Should you tell people that you're autistic/ have AS?

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I can usually pass for relatively normal as I'm good at copying NT behaviour. I've recently had some bad experiences on other forums when I've revealed that I'm autistic. People don't seem to like hearing it or don't believe it. They seem to use it as an excuse to ridicule me for no reason. I'm wondering if this will happen if I try to talk about it in real life.

With all the facing NTs problems I have, I've been telling a lot of people that I'm autistic and most of them either ignore me, don't believe me, or think I'm mentally ret*d or something.

PS: I can't even pass off acting normal, either.

I hate copying people though, it feels so dishonest.

Some people seem to think that autism means that I'm ret*d and just ignore me after I reveal it.

Last edited by corroonb on 04 Aug 2008, 6:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It probably shouldn't be the conversation starter. Opening with it is basically saying There Are Going To Be Problems. I wouldn't even mention it until somebody asks you what the deal is or A.S. comes up in conversation.

I would never use it to start a conversation except on somewhere like Wrongplanet. But I made an error due to not thinking about other people as separate from myself (Theory of Mind) and I explained that I was autistic and they got even more angry and insulting. I wasn't upset, I was just confused. Apparently a lot of people on this particular forum didn't like me. If someone starts saying ignorant things about autism, I find it hard not to explain but people don't like to be told that the "knowledge" they have is wrong and get angry. People even accuse me of lying about having autism because I'm not ret*d and write reasonably articulately.

AS is an Autistic/Autism Spectrum Disorder, so it's accurate.

Superficially, AS may appear less mild than Autistic Disorder/Kanner's, but they're of a similar level of impairment in adults [in the majority of cases], they just manifest a little differently.

Somehow, I mistook "/" for "if", don't mind me, move along, this isn't the post you are looking for.

I know that AS is on the spectrum but a lot of people with autism have similar problem to those of us who have AS.

I didn't realise I had a problem with theory of mind until I made this "error" which was a "spoiler" about The Dark Knight. I assumed everyone knew this spoiler already because I did. It was an automatic assumption and I did not mean to spoil the movie for anyone.

Was that a Jedi Mind Trick at the end?

"These aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along"

Man, I spoil movies accidentally all the time. I wouldn't go straight into the theory of mind though, just say "whoops" and move on. If that doesn't solve it, then your hanging out with a guy who is blisteringly angry because you've revealed the ending for the new batman (or Has Their Own Problems) and all connections can be severed immediately with neither guilt or remorse.

don't do it.

Can you elaborate further? Why shouldn't I do it?

I am autistic and proud of it.

Last edited by corroonb on 07 Aug 2008, 8:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

I've not told anyone, not even my family. But i'm going to buy a book about asperger's, and going to "forget" it on my parent's house (i live alone). I know my parents, they are very curious. They will read the book and learn what asperger's is. If they approach me asking if i'm an aspie it will be obvious that they think i fit the aspie profile. If they don't say anything and just return the book, i will know that i can pass as NT at least to my parents.

Regarding your question: don't go off telling everyone about it. Just inform your close family.
If someone sees someone else fall to the ground, that person will laugh. Why? It's a subconscious thing. At that moment that person feels so much superior than the one that fell, and can't stop the laugh. In this NT ruled world, everyone that is not normal, is inferior, and even if they treat you equally deep inside they consider you inferior. That's why you shouldn't reveal your condition.

My advise? Tell your family. They really love you, and will look at you as you really are.

My family already knows and have always known that I was "different" in some way.

To be honest, if someone laughs at me for being autistic, then I do not want to be that person's friend or even talk to them again. I would not talk about it right away but if I like them enough after a few weeks, then I would tell them.

Tons of people know i have autism, we have warning stickers that says occupant with autism may not respond to verbal commands, for the cops so i dont get hurt anymore, and an autism awareness sticker, and i have shirts too, that say something about autism on them. One day my boyfriend blurted it out at a car meet, when a guy asked who he knew had autism, because i was sittin in the car avoiding any human contact lol, he didnt know i was in there hahaha, i was so upset he did though, but everybody seemed so understanding, and some already assumed i was some form of mental retardation. One of his friends were like i have a touch of diabetes if it makes ya feel any better, i was like no thats a disease not a disorder, he just laughed. Now so many ppl know, because i also leave cards at restaurants and ppl surprise me how they understand and how their accepting. I get special waves when ppl see me, special big heyyes, smiles, winks lol, its funny. So yes a lot of people know i have autism, although i have classic autism, there are times i do seem ntish, even if there rare.

Hello age1600, are you portuguese? "Bonita-Azul" ....

If you bring it up, you must accept the risk that the person on the other end with react poorly; the payoff is that those who listen will have more information and a better chance to relate to you. I find the trade worthwhile, whereas some others do not. There is a chance either way, as opposed to more of the same if you do nothing. All about what we each find acceptable.


M.

No south american, born in columbia.