Aspies For Freedom

How would an autistic person know whether or not his/her parents loved them?

As much as I would love to answer this I can't help but wonder what people here will get out of helping you earn a living, if that is the goal of your conquest?

I ask because after reading what Mr. Haddon did to his main character in his book 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' where he gave all the romantic ideas that people have of Autism as the personality forgetting that there should have been a person in there too, I am left with the concern of what happens to those here who contributed to your work if you paint Autism in a bad light?

Brightman, it seems fairly clear to me that Vendaia is not a professional author, but a student trying to improve her writing skills and her understanding of autism. That is to be commended.

She defined herself as a writer and said that she grew up around the late 50's, that suggested to me that she is a professional writer or author.


Yes, she appears to have some romantic and inaccurate ideas, but when a person is making a sincere effort to learn, she shouldn't be criticized too harshly for ignorance.

I made the comment regarding 'romantic ideas' about Mark Haddon's work. I wasn't criticizing her, I was asking her a question because my concern is genuine.


And as for making autistic people look bad, in all my writing, I try to make characters as real as possible.

This wasn't really what I was asking. I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that you are a proffesional writer for the above reasons, your work would naturally be accredited to you and light from your work may be cast on those who provided you with some of the background information to your research on Autism by your fans or critics, so my question was meant as what will happen if your portray Autism in a negative way (be it 'life with autism always sucks' or just define it inncorrectly), will the people here be held responsible for your lack of understanding? I hope that you will understand as to why such a thing could be trouble for AFF.


BTW, I find it a little ironic that Emoticons are available on this board.

Why? You've already been told that not all Autistics have a problem with body language.


I have come to a tentative conclusion that we are just all right. I suppose I could self-diagnose as Asperger's. But what's the point?

Do you think you have it? There may be a point to it if you stand to gain some control of your life from a diagnosis.

"BTW, I find it a little ironic that Emoticons are available on this board."

I find that emoticons help with understanding meaning in a post, particularly if someone is intending a joke.

Some autistics think in pictures, so pictures could portray something more than words.

People can post as a Guest in this forum, it doesn't mean they are saying anything they shouldn't.
Sometimes members forget to log in and post as a Guest by mistake.

In the past we have had some NTs that come here and want to understand, and are very eager. Sadly they can be quick to feel that their questions are not being understood, or that people are being critical, basically a misunderstanding.
It can then lead to 'you aren't being very nice to me, and all I wanted to do was understand you' type of posts.

If you do start to feel like that, take a step back and try and see it from our point of view.
If an autistic goes to an NT forum, we often don't get a welcome with open arms, and misunderstadings can lead to us being accused of being awkward, causing trouble, etc. So it works both ways.

I currently have no idea what this is all about.

Ven said "So accepting a diagnosis, or even a description, using it to describe yourself is like a fashion choice."

I find this very offensive, and I think you didn't mind if it offended as you even admit to being angry with us.
Did you read my post on a previous page, of how people can react 'I am being nice and people are being mean to me' type of thing.

We have no obligation to anyone, we are just here to post if we feel like it in general. People don't have to answer a certain way, or be messengers for the whole community.

You are very much misunderstanding us, and our honesty is being taken an negativity.

Please read this post -
http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/phpBB2/v...t=30#22172

"Any of you GD (Gender-Disadvantaged) folks want to make a comment?"

This is also uncalled for, do you realise that more aspies than average have gender issues?

"First, I am not angry, I am a little irritated by assumptions and labeling on the part of certain respondents.

I came to learn. I am met with fear and hostility. Understandable.

Second, taking offense is a choice. Choose not to take offense. Just don't. I am not offended. Just irritated at the whole taking offense thing."

Taking offense is not always a choice, is being irritated a choice?

"But the last post on this thread will be one of mine. Because I don't give up."

I find that very amusing, have you heard of autistic perseveration?

Read what she said again, she wasn't asking if others here had gender issues.

The term NT means neuro typical, it is widely used. It is not an insult, even though it started as a humorous way of making a much needed point on how autism is seen.

I dont know why you keep bringing up, we should, or if we did, go to a Gender issues forum, its just adding to the confusion.

Still somewhat confused, maybe you could clear it up.

"And he wins. He beats the lottery four times in a row. He looks at "chaos" and sees pattern, and so saves the world from an asteroid impact."

So is he in a tree for the whole book, or was that a metaphor as has been suggested? Is he winning the lottery, or is that a metaphor?
Does he save the world from an asteroid?

If the asteroid is not a metaphor, it seems a highly unlikely occurence, is the book science fiction?

Did you make up the term medium functioning? Or have you seen it somewhere? I have never head of it before.

I cannot see how he could predict lottery numbers, its random.

So a skill isn't involved.

The asteroid thing is possible I suppose, but very unlikely, dont know what else to say.

"Look, I'm not going to engage in a seminar, class, discussion, or any other discursion, into the art of writing."

I see. Some of us may discuss it though, threads can often go off on a tangent if people get interested in one part of it.
Happens a lot.

Does the mother of the aspie boy have information for you that is helpful, or from observing the boy himself and talking to him you could find out the way he feels.

I didnt get that at all.
I felt at the end that 'rainman' didnt love him, he preffered his routine and possessions. The brother seemed mixed up.

Aren't you worried that giving away so much detail of your book, that someone might take the idea and plagiarise it?
Any one can read this forum, except for the general/members section.