The use of the word "aspie"

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If i could single out ONE thing that annoys me on this forum,it's the excessive use of the word "aspie".What i understand,is that this is an AUTISM forum and not an ASPERGER'S forum.I have Asperger's syndrome but i don't call myself aspie or anyone else,for that matter.I simply use Autistic-because i find the term "aspie" to be denialistic of my condition.Like a comment i read on a forum-might be here,don't know- "Eeew i am not autistic,i have Asperger's Syndrome.It makes it hard for me to make friends." What the hell?

I don't much like the word either, but hey, it could always be worse. much much worse

I dislike the word aspie also and about folks writing 'I'm not autistic, I'm an asperger'.... well, to me that's just plain stupid. It actually annoys me.

I think people should be able to refer to themselves however they like. even if it I find it irritating. Nobody better call me aspie though. Or an asperger. Or *gulp* Aspergian

(in reply to Pat2rome earlier)

Yes, exactly. Well, hope folks who say that.... learn.

I've never had a problem with it. While I acknowledge that I do have Autism, I tend to narrow it down to Aspergers because, well, thats what I have - A mild form of Autism. Its not that I do not mind being called "autistic".

It doesn't necessarily have something to do with politics. In Hebrew I prefer using "otist" ("autistic"), if I would say "aspie" it would only be to people who know the term, probably aspies themselves, if at all.

Since it's a short word, that wasn't put in the English language as a pejorative as much as I know, but was rather somewhat affectionate and coined by an Aspie woman herself (am I wrong?), I consider it the most conveniet choice. Plus, it doesn't contradict autism in my opinion. I think that if anything, it describes most autistic people. But anyways, I'm not denying my connection to the "entire" autistic community. I use it as a word that means "autistic people who aren't necessarily what you think they are".

Ain't no problem with "Aspie". It's just more specific than "autistic" or "autie". I find myself using "autistic" more often, though, because most of what we talk about here applies to more than just Aspies; and besides, while I may be diagnosed Asperger's, the psychiatrist didn't see me as a young child, and it's probable that I would've been labeled Kanner's just on the sheer number and strength of symptoms. More correctly, I am PDD-NOS... along with most of the people on the Spectrum. PDD-NOS doesn't even have a nickname!

We won't have this problem when they actually reorganize the spectrum. We hope, anyway. I think they'll probably find some subtle way to mess it up.

Shame there is no word filter for each user


I like the word aspie. You don't have to use it on yourself but the rest of us have the right too for ourselves.

I have no problem with it myself.

What's more - and I may well get flamed for this -- the "I'm an aspie, not autistic" statement does make some sense to me, as NTs have a lot of (admittedly incorrect) preconceptions about autistics which apply even less to aspies. Plus, there are genuine differences between AS and full-blown autism

I hate the word aspie. It is too close to ass-pie or assburger.

I usually says "sperger's" or AS.