New to the group and things I am aware of in 7 days

Despite the moniker, data and statistics are not my world.

You raise a whole bundle of matters that, in the round, are undoubtedly philosophical at heart.

I can't be getting all philosophical with you here, now, by this medium....stuff needs doing in my world.

Must dash.

Number said:

this is why I like small conversations mate!  I take as I find, on a personal basis.

But when others talk about bigger conversations at, say, a national level and generalise about a group then you take issue with it?

If this is backed by experience and facts can you explain why you still do this please?

I'm genuinely interested.

I know from friends that the school system is reluctant to push for any diagnoses of autism and other differences, as they then have to accommodate the difference, which costs them money.

My uni paid for my dyslexia testing, and the NHS sent me to a charity for autism testing. 

Medicine likes to label us with conditions, mental or physical, and I think with the budget cuts in the NHS they have to decide where to spend the money. Do they spend it on someone like me, who simply wants to know, or someone who cannot interact with the world but needs a diagnosis for specialist intervention? I would say that I am lower priority than them.

Iain said:

To take everything to  the level of the individual is fine in small conversations

......and this is why I like small conversations mate!  I take as I find, on a personal basis.  That's just how I am.

Number said:

categorising groups as either "good or bad" based on the common divisive metrics (age, politics, gender) is, in my experience, folly.

I don't recally there being discussions of such groups being good or bad - rather discussions of common traits of a group of people. Things which can be supported by experience or statistical fact.

To take everything to  the level of the individual is fine in small conversations but as soon as you talk about larger groups then there is a benefit to discussing common traits, patterns of behaviour or repeating patterns.

The whole realm of statistics is built around such data.

Fair enough.

I express the reality that all humans cannot like all other humans, but that categorising groups as either "good or bad" based on the common divisive metrics (age, politics, gender) is, in my experience, folly.

Why do You insult People on here ?

Here, here.

Nice to see the " voice of reason" is still here.
Pegg gives good advice.
She did with me before.

NAS94050 said:

The younger generation are lucky that Autism is picked up more quickly these days

You think? 

If you're a child you've got a reasonable chance of being diagnosed. Even that's not the case everywhere in the UK. 

I'm 34 - not old. I didn't know what was 'wrong' with me until last year - and then I worked it out for myself. Not a single health professional picked up on it as a possibility, not one.. They simply weren't looking for it.

There were times, looking back, when it should have been obvious. 

I'm still waiting for a formal diagnosis - every 3 months I get a text saying I'm still on the waiting list. 

Autism is still underdiagnosed. It isn't seen as a priority in adults. 

In this place, I find that some of the youngest members, some of the middle aged, some of the late middle aged, and some in their dotage......are frigging SUPER humans, wise, clever, informed and witty.  Age is not a factor.

Unsurprisingly, I also perceive some from all these "age classes", to be asshats.

Personally, I don't see an age divide.....merely an asshat-v- non-asshat divide.

I was diagnosed at age 59. It has made a huge difference. A small example: hypersensitivity to sudden noises. I used to think I had PTSD. It terrified me. Now I know it's part of autism. I still jump, but I return to a relaxed state again very quickly now, instead of melting down.

As for young people: I'm just grateful I was young then, and not now!

Boy, is youth ever wasted on the young!!!

I will always try even if it just reaches one person. There are problems with the youth of today but you cannot tar them all with the same brush, there are good kids out there, and if we all turn our backs on them they will never learn. I am not a person who sees thing through rose tinted glasses, far from it, the youth of today are our future whether we like or not. I hate society but its all we have right now.

NAS94050 said:

I was just trying to get through to the youth that there is a lot of wisdom in the older generation

People are typically tribal in nature so the old are one group that youngsters will typically not take seriously until they start to build some life experience themselves and realise that these oldies may be onto something after all.

I was like that when I was young and have seen it throughout my life when training others.

I find there is no point wasting time on it - youth is wasted on the young after all.

Thank you I will let you know when its all over.

I thought the same but diagnosis has helped me find better ways of dealing with situations and feelings, knowing I'm getting angry at "change" rather than "what's changed"  for example was a big eye opener.

I understand why I am the way I am more now and realise Its not all bad. I'm still quite tough on myself a lot of the time, but getting there. 

Hopefully you'll find it helps you out too, fingers crossed! It's never too late I reckon.

I have seen the good in here too. I was just trying to get through to the youth that there is a lot of wisdom in the older generation. I am being tested now after 61 years in the dark, it probably will not make much difference to my life now. just justification of knowing why I am the way I am.

As I've got older I've learnt there's truth in phrases like "youth is wasted on the young" and " older is wiser".

I don't feel anything older than about 17 inside. But I'm almost 50.

I spent life hiding my differences and trying hard to fit in, people may have noticed, most didn't and we're shocked when I was diagnosed. Those close to me knew something was off and weren't so shocked. If people had found out back then it'd have meant losing everything including friends and being bullied and branded. It was just something you couldn't risk happening.

I got diagnosed this year after finally feeling I could take the risk of exposing my difference to the world, total fear of ridicule and rejection meant I spent my life struggling  and bottling up my feelings, which nobody should have to endure just because of what others would say or think.

It's a safer world for young autistic people now, which is great, but maybe some haven't seen the pain others endured through times that weren't so understanding and won't realise how lucky they are.

Overall this is a place full of amazing people though, so don't take the negativity you saw as the norm. Most here are kind and compassionate people who want to help eachother.