Comments on: "Asperger's Syndrome" To Become Obsolete. Finally. http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally Seriously, this could not be more beta Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:15:46 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bittersweet http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35257 Bittersweet Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:05:15 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35257 Maybe before long they'll add bullying to the DSM as 'compensation rage disorder' or some such. And then the pharma companies will make some meds for that, too. Maybe before long they'll add bullying to the DSM as 'compensation rage disorder' or some such. And then the pharma companies will make some meds for that, too.

]]> By: bb http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35232 bb Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:57:02 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35232 VACCINES! just kidding. My understanding (from Dr. brother who works on these issues) is that mating nerds + more diagnosis + older mothers are all contributors. VACCINES! just kidding. My understanding (from Dr. brother who works on these issues) is that mating nerds + more diagnosis + older mothers are all contributors.

]]> By: bb http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35231 bb Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:55:42 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35231 oops, Tim Page. oops, Tim Page.

]]> By: bb http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35229 bb Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:54:53 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35229 Temple Grandin is truly an amazing person, diagnosis or not. I will just add to the list NYT music critic Tim Paige, who has a new book out called "Parallel Play" about his experience with Asperger's (identified only recently when his teenage son was diagnosed). I haven't read it, but I heard him on Fresh Air and his description of what Philip Glass sounds like to him almost brought me to tears. Temple Grandin is truly an amazing person, diagnosis or not.

I will just add to the list NYT music critic Tim Paige, who has a new book out called "Parallel Play" about his experience with Asperger's (identified only recently when his teenage son was diagnosed). I haven't read it, but I heard him on Fresh Air and his description of what Philip Glass sounds like to him almost brought me to tears.

]]> By: bb http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35228 bb Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:50:40 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35228 "This latter phenomenon is economic oppression masquerading as a triumph of feminism." what? The dual-income family is, indeed, in many cases a response to economic pressures, but I would say if there is anything feminists can be pleased with, it is the (still limited!) opening of very advanced technical jobs to women. If they are engaged with technical info to the extent that warrants an Asperger's diagnosis, chances are they are doing it for more than economic reasons. "This latter phenomenon is economic oppression masquerading as a triumph of feminism."
what? The dual-income family is, indeed, in many cases a response to economic pressures, but I would say if there is anything feminists can be pleased with, it is the (still limited!) opening of very advanced technical jobs to women. If they are engaged with technical info to the extent that warrants an Asperger's diagnosis, chances are they are doing it for more than economic reasons.

]]> By: Annearchist http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35223 Annearchist Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:29:24 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35223 I loved "Curious Incident", too. I would also recommend these non-fiction books: John Elder Robison's book, "Look Me in the Eye" is a very insightful autobiography of his life with Asperger's. (Robison also happens to be the brother of "Running With Scissors" author Augusten Burroughs). And, I found Dr. Temple Grandin's "Emergence: Labeled Autistic" and "Animals in Translation" to be fascinating reading as well. I loved "Curious Incident", too.

I would also recommend these non-fiction books: John Elder Robison's book, "Look Me in the Eye" is a very insightful autobiography of his life with Asperger's. (Robison also happens to be the brother of "Running With Scissors" author Augusten Burroughs). And, I found Dr. Temple Grandin's "Emergence: Labeled Autistic" and "Animals in Translation" to be fascinating reading as well.

]]> By: rajmahall http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35215 rajmahall Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:22:18 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35215 FWIW, my mom's specialty is autism-- she got her Master's degree in the early 90's-- and she says that there's no way that increased diagnosis can fully explain the numbers we're seeing. FWIW, my mom's specialty is autism– she got her Master's degree in the early 90's– and she says that there's no way that increased diagnosis can fully explain the numbers we're seeing.

]]> By: nadie http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35207 nadie Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:12:16 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35207 Or it's, uh, more likely to be diagnosed. Or it's, uh, more likely to be diagnosed.

]]> By: wiilliiaamm http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35179 wiilliiaamm Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:45:50 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35179 finally I can do this: ASSpergers. finally I can do this:

ASSpergers.

]]> By: pattycakes http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35164 pattycakes Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:43:38 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35164 or both? or both?

]]> By: rajmahall http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35149 rajmahall Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:25:53 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35149 "This latter phenomenon is economic oppression masquerading as a triumph of feminism." Whose economic oppression? I had been my impression that only reason single-income households were able to proliferate in the U.S. for as long as they did was because the world wars had reduced many of our would-be competitors to rubble. "This latter phenomenon is economic oppression masquerading as a triumph of feminism."

Whose economic oppression? I had been my impression that only reason single-income households were able to proliferate in the U.S. for as long as they did was because the world wars had reduced many of our would-be competitors to rubble.

]]> By: HiredGoons http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35137 HiredGoons Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:05:16 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35137 (also I am kidding) (also I am kidding)

]]> By: HiredGoons http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35136 HiredGoons Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:04:44 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35136 I would quickly have become very good friends with this woman. I would quickly have become very good friends with this woman.

