Lunar Origins Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 It might be old news, but Asbergers syndrome is no longer a part of the DSM5, and is instead filed under the autism spectrum. I'm really interested in what goes on regarding the DSM, and, while this doesn't surprise me, I'm wondering what the implications of now being on the autistic spectrum will have on people who are prideful of their Aspbergers syndrome. Keep discussion civil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thar Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Funny, cause my psychology instructor for this semester mentioned this during the last class period. Never thought it'd be made into a topic here. Regardless, I can't say I have an opinion. Growing up with Aspbergers, the only real distinction I had from others was an excuse to get special assistance when needed. The trait is minor enough to not be concerned about for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunar Origins Posted December 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 That's exactly what happened to me, Thar. I'm in Psychology class right now and the topic came up, and I thought, "Wow, I know a couple of people who have Aspbergers. I wonder how this has an effect on them." The trait seems relatively minor, but it has been a claim-to-fame for the media, as they portray it as a symbol of genius. Now, it's not considered even a thing anymore, but I'm sure that people will still associate quirky smart-types with the word anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thar Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 The trait seems relatively minor, but it has been a claim-to-fame for the media, as they portray it as a symbol of genius. Now, it's not considered even a thing anymore, but I'm sure that people will still associate quirky smart-types with the word anyways. Removing it from a book won't get rid of its colloquial meaning, for better or for worse. I can live with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wahrheit Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 I think the greater message here is recognizing the diversity of experiences that people have, and that mental states are not often so easily categorized. Or, at least not as easily as we wish they were. Forcing people into boxes often denies their identities and their ways of seeing the world. Autism and Asperger's are important things to be aware of, for sure. The DSM is obviously not the end-all be-all of psychological practice, nor has it ever been. There will be further opportunities to revise the manifestations of our knowledge as that knowledge is better refined and expanded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilfusion Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 I've only ever heard of Asperger's being a form of high-functioning autism, never as a mental disorder. I've also never really come across someone who's "prideful" of having Asperger's, so I'm not sure who this would affect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tentacruel Posted December 3, 2014 Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 A case of Pluto is no longer a planet. You can classify things differently but in the end it doesn't actually change the real world at all, just your model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wahrheit Posted December 3, 2014 Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 A case of Pluto is no longer a planet. You can classify things differently but in the end it doesn't actually change the real world at all, just your model. Not to get overly philosophical, but our means of classification often shapes our understanding of phenomena. It's important to classify things correctly so that stereotypes do not influence or lead to negative responses and further disenfranchisement of marginalized groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tentacruel Posted December 3, 2014 Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 Not to get overly philosophical, but our means of classification often shapes our understanding of phenomena. It's important to classify things correctly so that stereotypes do not influence or lead to negative responses and further disenfranchisement of marginalized groups. A fair point, but what I mean in this case, is that we should be careful not to think of people who have Aspbergers any differently. Although I must apologize, I don't think I really understood from the article what happened. People classified as having aspbergers are now not, and now they are diagnosed with something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slinky Posted December 3, 2014 Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 I've only ever heard of Asperger's being a form of high-functioning autism, never as a mental disorder. I've also never really come across someone who's "prideful" of having Asperger's, so I'm not sure who this would affect. I have it. I'm somewhat proud of it, because without it, I'd have your standard autism case and I'd be a slow person. Not to get overly philosophical, but our means of classification often shapes our understanding of phenomena. It's important to classify things correctly so that stereotypes do not influence or lead to negative responses and further disenfranchisement of marginalized groups. English please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peridank Posted December 3, 2014 Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 I now completely respect Wahreit (and I just met him) I MIGHT have it... my state of mind actually is unevaluated... they send me in to Kansas City every 2 months... I live by manhatten. But in all honesty... I wouldn't mind if I did have it. As for the prideful part... I really wouldn't care, I mean, I wouldn't go around telling people (of caourse). Society is so judgemental, and rounding things like this into one group changes the aspect of how we view it. For better or worse... that was my 2 cents... