Sanjay Gupta on Asperger's

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^^^^^True.
that's why I keep to myself.Bullies were always a bigger threat to me than I was to them.
But those of us that choose social isolation are now "the quiet person that kept to themselves",and in some people's eyes that is suspicious,not normal.

^^^^Same here,when little I got constant notes from school that I talked too much.I was made to feel embarrassed and belittled for some of the things I said.Way safer to keep my mouth shut.

No one ever mentions the fact you are told everyday as a kid to shut up and maybe that's why people don't like to talk? It's got nothing to do with any kind of pathology. More conditioning.

There were times when the class was getting out of hand when I felt like the only one still obeying the teacher.

It just seems so absurd what we go through as kids now they are trying to say being quiet is the problem. Oh good Lord some people make this life so confusing, difficult and painful!! ! Most teachers would say quiet is definitely NOT the problem.

Dr. Gupta tried, but I think he was off the mark. He should have emphasized that not everyone with Asperger's experience the same symptoms. He flatly, and erroneously, stated that children with Asperger's won't say hi back to you when you say hi to them first. He also left out the bits about stimming and sound/light/touch sensitivities. He neglected to explain that adults with Asperger's can sometimes experience social phobia and awkwardness to the point it interferes with common behaviours like finding a mate and making or keeping friends. Once again, his focus was on childhood Asperger's so he was just rattling off generalities he read somewhere. We all know about this spectrum and how we are all different. How many folks on the forum are like Dr. Spencer Reid or Dr. Sheldon Cooper? He stated that those with Asperger's tend to have higher than average intelligence. This is a stereotype. By that estimate alone, anyone who's studied calculus, physics or medicine qualifies as having Asperger's. Gupta meant well, but after seeing his short exposition, I don't see me at all - and I've been diagnosed by a clinical psychologist whose specialties are Asperger's Syndrome and Autism. Gupta tried though, so he does get an E for effort.