Aspies For Freedom

OK I have mentioned that most people don't know much about AS or Autism.

Now I tend to think the importance of defending any bad impression and more important still promoting a good first impression.

I do not think  most peopel are set to objectivy us or are automatically biased to bad concepts and I do not think a militant approach is best. (I wonder if  Timelord would agree?)

At the same time  I think we need to identify how to inform and who to help with this  disbursing of info.

I say most info on such things id disbured to the wider community by Media, Medical/Psychology community and Academia.

To raise awareness I believe that these areas need specific targetting first.

Media: We ought to ALL look to any representations of AS and autism in media (Good and Bad) and give fair feedback. Defend your fellow AS in  discriminating piece. Write emails, letters or what ever you cn BUT if they write some good or even OK, praise them for not being critical and for presenting positively.

Look to to foster a relationship with someone who can write a "nice" piece Do their research for them. Hand it to them on a platter.

Get the word out.

Medical/Psychology this and Academia is closely linked. The people asking for input in thesises are normally going to practice or teach on autism and AS. Make youtrself available (after vetting their approach). I have and it was an excellant piece nd very rewarded.

Promote the more enlightened renowned  academics and condemn those with strange ideas. Thoughts?

I agree wholeheartedly about the comment of use of hard intellectual effort is required to work out what is behind social behaviour that others pick up intuitively. In fact that is the best I can do. Rats.

Thanks guys. Now part of the reason I don't want to be actively involved as an Activist is that as such I feel that others may perceive me having a greater input or representation on the forum. There are plenty of sensible, rational, good-natured and even-minded (and tempered) people here with that title (such as Pikajedi, Earth Monkey, Tigger, Hyke and Ocampo) , who have those qualities which make them and the Mods and Gareth so better as representatives.

The other reason is I am better with the planning, problem solving side of things than the carrying out and being in the front line side of things. More of an ideas man.

I am happy to help in this respect and think of avenues to help and so forth though. If anyone else is happy with that. I can research possible direction for the activists to follow up.

That does not mean I won't help join petitions or write emails or won't be happy consulting.

That OK or desired?

Yeah......mmm....I have had a difficult time trying to think today and last night and my posts are longer, more unwieldly and probably make a lot less sense tan they should. (I blame lack of oxygen to the brain).

What I guess I am saying is that gentle and co-operative approach to crack the veils of ignorance is better than ramming it down people's throats. Most people don't know because they don't know and a positive and open representation will leave a good impression where militancy will leave a bad impression.

However there are unfortunately dickheads in the world who are happy to hold onto or promote negative representations. These people don't deserve a patty-cake approach. I am happy any bigot or troublemaker taken to task and being subject to the force of militancy from us.

I am all for protecting AFF and defending our right to equality from discrimination.

Timelord? Yeah he considers himself an autistic advocate which must be difficult if you are crazy and have been banned from autism forums and despised in the wider online autism community.

You are right in what you say. I am not well and probably not responding terribly well

***! Sorry Max. I had to head off and grab the kids. They are in bed and I have finally got around to looking at the thread.
OK I understand what you are saying BUT what I have advocated is to filter the info through the Media, Academia and Medical fraternity to get a good and positive impression out there.
Most people have little or no idea on what autism is so talking discrimination, accommodations, unfair treatment or whatever else is really not going to help. In fact it is likely to be counter-protective. Now I can not help but think of a nutbag like Timelord being the type of person berating an employer for his lack of respect for accommodation for people with AS in the workplace. The bewildered boss would likely have no idea of what AS is and in feeling attacked, resist against any change or accommodation.
My mate's first exposure to autism was through me and showed no preconceived ideas of what I ought to be like. Their first impression was good.

As for the dickheads out there who choose to be bigoted AFTER having the knowledge and who choose to sensationalise us unfairly, well.....maybe being a tad more forcible with them is necessary. Going militant, ramming words down their throats or publicly ridiculing them is certainly fair. I have never shied away from a stoush and do believe in Activism there is certainly a place for militancy.

What I believe strongly though is that our main problem is public ignorance NOT bigotry or fear.
We need to get information out there primarily. Oh if we need to jump on a few people on the way for whatever reason, that is not a bad either.

GRumpy olrossco wrote:"main problem is public ignorance NOT bigotry or fear.We need to get information out there primarily. "

You see I just can't summarize like that.  There it is all in a nutshell.
(no pun intended)