Psychology Today: Biased Asperger's Article!

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Here's the comment I posted:
I should start by saying that I am NOT an activist. I am just a normal 32 year old, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's since 2008.

I do not deny that Asperger's is a disability and I agree that it is very difficult to find employment and be social with other people.

However, I do believe that it was very shortsighted of you to put people with Asperger's into a generalized box, focusing on the most negative extremes of the condition. Yes, there might be some people on the autism spectrum, who would sift though garbage. That doesn't mean that ALL people on the autism spectrum sift through garbage. By citing them, you are encouraging all the negative stereotypes people have against people with Asperger's.

Despite the challenges I face every day as an individual as Asperger's, I consider myself to be a completely independent person, capable of living on his own. I have been writing for an online film magazine since last July and I have frequently been complimented for how good a writer I am.

While there are indeed times that I wished that I didn't have Asperger's, I do not wish to be "cured" of the condition. Asperger's is just a part of who I am and I have learned to adapt.

When you read immature and misleading generalisations like the ones from the article writer, you want to believe that karma really exists.

I am very shocked that this guy is earning a living from writing this type of condescending article- absolutely terrible sentence structure and lack of ANY actual information. In fact, it highlights what is wrong with the job Market- the wrong people often get the job! Why on earth would he be chosen when he obviously sees no hope for the aspies job prospects, and does not think big employers have ANY social responsibilities with regards to who they employ.

The sentence from his earlier post which sums up his ridiculousness is

"I was exhausted after interacting with them. And it wasn't their lack of eye contact or that sometimes, their bodies or arms were contorted. I quickly got used to that"

Hahahaha why on earth would someone find it exhausting talking to someone whose body and arms are contorted?! Really it is strange that anyone would include such irrelevant information in a post about disability! He must think he is a legend for being able to get used to that "quickly".

And I have not come across many people willing to admit they think it is a bad thing for people to believe in their own human rights; people who have experienced a lot of injustice when they have been mis/pre-judged when looking for something as important as a job- to get money to SURVIVE.

I was once subjected to a horrendous talk (attack!) from a potential employer after my interview who gave me "advice" like never to wear a skirt to an interview. I had maybe focused too much on the fact my dissertation was about British fashion, and that I had a vast knowledge of the brand history, how the clothes were made and how the brand structured their advertising campaigns during their history. I do think the ONLY reason she didn't give me the job (as a junior sales assistant at Burberry) was that she was threatened. The customers would LOVE to be served by someone with knowledge about the brand and something between their ears. Thankfully I proved that in my next job at a very high end department store liberty of London

The good thing about the article is the way it illuminates how many NT "experts" seek to oppress, marginalise, discount and stigmatise us as their targeted "out group". Ugh, then they can justify offering us their expert help to financially benefit themselves and pump up their CV.

I hope karma catches up with this self-serving ignoramus. Quite quickly.

What does everyone think of what my acquaintance said?

I decided to ask an outside acquaintance who has no stake hold whatsoever in the autism community. He has his own opinions on American society and I share his similar views. He gave me permission to reproduce word for what his opinions but not to use his name.

This is what I wrote to him:

Dear zzz

How are you doing?

If you do not mind, will you read this article?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/how ... -find-work

I feel this man is being condescending towards those such as myself. A number
of those such as myself feel the same way? Are we misinterpreting what this
man is saying and his intent? Are we wrong?

Is this more proof that America is screwed up?

cube

This is his response back about Marty.


Dear cube,

I agree, the author of the article is being condescending. But I'm sure he believes he's being helpful & honest, in his own mind if nowhere else. More's the pity. I notice that his profession is listed as personal coach ... and I've always been suspicious or at least dubious about these "life coaches" who make a living by trying to figure out ways to reshape an individual to suit the demands of an existing society -- to make them "play the game" rather than be themselves.

Nowhere in his article does he mention trying to change the business model or society itself to make room for gifted but different individuals such as yourself. No. You have to change to suit society. Or so he insists. This is the problem with American society as a whole. Everything is geared to making everyone live & think & act according to a specific model, with its specific values, goals, and inducements. The existing society itself isn't questioned -- surely making lots of money, being a "success", etc. -- is what truly matters?

And if you dare to question that, then you are designated as the problem. I'll bet the author of that post would say he's trying to round off the square pegs so they'll fit into the round hole, just like everyone else. The notion of actually creating some square holes, so different people could fit in just as they are right now, simply doesn't occur to him. Incidentally, this is what a lot of the 1960s countercultural thought was really about: stating that the problem wasn't with the individuals who didn't fit in, but with the society that wasn't open & flexible enough to accept them as they were -- to make room for different ideas & outlooks.

Which is why the 1960s were co-opted, commodified, and ultimately vilified even to this day. As you know, our society likes to talk about being an individual, pursuing your dreams, etc. -- but only if it's been socially approved first. Society says: "We want you to be your own person." Society means: "We want you to be our definition of your own person. Which is really our person." I'm sure you've had people be rude & condescending & insulting if they've noticed anything different about you.

I've had the same experience, from something as simple as having a book of poetry on my desk at work. And most of the time, it's not because we've gone out of our way to call attention to ourselves as different, or insulted the way others live. No! All we have to do is appear different, even in the smallest way, and too many people perceive it as a threat, a condemnation of their own life choices. They feel insecure, they get defensive, they attack. We threaten their fragile self-image simply by existing & embodying a different outlook on life.

And so we get supposedly "helpful" articles like the one you linked to, basically telling you not to be true to yourself, to live a lie, to twist & contort yourself to fit into their world, no matter what the human cost to you. But of course "being human" really doesn't count to such people. Fitting in, being productive, reinforcing the current system -- that's all they care about. Hope you are doing well!

zzz

Also I think people were too harsh with their comments and I did not view it as criticism. I think people respond better when they don't get any attacks or harshness or they just go into defense mode and don't learn anything.