Aspies For Freedom

Definitely liked that list.

I like that this woman actually bothers to point out that all those things are not true for all autistics (unlike a lot of authors who just say "this is so").
One point I wish she had made is that autistics and NTs are often complimentary!  As LizHatter pointed out, we tend to forget things that NTs remember and remember things that NTs forget.  Well, we're complimentary in other ways as well- auties can understand things that NTs don't get and NTs can understand things that auties don't get.  When NTs and auties work together, they double their abilities.  It's a shame it doesn't happen more often.

1. Autistic People Rarely Lie

I used to lie, but not for a long time. It's uncomfortable to say the least. I hate being forced to lie.

2. People on the Autism Spectrum Live in the Moment

I don't know. That could be interpreted in a few ways. I plan ahead as much as I can because I need the routine - so IMO this isn't right. But it depends on the interpretation.

3. People with Autism Rarely Judge Others

I try not to, knowing it's not really acceptable, but sometimes I do it on what instinct I have. Only because I feel threatened though - or insulted. I don't know if that counts or not.

4. Autistic People are Passionate

OH HECK YES!!!! IN SPADES!!!!

5. People with Autism Are Not Tied to Social Expectations

Absolutely agree

6. People with Autism Have Terrific Memories

Rote memory - yep! Sometimes that gets disrespected something chronic (certainly for me that's happened!)

7. Autistic People Are Less Materialistic

This is another interpretation one. I think I am - with regards to equipment (ie DVD recorder and so forth). Having said that I don't go mad on the latest gadgetry every time something knew comes out.

8. Autistic People Play Fewer Head Games

I certainly prefer not to, but sometimes I have no choice in self defence. Hate that!

9. Autistic People Have Fewer Hidden Agendas

See my previous answer

10. People with Autism Open New Doors for Neurotypicals

This is something that the mercury militia constantly deny exists. Of course it exists!

Me too. I'm lucky I have 2 wonderful autistic people in my life!

1. Autistic People Rarely Lie
Actually, I lie every day, but that has more to do with my parents setting thousands of rules it's impossible NOT to break than it does with me as a person.  I have to lie to keep my internet privilages, and I need my internet privilages for my sanity.

2. People on the Autism Spectrum Live in the Moment
Well, actually, I spend a lot of time thinking about the past and the future.  But I see what this author is getting at, and yeah, I do tend to notice stuff that others don't, and enjoy the moment more.

3. People with Autism Rarely Judge Others
I judge others all the time.  The thing is, that's usually after they've proven to me extenisvely that they are not good people.

4. Autistic People are Passionate
Yep, about everything.  

5. People with Autism Are Not Tied to Social Expectations
Well, in the sense that I don't care, yes.  In the sense that I have to follow at least some of them anyway because otherwise society would completely ostracise me.....

6. People with Autism Have Terrific Memories
.....  For some things.  Facts.  But not lists of things I'm supposed to do.

7. Autistic People Are Less Materialistic
In the sense that I don't care about brand names or whatnot.
But I do love having stuff and I love buying stuff.  The less I have to pay for it, the better- excpet for when the fact that I'm paying less means the people making it were payed a pittance (Die, Walmart, die!).

8. Autistic People Play Fewer Head Games
Absolutely.  I don't understand these things, I really don't.

9. Autistic People Have Fewer Hidden Agendas
True.  What I tell you is what I mean, literally.

10. People with Autism Open New Doors for Neurotypicals
I wouldn't know.  You could ask my friends, but I don't know what they'd say.

3. People with Autism Rarely Judge Others
I'd interpret this one as "egalitarianism" rather than "not judging" -- perhaps we have different criteria on which to base our judgement.

7. Autistic People Are Less Materialistic
So "materialistic" in this case is also open to interpretation. (The purpose for accumulating / collecting has more to do with inner satisfaction with outer appearance.


I add:

People with Autism are not overly concerned with social conformity.

People with Autism have a different perspective to NTs. (Which means that we have different things to show.)

Regardless of the merit of specific points, writing the article was a wonderful idea. More people should read it.

I think - this is just my opinion - that what you said about social manipulation and hidden agendas (etc etc) is what the article meant about lying, Batman.

Of course, I could be wrong! I know that's the context I took it in when I answered that one further up this page.

Did I say Tony Attwood is a legend?

1. Autistic People Rarely Lie

I find this very difficult to do. Lying requires subtlety and an ability to misrepresent yourself. There is nothing overly subtle about me. I am as subtle as a sledgehammer. This is honest but I have found not in any way a trait that is always productive, respectable or even nice. It is all about context.

2. People on the Autism Spectrum Live in the Moment

If you mean focusing intently on interests tenaciously and doggedly then yes. If you mean being oblivious to the future or past, then no. Both scare hell out of me and I do constantly work to structure my life to give me security, stability and protection from anything that may disrupt my "present".

3. People with Autism Rarely Judge Others
No I do. I have my own morality that I live my life by. I do view very negatively those who transgress these boundaries. At the same time I do accept diversity of thought, culture and belief. If people are not thrusting issues down my throat or claiming opinion as fact, I don't care. I do believe that unity is stronger than division.

4. Autistic People are Passionate

Absolutely. See an autistic person work in the safe confines of their interest. Passion to the nth extreme. I have yet to see that amount of passion and joy elsewhere.

5. People with Autism Are Not Tied to Social Expectations

No they are not. They are often completely oblivious to expectation or instrinct, instinctual societal conventions, cues and norms. Many of us strive for an understanding and integration anyhow.

