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AS people, please can you help me?

classic codger

I am trying, with great difficulty, to understand something. I could really use your help with this, it's literaly taken me over (you know the one) and I need the thinking of others. Call it an intervention!

Before I begin, please can I ask you to look over the following article?;

nymag.com/.../

I have seen many posts from NT parents about 'treatment' for AS.

The question I have asked myself is, 'if I could go back and be changed into an NT by 'treatment', would I choose it?'

My firm answer is 'No'. I am the sum total of a life spent as an AS person. I can't change my past, so my best option is to use the learning that is  'the sum of who I am' to help others if I can, and especially for the next generation. If any of you think that I can be helpful and supportive, understanding and insightful, fine. If you think the opposite, also fine and I am sorry that I wasn't helpful. I do what everyone does - the best I can.

I'm an egalitarian by instinct. I will state my thoughts and opinions, but they are mine alone. When I read other people's posts, I assume the right to agree or disagree, and simply expect the same fairness back.

Thank you for listening this far, and now I've come to my taxing absorption.

I read this post under the title Stem cell treatment for autism: 'Has anyone undergone stem cell treatment for autism?'

I responded with '

This is my personal opinion. I don't argue my personal opinions, just for them.

How about 'tretament' for being NT? Their capacity for being the most illogical, spiteful, self-destructive creature on this planet leaves me staggered. I pity the poor creatures and their lack of insight, but what can you do? No-one is researching 'treatment' for them, because they collectively agree that their unsanity is 'normal'.

The inmates are running the asylum.

Now, I thought that I was humourously disparaging the idea of 'treating' people just because they are different. It is my belief that most people will be able to see that I have reiterated the concepts of the same thing as the poster, with our roles reversed. Here's your mirror, as it were.
I just discovered that I got moderated for this post . Apparently, I should watch my language. A particular word picked out is asylum because it is derrogatory towards past attitudes to mental health (?).
I am totaly confused. I don't know why 'mental health' is being brought into it. Given the various current uses of the word 'asylum' I don't know how it becomes offensive, even in context, 'the inmates are running the asylum' is a common concept and has been the root idea behind several award winning books, plays and films, yet it appears that some ignoramus doesn't like it. And apparently, I'm supposed to know this and understand it in their particular case. Que?
Please, any insights will do. Sooner or later one of you will say something that will help me get a grip on this. You know the one where the more you try, the more you're shaking your head, you're laughing bleakly, you don't know whether to be angry, offended, confused, puch drunk, weakened, disempowered, desperate to understand, shocked, fed up with mods public messages yet again, privacy invaded, and a whole bunch more, and because you can't choose one, you have them all at once instead. That's where I am right now.
Phew! Bit of a maze. Ariadne, the thread!
Parents

  • From your post .. "For this to be a community we should have a safe space to log on where we don't have to see research posts or posts from parents apalled that their child is like us. We should have space to support each other" 

    Hi Classic Codger

    I am really sorry that you feel this Community is not meeting your needs as an adult with autism. I agree there are inherent tensions in providing a common forum for both parents and adults with autism.

    We tried to address this by providing seperate discussion areas including "Living with Autism" for adults on the spectrum and "Parent and Carers". This still allows, however, members to read and respond to each others posts in all areas. Clearly this is sometimes proving difficult for both types of user. 

    Choosing to only read and participate in the relevant section is an option but clearly hard to maintain when issues you are interested in or feel passionate about are being discussed elsewhere.

    I still believe there is value in a broad community. By splitting off discussion the danger is that prejudices, for example, may go unchallenged. Never the less I can see that reading these repeatedly could cause distress to someone with personal experience.

    Never the less I think it's important for us (the Community Team and NAS) to listen to the points being raised and to reflect on the direction of the community.

    I hope you stay and continue to contribute .. but not if it causes you such distress. Other members, be they few, have responded to you with compassion so you are not alone.

    Best Wishes whatever you decide.

    Bob Mod

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  • From your post .. "For this to be a community we should have a safe space to log on where we don't have to see research posts or posts from parents apalled that their child is like us. We should have space to support each other" 

    Hi Classic Codger

    I am really sorry that you feel this Community is not meeting your needs as an adult with autism. I agree there are inherent tensions in providing a common forum for both parents and adults with autism.

    We tried to address this by providing seperate discussion areas including "Living with Autism" for adults on the spectrum and "Parent and Carers". This still allows, however, members to read and respond to each others posts in all areas. Clearly this is sometimes proving difficult for both types of user. 

    Choosing to only read and participate in the relevant section is an option but clearly hard to maintain when issues you are interested in or feel passionate about are being discussed elsewhere.

    I still believe there is value in a broad community. By splitting off discussion the danger is that prejudices, for example, may go unchallenged. Never the less I can see that reading these repeatedly could cause distress to someone with personal experience.

    Never the less I think it's important for us (the Community Team and NAS) to listen to the points being raised and to reflect on the direction of the community.

    I hope you stay and continue to contribute .. but not if it causes you such distress. Other members, be they few, have responded to you with compassion so you are not alone.

    Best Wishes whatever you decide.

    Bob Mod

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