Re: Something got my goat.

[Guest guest]

I loathe that site. I found it when I was first dxd. The thought

that I was an affliction to my family was intensely upsetting.

Luckily I thought about my beautiful son who has been a joy to me. I

remembered that the affliction is someone else's perception and was

not the case to my father at least. I definitely was an affliction

to my mother, but she was a silly woman whose life revolved around

trivia like fashion and parties.

I think that diagram is terrible and inaccurate. It totally fails

to consider the positive characteristics of autism. Unfortunately

with some of the names associated with that site, it has

credibility.

gprobs

>

> I found a website called This site is called Families

> of Adults Afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome, Inc.:

>

> http://www.faaas.org/doc.php?12#form

>

> Calling us " afflicted " (or apparently an affliction

> ourselves to them) got me on a quite a rant which I

> sent to them (after cleaning it up). There discussion

> is limited to those with family members who are NTs.

> The diagram I mention is at

> http://www.faaas.org/doc.php?

24,93,,627443,faa627443,,,Index,map.html.

> I think this diagram itself is worth discussing, but

> in a different context. I wonder if I am over-reacting

> and what people think about it.

>

> The rant:

>

> I am a self-diagnosed Aspie. I have read all there is

> to read about it, met many people who have been

> diagnosed and find there life stories extremely

> similar to mine; they often use the exact same phrases

> that I do. I have talked to some experts who

> basically agree with my conclusion (including a

> psychologist who knew me well as a child), I just

> haven't taken the time to get an official diagnosis.

>

> I have been having a hard life with AS and would agree

> it is something that has to be dealt with. However,

> calling it an affliction, especially in the very name

> of your organization is highly offensive. I don't

> agree with the Aspies who think the problem is

> entirely with society, but the basis for your site is

> one sided and extreme. Looking around on your site, I

> find a reference to criminal behaviour (a dead link,

> by the way) when the crime rate must be far higher

> with NTs. I also found an article repeating the lie

> that those with AS lack empathy. The problem I have in

> my life has always been NTs who are unable to find

> emotional independence. They either have to control

> or be controlled, but are severe conformists who have

> to establish their " own identity " by behaving like 250

> other Americans. They think I am intelligent, when

> the real fact is that my understanding doesn't come

> out some textbook and is not " stereotyped " by society.

> And I'd like to stress that I am completely proud of

> the fact that I am unable to manipulate other people.

>

>

> I understand that it must be very difficult, even

> anguishing, for family members to not receive love

> back in the form they expect it. But the love they

> feel is no less than that of NTs, they are just

> completely content to feel it without expressing it.

> This contentment is mostly lost on " normal " people,

> including those who made this website.

>

> I notice that I am not allowed on your bulletin board,

> which is quite alright since there are sites for

> Aspies only. I found, however, no basic mission

> statement or explanation what you are about. The

> calendar is empty and your store and other pages have

> no discernable content. Furthermore, the ASD Diagram

> is downright scary and is likely to serve as

> confirmation to those who feel resentment towards

> family members with AS.

>

> Nevertheless, I can only encourage you to continue.

> There seems to be a divide between family members that

> should not exist in any family. And discussions I

> have seen show that this divide is throughout the US

> and Canada. Understand that not wanting to be cured

> is not the same as denial. We aren't alcoholics. I

> hope my opinions, or similar opinions, are given

> adequate attention on your bulleting board.

>

> An aspie respectfully wanting to remain anonymous.

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

This site makes us sound like we're criminals or something.

Zalusky wrote: I found a website called This

site is called Families

of Adults Afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome, Inc.:

http://www.faaas.org/doc.php?12#form

Calling us " afflicted " (or apparently an affliction

ourselves to them) got me on a quite a rant which I

sent to them (after cleaning it up). There discussion

is limited to those with family members who are NTs.

The diagram I mention is at

http://www.faaas.org/doc.php?24,93,,627443,faa627443,,,Index,map.html.

I think this diagram itself is worth discussing, but

in a different context. I wonder if I am over-reacting

and what people think about it.

The rant:

I am a self-diagnosed Aspie. I have read all there is

to read about it, met many people who have been

diagnosed and find there life stories extremely

similar to mine; they often use the exact same phrases

that I do. I have talked to some experts who

basically agree with my conclusion (including a

psychologist who knew me well as a child), I just

haven't taken the time to get an official diagnosis.

I have been having a hard life with AS and would agree

it is something that has to be dealt with. However,

calling it an affliction, especially in the very name

of your organization is highly offensive. I don't

agree with the Aspies who think the problem is

entirely with society, but the basis for your site is

one sided and extreme. Looking around on your site, I

find a reference to criminal behaviour (a dead link,

by the way) when the crime rate must be far higher

with NTs. I also found an article repeating the lie

that those with AS lack empathy. The problem I have in

my life has always been NTs who are unable to find

emotional independence. They either have to control

or be controlled, but are severe conformists who have

to establish their " own identity " by behaving like 250

other Americans. They think I am intelligent, when

the real fact is that my understanding doesn't come

out some textbook and is not " stereotyped " by society.

And I'd like to stress that I am completely proud of

the fact that I am unable to manipulate other people.

I understand that it must be very difficult, even

anguishing, for family members to not receive love

back in the form they expect it. But the love they

feel is no less than that of NTs, they are just

completely content to feel it without expressing it.

This contentment is mostly lost on " normal " people,

including those who made this website.

