Cyberbullying

Hi Disordergirl nice to hear from you again.

Hope your dissertation is well recived and its good you've been able to balence things in your mind, i always find if stuff comes at me too fast or too much i can't then process it and end up like a zombie.

I've been on YouTube troll fighting on that same thread, i should probably leave it also but some of the stuff that is said is ridiculous and they think their hateful comment are wright. I recived one responce and have replied to it and no one has replyed so i can only assume i've won the battle with the full thread ,yey.

I've studied peoples behaviour for a long time and always found people to be illogical but since i've realised that i have a problem and its not down to weakness compared to everyone else i feel that there must be a lot of factors i've missed and not been able to evaluate, though i belive in the circumstances i've done well.

Ive been watching a Ghost Adventures  latley marathon and fit it into a daily routine.

I also think autism awareness should be taught in schools for better understanding, along with a lot of other subjects relevent to the day, education seems to be far behined in alot or areas, in my opinion of course. No disrepsect intended to you of course but i think the same is true with uni's the curriculum, seems to be quite slow to evolve. To me alot of understanding in education and the NHS in areas of Autism and indeed others seem to be quite narrow minded and old fasioned, doesn't say much for progression. Though your attitude seems to be the sort that will expand this. 

'I did a seminar reading on gym membership'.

I bet that was interesting. Its amazing how fasion and image have a grip over people, the world of advertising really does have them over a barrel. People getting a Merc or Audi on finance when they could have a Ford Focus for 100 per month less thats no worse and does the same, and ASD is the condition?

'I think the medical model of disability still filters down to the public's view on disability too much, whether it's mental, physical or learning. The social model arguing society creates disability by societal norms, so it's difficult to change public opinion. After I graduate, I might try & contribute to public autism understanding'

Something I personally think is holding back a crutial part of human evolution, i sometimes can't understand how we got past throughing wood spears at animal. But suppose as ever its the actions and discoveries of a few that benefit humanity as a whole.

Anyway nice to hear from you, all the best with your course and kind reguards Steven..

Hey Steven

Sorry I replied late, I've been a bit stressed with my dissertation lately. Hope you're doing OK. Yeah I've balanced it all out in my head, next time I'm just not gonna reply to some ignorant troll looking for an arguement and to lower self esteem.

Yes I do believe sociology has allowed me to understand NT behaviour, I study it at uni and I actually feel my Aspergers has helped me study it, because I've always felt like an outsider looking in, at A level we were told before doing sociology that we had to see society from an alien's point of view, which might have been easier for me, than an NT. I'm not sure if anyone else feels like that, but that's how I felt. My dissertation is on Aspergers and social support. It's interesting to look at the condition with social theory. I have a friend with Aspergers who does a psychology degree nd she loves it, she's made it her special interest. In relation to her Aspergers, she sees the discipline simular to the way I see sociology. I've never studied psychology myself at A level, but my friend on the spectrum loves it so I say if you like, give it a bash!!!! 

Yeah, those that see Aspergers as a disease really have no understnding of what it really is, I always ignore that. Yeah I agree, there's many aspects of NTs that need curing, dangerous driving is definately one of them, I don't drive, but I remember once in my aunt's car this driver was going way too fast to ovetake everyone in the Dartford tunnel and he drive so close to the side of our car, my aunt was terriffied and so was I, even as a passanger! It's not surprising there are so many road deaths every year. I'm sorry you've had to deal with bad drivers for some time, it must have been difficult. I think speeding definately needs a cure!

Yeah I agree with you on the fact that people can only understand autism and aspergers if they've been taught it longer in school. Maybe it could be part of a disabilities curriculum or it could be taught across all subjects and maybe they should introduce sociology and psychology in high school, it may get more people to understand society more and will be a way teaching about autism and other conditions that are widely misunderstood. Getting people to understand is very difficult, definately.

Yeah I find many NTs really want to maintain good or stand-out impressions, but they always overdo it. It's all about commodifiaction in today's society. As you say just going to the gym does not automatically make someone stronger and better, you have to actually enjoy and be good at the things there. I did a seminar reading on gym membership, it's interesting, it's not just excercise anymore, it's a cult and commodity really. Same with so many other things, like fashion and technology.

There is something in the whole money v happiness thing. Maybe because people on the spectrum see things as they are, money and branding becomes insignificant.

