[gaius]

I'm sure the special needs teachers who made that possible, and the taxpayers who fund them, are delighted to hear that. Maybe the socialites would still be in caves, but the "aspies" would be outside starving.

The symptoms of Asberger's are so indistinguishable from "being a dick" that they might as well be synonymous.

[refly]

You're getting downvoted, but not being told why.

Asperger's is a lot more complex than just "being a dick". Unfortunately some people use it as an excuse for undesirable behaviors. Regardless, that does not extend to all sufferers. Sometimes it manifests as intense, uncontrollable interest in certain narrow topics and a sensitivity to certain sounds, foods, smells, etc, and a shy or awkward disposition. That isn't being a dick by any means.

I'm sorry if you had a bad experience. It may stem from the fact if you've interacted with people who were diagnosed at a young age, they tend to be on the very far end of the spectrum and as a result may exhibit more extreme symptoms. There are a lot of people who have Asperger's who simply don't disclose it and have developed coping mechanisms that help them blend in. There might be many around you, but they might never have come out as such.

[strlen]

> You're getting downvoted, but not being told why.

That's also a great way to describe the social aspects of mild[1] Asperger's: afflicted individuals are ignored, bullied, and excluded. No one tells them why this is happening, they're expected to "just get it", and it's assumed that they're making a deliberate choice to "be a dick".

[1] Severe Asperger's is much worse, e.g., you are a brilliant programmer but you're living in an institution as your family is unable to take care of you and you are simply unable to function on your own; this is an actual case I am aware of, not an imagined scenario.

[patio11]

You have sufficient social acumen to understand that this comment is critical of you. Many people with Asperger's don't.

[gaius]

Everyone is the hero of their own personal narrative.

[windsurfer]

Your post angers and insults me. Everything you said is negative and mean, while the original poster was at least trying to add to the conversation. Even calling those with Asperger's "aspies" is condescending.

[Spooky23]

People find their place in the world. I cannot imagine being dyslexic or unable to empathize with people. It's inspiring that people can turn those "handicaps" into competitive advantages.

While the comment wasn't very sensitive, it also happens to be true. Our society tries to build a support structure around folks to enable them to reach their potential. Sometimes we're successful, other times we're not successful. In the past, unless your family was able to help you find a place, folks with mental problems were basically discarded by society.

[option_greek]

"Our society tries to build a support structure around folks to enable them to reach their potential."

I would argue most of the success is due to coping mechanisms developed by people than societal support structure. In fact, the free markets probably have more to do with their success than society.

[gaius]

NASA isn't a product of the free market, except in the sense that that "socialites" who work in the free market pay their taxes so Dr Temple can sneer at them from her ivory tower.

[anigbrowl]

NASA is hardly typical of employers, and the free market is not the sole origin of value. Perhaps you are taking a tongue-in-cheek remark a little too personally. It's a big world, and it has room for some generally anti-social loners as well.

[larrys]

"Even calling those with Asperger's "aspies" is condescending."

Why? Are you claiming that using "aspies" is an "a" word?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

"People identifying with Asperger syndrome may refer to themselves in casual conversation as aspies (a term first used in print by Liane Holliday Willey in 1999)."

About Liane:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/liane-holliday-willey...

[gaius]

My point addressed the individual the parent quoted, who seems completely dismissive of the massive support structure created around her, by people she holds in contempt, that she calls "socialites". She claims that people without Aspergers are incapable of innovating, which is clearly arrogant nonsense.