Aspies For Freedom

OK... you're standing up against NT oppression.

Right. Have you accomplished anything with your stand? If so, then what has your stand accomplished?

I also don't think an aspie nation would be better than the typical NT nation.  Aspies are individuals.  We have the good, and the bad, the same as NTs do.  Maybe those of us who have experienced prejudice are less likely to inflict it upon others, but I don't think it's because we're inherently better people or just don't behave that way, and I don't think that's a trait that would last in an all-aspie "utopia".

It's certainly not wrong to want to avoid prejudice and discrimination, but isolationism rarely ends it.  Plenty of history backs that up.  Besides which, "my own people" implies a homogeneity that many of us don't agree exists among those on the autistic spectrum any more than it exists among NTs.

Organization and activism are imperative, but not even all people who believe that believe geographic isolationism is the way to best accomplish that, and it doesn't make them "traitors".

In the context of a larger NT society, we are disabled.  This is indisputable, even if it is unfair.  And it's nothing but silly to imply that someone is not who they are because they disagree with your way of looking at things.  Having AS is not some secret society that you enter by signing a contract to hold certain ideas.

"Us vs. Them" is a simplified way of looking at things, and I don't care much for it either.  People aren't against "us" simply by being NT.

People aren't cowards just because they don't agree with you.  It takes a hell of a lot of courage and willpower to tough things out in a society that devalues you, to be independent and successful despite being told that you can't do either.  Besides which, people have different priorities.  How old are you, Snake?  Do you live on your own, with bills to pay?  Do you have children to care for?  Sometimes life's immediate challenges take precedence over idealism, and that doesn't make people cowards either.

I would actually say that an aspie nation would be better - for aspies.

However, the autfinity project is not intended as a new nation. Building a new nation in the modern world is not possible. All the land is claimed and governments will not give it up. Building a new nation also requires standing alone with regards to police and medical services as well as the economy. Something I would not be willing to do.

That's something I always wonder about when I hear people referring to it as a "nation" or a standalone society.  I get the feeling getting aspies to do half the tedious things NTs do on a consistent basis just to keep society running would be like herding cats.  I mean, sure, to a certain extent you could find someone with a special interest that would match a specific societal function really well, but surely that wouldn't work all the time.

Hypothetically, I would be interested in a society that's designed to function in ways that are more natural to people on the spectrum, but the aspies-only way a lot of people seem to regard it bothers me.  Where would one draw the line?  Do you say, "You, you're not quite aspie enough!" or "You're a very nice NT, but we don't want your kind here," or do you make it "fair" by developing the kind of biological tests that we're against?  Would such a society accept autistic children, but not their NT parents?  It seems like dangerous ground to tread on.

elvinvalae, you have good point.

;:scacastily::  snake you plan on recuiting aspie sucide bombers

Funny, are you sure you're Aspergic and not a wannabe?  Looks like you're being very "Theory of Mind" about presuming some kind of hidden meaning other than the literal words.

I think you misinterpreted what I was saying.  You are complaining about people at another message board not sharing your views, right?  I am giving some reasons why not everyone is absorbed by the same kind of zeal you are -- in the real life grown up world, it's often more important to meet the immediate needs of oneself and one's family than to participate in political action.  This is why historically social movements have been started primarily by disaffected members of whatever social group was in power at the time.

How much sacrifice are you making that you feel you are in a position to demand certain amounts from other people regardless of where they are in life?  None of us have to justify being here to you.  I don't recall having to sign any kind of "minimum activist commitment contract" to converse with other people on the autistic spectrum.  Many people do what they can, and even just talking to NTs to help dispel some of the ignorance out there is activism -- activism is not just protests and marches.  The quiet kind that fights ignorance ten or twenty people at a time is arguably  more immediately useful than the sort you are ripping into people for not being interested in.  

You've obviously got a lot of energy and enthusiasm...why not find out what you can do with that independently, too?  Activism doesn't have to only happen when you've got twenty people behind you chanting a slogan and raising thousands of dollars.

I am not an activist, and yet I enjoy this board.  Because of the goal that people should be allowed to be who they are, and the back and forth on how an Aspie can be themself and make a life ... all that is within this board.

