[Vision2020] Another excuse for bad behavior

[Art Deco]

It seems like every time someone acts like an asshole or a criminal in some way, some researcher makes up a name for it, claims it is a mental illness, and applies for (and usually gets) a grant to study and to promulgate the idea, thus giving it apparent credibility.

What ever happened to promoting personal responsibility and taking responsibility for one's own actions?

Besides the usual array of social misfits, we have seen this kind of thing eroding the criminal justice system where criminal records are expunged and similar actions taken that hide past misdeeds (withheld judgments) so that the criminal can no longer be held responsible for their actions.

W.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Donovan Arnold 
To: donald huskey ; 'Dan Carscallen' ; vision2020 at moscow.com 
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2006 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Another excuse for bad behavior


Rose,

Thanks for the misinformed comments. But they are in direct conflict with Dr. Tony Atwood in Australia and researchers at John Hopkins Hospital. Asperger's cannot be overcome by simply educating it away! Your comment is like saying we can get rid of deafness by teaching people how to listen. The fact is the actual nerves in the brain that perceive nonverbal and social cues in Asperger's and the nerves that perceive sound, respectively, are missing, not there, gone, never fully developed. 

Rose, people with Asperger's are not stupid, they are simply missing the nonverbal and social contexts because the "equipment" in the brain to read and interpret those cues correctly and accurately is not there. Imagine not being able to tell accurately when someone is mad, upset, frustrated, confused, happy, or shy unless they actually tell you. And at the same time, people not properly reading your cues, because you don't know how to send them out properly, they think you are upset when you are not, or are being trying to be mean when you are not trying to be, or they think you are being coy,and even self centered or a know it all. People also will not disclose verbally that they are angry, irritated, happy, OK, fine, or whatever. They expect you to read it on their body language, or know it. They will also lie, and say they are fine, when in fact they are not fine. It really can be frustrating and confusing. And not to mention how irritating it is to another to be kept asking how they are feeling because that person cannot properly read their non-verbal cues. 

Teaching someone with Asperger's syndrome what to do in a social situation is like teaching someone that is color blind what to do when they see a red light, green light, or yellow light. They understand what to do, they are not sure when the light is green, yellow, or red, they cannot see it. 

So, to put it clearly. People with Asperger's frequently over or under react to a social situation because they do not correctly perceive the social situation, not because they are assholes. Not every person with Asperger's incorrectly interprets every situation in the same incorrect manner. Many overreact or interpret the situation as a worse interpretation possible because of many experiences of being burned (and not even knowing it because they could not perceive it). Unless someone is with a person with Asperger's to tell them, that is an incorrect or correct assessment of the social situation, education will not help them. 

I hope this makes things clear. If not, well, at least I tried, but there is only so much I can do an say to try and make it a little easier for you to understand. 


Best,

_DJA



donald huskey <donaldrose at cpcinternet.com> wrote:
  Donovan writes in part:


  "HA HA. You are a riot! I guess you get a kick out of a guy with Asperger's who tries his best not to come across in written forum as a know-it-all. As anyone and everyone with Asperger's or Autism does."

  Donovan, if your posts represent "your best" than "your best" won't do. Offering Asperger's as an excuse for your belligerent, perseverant, and frankly ignorant emails is a pathetic attempt to garner pity while justifying your piss poor social skills. Asperger's Paspergers's - sometimes a jackass is just a plain, ordinary, garden variety jackass.  

  And, by the way, not *every* person with Asperger's or Autism comes across as a know-it-all, as you claim. (I hope I am not remembering correctly that you are doing graduate work in Special Ed  if that remark is a reflection of your attitude.)  Appropriate social training from family members, teachers, and counselors contribute significantly toward enabling those with (an accurate) diagnosis of Asperger's to become successful, contributing members of their communities.  

  Rose Huskey




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