]]> By: HiredGoons http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35130 HiredGoons Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:55:58 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35130 This book is like one boring person trying to talk at me at once. Haaated it! This book is like one boring person trying to talk at me at once.

Haaated it!

]]> By: Adouble http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35127 Adouble Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:53:13 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35127 Well, probably not for a long time, unless most bullies review the most current revisions of the DSM before said bullying. Well, probably not for a long time, unless most bullies review the most current revisions of the DSM before said bullying.

]]> By: iplaudius http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35125 iplaudius Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:51:50 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35125 Rhetorical figures don’t have to be jokes too. In fact, some would say antanaclasis is no laughing matter. Rhetorical figures don’t have to be jokes too. In fact, some would say antanaclasis is no laughing matter.

]]> By: SarahHeartburn http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35121 SarahHeartburn Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:39:38 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35121 I say great. This frees kids with that diagnosis from being referred to by their classmates as "Assburger". I say great. This frees kids with that diagnosis from being referred to by their classmates as "Assburger".

]]> By: withelectrolytes http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35105 withelectrolytes Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:08:12 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35105 The explosion in autism has got to be a result of increasing probability that two parents with a genetic type that disposes them to both middle-class status and autism--by equipping them to succeed at knowledge/tech jobs--will reproduce. This must be in part the result of increased economic pressures that require both parents to be employed full-time. It would also be fed by the fact that women now attain college and graduate training on par with men, which in turn increases the likelihood that parents with superior cognitive abilities will meet and reproduce. This latter phenomenon is economic oppression masquerading as a triumph of feminism. Add autism to the list of pathologies that follows from late capitalism. The only solution is to go gay or to reproduce with the stupid. The explosion in autism has got to be a result of increasing probability that two parents with a genetic type that disposes them to both middle-class status and autism–by equipping them to succeed at knowledge/tech jobs–will reproduce. This must be in part the result of increased economic pressures that require both parents to be employed full-time. It would also be fed by the fact that women now attain college and graduate training on par with men, which in turn increases the likelihood that parents with superior cognitive abilities will meet and reproduce. This latter phenomenon is economic oppression masquerading as a triumph of feminism. Add autism to the list of pathologies that follows from late capitalism. The only solution is to go gay or to reproduce with the stupid.

]]> By: barnhouse http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35095 barnhouse Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:50:56 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35095 There's a point beyond which Asperger's can be not so charming, it's true. I'm quite fond of my friends who have got what must be mild cases, though--particularly their utter inability to produce meaningless bullshit of the "social" variety. Also keep in mind that they always have loads of extra Ritalin lying about. There's a point beyond which Asperger's can be not so charming, it's true. I'm quite fond of my friends who have got what must be mild cases, though–particularly their utter inability to produce meaningless bullshit of the "social" variety.

Also keep in mind that they always have loads of extra Ritalin lying about.

]]> By: Baboleen http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35087 Baboleen Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:41:24 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35087 The internship coordinator didn't do a very good job with placement. Everyone has their limitations. The internship coordinator didn't do a very good job with placement. Everyone has their limitations.

]]> By: Tuna Surprise http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35075 Tuna Surprise Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:35:54 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35075 I was an intern at the same time as another young woman who had Asperger's and it was anything but funny. A good portion of the intership revolved around meeting different people in the company in social settings. She said to the head of recruiting during a cocktail hour (in front of a big group): "Oh, you have a kid? I see you don't have a ring on. How can you have a kid if you're not married?" When we were first introduced, she asked me where I went to college and followed up with questions on why I didn't go to an Ivy league college, was it because I didn't get accepted, etc. I was an intern at the same time as another young woman who had Asperger's and it was anything but funny. A good portion of the intership revolved around meeting different people in the company in social settings. She said to the head of recruiting during a cocktail hour (in front of a big group): "Oh, you have a kid? I see you don't have a ring on. How can you have a kid if you're not married?"

When we were first introduced, she asked me where I went to college and followed up with questions on why I didn't go to an Ivy league college, was it because I didn't get accepted, etc.

]]> By: Baboleen http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35067 Baboleen Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:26:08 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35067 Napoleon Dynamite is my hero. Napoleon Dynamite is my hero.

]]> By: Baboleen http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35066 Baboleen Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:25:00 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35066 Agree that there are far more negatives. Also depends on the severity. Agree that there are far more negatives. Also depends on the severity.

]]> By: NicFit http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35063 NicFit Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:19:20 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35063 Oh, here's one: The exam was easy, but my dick was hard. Oh, here's one: The exam was easy, but my dick was hard.

]]> By: Colonel Mustard http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/aspergers-syndrome-to-become-obsolete-finally#comment-35062 Colonel Mustard Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:17:50 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=17219#comment-35062 I've had the book recommended to me before - it does sound like something I'd enjoy. I've had the book recommended to me before – it does sound like something I'd enjoy.

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