrepresentation were.

I once dated a sociopath/antisocial/whatever person. In my opinion they are the polar opposite to an autistic. Not to say that they are inherently bad, but the guy I dated was so different to me... it was like he had a closet full of skeletons. He was always using girls, and he defrauded his ex of $15,000 at the age of 26.

Spending time with him intimately made me realise that his thinking differed from the norm, like mine, but while I am detached from society as a sort of outsider, he was detached from society as a sort of guest almost. He was literally a professional guest, would move in with a girl and she would support him until she got up the courage to kick him out and he would go on to the next.

I dont think he does that anymore though, he has found a way to earn money, but he still goes from female to female like a hummingbird visiting various flowers.

The funny thing was, I knew him for 10 years and I didnt guess that he was like this until I dated him.