I notice that I am not allowed on your bulletin board,

which is quite alright since there are sites for

Aspies only. I found, however, no basic mission

statement or explanation what you are about. The

calendar is empty and your store and other pages have

no discernable content. Furthermore, the ASD Diagram

is downright scary and is likely to serve as

confirmation to those who feel resentment towards

family members with AS.

Nevertheless, I can only encourage you to continue.

There seems to be a divide between family members that

should not exist in any family. And discussions I

have seen show that this divide is throughout the US

and Canada. Understand that not wanting to be cured

is not the same as denial. We aren't alcoholics. I

hope my opinions, or similar opinions, are given

adequate attention on your bulleting board.

An aspie respectfully wanting to remain anonymous.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

They do. That and ASPar. And unfortunately, both of them support ideas that

could severely damage us in the future. ASPar promotes the idea that we

should be discriminated against in child custody hearings and professionals

connected to FAAAS believe some very similar things in reference to divorce

and other similar hearings.

They infuriate me as well. Something should be done.

-Ari

>

> This site makes us sound like we're criminals or something.

>

> Zalusky wrote: I found a website called

> This site is called Families

> of Adults Afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome, Inc.:

>

> http://www.faaas.org/doc.php?12#form

>

> Calling us " afflicted " (or apparently an affliction

> ourselves to them) got me on a quite a rant which I

> sent to them (after cleaning it up). There discussion

> is limited to those with family members who are NTs.

> The diagram I mention is at

> http://www.faaas.org/doc.php?24,93,,627443,faa627443,,,Index,map.html.

> I think this diagram itself is worth discussing, but

> in a different context. I wonder if I am over-reacting

> and what people think about it.

>

> The rant:

>

> I am a self-diagnosed Aspie. I have read all there is

> to read about it, met many people who have been

> diagnosed and find there life stories extremely

> similar to mine; they often use the exact same phrases

> that I do. I have talked to some experts who

> basically agree with my conclusion (including a

> psychologist who knew me well as a child), I just

> haven't taken the time to get an official diagnosis.

>

> I have been having a hard life with AS and would agree

> it is something that has to be dealt with. However,

> calling it an affliction, especially in the very name

> of your organization is highly offensive. I don't

> agree with the Aspies who think the problem is

> entirely with society, but the basis for your site is

> one sided and extreme. Looking around on your site, I

> find a reference to criminal behaviour (a dead link,

> by the way) when the crime rate must be far higher

> with NTs. I also found an article repeating the lie

> that those with AS lack empathy. The problem I have in

> my life has always been NTs who are unable to find

> emotional independence. They either have to control

> or be controlled, but are severe conformists who have

> to establish their " own identity " by behaving like 250

> other Americans. They think I am intelligent, when

> the real fact is that my understanding doesn't come

> out some textbook and is not " stereotyped " by society.

> And I'd like to stress that I am completely proud of

> the fact that I am unable to manipulate other people.

>

>

> I understand that it must be very difficult, even

> anguishing, for family members to not receive love

> back in the form they expect it. But the love they

> feel is no less than that of NTs, they are just

> completely content to feel it without expressing it.

> This contentment is mostly lost on " normal " people,

> including those who made this website.

>

> I notice that I am not allowed on your bulletin board,

> which is quite alright since there are sites for

> Aspies only. I found, however, no basic mission

> statement or explanation what you are about. The

> calendar is empty and your store and other pages have

> no discernable content. Furthermore, the ASD Diagram

> is downright scary and is likely to serve as

> confirmation to those who feel resentment towards

> family members with AS.

>

> Nevertheless, I can only encourage you to continue.

> There seems to be a divide between family members that

> should not exist in any family. And discussions I

> have seen show that this divide is throughout the US

> and Canada. Understand that not wanting to be cured

> is not the same as denial. We aren't alcoholics. I

> hope my opinions, or similar opinions, are given

> adequate attention on your bulleting board.

>

> An aspie respectfully wanting to remain anonymous.

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Woo...that diagram is *disturbing*. Though the sheer

incomprehensibility of it really detracts from its credibility. I hate

how sometimes people think that just because they can draw some sort

of diagram to explain a theory, that theory is justified. 'Fallacy by

geometry' is a phrase that comes to mind, though I'm not sure if I

just made it up or if I've heard it before.

[Guest guest]

That diagram was more confusing than explanatory...

>

> Woo...that diagram is *disturbing*. Though the sheer

> incomprehensibility of it really detracts from its credibility. I hate

> how sometimes people think that just because they can draw some sort

> of diagram to explain a theory, that theory is justified. 'Fallacy by

> geometry' is a phrase that comes to mind, though I'm not sure if I

> just made it up or if I've heard it before.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

hmmmm....interesting end to a work day that really had me just wishing

I was somewhere (if not someone) else. What a crock. Affliction my

rear end. Now Morgellons, THAT is an affliction.

I signed their guestbook with a much shorter rant that just stated

that it was not OK to call it an affliction, that it is insulting and

shame on them. Yeah, like they care what one of us has to say?

oh well.

jen

>

> I found a website called This site is called Families

> of Adults Afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome, Inc.:

>

> http://www.faaas.org/doc.php?12#form

>

> Calling us " afflicted " (or apparently an affliction

> ourselves to them) got me on a quite a rant which I

> sent to them (after cleaning it up). There discussion

> is limited to those with family members who are NTs.

> The diagram I mention is at

>

snip of Excellent " rant "