Article - Is Everyone On The Autism Spectrum?

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can we be civil before this thread gets locked

Spectrum of light is the best analogy I've heard so far. AS isn't like 2 different types of fruit among rock melons.

Perhaps it should, it seems pointless. People will just believe whatever they want, despite facts.

"People are entitled to their own set of opinions, but not their own set of facts"... Maybe that legend should be at the top of every thread lol

1. I understand this topic very well, you're not understanding what I'm saying, by any stretch of the imagination.

2. I understand what a spectrum is quite well, it seems to be you who doesn't understand what a spectrum is; The Autistic Spectrum is a spectrum that was designed to allow diagnosticians to diagnose the degree of autism spectrum disorders in a patient, nothing more, nothing less.

3. Yes, there is a dividing line; Autistic Spectrum Disorders. If someone doesn't qualify for a diagnosis under the Autistic Spectrum, then they are not on the spectrum of those disorders, it's that simple, how can you not understand that?

Let's say for a moment that you were correct (not saying you are, just making a valid point). Would you then also classify everyone as the following, because of these similarities?
Schizophrenic : Because we hear our own voice in our head.
Physical Abuser : Because everyone gets angry.
OCD : Because they prefer a clean house over a messy one.

The list could go on and on and on and never actually reach any real resolution, but then we'd be back to "everyone is the same" and if that were really true, there would be no diagnosis, and in extension, no basis for comparing either side to the other, and since that wouldn't exist, we wouldn't be on this site because we'd already have all the support we'd need from the rest of society. But that's not the case.
So, I say again, there's a huge difference between being on the spectrum and not being on the spectrum, it doesn't matter how fine that line may get in the more milder forms, it still ends somewhere. If it didn't, there would be no diagnosis. The fact that there is a diagnosis proves that I'm right.
No matter how badly you want to believe that everyone is somewhat like us and that we can be accepted on that basis, it's just not so. That's reality.


You do realize how ridiculous you sound here, right? If you really want to use light as an example, fine, I'll even use your green-blue example:
Light has three primary colors, all of which are their own color, none of which are placed into each other without some other color to connect the dots. Green, in it's absolute form, is fully green, there is no other color within it, as is blue. Yes, there is a spectrum between the two, but there is still the absolute values, they're either green, or blue. There is a dividing line between them. So not only is your analogy flawed, it also proves my point.

Hmmmm. Literally, a spectrum is a scale between two points.

This can be argued either way, depending on where you see those two points as being.

However to answer the OP's question, again, having thought about this a lot more: Is everyone on the AUTISTIC spectrum? The answer to my mind is a very obvious NO.

Well yeah, it comes off as ignorant and rather dismissive when neurotypicals want to say 'we're a little autistic to' that is not how it works...I know in some cases they are just trying to sympathize or act like they understand but its not very effective. But either way do not feel I have suggested they are all out to get us or trying to demonize.

It implies they are on the spectrum of being human, a couple traits does not put one on the autism spectrum...neurotypicals aren't a little autistic no matter how you slice it. The autism spectrum exists outside the neurotypical spectrum...that is why there is a differentiation.

I know perfectly well what a spectrum is...also I aspergians is not really an official term of any kind, autism is a spectrum so called 'aspergians' are on the autistic spectrum along with people with aspergers, people without autism are not on the autism spectrum that simple. Also people on the spectrum don't have all the same issues every individual has a collection of the autism symptoms/traits it varies depending on the individual and their severity.

If one lacks enough of the required traits and symptoms for a diagnoses then they are not on the spectrum. Also the whole problem is autism does not smootly blend into the general population, hence why autistic people are not considered to be neurotypical and neurotypical people are not considered to be on the autism spectrum. Maybe some of these NTs should get over themselves ans quit trying to claim they are on the spectrum.

I've sometimes wondered about this.

It seems to me that's the definition of "spectrum" - it would include extremes at both ends of a scale - very autistic, to almost not at all autistic.

According to one definition, spectrum: "used to classify something, or suggest that it can be classified, in terms of its position on a scale between two extreme or opposite points."

Still I would think the neurological or psychiatric definition would still have more to do with whether someone's place on the spectrum caused them significant issues. I do think one can be high functioning and still experience significant limitations.

If a picture is the best rebuttal you have, then this conversation is over before it even began.

It was over when you displayed either, your severe lack of understanding, or your willful ignorance.

No it doesn't, and you appear to be mincing the words autism spectrum and autistic. Er, yes they are, there are some that do sometimes show AS traits, and they're clearly NTs. That's a fact, no matter how you slice it.

AS people or Aspergian is the correct way to address most people. "People with Asperger's" is not, and shows a lack of understanding, as people can misconstrue that as an NT person carrying around a disease or sickness.

No, that's just too simple.

you know if you guys don't start being civil one of these new draconian mods are going to lock this post and ban you guys

You're one to talk, you (and others here) have yet to actually post any factual information regarding the autistic spectrum, and have willfully ignored real facts that have been stated by not only me, but other people here as well, who frankly, know more about the spectrum than you do.
If you want to talk about a 'lack of understanding' and 'willful ignorance', look in the mirror and do some damn research, because literally any research on the topic, provided by the medical field and experts would show you that you're wrong. But, given who I'm talking to, I don't expect any one of you to do that. God forbid you should actually learn something instead of insulting people who live every day seeing the difference.

This is beyond idiotic, I'm leaving. Arguing with you people is like trying to get a caveman to suddenly have a logical conversation.

Civility went out the window when insults started flying around, and at this point, I don't care what the mods do, half the mods on this site have been going after me since the beginning when I actually stood up for myself here anyway, and it wouldn't surprise me if it happened yet again because nobody on this site likes what I have to say. Frankly speaking, I'm done with this topic anyway, and for the reason that people here cannot have a conversation without spewing out of their ass every other post.