Avoiding Eugenics, but...

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Would it be wrong to seriously consider the reclassification of the Autistic/Aspie population into a new species?

I know many of us (from much reading of aspie philosophy/commentary) joke about the idea, but it strikes me that our autistic traits are probably more integral to each of us than even being male or female, and aside from the obvious chromosomal typing between XX and XY (and others), our genetics may in fact be more different than say, a black man is to a white man.

We consider blacks and whites to be equally human - after all, I'm not a racist: I hate everybody equally - but I wonder if the genes that scientist believe may be a part of the causes of autism are greater in number, than say, the genes that make a child predisposed to having naturally dark or pale skin? If so - where would you draw the line? Does anyone know if current taxonomic classification is based on differences in DNA?

Not trying to offend anyone, of course, but I'd love to hear some opinions.

A.

I think we would need to know much more about the biological and neurological effects of autistic disorders before even considering something like that.

I suspect you're right. Perhaps within in our lifetimes, we'll know just what, and how much makes us different.

To be clear - I'm not suggesting that I think we should be considered anything other than (fantasticaly clever, morally upright and generally all-round good) people(!), just like every other human on the planet, but I'm very interested in what made me the way I am, so I thought I'd explore by posing a question that leans toward a particular opinion.

I'd be grateful to hear more thoughts, if anyone has them.

Thanks,
A.

A new species would probably need physical differences.

And classifying us as a seperate race would do wonders for preventing our imminent genocide.

We do have physical differences.. just look at a scan and you can see the brain is structurally abnormal.

Or do only external traits count?

Yes but i have noticed a similarity between AS People.

Yes, if you're asking those chronically superficial NT's.

I'd also add though, that the few aspies I have spoken to online, all have claimed to be rather strong, of broad shoulder, and have certain other external physical traits which whilst not indicative of autism, do seem to form some sort of pattern.

I also wonder about physiology. Every Aspie who I believe has honestly spoken to me about their drug/drink habits, seems to have been one of the most tolerant people to toxins/chemicals that they know. Whether this is due to liver conditioning brought on by uncomfort in social situations, which leads us to be the "one who goes too far" in an effort to gain acceptance, I don't know, but certainly in my own (well-documented) experiences with Vodka, during earlier years at university, I found that whilst clearly not sober, I could remain conscious with a quantity of said Russian apertif, that would easily floor both of my somewhat overgrown rugby-playing friends, each of whom had their own reputation for overt imbation. (Is that the past what-ja-ma-call-it for "to imbibe"??)

Anyone else have experience of this?

Anyway. £0.02.

I have broad shoulders and pleasing/strong jawline, sunken eyes i noticed facial similarities between images of photos in the gallery on this site.

There is also someone at work although skinny and say 8 stone has that AS loook. Large eye sockets sunken eyes, and do you no what is wierd ,although we have only exchanged good mornings we know what we are how wierd is that

Actually yes.. being the thinnest girl in the class in high school gym but also being able to bench press the most weight I found a bit odd.. Ive always seemed to be able to get more from less muscle mass than others for some reason (higher capacity neruo-kinetics or something Im told).

As for a resistance to drugs yes I can drink like a fish, have never blacked out or lost control and never had a hangover and its not from a built up resistance either since I only drink once or twice a year.

Even with medicine especially pain medicine other than prescription meds (which are notorious for making me nauseous) I have to take double or even triple the dosage to have any effect.. asprin I can crunch like candy with no effect and a small dose of ibuprophen to me is 1600mg.

I have a fine tolerance but I tihnk its learned.. I can get "high" off one hit (marijuana) and have similar results with smoking close to 1/4 an ounce (only once).. Thats a learned skill, though, by focusing on it.. If I drink, it wont be much to get me drunk but I'll never lose control

I call Marijuana the introvert drug and alcohol the extravert drug.. one kills your brain cells, the other has a possible potential to grow neurons (and it isnt alcohol)

Last edited by Corvus on 04 Oct 2006, 4:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I should imagine it would be of great comfort to you to know there's someone of simillar mindset in the building.

The sunken eyes/large eye sockets - I have them too. I suspect that, if my current favourite theory of autism is correct (the "Neanderthal" theory) it may be something to do with the more acute sight some of us seem to have.

Of course, I wear glasses, which in my case would instantly disprove that theory, but I understand that short sight is caused by the lens of the eye being too strong, and overfocussing. Whilst I'm not sure how one would hunt (rather than farm) with the blurred vision I have without my glasses, I suspect much of my slide into visual oblivion has been because my eyes have been allowed to relax by wearing glasses as a child. I wonder if sight can be improved, or at least, it's depreciation slowed down, if one were not to wear glasses, but let the eyes, or the brain work harder, than giving it the easy option. I also wonder if lack of focus is simply a difficulty, and that our larger eyes (if that is the case) are better at picking out small details.

These are all exploratory questions - I don't have an opinion on much of the above.

Last edited by SilentBedlam on 04 Oct 2006, 4:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I used to go to the Gymn( good solitary activity) and found i put on muscle mass easily, do you think it is because we train more intensely

Yes, I believe glasses do ruin your eyes more.. My fathers eyes have gotten worse but he wasnt supposed to wear his glasses all the time but he does.. I dont NEED mine so I take them off, especially at the computer.. they are more to see the projection screen or whilst driving my car

I'm not sure - I think we may possibly have slightly differently structured proteins to others without the Aspie genes? I've always been very strong, and used to take on my teachers at school in arm wrestles aged thirteen and win. The only people I could never beat however, were my childhood friend, who was some 12 years older than me, and of simillar mindset, and strangely enough, talent, politik and persuasions, and my dad, who's always been as strong as anyone I know. In both their cases, however, they do little excercise, one is a proud dipsomaniac, and are broadly built like myself. I've often wondered whether either or both of them could be Aspies, and it would be convenient to this discussion to claim them as "ours" (HAHA!! ), but there you have it.

I like you silent bedlam we are on the same wave length, and i am on my 6th pint.

your neanderthal theory is ok, but what about a theory that the government experimented with genetics to create better soldiers e.t.c

I would welcome forum members to pick holes in the theory, that Hans Asperger noticed similarities with " his little professors" in a class. Assuming the class had 30 children and he noticed traits with say 5 that does not comply with current figures of 1 in 200 average.

Eh problem with that theory is that the government cant even understand how ASDs work much less have enough technical knowledge of genetics to have engineered it intentionally.