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow Posted December 3, 2014 Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 English please? What we call things/group them as, changes how people think of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wahrheit Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 I now completely respect Wahreit (and I just met him) I MIGHT have it... my state of mind actually is unevaluated... they send me in to Kansas City every 2 months... I live by manhatten. But in all honesty... I wouldn't mind if I did have it. As for the prideful part... I really wouldn't care, I mean, I wouldn't go around telling people (of caourse). Society is so judgemental, and rounding things like this into one group changes the aspect of how we view it. For better or worse... that was my 2 cents... Thank you! I am finishing up my philosophy degree with a minor in psychology, and I have done a lot of activism and social justice work on my campus. It's important to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sethera Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 I was told I have it, but I compared myself with somebody else who had it, and there were vast differences in our social behavior so I don't think I have it. I might though, not sure. Regardless, it was always high-functioning autism to me (not part of the DSM), and never anything to be "proud" of, rather, another thing that separated me from other, "normal" people. I always saw it as a negative, and I don't understand people that think it's something to brag about. But maybe it makes people feel better about having it? Or solidarity? Idk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tentacruel Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 I was told I have it, but I compared myself with somebody else who had it, and there were vast differences in our social behavior so I don't think I have it. I might though, not sure. Regardless, it was always high-functioning autism to me (not part of the DSM), and never anything to be "proud" of, rather, another thing that separated me from other, "normal" people. I always saw it as a negative, and I don't understand people that think it's something to brag about. But maybe it makes people feel better about having it? Or solidarity? Idk. People with it tend to be of above-average intelligence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sethera Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 Ah, I see. Another "oh I'm more better than you" kind of reason. I guess it's okay in some ways, since otherwise people that don't have it would use it to say "I'm better than you because I'm more normal." I hate comparing intelligence, idk. I'd rather brag about something I worked hard on rather than something I was born with. Judging people on inborn traits kinda peeves me. Also I feel that sometimes people are a bit trigger-happy in diagnosing someone with Aspergers, but that might just be me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilfusion Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 Asperger's has to do with difficulties in social situations. While intelligence is a trait often found in individuals with Asperger's, being proud of having Asperger's for the intelligence factor probably stems from a misunderstanding of the condition. As mentioned, Aspergers in media is often portrayed as someone with poor social skills, but excelling in specialized areas. It usually glazes over the actual issues and shows characters as very quirky, but able to function competently. I read somewhere a while back (not an official source anyway) that sometimes people try to play the "Asperger's card" as a way to deflect criticism when they offend someone (whether or not they have the condition). People with Asperger's usually are genuinely apologetic when they realize they offended someone inadvertently, as the inability to read social cues and such lead to seemingly thoughtless and inconsiderate behaviors, or even outright a lack of understanding of what is considered appropriate in that context. I do, actually, have Asperger's, though I only found out a couple years ago. For me, learning I had it more explained a lot of my past behaviors and mentality. I'm not really "ashamed" of having it, but I don't really see it as something to be prideful of, and I definitely wouldn't say "If I didn't have Asperger's, I'd have standard, low-functioning autism", because that's not really how the autism spectrum works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sethera Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 Yeah I learned quite a bit about Asperger's when I was initially diagnosed in middle school (during the whole "Asperger's diagnosing fad" as I've heard it called). And back then at least, it meant that you weren't good at functioning in social situations but, as you said, you might excel in other areas. It was also something I was told not to be ashamed of, but I also knew it wasn't "good." I never told anybody who didn't know about it that I might have it, because of the shame factor. It wasn't something to be proud of. Thus my huge surprise when I hear now that people are using it as some sort of banner to wave with pride. As you said, it's probably mostly the media's fault for that, and I honestly don't know whether to be glad that it's being seen as something beyond the stigma it always was in school before, or annoyed that it's being misrepresented. Maybe a mixture of both, I don't know. I think the way you guys see it, and the best way, is just as something people can have. It doesn't make them any better or worse than other people, it just is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaoticjexak Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 there are a lot of differences between different people with the quote 'disorder' but it can also be a gift too. consider einstein- if it weren't for him relativity would be a mystery. i myself find I'm more creative.. and smarter than a lot of people. (not to be boastful I've been proven right on many an occasion… regrettably. but besides.. classification to me docent matter- as long as it docent brand certain people as lesser than others Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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