Aspies For Freedom - america's next top model

erkolos Wrote:

jader Wrote:

Also you can see the episodes, and maybe more (I'm not sure) here:
http://cwtv.com/cw-video/americas-next-top-model

I got this message when attempting to watch a movie:

"Thank you for your interest in The CW. This service is currently available to viewers living in the United States."

I got the same thing. You can see all the episodes on youtube, though:

http://www.youtube.com/user/dodash8

Woohoo! Episode 8, and she's still near the top of the pack... *grins*

EvilZakkie Wrote:

Woohoo! Episode 8, and she's still near the top of the pack... *grins*

Just did a rant on my thoughts about how she's doing in the contest - http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/showthre...#pid153133

Okay, three posts in a row must mean I'm obsessing - but if you can't obsess here, where can you? *grins*

Victor13d Wrote:

Is this really the represenation we need

Well, yes.

The fact that modeling isn't a personal interest of many Aspies is largely irrelevant. She's a likeable person in a high profile TV show, succeeding in what would normally be a very NT-oriented field. She's openly Aspie, acknowledges but doesn't dwell on her weaknesses, and knows how to use her strengths. She's also interesting in interviews, quite intelligent, and goes for the things she wants regardless of hardships.

All in all, she's exactly the sort of representation we need.

dinosaur heretic Wrote:

Victor13d Wrote:

Is this really the represenation we need

I actually don't think so.  Though I don't think she's doing a bad thing by being on the show, I'm happy for her and hope she wins if that's what she really wants.

However I find it all very depressing in a way, because wouldn't it be better if we were recognized for our minds and our hearts?  Why is it outward beauty that gets attention?

There are many aspies who contribute to the scientific community, or who have written very interesting books and articles, there are many aspie artists too (heather is an artist).  I wish we could be recognized for these things (and sometimes we are, but not in the "hyped" way this show displays).

I also don't like the message (unintended or not) this sends aspie females... "if you're tall, thin, gorgeous, and passably NT (heather does do quite well socially, comparatively speaking), then you can succeed and people will admire you."  The message should not be that.  I don't think women should ever depend on their looks to get by, and I think that for an aspie female who happens to be attractive, depending on her looks could be quite dangerous, as she might not be able to properly negotiate the attention she'll invite.  I really wonder, if heather wins, and enters into a modeling career, if she will be able to protect herself from being taken advantage of financially, sexually, emotionally, protect herself from eating disorders, if she will steer clear of drugs and alcohol.  The modeling business is very cutthroat, catty, and brutal... the nastiness on that show pales in comparison to what goes on in real modeling.

I just think it would be better if we all worked on our self-esteem and our acceptance by society, outwardly beautiful or not.  I feel very strongly that people should not be judged by appearances, and this show is nothing but that.

She's pointed out quite a few times that the reason she has such impressive photos is that she knows how to portray characters in her photos, rather than just "relying on her looks" - You'll notice that she actually appears fairly ordinary for much of the time, but appears to "transform" in front of the camera. While her attractiveness may play a big part, there's much more to the story than that.

It's hard to say what she'll have trouble with in the future, but I disagree that it sends the "wrong message". If she was shallow, egotistic, or lazy, then perhaps it would send the message that others can depend on their looks to get by - but she is doing this out of a legitimate interest in the industry (she recognises the names of all the designers), rather than an effort to "live the high life" based on her looks.

In other words, recognising that you have an ability and an interest in a particular area doe not send the message that others have to pursue the same interest in the same area. Regardless of her attractiveness, she's someone out there overcoming hardships to pursue the things she wants, and that's a very good message to send.

energeia Wrote:

I agree.
I haven't seen the program--no TV--but, following this thread, my basic response is: You go, girl!

If you're interested, you can see them all here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/andezzz

That's how we've been keeping up to date... *grins*

Batman55 Wrote:

I always thought doing lots of work on yourself can help to erase obvious signs of Asperger's, and I recommend that all who are reading along should do this.

The more work you do on yourself, the less your Asperger's shows. All the better!

I think it's entirely personal choice how much you want to fit in - For instance, I know that I wouldn't get through the day at work if I hadn't memorised at least some small talk.

