The impression I get from our site founder Alex Plank

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First of all he has been really open about his Autism.

He set up this site for all people on the spectrum and their relitaves who just want to learn more about Autism.

He has encouraged pride and self respect for all of us on the Autistic Spectrum.

Many of us come here because life and people have been cruel to us because we are different.

People with milder forms of Autism should not be trying to distant themselves from people who have more severe forms of Autism.

I can feel pride in myself because my autism is not my fault nor is anybody else's their fault.

I started out on this board without an official diagnosis but I asked for help and advice on getting mine.

This online community is supposed to be helping each other and for the most part it does.
However there is a small but growing problem of people without an official diagnosis being treated as 2nd class by some.

Right across the spectrum dionosed or not we form one of the most vulnerable groups in society we should stick together like glue and defend the group as a whole from ignorant attitudes from the outside world.

Lasty no matter what our level of functioning or our current diagnostic status we can all do better with help support and encouragement from each other.

Let's keep this forum a community and a safe haven from the stresses of life in the big bad world.

That Elliot Rodger fool was a perfect example of something very bad that can happen as a result of someone not having an official Dx. Just cause his mom was obviously biased against claiming her son had something else such as personality-disorder of some sort. I'm pretty sure he never posted on here but still...

Could you go into more detail on this?

It's good to remind people to keep this place a sanctuary, where
everybody can feel safe from the bullying that most of us experienced in the NT centered
world. I'm only new to this place, but I agree with you, it's not nice to feel ostracized
wherever you go, because you are still different to someone else who is there.

I'm pretty sure it was later retracted that he was diagnosed with AS but it wasn't in the headlines, so a large number of people probably still think he was autistic even though he wasn't.

Exactly my point.

seconded,this is officialy a support forum-not a social networking forum,so people first come here to talk about things they struggle with or things they want help with,or just to know someone relates.
it can look quite pesamistic but thats the nature of support forums will always find people in need posting more than people who are doing fine in life able to mimic neurotypicality.

QFT sharkattack-its a pity that people need reminding that, it shows that autistics arent so different to the norm if they;as autistics can still isolate and attack others on the spectrum plus treat them as lesser beings for the fact theyre different in some way.
being different aint so different afterall.

Well, I used to have a hatred for people who self-diagnosed. I know some people who do this, take advantage of the fact that they have something, yet they may not have it at all. Still, I realize now that for most of the undiagnosed people here... that some of them have good reasons for not wanting to get a diagnosis of AS or other ASD. It is a pretty hard fate to be diagnosed with one, and it's not all sunshine and daises.

I am one of the undiagnosed. I am 63 and found myself as an autistic at 48. Aspergers, face blindness, dyslexia and executive function. For me there is no point at my age. I don?t need help I do fine on my own. My life has been crazy. But through places like this I have been able to understand my insanity ways and so here I am to watch and learn from others and hope to give my two cents that maybe others will learn something from me. Unfortunately my words and thoughts run together and become one big mess but I try. I do understand why some would be against undiagnosed completely. But my life matches all four of these Aspergers, face blindness, dyslexia and executive function so writher I am diagnosed or not these things describe me and my life. My two cents.

And if you really think about, all of us at one point were undiagnosed.

It's good to keep in mind that if someone here doesn't actually have autism, they're most likely still here because they struggle with some of the same things and are looking for support. This is a support forum and we should support everyone regardless of their condition.

And the Lab Pet concurs with all. Many thanks, sharkattack, for reminding us of our humility, to be grateful for all those who give support, and to all our Wrong Planet friends, wherever they may be on the spectrum.

Yes. And most times, I wonder why anyone cares about the supposed differences. But, how true.

There's lot of reasons to get a diagnosis and a lot of reasons not to. It all depends on a person's unique circumstances, which is something others will not usually know.

I have known I was 'different' since childhood, but did not suspect autism until I was in mid 30's. At the time I was still active duty military, deploying, etc. To have sought a diagnosis then would have ended my career for no reason. Many autistic people do perfectly well in the military, but autism disqualifies you. So we must hide it like gays had to hide their nature until recently. After completing active service I continued working for military as civilian and kept the condition mum for similiar reasons.

Unless the condition somehow makes you unable to perform your job, its none of their business.

That very well said and I hope that we can all keep that in mind. This is a site where I come to feel safe. If I don't feel safe here, than I won't want to come here. We must all work together to make our fellow members feel safe and wanted.

Very well said and very true.

This forum has been of tremendous help and support for me. Hopefully I have been able to return some positive things back to others along the way.

I think what Alex has set up here is great.