Nothing here says you have to be an activist to join.  You just have to agree with the fundamental assumption, that Aspergers is not a negative and that those with it should be allowed to be as they are.

I want that for my child:  for him to live a happy life, being who he is.

Maybe there are other boards I could go to to learn how my child thinks.  But I found this one first.  It's interesting and I'm learning lots, so I stay.

Hope you don't have an issue with that, snake.

Personally, I think the best "activism" I can do at this point in my life is to give my Aspie son a happy life.  It seems so few of you had that.  I don't know if I can, but I'm trying.

I, too, have experience with depression.  I don't like myself when I'm seriously depressed.

Hope you get to a better place, soon, snake.

We're pulling for you.

I wouldn't mind being depressed so much if it were taken seriously but we have such a pathetically underfunded medical and mental health system, people are literally killing themselves because they can't get the help they need.

Also, ageing parents are being threatened by adult children with mental issues and they can't get either the police or the mental health people to take them in.

My thoughts on the subject:

When Snake talk about that few aspies seem to fight for aspie's rights etc. I kind of agree with him, many aspies are wannabes. Also I don't think we have many good speakers among us who really sets autism rights on the top of schedule and therefore the subject is crossed by few minds who have less connections to autism. But I think that our arguments could be transferred to people in other ways auties are good at, like different types of art and possibly movies just as an example.
I do not think this is a activist board, this is a board for discussion not "only" for planning demonstations. Also letting auties have something to be proud of and be a part of like art, technological accomplishments etc. I drew my avatar by the way.

Stop those stupid comments about Snake's approach.

See, somebody would have to organise these activities and many of us are not such good organisers and that makes it difficult. I also know a number of people on the spectrum who want to "pass" as NT.

I'm not one of them but I do have the executive dysfunction issues that make it almost impossible to approach and motivate and organise people. I'd be happy to help out if anything was going on locally though.

I have a memory of when my mom took me to a psychologist to get me autism looked at. She brought my sister into the room and I just snapped. I started acting like I was right back at home doing whatever I do. Later on that psychologist called to ask if I was schizophrenic. My mom had the nerve to ask my sister if I was or not. From then on I started hating my mother, but I also learned on my own that I was being mistreated. It took me a full year of thinking that way before I found out I wasn't alone, when I found this place. So I guess it's just a coping mechanism, but that is pretty weak. I don't get how they can't see they're being mistreated, but pretending would make shameful sense.

G'day Snake. Read your post and after reading past the emotional BS and comments about depression and anti-NT sentiment, it looks like you have some pretty good ideas.
I don't express myself too well so I apologise in advance if anything in this post offends. I also don't get emotion too well so if I am emotional insensitive my apologies again.
One thing I do myself is try to adapt BUT cut myself a break for being autistic. What I mean by this is I know I am autistic. It is inherently a part of me. I know that I will always be autistic. Yet to interact with other people (98 - 99% of them are NT) I try to mask or fudge my way through. If anything autistic comes up. I get seen stimming, talking to myself, or in any other way behaving in a way that is non-NT I do not seek to explain or apologise I am me, I am autistic, this is normal and a part of me.
At work when the boss's took me on, they were aware of my "condition" but pretty oblivious as to what it meant. They have commented that I am one of their better workers, what are my traits and do I know any other autistic people that may like a job with them?
My efforts towards autism have included speeches to professionals in the field of autism support (the last in front of both professionals and other interested parties - approx 150 attendees - to standing ovation). I am active poster of a number of forums.
I am also trying to bring my HFA son to be self-confident, driven, tolerant and strong.
I am happy to strongly defend any position that I believe is of benefit to autistic people. On a personal level I am happy to verbal or physical fight against intolerance towards autistic people and have done both.
At the end of the day though the energy I use to "get through the day" and control my autism in respect to social interaction, adapting to change and breaks in routine and the like. Being a Dad on the weekend to my boy and NT daughter and maintaining my life takes up practically all my effort.
I would happily blast crap out of anyone who flames your ideals (Give me a link and ammo and I am there!) at the same time if you blew up at them unneccessarily I won't defend you.