At the end of the day, as much as it's great that Heather gives a positive image to Aspergers, she's there to represent herself, not Aspergers. The criticisms about her "Not being Aspie enough" are a bit ridiculous, really...

energeia Wrote:

I've really gotten sucked into watching the Utubes. Thanks, Zakkie. I've learned more about modeling than I ever wanted to know--it's kind of interesting. Such a foreign world. Heather seems rather poised to me. I love the way she talks.

*grins* I know what you mean - I knew a bit about the technicalities of modeling from Bella's photography projects (art modeling, rather than fashion modeling) - but the culture that goes along with it is a bit of an eye opener...

dinosaur heretic Wrote:

EvilZakkie Wrote:

The criticisms about her "Not being Aspie enough" are a bit ridiculous, really...

First, it was not meant as a criticism (if you are referring to my statements), it was an observation. It's one thing to say someone isn't aspie enough, it's another to point out that someone diagnosed as a child, more than 10 years ago, doesn't seem to show the diagnostic criteria as an adult. There are people who are diagnosed as children who stop showing traits as adults, or who show traits in much milder form.

True, but not "showing traits" isn't the same thing as not having Aspergers anymore - it just means that they've found coping mechanisms for various situations.

For example, I can imagine you've probably memorised a few standard social responses to standard social questions by now. This doesn't mean that you've been "cured" of social issues.

energeia Wrote:

I think Heather just got kicked off.��
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/americas...14226.aspx

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! *throws self on ground and bangs fists on the floor*

Ah well, guess I shall have to seek out the episode tonight. *grins*

I really think that it would be a great idea to see if we can contact her, and ask her thoughts on the experience ourselves... Any idea how we'd do this?

I'll have a potter around myself the next couple of days, and see if I can find a contact email of some sort...

violet_yoshi Wrote:

Maybe the reason Heather is able to "push herself all the way out" is that she's not Aspie. It seems she's using claiming to have Asperger's Syndrome to play on the victim nature of it.

So, do you have any evidence of this? Or do you just have a problem with "model types"?

One of the things that should be obvious from this site is that aspies are very different from one another. There's nothing saying an aspie couldn't want to be a model.

Faking a disorder is a big claim. From your earlier comments, it seems like this statement is more about disliking either Heather or the show than about any real reasoning.

violet_yoshi Wrote:

I am a Aspie woman. I also don't think being a model is what I would call a brilliant role model. If she appears on here, or any other forum, she shouldn't be so surprised that she might have to explain herself.

She is choosing to behave in a way that is considered not typical for people who have Asperger's Syndrome. If she's strong enough to do that, then she's strong enough to get a re-diagnoses before talking about flights of fancy, like being a representative for people with Asperger's Syndrome.

Yes - How dare she challenge herself, or do something she's interested in.

</sarcasm>

Your entire theory is based on the idea that another aspie wouldn't do something that you would be uncomfortable with. This is an entirely false supposition.

There is more than one type of aspergers person. Aspergers includes people like Heather, that are prepared to face challenges to pursue their interests, as well as people like you, that try to make themselves feel better by insulting others.

A good role model is someone that has qualities that are worth emulating, regardless of their chosen career.

If this sort of response keeps up, I might have to do a Chris Crocker style video about it...

violet_yoshi Wrote:

Look, this all wouldn't be an issue if Heather didn't say she wanted to be a spokesperson for people with Asperger's Syndrome. She does not represent all of us. It'd be nice if we had someone representing us, that didn't appear to be trying so hard to be NT.

No-one is exactly like all of us - we're all different. You've just decided that a model can never be a good role model, which seems to have more to do with your personal issues than anything to do with aspergers.

Batman55 Wrote:

violet_yoshi Wrote:

Heather has AS and can certainly represent it, I think. I think she would make a good spokesperson for it.

But she is in the "AS/ADHD" combined subtype--her diagnosis at age 15 was Asperger's and ADHD (factual.) This type is not quite the classic AS most of us here are familiar with, although it has a lot in common with it.

I don't know that there is a 'classic type' of AS, so to speak - For example, I'm pretty different from most aspies I know...

From what I've seen, we're all pretty different here.

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