Say I'm a what now?

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Hey guys, I seek opinions! For most of my life, Aspergers has been Aspergers to me. I don't like the Syndrome bit on the end: it makes me sound like I have bright yellow skin! Then I met a bunch of people who affectionately refer to themselves as Aspies. I like that: it sounds bright and chirpy and cute! Then it was pointed out to me by my GP that my entire identity doesn't revolve around my Aspergers, so she didn't want to call me an Aspie. I still liked the term! Then I came here and noticed a lot of you say you have AS. After a bit of thinking I deduced that this stood for Aspergers Syndrome. It's handy. It's short. It's easy to say. But I still like the term 'Aspie'! Although I also like the term 'on the Spectrum', as this includes all of us, Aspies, Auties and random people who jump on the same bandwagon!

So, the question is...

What do you refer to 'it' as (most of the time: if you occasionally put something different then just go with what you usually put)?
Does it annoy you when other people refer to 'it' as something different?
Aspies and Auties: silly, incorrect terminology or affectionate tags?

Thanks heaps in advance for your help!

What do you refer to 'it' as (most of the time: if you occasionally put something different then just go with what you usually put)?

In conversation, I refer to it as Asperger's, and then explain that it's a mild form of autism, as most people understand some part of that.

Online, I refer to it as AS and to myself as an Aspie, b/c it is short and sweet and to the point among others who know what I'm saying.

Does it annoy you when other people refer to 'it' as something different?

I only get annoyed when people mention Rain Man Syndrome.

Aspies and Auties: silly, incorrect terminology or affectionate tags? affectionate.

I say "I'm an Aspie." Because it makes me sound cute. And when people ask what that is, I say, "means I'm smarter than you."

When I'm talking to NTs, I call it 'mild autism'. I don't even remotely regard it as 'mild' but that's the easiest way to present it to the uninitiated. I don't think it means I'm smarter than others, quite the reverse. I'm 'simple' compared to a NT social savant.

Last edited by Postperson on 28 Jul 2005, 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I don't say Syndrome at the end of it very often, but that's sheer syllable conservation.

That's mean but amusing.

http://www.wrongplanet.net/modules.php? ... pic&t=4423

It's all alphabet soup, society's infatuation with acronyms never seems to end! Even the "trained professionals" don't know alot about Asperger Syndrome as most call it.
I don't like the "disorder" or "syndrome" tags much. Aspie is just perfect...kind of reminds me of Aspen, a nice big ski resort! Weeeee!

Online I call it AS.In real life I would say,"I have Asperger's Syndrome".And if they ask what that is I just say that "it's a mild form of autism".


SpaceCase

Online: I say either Aspie, AS, Autty, or Aspergers (this last one a little less frequently than the others)

In Person: (with those already familiar with the disorder): Aspie or Aspergers

In Person: (with those unfamiliar with the disorder): Aspergers Syndrome which is a form of High-Functioning Autism

To my family; Apergers and Autistic.

To everyone else, I don't even mention the words "autistic" and "syndrome".

I refer to it as autism and in my case it is a disability.

I'm the same.
Though I had never heard the term Aspie until I got into Aspie communities and groups online, which was about November last year.
I use AS, ASD, and ADD alot in text; easier to type.

In person, depending on whom I'm speaking and their level of AS knowledge, I use 'Aspergers' (usually without syndrome, because it's quicker without it) to describe what I have, and 'Aspie' to describe myself or others like me.

None of the terms have ever had any negative connotations to me (not even 'NT').

GA

I use the term "Asperger's Syndrome". I don't really care what other people call it, because as long as they mean the same thing it really doesn't matter what symbol they use for it. (btw, my doctor actually uses the term Asperger's Disease. Ugh. I don't say anything because he's the doctor and I'm not. Besides, he's been a psychiatrist for some time, and he still uses older terms even though he should know better.) I will use the term "Aspie" if I'm trying to be cute, or use "AS" if I am referring to it frequently in writing because I know people would much rather see a lot of "AS" instead of a lot of "Asperger's Syndrome". (Being able to type at 60 wpm, using AS instead of Asperger's Syndrome is not much of a time saver for me.)

It doesn't matter to me whether people with AS call each other Aspies or not. What annoys me is when some people disclose their AS to others at inappropriate times. It would not be fair to other people, as they don't know what AS is. My advice to everyone who hasn't posted a reply to this thread is to wait to tell someone you have AS until you have known them for a very long time.

I tell no one except other aspies.
No one needs to know.

I already posted regarding telling people on another thread that is specifically about this, but telling anyone is sometimes a matter of needs. Many of the VERY FEW people I ever come in contact with know, for different reasons, but almost always because my companion has had the NEED to inform them. It often makes a huge difference in helping to reduce my stress when certain people are aware that I am autistic. I trust my companion to do what is best for me. Since I only associate myself with my companion IRL (I will talk to my mother sometimes) and rarely encounter anyone outside of the places I am comfortable with going to, I don't get much of an opportunity to even get to know someone well enough to even be comfortable speaking verbally to them about anything.

Actually, I just realized something. My situation may be a little different than that of someone who does not require assisted living because of their autism, so I am not sure that my comments on this subject apply to everyone who reads them.