Aspies For Freedom

Hi.  I've only just joined after reading about AFF in the latest issue of "New Scientist".  Both my teenage daughter and myself have mild Asperger's, and it is often difficult to understand and get along with NTs. The article got me thinking: instead of thinking that Autism and related are "disorders", is it possible that it is the latest human mutation, like skin colour changing to cope with differing amounts of sunlight, or the way jaw size and the devopment of a chin came about when we began processing our foods rather than needing huge muscles to chew?  Perhaps the Autistic Spectrum is merely a manifestation of humanity's next mutation, that of the mind.  
And yes, my "special interest" is evolution!
Alison

Hi Alison, welcome to AFF. :smile:
We have a philosophy section where a lot of us have been debating evolution versus creationism, you might find it interesting.
Your daughter could join too if you like.

I think that AS could be an example of preadaption as we enter an information-based society, where talent and intelligence are more important than physical attractiveness or social dominance.

So are we the next step in human evolution or a throw back to the ice age as some others seem to think? Both can't be true but both can be false.

I think autism is more prevalant now because natural selection is favoring autistic traits more. Hunting is not a needed skill now, memorizing things is.

Both can be true. Something can be a survival trait under certain conditions (ice age), then be neutral or negative in the intervening time, then become a survival trait again.

The problem with your hypothesis is that the concept of a "next mutation" or even "next adaptation" really doesn't make sense.  Mutations and adaptations don't come in any particular order, and minds have been evolving for as long as people (and proto-people) have had them.

My view is that neurodiversity is adaptive, and always have been thoughout the history of civilisation, and probably before.  The ratio of AS to NT represents an equilibrium point, albeit one which changes as the social environment changes.

That kind of thing about being "unevenly yoked" kind of annoys me. It's as if Christians are saying non-Christians are not good enough. BTW, I was brought up in a Christian faith but because I am a single mum some guys probably thought that I was some kind of bad influence (which I'm sure I'm not)

Some women like big guys. 280 lb is big but it also depends on how tall you are and if it is mainly muscle or not (muscle weighs more than fat). A truly nice lady would not discount you simply because you're big.

Well, I spent years thinking I would never find a mate to marry. Sadly when I did, although he was a Christian, he was non-practicing. I gradually fell away from going to church too. He is now a Wiccan.

I'd have liked to have met a Christian gentleman who was kind, thoughtful, caring and practical in his christianity ie. not somebody "holier than thou" or "boring and totally conservative". But maybe I wasn't the right person to meet someone like that due to my lack of leadership qualities.

I think as time goes on, a number of us "settle" for relationships that are less perfect since we don't want to "miss the boat" altogether. The trouble with this is it leads to bad decisions at times.

Asatruar.why?

Whatever the case is, I'd like to point out that the intellectual stereotype of Asperger's (it's like this: "we're great at math; we're handy with the sciences; we have above average cognitive ability") needs to end.  And I say, end right now.

I am not any of the above, in fact I have very poor ability in Math and I have a less-than-amateur interest in Science, and I am also not interested in  "how things work."  Therefore I feel all these stereotypes need to end now.  Because they don't apply to me, and because I say so.  Because I feel left out.

Not everyone with an Asperger's DX is can be "included" in the intellectual elite (as a few posters in this thread, and AFF, can't help but exemplify), so how 'bout we broaden the stereotypes to include those who simply aren't intellectual, or proficient in science or math.

I always feel inadequate when I see whose writings continually indicate high erudition; the only thing I am erudite in (and knowledgeable of) is how to waste time most efficiently, and the number of classes I failed in school due to poor motivation and multiple learning disabilities.

To include people like me in Aspergia, we have to get rid of "great at Math/Science/academia" otherwise I don't feel I belong.  Please listen to my words, as I am the voice of "less intelligent Aspergia" and a fairly good one at that.

Damn I skipped a few words and so on, oh well.  Edit button.

There's nothing wrong with listening to music that isn't overtly Christian if you are a Christian.

Glad to see that, but I think we need more supporters for "less than average AS" here.  It seems everyone assumes that everyone else is gifted and erudite.  One look at me and you see this is false.

It's like I would have had a lot of gifts if I didn't have AS, but the AS collides with all of them because I inherited several of the most common learning disabilities within AS, and I am also "ADD-type" Asperger's (which means Asperger's with comorbid ADD.)

All that s**t colliding with cognitive function has veritably destroyed all former and present motivation to do anything.  It's not so much laziness as it is realizing just how profoundly affected by this I am.  I can't even find a loophole to "access" my gifts, because my executive dysfunction is on the extreme end.

It's true that not all aspies are super intelligent. Most are probably of average intelligence but the prodigies are the ones who get written about in the papers.

As Batman55 just said, even when we have good talents, executive dysfunction means we can't use them to best advantage. It's possible to find some strategies around the executive dysfunction but it depends very much on how severe it is and how much energy it takes to do things differently.

There's nothing inferior with having artistic talent rather than maths and science talent. I also think if you look hard enough, everybody has some special talent.