I think the medical model of disability still filters down to the public's view on disability too much, whether it's mental, physical or learning. The social model arguing society creates disability by societal norms, so it's difficult to change public opinion. After I graduate, I might try & contribute to public autism understanding

Thanks for your insights Steven and I'm willing to learn more from others too

Phoebe  

Hi Disordergirl,  Dr3am3r and longman.

Disordergirl i think you do wright to not let some troll put you off Facebook and it seems like you have a balenced view of of this, i suppose aslong as you can justifiy it in your mind and are able feel content that there is ignorant, cheeky and arrogant trolls out there you'll manage fine with it.

Has studying sociology given you a better understanding of NT's? I thought of studing Psychology at one point but wrightly indentified that despite the fact i could build up a good picture in my mind of behaviour logically, i wouldn't be able to empathise with people's emotions and i couldn't detemaine to what degree of importance that was in that area.

I've seen Aspergers been described as a disease which seems unduly harsh i'm not even sure 'condition' is the wright way to decsribe it. I've done a year and a half as a Taxi driver, done alot of miles and been to alot of different Airports and Cities in the 8 seater bus i use to drive. I never could understand even driving my own Car the amount of poor driving that i would see each time i drove. Prehaps Scientists should develope a tablet for NT's to help reduce aggression on the road and lack of ability to understand the potential consequences of reckless behaviour through poor concentration and a lack of responsability on the roads? I always usto follow the speed limits, rules of the road and always left a big enough space between myself and the car in front though i seemed to always be having to drop back to accomadate people weaving.

I think unless the difference in people with autism is taught in school in a proper class which would no doubt be taught as a disabled awearness course in school 'which i think should go wright through secondary school' not much will change for the future of understanding. There are so many floors with NT's, for example that even though wrong its seems almost impossable 'to me' that the majoraty of NT's even with any sort of intellect will have any hunger to create a greater understanding of people on the autistic spectrum seems unlikely 'for now atleast'.

In what i have observed with NT's 'all in my opinion of course' is that the majority seem to rely on looking good and trying to impress, even if this is false and people live beyond there means, getting a Merc on finance to keep up with the joneses even to the extent cost is not realistic to these people it still seems important.

I've seen many in the Gym in the past, men on there Phones talking loudly so eveyone notices them yet there training and technique is poor, but that doesn't matter because they look good and are noticed.

I personally believe that one of the main reason the people on the spectrum have not reached a more noticble standing and an elevated view in the mind of society is because money means less and feeling being happy and providing happiness to family is more important than money. 

If anyone disagrees or has a different opinion please post it i always like to learn.

Many thanks and kind reguards Steven..

Couldn't have said it better myself. I've got Aspergers, which may be a mild version of Autism, but the fact that people can't see I'm struggling at times is what makes it difficult for me. People say to me "you don't look like you have it", or "it's OK your over it now" which makes me mad, because I do struggle, it is difficult and it being invisible makes expectations higher.

I remember when I was first told I had Aspergers when I was 10 by my mum (I was diagnosed at 3 years old), I didn't really understand it myself and I tried to distance myself away from it as possible. It wasn't until I was 17 when in college people weren't afriad to be different and I started learning sociology, I started looking into ASD and asking my parents about it and my attitude changed towards it, my Aspergers characteristics have helped me do well in education, is part of who I am and I would never in a million years want a 'cure', life may be tough, but I enjoy being a nerd and I like my strategies in social situations which have worked so well. My parents, sisters and friends say they would never change me for the world.

So I'm very interested in autism rights as a resut and hope better public education is provided on autism and other conditions that are misunderstood. I think there should not only be awareness days but understanding days too on what autism is and how it impacts people. Your son sounds amazing and I'm glad you have a positive attitude towards autism and I wish all the best for him. If there was a cure for ignorance, I think it should be force fed on bullys like the troll who was mean and ignorant and many others.

