Would you "Cure" yourself if you could?

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EDIT:

EDIT: This does not say that anyone is close to developing a cure or vaccine for Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I had a quick chance to skim the article when I noticed the headline on a newspaper while I was working. I was not able to read it closely at the time, but what I did read made me think:

Regardless of how much success they are having, there are those who are trying to find a cure or vaccine for autism. They might even succeed someday.

At first this excited me. But I started having second thoughts after thinking about some others that I know who are on the spectrum. I personally know at least one person who is thankful for her Asperger's diagnosis, and credits it for her unusual points of view. I know of artists who credit their skill and originality to their diagnosis. I know that I would be all for a way to become more typical, but I'm not everybody.

So, if you had the ability to erase all aspects of the Spectrum from yourself, or vaccinate your children to ensure that they would never develop them, would you?

EDIT: Props to Humanaut for digging up the original article.

Last edited by Saul3903 on 30 Jul 2014, 12:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

I don't know!! !! !! What about duty to the human race? One
reason we survive is because we all have different talents.
I spot threats and loopholes long before anyone else I know.

I don't believe I would.

I wouldn't cure myself because I'm not broken, sick or diseased.

Without a second thought yes.

Getting 'the cure' now is not going to change who I am or how I think or my values. Sure would be nice to have the socializing fubar just go away.

in a heart beat.

Yes definitely. Sorry but I consider my kind of autism a disability. It would be much easier on me and my parents if I was neurologically typical. I don't know at this time if I'll ever be capable of living on my own or driving a car or other stuff a kid looks forward to.

Don't even have to think about that one. Yes, I would.

I am not sure if I want kids in the future. They have a big chance of having autism and if there would be a cure or something I would use it. I wouldn't want my kids to go through what I have been through.

I've already done it & I'd do it again.

I still have minor subtle traits/signs/symptoms, but I've managed to reduce symptoms by well over 95%. I'm functioning better & am happier than at any point in my entire life pretty much - and everything just keeps slowly getting better and better.

Read the thread in my sig for details.

I reckon you're referring to this study:


Being able to impact certain behaviors associated with Fragile X syndrome in mice is miles away from finding a general single cause, let alone curing autism, in humans.

Ah, right. UC Riverside, not San Diego. My mistake. I appreciate you clarifying the background info, and I'm going to edit my original post to link to this article.

I don't disagree with you, Humanaut. The cure is far off, if it even exists. Regardless, my quick skim of the article made me wonder about the implications of finding a cure, and deciding whether or not it should be used.

There is nothing wrong with me but if I could I would cure the rest of society.

I think only a nuclear bomb war can achieve that goal

All my experiences good and bad make up who I am so no, I don't want to be cured from being me. It would be like an etch-a-sketch life. (for anyone too young to remember etch-a-sketch was a frustrating non-artistic drawing gizmo that would not do curves!)

Now that I think about it, I would not like to be normal. Most normal people act like sheep and are just egotistical but the problems that come with autism, not understanding certain things that are normal to other people really has been a struggle for me. If I did not have those problems I would not change anything.

No - I'm happy with who I am.