Things that say we "suffer"

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They did this with other conditions too.

The term Aspie is cute. I'm sorry if cuteness offends you.

I don't know what I hate more people who say I "suffer" from Asperger's, people who use the word "special" to describe me, people who say I am "brave" for having Asperger's* or people who treat me like a four year old because of the knowledge that I have Asperger's.

*I was featured in my local newspaper about something I did that had NOTHING to do with me having Asperger's, but I briefly mentioned to the reporter that I have it. 5% of the article was about what I did and over 90% was about me having Asperger's. People called my house up randomly after that saying that I am "brave" and that they hope I get better. Like I was dying of cancer or something. I wrote a very long op-ed that I sent to this same newspaper about Asperger's Syndrome and why I disliked the amount of coverage in the article about me (they put it on the front fricking page of the newspaper AND they used the word "special" in the headline). They didn't print this op-ed.

While I don't disagree with any of you on the problem of being called a "sufferer" of AS (personally, I enjoy it about 75% of the time, and think the benefits outweigh the social negatives, and have learned to adapt nicely) I just want to caution you against taking the cited article too seriously.

It's clearly a tounge-in-cheek look at the excuses rock stars make for their often ridiculous behavior. Blender isn't a serious magazine, and the articles are usually have a humorous side to them. Did you laugh at the rest of the article, but only take offense to the AS "entry" in the encyclopedia?

It would be like Issac Hayes making fun of every religion known to humanity, but quitting South Park when they mentioned Scientology.

But yeah, generally I don't like being told I "suffer" unless I actually do. Then it's nobody's business anyway.

*edited to correct a spelling error

I only "suffer" from AS because NTs constantly assume that my differences are a "problem" that needs to be "treated" or are just moral faults like laziness and narcissism, not genuine differences that should be accepted.

To be nitpickingly accurate (but that is a common aspie trait, no?), the article didn't say the term "aspie" was "cute" - it said that the term was "in the adorable parlance of those who suffer from this". Yes, that also comes across a bit condescending, but then again, Blender isn't exactly the New York Times, now is it? They were equally dismissive of acid reflux, which is something I do suffer from. If Ashlee Simpson has this, I can see where it might necessitate lip-synching a concert every now and then - you try singing with a throat full of stomach acid!

As for the other aspect, at my Yahoo! 360 page, my "blast message" header reads, "I don't suffer from Asperger's Syndrome. Everyone around me may suffer because I have AS, but I'm just fine!"

People who have AS,Autism,in growing toe nails or whatever can suffer,as impairment and reaction to environment differs,but suffer/sufferer should be a word that comes from personal experience,not something used to judge entire groups of people.

I have an anxiety disorder, PTSD, Aspergers, and epilepsy...and I don't feel that I "suffer" from any of it. I live with it, I manage it, I cope with it - but not suffer.

in totally agree with you. I am coping with it and living with it and do not believe i am suffering from anything.
However, when I was younger, i did believe i suffered from as....because of all the bullying that went on.

But you weren't exactly suffering from your AS...you were suffering because of other peoples perceptions of you because you were different.

i dont suffer from my disorders themselves... i suffer from the byproducts they attract...

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When in doubt, ask an autistic. Chances are, they're obsessed with what you need to know.

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How do people in this thread not make the connection betweeen AS and their suffering?

I can't believe how many delusional people there are on this board.