Thanks for responding and I lovd hearing your insights

Phoebe

Ahh, I see. Yeah I'm not suprised there's public confusion, in Hans Aspergers original 1944 paper on Autism, which I've read part of, he talks about a characteristic of schizophrenics that appears autistic and maybe the cyberbully only read that part of the paper or only heard something like that from word of mouth, but if the cyberbully had read later on, or looked at later research or actually done research, he'll see how autism is significantly different and is seen as unrelated to schizophrenia, haha what a silly sausage this cyberbully was. But Schizophrenia and Autism being mentioned in the same paragraph once appears to have lead to public confusion. I understand why this was the case in the 60s and probably the 70s as I don't think there was as much good research back then and it was before the triad of impairment study which was in 1979. While it's good that professionals and educated people know better now, the public confusion appears to be subtly remaining.

I agree actually, Rain Man and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has made people aware that Autism exists. But Autism is complex so I think there needs to be more emphasis on public understanding as well as awareness.

Thanks for you insights and I'm happy you commented

Phoebe

It also occurs to me that your cyberbully was confusing autism with schizophrenia. For some schizophrenics the only resolution is a pill, and not taking the medication leads to erratic behaviour and often to loss of accommodation if causing too much trouble, and thus homelessness.

Public confusion of autism with schizophrenia remains. In the 60s (and possibly 70s)people diagnosed with autism were sometimes given the same medications as schizophrenics, as the conditions were perceived to be related. That sort of similarity may be passed on to younger generations by parents and grandparents.

As you say alleged increases in public awareness are nothing remotely relevant to improved public understanding.

Public awareness of autism has probably always been quite high, thanks to Rain Man, The curious incident of the dog in the night-time and various television representations.

Statistically for a sample survey of about 2000 people in relation to actual population, the chances that a shift from 91% to 99% are down to different samples rather than a real change are considerable. I don't think NAS should have given it so much attention.

Hmm true

Thanks for letting me know. Yes a pill might reduce meltdowns or hypersensitivity at times, in my opinion though I feel sometimes  I need to meltdown for many reasons, often stress, meltdowns allow me to let it out, so I'm better the next day. A pill might give a short term solution to the most short term of problems which might seem attractive, but it doesn't provide a long term solution as you say it doesn't get to the roots of the causes and it plays against the way people with ASD's minds work. I'm no scientist so I maybe wrong.

But very true, this troll ruined my autism awareness week and my day. While more people than 10 years ago are aware, sadly people are still ignorant.

All the best

Phoebe

Unfortunately there does seem to be this idea around that people on the spectrum should be taking a pill, as if there was a magic pill that cured it. Some of those who hold that view are professionals who ought to know better.

It does seem though that most people getting interventions as a consequence of being on the spectrum are being treated for secondary conditions: anxiety, depression, OCD, or for aspects of autism like hypersensitivity or sensory overload/meltdowns. I wonder how much of it is appropriate.

That may be what underlies the notion doing the rounds, that you just take a pill.

There's no medication around, to the best of my knowledge, that alleviates social interaction difficulties, or difficulties processing social information.

Yet we are still getting medical and pschology professionals making out that their treatments have cured people on the spectrum. They might have alleviated some secondary issues, but they haven't in any way shape or form addressed the root causes - poor social interaction (and consequent lack of social referencing), difficulty coping with sensory environments (besides taking a med to level off the worst at the expence of self-will), or difficulties managing day to day events (especially change).

Here we are at the end of another World Autism Awareness Week, and no further forwards in getting this condition taken seriously.

Thanks to both of you. I'm still gonna go on Facebook, as I'm not gonna let some idiot I don't know ruin it, who probably has nothing better to do with his time, most posts I've made about autism and Aspergers have got much praise from my friends and as my comment had over 70 likes and I got a nice kind comment from someone on the spectrum, probably more are on my side. If another wanna-be intellectual troll strikes again, I'm gonna try and ignore them if I can identify them. I think people say worst things on a keyboard than face-to-face, because they're not actually interacting; problem is, people don't know how much words hurt other people. I might turn to other social network sites that are more controlled to broaden my horizons and would give me an outlet. But thanks for helping and sharing your experiences. 

All the best and best of luck to both of you

Phoebe

Hi Disordergirl

Thats why i don't have FB i find alot of people have opinions that even despite giving a kind and logical response these people won't take your point of view on bored.

Ive read some horrible comments on youtube on aspreges videos but these poeple have nothing better than trolling to do.

I'm hoping to go to uni to do engineering in the next couple of years but don't know if its possible as of yet, your tere make the most of it those trolls won't be there when your in your job just try to stick to the task at hand.

All the best and kind reguards Steven..