Do professionals think this is true about aspergers?

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I was recently reading an article on aspergers in adults, and for the most part it seemed accurate and informative, but two sections of the article really bothered me, and seemed absolutly false. They apply to me in no way, and do not apply to others i know with aspergers. I was wondering what others with aspergers thought of the statements, if they apply to you, if you agree or disagree with them etc. I also wondered if professionals who work with aspergers believe these statments, and idea which honestly frightens me.

The first statement was in a list of diagnostic criteria for aspergers.

AFAIK, the basis for making an official AS diagnosis is not an "All or Nothing" proposition - you don't have to have an exact match to each and every recognized symptom. The old legalistic "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" is all that's required.

I completely agree. I love fiction and have loved/read it since I first learned to read, and playing imaginary games with other kids when I was little was like the one surefire way I WAS able to relate/interact with others at a young age.

I am sorry, im not good with internet slang... what is the meaning of "AFAIK,"?

For the first one:

That is a common trait and is also not a trait that is required for a diagnosis. Just because you don't have lack of imagination doesn't mean its not common on the spectrum. Personally, I really enjoy reading fiction, but have no idea how to come up with a story on my own. I would put myself as impaired in this category.

For the second one:

Note the word understand. I know others have other feelings. I care a lot about others. I don't necessarily understand how they feel. I don't know how to identify what they're feeling. I don't necessarily share their emotions - someone being upset might come through as guilt to me. It's not that I don't care, I care a lot, but I don't see their emotions and react in the "normal" manner.

I really dislike the description as it makes us sound like we don't care for others, but at least part of the idea behind it makes sense.

Psychological mumbo-jumbo is often written in a way that sounds insulting. It's not just that way when they write about Asperger's. Although I do feel that such a style probably contributes to lack of respect for the people the diagnoses apply to, it does seem to me to be across the board, pretty much. This is one reason for my negative feelings about Western psychology in general.

I am fed up with the idea that aspies have no imagination. I have seen it written in a newspaper even.

This part doesn't describe me at all and I wonder if it really has any basis, since I see the exact opposite a lot.

Also, I've heard numerous times that the word imagination is no where on the diagnosis thing. Maybe this is outdated, or it's just plain wrong.

I do not get this one bit, and I need explanations please.

So one minute Aspies are supposed to lack interest in drama and writing, and there's a whole thread about it saying ''yes, yes, it's common....'' and so forth, also, in other words, NTs are the opposite I suppose - were all interested in writing and drama as children. Then another week you find a thread saying, ''are most children with AS have an interest in writing and drama?'' and then it all goes into detail of how the OP was into it as a child then says ''is this an Aspie thing?'' meaning most NT children lack interest in writing and drama.......

I wrote stories all the time when I was a child. They were mostly about myself and general situations what happen in my life, for example if we planned to go to the seaside as a family, I would write a story about us all going to the seaside. Also I had a big imagination as a child.

I'm confused. Are Aspies supposed to be creative or not? Are NTs supposed to be creative or not?