6. People with Autism Have Terrific Memories
I have a fantastic memory. I memorise facts and conversations and surprise many NT people I know. I doubt I would be a big surprise amoungst other HFA's but do impress in the circle of NT's that I know.

7. Autistic People Are Less Materialistic

Definate yes for me here

8. Autistic People Play Fewer Head Games

(See the point about being truthful). You will probably see the next punch from me well before I throw it (figuratively speaking - ie you will know you have been hit and how but it won't be a sneak attack).

9. Autistic People Have Fewer Hidden Agendas

See above.

10. People with Autism Open New Doors for Neurotypicals

The great hope isn't it. I hope we do. I hope in our own way we put out there more positive than negative into the general populace. I know that my NT friends are happier for knowing me and do consider the effects my autism and it's tendencies may have on me and life and are happy to take a positive view on me irrespectively (and on autism and HFA irrespectively).

I wouldn't say so. We are all different.

I'm generally alright at lying too, but don't do so very often (although I did go through a bit of a "liar, liar" phase as a teenager.) I'm wondering -- you said "by the time I was 21". Does this mean that aspies learn to lie at a later time than other people?

Studies show that people lie mostly to avoid punishment, and criticism is punishment. This is my primary motive too when I lie, because I cannot stand the punishment / criticism that comes with being very honest.

An afterthought. People say "you can be honest with me" and stuff like that, but they generally don't really mean it.

*** Hell! Is Guess Who still spewing his God Almighty crap?
You have all forced your version of Christianity, God and Jesus on us Guess Who. This is mine:

strange little Jewish man was born about 2000 years ago in simpler times in a society of Jewish people oppressed by Romans. They were keen for a revolutionary figure or hero to go up against the Romans. Unfortunately because of the oppressed climate, such figures going against the oppressor in voilent or subversive tactics usually didn't find they had time to build any group of followers to lead in their voilent retaliatory measures because they would be killed by the Romans, before such revolution could bear fruit.
Enter Jesus. Charismatic to be sure (perhaps more so than other such notably charismatic indivuals in history - Gandhi, Malcolm X, David Khoresh, Charles Manson, Hitler) and spouted philosphies which were kindly, passionate, sensible and a little different, but most importantly harmless. Romans weren't even bothered with him. He attracted a lot of people though who saw someone who was fast attracting followers and yet flying under the radar with his non-confrontational speeches. The inevitable happened. Too many followers, regardless of his philosophies - threat. The Romans had him executed. He became a martyr.
Irrespective of his delusional disposition (Son of God...right!) he was a nice bloke and obviously didn't deserve to die, so his guilt-riddled, wine-swilling, passionate followers took up where he left off spreading "the word" and wrote some incredible books of fantastic fablesque stories and fancible pre-era tales. I believe they collated this into a book called the bible.
Out spread Christianity like a virus consuming many old and worn out religion and challenging others.
Why was it popular. My theory (truth or opinion) is that it is a funny kind of religion kinda like a protection racket. Saying "You are a good person you should believe in us. We have nice, wholesome values....of course if you don't you will never get into heaven when you die and you will spend an eternity burning in a hell of nightmare proprtions"
So the Holy Crusades and the slaughters that followed, The witch hunts in Salem and England (where unusual people like us were burnt on stakes), the condoning of beating children with rods (least they be spoilt), forcibly removing children from native populations from their homes into missionaries to teach them about a foreign god, turning a blind eye to child physical and sexual abuse in Christian run boarding schools - by Christian priests (My Father went to one and was ****** up, and became a violent man towards me for his experiences), The religion that happily turns their back on you if you are an unwed mother, have an abortion, happen to be gay, or are so that depressed that you suicide (straight to hell right?)all sanctioned at one or at the present time by this beautiful religion.
Straight after this horrid massacre some religious *** said she had talked to the survivors about how their friends (who weren't religious) had gone to hell and to believe in God. The US President happily prays for the dead soldiers whilst committing others to horrible deaths.

Now tell me if you can understand why your posts not only are tiresome but affronting to me and many here who do not share your views.
Have an opinion. Fine. Let us know you are Christian. Fine. Ram it down our throats? Not so fine

Here is a project for you Guess Who. Take a look at all of your posts now go through them and take out the posts that have mention of your religion, tour not being married/having sex/with a significant other (or being lonely because of this) and gays. Now divide the number by 10. This is the approx percentage of threads that haven't got that focus. I would be surprised if it is 50% or higher.

Find something else to talk about we need a repieve from this relentless drivel.

I was also subject to a "liar liar" phase - and I hated it. Probably because I was such a bad liar because I was caught and punished, and also because I felt guilty as heck when I wasn't caught. I made a concious choice to stop it, and in general I've felt better about myself since. Of course occasionally I get hit with the criticism associated with being honest - but now I just take the attitude of chucking that criticism back with words to the effect of "you can't handle the truth" (a la A Few Good Men). That is - turning the punishment the other is trying to mete out back on them.

Or ignore them.

Too late, Max, he already did.

I wonder how far that percentage is creeping up now................................sigh! Here is a trick Gues Who you takr things literally so here is a piece of advice to be taken literally, post ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR RELIGION, GAYS AND LACK OF RELATIONSHIP. Hate to be non-subtle.

I'm "materialistic" in the sense that I collect a lot of things and like buying new things that are pretty.  However, I'm pretty sensible with money and enjoy being thrifty, so I'm not "materialistic" in the sense that I spend tons of money- I don't!