Never forget: NTs are on a spectrum of their own.

We are all individuals...
Even neurotypicals...
But some are more individualistic than others...
Shades of "Animal Farm"!

Autistic individuals are said to be on a spectrum...
Interesting, but why do people seem to ignore the reality of NT diversity?

Could this simply be a prejudiced perspective as a result of majority rule?

No. It's a medical fact that we are born differently, some more different than other, hence the "spectrum".
Of course NT's have their own spectrum, but why mention that, might as well point out the fact that yellow tigers each have different stripe patterns, just like white tigers do. It's just assumed, right?

Plus...isn't the whole diagnosis of Aspergers, Autism, etc supposed to be a way to better help the person in that category? By labeling someone as NT, you're basically saying "hey, you're close enough to everyone else". By labeling someone as Autistic/Spectrum/etc, you're saying "hey, you seem to have these difficulties, similar people like you have these difficulties - here's some ways to cope"

Everyone is different from everyone else...so...yeah...lots of spectrums.

slugger wrote:No. It's a medical fact that we are born differently, some more different than other, hence the "spectrum".

That isn't what I meant...
The message that I wanted to convey was that NTs tend not to think about themselves being on a spectrum from very "functional" on one side to very dysfunctional on the other...
There is an assumed arrogance by some, if not many, NTs in regards to this...imo...
When you encounter this arrogance, I suggest you simply refuse ownership and leave it hanging in the breeze...

slugger wrote:Of course NT's have their own spectrum, but why mention that, might as well point out the fact that yellow tigers each have different stripe patterns, just like white tigers do. It's just assumed, right?

I have met many NTs who aren't even aware of the question: Do you think you are on a spectrum?
"Say what???" might be a typical neurotypical reaction...

Lets face it, aspies are very much more intellectual in comparison to many, if not most, NTs simply because we are made that way...
We voice/articulate what many NTs only know as a "gut" feeling...
Perhaps you think this is obvious because you consciously think about things/situations rather than having some vague intuitive subconscious understanding?...

Trust me, I have known many NT individuals who are ephemeral/ethereal fairy like entities who flirt around the dark matter of this life system without understanding the effect it has on them...

They may be very functional, but you don't have to be particularly enlightened to work with a social system, on a superficial level, that has designed it's values and protocols to suit your neurological needs...surely...

What I find difficult to understand is why you have a problem with my investigating my autism and how the environment, which is often toxic to me, effects my choices...

And have you read my post involving "cognitive dissonance"...
Why is it wrong for me to reconcile my super ego with my id?

TDT wrote: By labeling someone as Autistic/Spectrum/etc, you're saying "hey, you seem to have these difficulties, similar people like you have these difficulties - here's some ways to cope"

If you have been following my posts you will have seen that my emphasis is not on our weaknesses...
It is our strengths...

A natural inclination towards:
Greater honesty...
A greater sense of justice...
A greater affinity with truth...
A greater respect for reality...
A greater interest in micro-observation...
Greater rational problem solving...
A greater desire to amend our philosophical position when a better argument is encountered...
A greater desire/intrinsic-urge for/with objectivity rather than subjective emotionalism...

The problem is, which one of us hasn't been initially indoctrinated with a social protocol not in sympathy with our inherent nature?
How many of us were heavily affected by cognitive dissonance as a result of being a square peg trying to fit into a neurotypical round social hole?

From my perspective, we have a great many positive qualities...
They are simply not fully appreciated by societies often obsessed with materialism, status, power...fantasy...

As I have said many times in the past...
The inmates have control of the asylum...
In other words, the world is arse about tit...

Please note:

If you or anyone else infers that I am saying many, if not most, NTs lack these qualities, you or they would be wrong...

If you or anyone else infers that I am saying all aspies service these inherent inclinations, you or they would be wrong...

I am saying, we aspies, as a demographic, tend to have a greater affinity overall with the above characteristics...