I am very interested to find out other peoples experiences for the perception of AFF. I ask this because today, I was at a meeting for the 'I Exist' campaign run by the NAS, and at the end I was talking to the woman who ran the meeting.
I mentioned that I was a member of AFF and asked her if she had heard of it (I asked this because I mentioned it to a person there previously and she hadn't). I was fairly shocked at the negative view she had on the group. She said there had been a meeting recently of AFF people and that it had ended in a fight. I am not sure of what exact meeting it was, I assume it was in London. And so that she took a negative view. Also she thought the group was unorganised.
Although her view was not entirely negative, she thought it was good that its ran by people on the spectrum. She was in general a very nice, open minded person who was looking to improve services etc for Autistics.
So I'm wondering if others have heard AFF perceived badly? And if so what we can do to change it. I know my experiences of AFF are the complete opposite of views like this which confuses me as to how they came about.
we are considered as immoral and sick, for our staunch opposition to a cure.
Yeah, I know people who don't agree with AFF either.
I'm more surprised that people know we exist.
And who considers us sick for our stance on the "cure" issue?
I know one Aspie who won't come here because she feels its NT-bashing a lot of the time, and she doesn't agree with that.
I know people who work with Aspies who feel that AFF/WP et al promotes the idea that Aspies don't need some kind of assistance or support in the wider community. Thats a whole different ball game though... and to be fair to the people who have expressed that opinion, they do work with people with a whole heap of co-morbids as well. There's a guy I know locally who is convinced his Aspergers is a 'fate worse than blindness and deafness' - nothing to do with that large dose of clinical depression though...
Personally I like AFF, I've met some terrific people off it... even if some are the evil NTs *makes spooky noise*
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.
I second that motion and move for a vote
we are considered as immoral and sick, for our staunch opposition to a cure.
The person I spoke to last night hadn't even considered the whole cure thing. The cure debate seems much more centered around America with Autism Speaks. I know Autism Speaks has infected the UK aswel but they have to pretend to be nice here. heh
I'm more surprised that people know we exist.
And who considers us sick for our stance on the "cure" issue?
Most people I know haven't heard of us. Just the bigger people/groups. I guess its something that some people have heard of us... just need to work on that.
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.
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.
why would aspies organize..it is against our nature.The advocating that we do, needs to be done on a personal level,one on one with the NT`s. if we do this as an organization we will create more enemies than we need. we have to show folks that we are people also.you cannot do that within an organized faceless group.(then again what do I know ..I`m crazy)
Over here AFF is considered radical and childish because of imature behaviors, and did you guys try to make aspies a seperate race (thats the rumor!). Frankly to be honest you guys really do match your what the public feels about you if you ask me.
When I bring up Downs Syndrome and the abortion issue, they say autism cant be compared to Downs Syndrome. They basically want nothing to do with AFF and our views on a cure.
then they are complete fools.
I'm not trying to say anything negative about Rossco. I'm just saying that someone else made a nasty comment about him. I would like to get to know him because he seems popular here. So far, I think AFF is a positive place to be, even if there are disagreements.
I understand what you are saying, Johanna 
There will always be some disagreements here, misunderstandings, and miscommunication..We usually sort things out though, and there are really good, fair moderators/admins here to help things go more smoothly if need be. You are right-AFF is a great community~
Rossco is even more popular when he says "drinks are on the house" 
AFF is very helpful to me. I have learned so much about myself since coming here.
I cannot understand why TheZach comes here when he doesn't like us.
Some people go to forums they dislike out of... Oh, I dunno... habit. Who knows, who cares? AFF attracts enough ***** to replace those it loses.
So many people seem to really not like AFF. What is the history there?