I'm more surprised that people know we exist.
And who considers us sick for our stance on the "cure" issue?
Curebies, who else? 
Actually, a lot of people who don't know very much about the issue will get upset if you just say, "AFF is against a cure". If you do not explain it, they believe (because they do not realize they have been duped) that we want to deny these poor miserable children the ability to have happy lives. So of course it seems sick, they don't understand it. But I have met people who are really open to the idea, AFTER you explain to them about how autistics are stigmatized, and what autism REALLY is, and why we don't want cures.
Also, I agree with the woman in the OP's post, we are very disorganized. I think the very existence of the forum is useful, though, even if not much actual campaigning gets done. And if people at an AFF meeting did have a fight, well, that says more about them as people than it does about AFF, I think.
First, before my limbic system kills me: It's Robert's Rules of Order (see here). If you had the FAINTEST idea what Robert's was, you'd be very glad it wasn't enforced here. I've worked under Robert's, and it is extremely restrictive and specific as to purpose.
That being said, this is not a suitable forum for many children. It could provide a springboard for an activist group, but we are cats--ever tried herding cats? I actually have. It's very painful for the would-be herder, and the cats still don't get herded.
You really won't want to hear it.
I only know two people who have heard of AFF. One who read the site concluded that AFF was mostly a bunch of whiners and buttholes who are narrow minded, argumentative, self focused, dysfunctional crybabies who expect the world should change just to accomodate them because they are so special/fragile/superior/whatever. It was also felt that AFF seemed to suffer grandiose dilusions. Upon reading a thread that was 2 pages on topic and then turned into 10 pages of unrelated brawl, the reader sputtered: "They think they can organize a world movement? They couldn't even organize a dinner party!".
So um...
Re: Robert's Rules of Order... In my subculture, I can tell you of a comparison of two sci-fi groups I've been involved with. One uses some tight set of rules, probably Robert's, and is dysfunctional as hell. All the invested egos and everybody's desire for control might have something to do with it. I just recently got out of it and informed my chapter's president that I won't be renewing.
The other sci-fi group I know keeps the rules minimal and simple, and has few if any problems. They organize an annual convention with an attendance of about 1,000. That's no small feat. This year will be its 27th. I've never seen any troublemakers in that group, but I've been told that's because they are quietly shown to the exit. They did say somebody came along and tried to Roberts them up, and only got laughed at.
Re: how AFF is viewed in general... So they say we can't even organize a dinner party? Hey, if the first of the two groups I mentioned above can do it, anyone can. Kind of hard to organize anything when you're spread thinly throughout the world and have to operate on limited social skills, don't ya think? Difficult, but not impossible. Just start small and concentrate on informally meeting the members in your local area.
why would aspies organize..
For one thing, so we can better help each other out. It's rather frustrating to merely read about a real person who's worried about homelessness or unemployment, possible health problems, or lack of friends.
Not so much for visibility or political strength as for the reason stated above.
Personally I think the opinions expressed on AFF are more often presentable than those found on WP.
I don't know a lot about WP, although i've heard some people on there are quite rude to one another. I love this website. I've never been on a chat board with less abuse and nicer people than AFF. There is no one here trying to insult others just for the sake of making others upset.. or at least i haven't noticed any of that behaviour.
Ah, but have you met me? 
(sarcasm)
I have heard bad things about this site. Someone has also said this is an awful place. My guess is people have had bad experience on this site with the mods or the owners or with other members, so they think this whole forum is bad. I have seen the bad talk about Amy and Gareth. I don't remember the details of course. Only thing I can remember is one of my online friends joined this site, he was in the chat room, he posted the link and the mods told him he was spamming. He never went back to this site again.
I have heard bad things about this site. Someone has also said this is an awful place. My guess is people have had bad experience on this site with the mods or the owners or with other members, so they think this whole forum is bad. I have seen the bad talk about Amy and Gareth. I don't remember the details of course. Only thing I can remember is one of my online friends joined this site, he was in the chat room, he posted the link and the mods told him he was spamming. He never went back to this site again.
Maybe the problem is your friend, in that case.
Why is that his problem? Posting one link isn't spamming; it looks like a bad mod call to me.
Why is that his problem? Posting one link isn't spamming; it looks like a bad mod call to me.
I suspect there's more to the story than the friend has told.
How many times did you post it? What kind of site were you posting to?
Of course, I've never once gone to the chat room, so I don't really know how things work there.
I actually didn't hear of AFF until very recently. It started last month as my looking up Autism. I went to the Wikipedia article and looked at the autism culture article out of curiousity. I was led to a list of websites relating to the autism rights movement and there I found AFF. I haven't really heard anything about AFF except for a comment someone made on aspieweb.net about how the fact that Grumpy Old Rossco is liked here says a lot about the direction AFF is going in. I'm quite sure that was meant to be negative.
Rossco is well liked here AND he 'owns' the AFF pub! He's blunt, honest and cares deeply about the people here and about what AFF stands for. And sometimes drinks are on the house. He can't be all that bad 
Over the past several months I have asked a few people to come to AFF and tell me what they think. None have ever said anything nice or positive. They view us as a bunch of whiny, selfish people
A few people +1 more making negative comments about the people here, or the forum overall= still just a few.
There are many positive things about AFF and it's a great place to listen and to learn.
May he be buggered by the Sasquatch.
It is decided then.
Yeah, same as G_O_R re: Aspie Supremacy.