[SassyThrowaway]

Tangentially to the topic of discussion, I have seen analogies of the following phrase so many times by now:

> I’d also formed a hypothesis, based on a certain bluntness and lack of social tact he exhibited, that Daniel might be on the autism/Asperger’s spectrum.

And yet I am not sure what people mean to communicate by bringing in autism and Asperger's into the picture. What is up with questioning people's mental health just to explain bluntness and lack of social tact? Is that an instant self-correction to the negative observation about somebody, to remind yourself to be compassionate just in case?

[nicoburns]

> What is up with questioning people's mental health just to explain bluntness and lack of social tact?

For one thing, I wouldn't necessarily consider Autism or Aspergers a mental health condition. It's certainly a difference in mental functional, but unlike something like depression it's not so clear cut that it's always a negative thing.

Secondly, I think the quality of an autistic outlook on the world is very different to simply lacking social tact. It also typically includes a disregard for social norms (sometimes because they are not understood, but sometimes also because they are understood but are rejected), and a very strong sense of morality, both of which are relevant here.

[viraptor]

> For one thing, I wouldn't necessarily consider Autism or Aspergers a mental health condition.

Are you thinking about high functioning autism? Sure, sometimes it's just "that person has weird behaviours". But on the other side of scale there are people who cannot communicate at a level required for independent daily living.

[nicoburns]

> But on the other side of scale there are people who cannot communicate at a level required for independent daily living.

There certainly are. But it's pretty clear that isn't what was being talked about in the original article as the person in question was university student who was writing papers and having an extended conversation with the author of the article.

> Sure, sometimes it's just "that person has weird behaviours"

I don't think that's quite the right way to look at it. This is true on a surface level, but I think there is quite a fundamental difference in cognitive processing going on under the surface. And FWIW, a lot of those differences in thinking are shared between those who are better at communicating and those for whom that is a real struggle.

[viraptor]

Sure. It wasn't clear from your post if you meant this person's condition specifically or were talking about autism in general, so just wanted to add the context in case people aren't aware.

[skissane]

This discussion ignores the whole topic of subclinical autistic traits (broad autism phenotype, or BAP for short-commonly found in close blood relatives of those diagnosed with ASD, and also among STEM professionals); and also the significantly heightened prevalence of autistic traits among people with other diagnoses (such as ADHD; personality disorders-especially BPD and ASPD; OCD; PTSD; eating disorders; the schizophrenia spectrum)-for some of those people a comorbid diagnosis of ASD may be considered appropriate, for many of them it would not be. In short: many people “seem a bit autistic” without actually “having autism” (in the sense that an ASD diagnosis would be viewed as being clinically appropriate for them).

[sersi]

Ironically, if he were truly diagnosed as being on the spectrum, it could be a plus from a diversity standpoint and might increase his chances of being hired...

[fmajid]

We're at least 30 years away from neurodiversity being considered a protected class.

[rightbyte]

I got this feeling that Aspergers is overdiagnosed.

I was a substitute teacher for a special autism/asperger class with 15yo students, in math.

Some half of them obviously had clinical introvert problems.

I was asked not to touch the students and I really understand why, becouse my first instinct was to touch them when someone didn't seem to hear me.

But like half of them seemed to be there for playing Magic the Gathering too much.

[montroser]

Asperger's is classified as a developmental disorder, not a mental health issue.

I believe what's meant to be communicated is that since this would be a lifelong deficiency engaging in common social interactions, that a certain amount of leeway would be appropriate.

[phkahler]

IMHO the main reason the spectrum is brought up here is to bring some simpathy for the student. Some people would label him a racist for not supporting the selection process, but saying he's on the spectrum might get him a pass and allow those people to continue reading and see his point.

Otherwise it isn't really relevant. Not much else about him is revealed.

[ordu]

> What is up with questioning people's mental health just to explain bluntness and lack of social tact?

Maybe not "explain" but "describe"? Asperger leads not to just any bluntness, but to very specific, in specific situations.

I saw this reference to Asperger as one of key pieces of a puzzle. He was not just stupid person when he planned to overthrow committee. He was bright enough but not in his social decisions. Moreover the author poses a question "did I do the best when discouraged him". If person have troubles grasping the nuanced picture of a social interactions, then the best strategy for him to trust his advisor more than his own ideas.

If he was not Asperger (and he might be not, he was not diagnosed), then his advisor could left his to his own devices without experiencing a moral dilemma: student should be adult enough to think for himself in such situations, without his advisor making decision and then manipulating his advisee by giving him a biased sample of facts and thoughts.

[MrMan]

aspbergers is invoked to excuse the person from any antisocial behavior, while at the same time setting that person apart from regular, and by implication, lesser "neurotypical" humans. Its an ubermensch thing I see from many many tech types.