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You ever wish AS had a different name?

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JakeWilson
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22 Mar 2008, 4:43 pm

In reality, Asperger's Syndrome is not that bad of a thing to have, but whenever I tell people I have Asperger's Syndrome, sometimes I get a "OH MY GOSH! What is that dreadful thing you said?!?" response from people. I mean I guess those of us who are Aspies can't help it that the guy who discovered AS was named "Asperger." Do you ever wish it was the same condition but just with a different name - like maybe "John's Syndrome" or "Smith's Syndrome" so that people didn't freak out as much when they heard the word? Also, I notice on Wrong Planet that descriptions such as "Autistic" and "AS" are used a lot more frequently in people's posts than "Asperger's Syndrome" is. With me, I sort of wonder if there is a sensory issue, something about my AS that doesn't like the sound of the word "Asperger" which inspires me to use AS or Aspie more frequently. Comments?



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22 Mar 2008, 4:56 pm

JakeWilson wrote:
In reality, Asperger's Syndrome is not that bad of a thing to have, but whenever I tell people I have Asperger's Syndrome, sometimes I get a "OH MY GOSH! What is that dreadful thing you said?!?" response from people. I mean I guess those of us who are Aspies can't help it that the guy who discovered AS was named "Asperger." Do you ever wish it was the same condition but just with a different name - like maybe "John's Syndrome" or "Smith's Syndrome" so that people didn't freak out as much when they heard the word? Also, I notice on Wrong Planet that descriptions such as "Autistic" and "AS" are used a lot more frequently in people's posts than "Asperger's Syndrome" is. With me, I sort of wonder if there is a sensory issue, something about my AS that doesn't like the sound of the word "Asperger" which inspires me to use AS or Aspie more frequently. Comments?


How about John Smith's Syndrome?



JakeWilson
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22 Mar 2008, 5:01 pm

Bopkasen wrote:
JakeWilson wrote:
In reality, Asperger's Syndrome is not that bad of a thing to have, but whenever I tell people I have Asperger's Syndrome, sometimes I get a "OH MY GOSH! What is that dreadful thing you said?!?" response from people. I mean I guess those of us who are Aspies can't help it that the guy who discovered AS was named "Asperger." Do you ever wish it was the same condition but just with a different name - like maybe "John's Syndrome" or "Smith's Syndrome" so that people didn't freak out as much when they heard the word? Also, I notice on Wrong Planet that descriptions such as "Autistic" and "AS" are used a lot more frequently in people's posts than "Asperger's Syndrome" is. With me, I sort of wonder if there is a sensory issue, something about my AS that doesn't like the sound of the word "Asperger" which inspires me to use AS or Aspie more frequently. Comments?


How about John Smith's Syndrome?


That might be okay. I don't know though, these are just some examples. I don't think it needs to be SO normal as "John Smith" but sometimes I wish it did have a different name. I am not trying to lead a motion to actually change it or anything but I just think it makes a good topic discussion, and one thing worth noting is that I think a lot of people have a hard time confessing their Aspergers to their friends partly because it is such a dreadful sounding word for many people.



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22 Mar 2008, 5:03 pm

It might be the word "syndrome" that sounds bad.
Or maybe it's just because Assburgers-- er, I mean, Asperger's, does have a bit of an unpleasant ring to it.

Maybe you could just say "I'm an aspie" instead, since it provides pretty much the same information, and people probably will have to ask "what does that mean" either way.



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22 Mar 2008, 5:17 pm

I like Autistic Psychopathy. 8) :twisted:

Aspie sounds like a very watery form of diarrhea.


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22 Mar 2008, 5:35 pm

Aridarr wrote:
I like Autistic Psychopathy. 8) :twisted:


Me too, I'd take solace in the thought that people might experience the same discomfort around me as I do around them and using the word psychopathy to describe myself to them may well achieve that.



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22 Mar 2008, 5:51 pm

Aridarr wrote:

Aspie sounds like a very watery form of diarrhea.


Aww man, I didn't even think about that. Now I'm going to have to intentionally mispronounce that one too. Ospie? Asper-Jers? Stupid Kanner, why couldn't he have found us first?



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22 Mar 2008, 6:02 pm

Nope. I like it's name. although when i was friends with someone once, i figured i could tell her about AS and she started laughign her butt off going "ass-burgers!! !"



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22 Mar 2008, 6:14 pm

ShadesOfMe wrote:
Nope. I like it's name. although when i was friends with someone once, i figured i could tell her about AS and she started laughign her butt off going "ass-burgers!! !"


I encountered a similar situation when my Spanish teacher was telling us a story about her friend who had Asperger's, the first time she said it everyone except me and a few other people started laughing their *sses off.

For this reason I do wish it had a different name, or at least different pronunciation.



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22 Mar 2008, 6:27 pm

RohrbachDS wrote:
ShadesOfMe wrote:
Nope. I like it's name. although when i was friends with someone once, i figured i could tell her about For this reason I do wish it had a different name, or at least different pronunciation.


Just pronounce the G as a J.


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22 Mar 2008, 6:38 pm

Nobody has heard of Asperger's, so why not just invent some weird sounding disorder and tell everyone you have it?

Like Chronic-obsessive head-nuking syndrome (can't spend too much time around people or your head explodes, can't look people in the eyes or you transmit the infection and their heads explode, ect.) Or that your skin carries a strong electrical current so they must not touch you or risk death by electrocution.

Something like that. :? I dunno... be creative.

Whether they believe you or not, they will think you are crazy and leave you alone. :wink:


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Last edited by Aridarr on 22 Mar 2008, 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

rifler39
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22 Mar 2008, 6:39 pm

A friend of mine, SPED aide, trained specialist in working with autistics. trainer for SPED aides, calls us "aRspergers." That subtle English accent puts a completely different spin on it, she thinks. I agree.

Pops


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22 Mar 2008, 6:41 pm

rifler39 wrote:
A friend of mine, SPED aide, trained specialist in working with autistics. trainer for SPED aides, calls us "aRspergers." That subtle English accent puts a completely different spin on it, she thinks. I agree.

Pops


That's brilliant; I'm using that. :lol:


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22 Mar 2008, 6:43 pm

When I confess about my diagnosis, I've had only one or two people make a remark on "ass-burgers." Big deal.


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22 Mar 2008, 6:44 pm

How about if we call it something impressive and awe-inspiring, like Magnitude Syndrome, Noble's Syndrome, Stately's or Spendid's?



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22 Mar 2008, 6:48 pm

Neurologically Eccentric Relationship Disorder (NERD)


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