You guys are getting spared

I'm of the mind that autism, especially Asperger's or whatever they call it now, is actually the next step in human evolution.

"Austistics" are geniuses by definition, devoid of emotion or empathy, flawlessly logical, objective, and intellectual. From birth they're constantly analyzing the world in ways so out-of-the-box and brilliant they're incomprehensible to neurotypicals, so we cast it all as illness or a disorder. In reality, it's simply genius. You'e all perfect.

Without a doubt its a neurological disorder. People on the spectrum have difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships. They do not respond to many of the non-verbal forms of communication that neurotypicals take for granted.

People with ASD have difficulties sustaining friendships, and difficulties with social and emotional responses. People with ASD are outside the norm, not the next step in evolution.

People with ASD are however gifted, passionate, non judgmental, honest, rarely boring, logical, loyal, diverse, imaginative, and are capable of focusing on a certain interest for long periods of time, but we are far from perfect.

What?

First of all, autism by definition means you have below average IQ.

Second, people on the spectrum aren't 'devoid of emotion and empathy'.

This seems like a sarcastic jab at people with autism, somehow. If it is not, I guess you have no idea.

People on the spectrum have difficulties connecting with other people because they are often not appealing as friends.

If another person isn't able to make you feel good about yourself, there is no point. You can respect that person's intellect or objectiveness, or logic, or depend on their loyalty or non-judgment, but that leaves everyone completely cold.
There is as difference between having a nice personality and having an appealing personality.

Think of it this way. Why do you fall in love with that one specific person, and not with everyone else that has similar qualities? Having autism is like having the trait that makes people very rarely feel that way about you.

There is a reason why autism is such a strong insult. There is a reason people like to laugh at Sheldon on the Big Bang theory. Yes, people with autism are fine. Just not as friends and definitely not as romantic interests. Unless maybe they are really good looking and high functioning.

You obviously don't know as much about autism as you think you do. Only about 1 in 10 people with autism have any level of savant ability at all, and not all of these abilities can be applied to any practical use, or lose the chance to do so because of communication and societal barriers.

High intelligence is not a requirement for diagnosis, nor is low intelligence. There are a lot of factors.

If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person.

Others have made the points about autism being debilitating for most or at least for many who have it, but you are not alone in thinking the Aspie mind is often preferable over the mediocrity of many who are neurotypical. We would not want "Rainman" for president, of course, but having "Spock" in such a position could easily be viewed as an improvement over the typical politician.

Devoid of emotion....????????????????

???

?????



Seriously?

Then why the hell do I have depression and anxiety that needs treated?

I used to think the same about Vulcans (Spock), then learned they simply do not display them. My own emotional state includes depression, and I often feel stuck on the verge or either screaming in anger or crying in despair but cannot cry and have never found screaming beneficial.

What? I have been diagnosed w/High Functioning Autism, and my tested IQ is 145 - hardly low by any definition. Many people on the autism spectrum are quite intelligent, sorry. Autism is not a synonym for retardation! I suggest that you get your facts straight!
Mark

It is not about facts. It is about opinions. There are no facts here. There is no such thing as 'high functional autism' in the DSM V.

DSM V now has this vague thing called 'autism spectrum', which is bscailly a lot of very different things. Classical autism definitely is associated with intellectual impairment.

Sounds like you do not have classical autism, or your psychiatrist is using alternative definitions.

The OP talks about aspergers. To have that per definition you must at least have normal IQ. OP also thinks we are like robots. When in fact most aspies are hypersensitive.