hypothetical: if a "cure" existed and you took it.

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How would you be affected?

I, for one, would probably lose my musical talent and my technical aptitude, which are really the only marketable skills I have (both skill sets stem from my autistic tendencies).

The ability to socialize would be moot, as instead of having 2 really good friends I would have 10,000 "friends", which are not really friends, so technically the total number of real friends I have would go from 2 to 0.

I would still be unable to get a girlfriend, as I would still be a fat slob, probably be more of a jackass than I was already, and I wouldn't even have any positive traits (remember I would lose my two skill sets)...

I would probably be an alcoholic and/or a junkie, since my aversion to alcohol and mind-altering substances is directly related to my fear of losing control of my own mind, again an autistic trait...

Last edited by ToadOfSteel on 04 Feb 2008, 10:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I don't think you'd lose musical talent; a lot of it is muscle memory. You might not get any better.

I'd probably have the confidence to go into management, which, at my age, is about the only 'up' I have to go in...

And I would finally understand the Missus....wait, misunderstanding women isn't the exclusive providence of AS...

The reason I mentioned musical talent is because I have perfect pitch, something that has previously been correlated to people on the autistic spectrum. I'd end up sounding like an American Idol reject.

I'd be...like my cousins...

My definition of talent is more than more ability to do the overall goal. An online dictionary says:




MARKED? INNATE? NATURAL? ENDOWMENT? SUPERIOR QUALITY? Those don't describe mere learning or "muscle memory".

As for me? I NATURALLY do some things FAR better than many that study for DECADES to do them do! Just TODAY I heard about a half dozen people(Several of which said they studied for at least the better part of a decade) say as much to OTHERS! Since this is one stereotype of AS people, and I know it is *****RARE*****, I must believe it has to do with AS.

I watched a program today that spoke of "fake it till you make it", to make millions. They take PRIDE in it! Frankly, I am appalled! Where is the FTC(which outlaws such things), when you need them? Is THAT what "being normal" means?!?!?

I don't even want to think about what I'd be like. . . .

Wait, I do, or else I wouldn't be saying anything.

Well, for one, I'd probably spend less of my time on my PlayStation, my brother's N64, or the SNES someone left in my dorm lounge.. .

Maybe. Who can say, though?

I'd probably lose a lot of my memory skills, thus dooming my 4.0 average that I'm currently maintaining without much studying.

Japanese would be a lot harder class, I'm sure. I'd lose my ability to visualize what I write, and the ability to "see" what words work best where to make a more "correct" and "right" flow of things in my sentences, paragraphs, and overall essays/stories.

I'd probably lose my ability to understand foreign languages without much effort, as well as my pitch sensing abilities (Seriously, I'm one of the only people in my family with any sense of pitch. I still remember the way my vocal teacher would stare at me with bugged-eyes every time I hit a note right or knew immediately when I was a bit off. Heheh.)

I'd be less of a slob . . . no, wait, maybe not. That's iffy. ;P

But, really, overall I think I'd lose a lot of what makes me who I am, obsessions and all.

And that, my friends, is a scary thought.

Because, really, who wants to think about being their own evil twin?

There is no indication in the DSM that AS is linked to intelligence. Our ability to focus may enable us to tackle certain subjects with more intensity than others, but particularly at your age, a cure (assuming we are sick) would probably not affect your abilities.

I know what you are asking because I've worried about the same thing (same problem: perfect pitch, exaggerated technical skills, etc.) and what you do with those is a result of your passion, not some different wiring -- at least, according to the DSM.

I can relate to you here. It is a source of deep depression at times, isn't it? People who can't relate to this cannot imagine what it is like to just want to see the smallest spark -- any spark. You know what I mean. This is the only place I could even say something like that without be labeled the most arrogant person in the world. WP rules.

If I were transformed into an NT, I'd probably be happy to stay that way, like when those flowers on the original Star Trek blew up in people's faces and the crew were all happy to be different than they were, even though it's not what they wanted in the first place.

I'd become alot of what I dislike.

The OCD-related qualities of AS are what gave me the skills to begin with... which is why I would lose said skills...

If I was TRULY arrogant, I would give my name, etc... and try to look so much better than people here. As it is, my general memory, math ability, and musical ability are probably worse than many here. Some may even be below, or not much better than the average NT. Still, I do have other abilities that I know many don't. HECK, I interview people with DUMB questions, and many of them fail.

But I know what you mean. Some people here have made wild claims, and I believe them.

OregonBecky,

You have a point. At least THEY got health and peace in the bargain though!

I would lose my desire to practice, since it's most definitely a result of perseveration and an anxiety releaser for me as well. Back in undergrad, there was a period of my life where I got up every morning at 4 am to practice my horn at the music building across campus. And then I'd study.

And THEN I'd go to class.

And then I'd practice some more . . . and so it went.

I'd probably also lose my ability for creative good description in fiction writing, because a lot of my words come from not having words that work better.

I might even lose my synaesthesia and then I'd never remember anything . . .

Oh and I'd still be paranoid.

Good point. It isn't arrogance if nobody knows who you are. I have the same problem with memory and math, although I'm weird with the music thing (piano, guitar, french horn; all things I can play music by ear with. Not like Leslie Lempke, but close enough to get people thinking I was reincarnated or something).

I would lose my strong individuality and develop a much weaker, cliched form of it.

I would lose my sharp hearing and taste and gain a better sense of smell.

I would start wanting sex.

Popular culture would start making sense.

Philosophy and religion would stop making sense.

I would need more company.

My thoughts would become more diverse (good), but also more trivial (bad).

I would go into real estate.







The risks outweigh the benefits.

I'd become a skinny, self-starved slut, dressed in skimpy clothes.