lau wrote:
OK. So I've just seen myself called dysfunctional. I find that offensive. In fact, I find most of these labels offensive.
I'll not surprise anyone by saying that my own vote goes to "difference".
My second choice would be "disability". I do find that my Asperger's syndrome is disabling, to an extent, as society currently doesn't accommodate some of my differences particularly well (as I found out last week, when the National Autistic Society flashed images in my eyes for an hour, without thinking it might destroy my concentration).
I really would like people to stop calling me diseased or disordered.
Initially, I was going to pick "difference." But, I felt that was too broad of a term. I prefer the terms 'disorder' or 'disability.' They don't offend me because there are definately things we deal with that are disabling. But, I think when my kid gets older it's up to him to define himself. For medical purposes, they do use "disorder." That's what most of the doctors use. Very seldom do you hear 'disease.' And, outside of the medical community you hear 'disability' a lot.