Why are people so bigoted against people with Asperger's, ADD etc. when they don't know anything about it?

Question

As a young successful woman classified with it, I’m pretty insulted at the level of ignorance and false ideas people have of Aspergers. Ignorant and bigoted “neurotypical” folks such as yourselves are failing to acknowledge that this so called disorder has more good symptoms then bad including high intelligence. Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton both had Asperger’s syndrome. My great uncle and great grandfather had Asperger’s- one was a doctor and the other was an inventor! Did it ever occur to you that maybe one of the main factors hindering our social shortcomings is that our above normal intelligence alienates ourselves from commoners? Growing up, I didn’t have many friends, not because I couldn’t, but because I didn’t want to. It’s not like people didn’t offer to my friend. It was a choice. I didn’t want friends because I was bored by their idiotic activities, whereas I was interested in activities that involved deeper thinking. Years later when I changed my mind and adjusted my attitudes, I decided I wanted friends. It was a big struggle at first, not so much because of the innate factors of Asperger’s syndrome, but because of my lack of social experience. I had a lot of catching up to do. However, my social skills gradually developed with time, and now I could say my social skills are relatively high functioning. And while I have friends now, I still enjoy plenty of peaceful “alone” time, since I’m a naturally solitary person; because that’s what we Aspies are- solitary intellectuals. And I enjoy being this way. Different is not inferior. Not wanting to be conformist sheep doesn’t make us weird. How is that Aspergers is considered a neurological disorder but homosexuality isn’t? How about instead, looking at real problems like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and the breakdown of the American family?( In case you need common reference, Lisa Simpson is a classic example of an Aspie).

lmao I found this website with these funny articles that mix fiction with fact. This particular article is more fact:

http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Neurotypical_syndrome

Answer 1

It's obvious to me that you are pretty much "in touch" with yourself and at the same time I believe if you could read what you just wrote with my eyes/thoughts, you might be able to answer your own question.

Good luck getting an anwer that makes sense to you.

And BTW... I am somewhat familiar with Aspergers but more so with its cousin, Autism.

Answer 2

Hi! This is whiskaygirl again, I couldn’t reenter because my password’s malfunctioning, and I couldn’t reclaim it either :-(

Well thanks for the feedback- but I had to make a few more comments:

First off, I was complaining about the disorder in general being misunderstood, but I myself fortunately am not ridiculed. I don’t “stand out”, and people don’t even know I have the disorder because I don’t fit the stereotypes associated with it. Many people have told me I’m “a sweetheart and pleasant to be around.” One of the countless examples of slanderous stereotypes- I keep hearing these so-called experts say people with my disorder don't know when we're being ridiculed. I know pretty damn well when I'm being derided. Another example- we "have a poor sense of irony". For me, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I have a great sense of humor/irony/sarcasm, but it seems many “normal” people don’t. I just get angry when people look at me strange when they find out I have it, they’re like “YOU have Asperger’s”? You think that would’ve proven them wrong about the false stereotypes. But yeah, there was this one girl I went to high school with, she did fit that “rude oddball” description, but I can tell you there were plenty of peers that didn’t have the disorder that had much worse problems then she did. Getting involved with an organization that educates people about it does sound like a good idea. It's a possibility I will do something like that in the distant future when I have a lot more time on my hands, they're pretty full right now! :-)

And BTW many intelligent people do have "odd" behaviors. It certainly doesn't make them retarded.

Answer 3

People are afraid of the unknown. In the case of Asperger's and Autism, even the medical community doesn't understand it well. A close friend of mine has an autistic son and struggle's with her understanding all the time.

I don't think people with those disorders are always treated badly because of the disability but by their different or unusual behavior the same as others. Not all Asperger's children are highly intelligent. Some have odd behaviors. People without Asperger's or ADD or Autism sometimes have odd behaviors and they are treated poorly the same as you. People who are deformed, people who are grossly obese are treated unkindly. Different is not inferior; it is different. But I really don't think you like "being this way". As for people being treated badly, you admit YOU changed YOUR mind and YOUR attitude. That shows that you were, in part, responsible for how you were treated in some situations.

Don't make the assumption that all readers know nothing about those disorders. Even if we don't have them, we may have had experience in many ways. And not everyone who doesn't understand disorders is unkind.

Instead of ranting at everyone, why don't you get involved in an organization that educates people about your disorder so that others will understand?

Answer 4

Hello whiskaygirl, I just thought I'd let you know that you're not alone. I have Asperger's too, I can really relate to the things you said.
For example: I'm not going to get piercings, start fights, or ride a ridiculously small motorcycle just "because it's cool". To me that is either complete idiocy, or a gigantic lack of willpower, or both. According to my psychologist, I'm highly intelligent and a success. I'm not on medication at all, and I have had people tell me that they would have never guessed I had it. Not only can I tell when I'm being insulted, I can tell when I’m being analyzed or if someone is trying to use reverse psychology. We aren't stupid, in fact we're smarter than most people, so they should just stop their ignorant ridicule. My advice to people who don’t have Asperger’s is: look it up. Be informed before you fling around insults. As for my fellow Asperger's patients, try not to get too upset with other people, they just don't understand. Perhaps you could enlighten them?

P.S. People with high intellects almost always seem "odd". Albert Einstein seemed odd, right?

Answer 5

I know a little about how you feel...my daughter has an ASD...she's growing out of the label with therapy though. It seems like every time I tell someone about her being affected their first reaction is "I'm so sorry!" and I'm over there going "Why? There's so much worse things out there and this really isn't a big deal!" I would be extremely curious to hear more about growing up and how people might have treated you one way or the other.
Have you ever read any of Temple Grandin's books? I have read some of them and I thought she was great.

Answer 6

My five year old niece has Aspergers and it makes me mad when people refer to her as "retarded". You can correct them but it doesn't seem to stick. They don't really seem to understand. I myself suffered a spinal cord injury a few years ago and have been in a wheelchair ever since. I notice a huge change in the way people reacted to me before the accident and the way they treat me now. To a lot of people, I'm not even human anymore and I resent the hell out of that. I guess the bottom line is that people see anyone who is different from them as somehow inherently inferior and never get past that sort of prejudice. Like you, I encounter ignorance every day of my life. The trick is to not let it change how you feel about yourself or destroy your happiness. You seem like a well-adjusted woman. Stay strong, and keep proving everybody wrong.

Answer 7

I hope this ranting at least made you feel better, lol... it isn't necessarily that people are not tolerant of these problems, but you will find that people often make light of things they are unfamiliar with and I guarantee that most have never heard of Asperger's syndrome, especially. I understand how you feel (I have a child who is ADHD and I get stares in a crowd when she can't sit still and be quiet). But you can get mad or you can make a difference. Which will you choose? Good luck and enjoy life...

Answer 8

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND AND IGNORANCE FUELS BIGOTRY.