Why do those on the spectrum get treated badly?

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If there is one universal downside to having an ASD that we can all agree on, it would have to be the resulting emotional abuse once people discover you have Autism/Asperger's (regardless of whether you have intellectual disabilities with it). Maybe it's just because I'm a fairly accepting sort of guy, but I genuinely don't understand why you would victimize somebody on the spectrum, seemingly for the sake of it.

The only two vague reasons I can think of as to why someone would do this is as follows: 1. because the person on the spectrum is just an easy target for bullies to vent their insecurities onto, with the benefit of boosting their own esteem; 2. perhaps just because they feel they "should" bully him or her, simply because they are different (I don't believe this, I'm just trying to perspective take). I bet if you asked one of them why they are doing this to you, they would have no good reason, other than "just because".

Honestly I really hate the "autism" label, because even though most here are aware that it doesn't always mean you have severe intellectual disabilities, the general population most certainly does think that; the label is nothing but stigmatizing, and pretty much just invites others to abuse you, which is why nobody, not even my best friend, knows I have it. I swear once people discovered that I was on the spectrum, they began to avoid me like a leper or some s**t lol.

If it isn't emotional abuse from peers, it's patronizing from superiors; others here have complained of being talked to like a wounded puppy, or a child, despite being fully grown adults.

Why do they do this exactly? I really want to start a discussion on this.

Ehh. All I can think of is social media and the gang mentality surrounding it.

I don't remember it being this bad before things like Myspace and Facebook popped up.

You are going to be treated badly for your "traits" even if they have no clue you are autistic. WP has many members not identified until middle age who can tell you all about it.

Part of it is the side effects of neurodiversity movements. They will see autism as a bigger target if there are those who deny it is a condition in the sense that the medical view says. Also attention has been brought to it everywhere whereas in the past people would just think "oh they have something wrong in the head like _____,______, and ______" hence you do not see people with bipolar getting the same bad rep.

I am also at a loss to understand why people treat others who are different from them badly. It isn't just the autism label; people with all sorts of disabilities or differences, intellectual or not, are belittled or teased or discriminated against in various ways. This isn't anything new. Even in the Bible there's a specific admonition against not tripping a blind person.

Come on, why would someone want to trip a blind person? Just because they can? Because they find it funny to see someone else struggling or in pain or hurt? I don't understand this mentality.

I get the argument that people fear what they don't understand, but really, people, show some humanity. Have compassion.

I experienced a fair amount of bullying throughout school, and back then (I graduated high school in '89), most people had never heard of autism. I'm one of those middle-aged people who didn't get diagnosed until much later than most.

Even without a diagnosis to mock, kids recognize that other kids are vulnerable and they will take advantage of that. I'm glad bullying is being dealt with more directly these days, but to a certain extent I don't see it ever going away. Whether it's due to their own insecurity, or just for their own twisted amusement, a certain percentage of humans will seek out weaker or simply different others to turn into victims.

It happens on the playground, and I understand it happen in prisons. Just read "Lord of the Flies" for a fictional example of group dynamics at work. When I was a kid, my grandfather gave me a chicken that had been picked at nearly to death in the coop. (My dog later killed it.)

I'd like to say we're better than chickens, but my own experience suggests otherwise.

So pretty much they just hate on us because we're weird? All the more reason to act like a normie then.

I think that appearing vulnerable and isolated is part of it - but also that people expect you to pick up on certain of their needs without them expressing them. So when you ignore their needs, they think it's an intentional attack o n their status, and then they try to get even.

I really feel strongly in the notion that YOU do not cause the bullying; rather, it is THEM....and their own insecurities!

People with ASD's (and many other types of people) are merely targets.

I reiterate: it's not YOUR inadequacy which is causing the bullying: it's THEIRS.

I have certainly had some negative treatment from others, but it wasn't particularly related to them finding out I had autism, though it likely had to do with picking up on that I was a bit different from them. Seems that makes some people aggressive towards you like instead of being curious why maybe you're making a repetitive movement, not making proper eye contact and seem oblivious to some social cues or whatever....they assume the worst.

It is not all people though I mean I have had positive interactions as well, some people just accept I'm a bit unusual and don't care...I have a boyfriend, get along with my siblings for the most part and I have some friends and acquaintances. But yeah due to a lot more consistent bullying growing up I certainly can have a hard time with criticism even if it's constructive because my immediate reflex is to get defensive since I got used to people only saying negative/mean things about and to me at school growing up.

A lot of people are selfish. Just because they don't have the disadvantages another person has, they think they can judge them for it. Even something as small and silly as having big ears.

For some reason bullying is a way of making an insecure person feel good about themselves. I can't make that out though. Whenever I feel insecure, making someone else feel bad will make me feel worse about myself. Being nice to others, especially if they are 'weaker' than me, makes me feel good. This is why I get irked when I hear people say how Aspies lack empathy.

Most people have not heard of the ND movement so I do not think that is a factor. There has as far as I know never been a short people pride movement of any note yet short people have always been treated badly.

Attention will always bring a backlash. That is no reason not to advocate. Gay people are much more accepted now. But there has been a backlash, gay bashing is up since Gay marriage became law.

personally i've always seen it (from what i have observed in the community i grew up in) as autism is generally seen as something inhumane, it's a horrible disease, or somehow means that you are the most stupid person alive and therefore it's easy to pick on you. i had always been bullied and singled out as the 'weird kid' for many reasons relating to my autism. maybe people just simply see it as 'hey you're different, that's WEIRD and you should feel bad for it.' ?

Rather well expressed. That's what I don't get either; what joyous feeling do they experience from being mean?

It's just human nature. I've seen autistic students pick on other autistic students many many times. I've seen autistic students suspended and even expelled for it.

I've gotten bad treatment without anyone knowing what was wrong with me. Kids just thought I was ret*d and because I looked normal, kids made fun of me and liked picking on me. Some also thought I was stupid or rude. Plus lot of kids didn't like me so not all of them picked on me. Kids also thought I was weird. I also got bad treatment from the staff too and faced double standards. It's not just autistic people who are treated badly, anyone with a disability gets treated badly and so do "normal" people who are a bit different.