Debating whether this is the right place -any thoughts?

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Not because of any unfriendliness,I hasten to add. However antnego's comments on the 'Aspergers as a type of schizophrenia' thread have sent my questioning nature in to hyperdrive as to whether I really belong here.
I do definitely see at least traits of ASD/NVLD but perhaps that's not enough to justify being here.

Whilst I accept that antnego is just one person voicing an opinion, I do tend to take things on board even if on a surface level I may reject them.

Now I'm wondering(despite the possibility that antnegos' opinions are lacking in intellectual rigour) whether I should close my account.

Last edited by firemonkey on 03 Apr 2017, 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

This is the "right place" for anybody who is interested in the well-being of people with autism.

You don't have to be a card-carrying autistic person to be eligible.

I've never noticed anybody criticizing you for being here because, supposedly, you're not autistic.

Alex doesn't require you to upload your diagnosis on the Site.

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 03 Apr 2017, 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Did you see antnego's comments? Rather poured cold water on it being ASD or something similar.

That doesn't matter. Forget the cold water or whatever.

Not everybody who contributes considerably to this Site is autistic/Aspergian.

This ^^

I think being an intelligent person and having done extensive research that I do belong here. I shouldn't let the opinions of others,which may be faulty, put me off.

Yep....that's the crux, really.

You've done extensive research. You know what you're about.

Whether you're autistic, or not autistic, you sense that you're on the "Wrong Planet."

That's enough for most people here.

Agreed with poster above me. I like the way that was put.

Uhm, I don't know yet if I've got anything to do with AS and I try not to think I'm completely on the wrong planet but something about me is different in some way even if I try to fit in and like to fit in to a decent degree. But I'm slowly accepting that something is still different about me and I want to figure out my place in terms of that.

So speaking of places, back to OP's title, this is the right place yes. I don't know you but don't leave just because you are not stereotypical AS.

I think anoth thing we tend to do, as Aspies who were told of this, is put a lot more stock in other peoples understanding of us than we do of our own. Everyone elses position is, by default, more valid than our own. This is a kind of internalised self deprecation, and it is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Would you give these words as much credit to describing a friend as you do to describing yourself?

This is definitely the best place to be, and anyone who is spreading Autism/Schizoid comparisons has not done any research since those theories were disposed of by the 70's

What is 'stereotypical AS'? I wonder how many people dxed would see themselves as 'stereotypical' examples and whether being 'stereotypical' makes you more on the spectrum.

I'm guessing there isn't a one size fits all or perfect example of AS. At the end of the day,AS or not,we are all individuals.

You were talking about being unsure whether you were AS "enough" to be here. I was merely responding to that post of yours. Sounded like you were looking for some stereotype.

As one member often says: If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person.

There's been times when I felt I didn't belong here, especially in the early days, because everything is aspie this and aspie that - and I am not an aspie.

Now there are people who are not on the spectrum, whom I have invited to join WP because I felt they would still fit in close enough and most importantly, make quality contributions.

If I had gotten to know you on another forum, I would suggest that you join WP.

I have days where I don't know if I'm AS or not. I guess it's one of the things that comes with being undiagnosed. And sometimes I feel the same, like maybe I shouldn't be here if I'm not AS. But then I think how at home I feel, how everyone seems to understand, how I do actually fit in because no one really fits in. And I stay. Ultimately, this place and these great people are a wonderful support system.

@Firemonkey,

The only thing that you can control is your thinking, thoughts, feelings, reactions, responses. Only you can choose how something impacts you.

There are probably a 1000 people lurking and reading who do not post, to every person who does post and interact. Many people take away nothing from a post they read and others take away something based upon value they applied - all you can do is to choose how much value you apply to a posting made by someone else.

Anyone with a keyboard or a tablet or a phone can post, there are no requirements other than a email validation.

My point is, don't apply value just because of a persons name or because they use titles, look beyond that to what they actually have to offer and more importantly how they offer and represent themselves. If that does not feel right to you then move on and don't apply value to their posting.

You ask a lot of questions and there is nothing wrong or inappropriate with that, keep asking questions.

I think Keigan has hit the nail on the head there FM , You are placing too much emphasis on the symptoms of a poster with ASD ( I'm guilty of it ) , everyone is different , and while most people on the spectrum share similarities there are always exception to the rules. Only you can answer if this is the right place for you , no one else. If you gain any positivity or from being here then this is the right place for you on the other hand if all you get is negativity ( and I don't just mean having a bad week ) then you need to address why it's negative before you make any decisions.

I don't think I was looking for a stereotype. I accept ASD includes a broad spectrum of people. I'm just a little wary as to whether I fit in that broad spectrum.

I do know I have marked social interaction difficulties stretching back as far as I can remember, and am seen as socially odd. I definitely would say I'm not neurotypical but you can be neurodiverse without being on the spectrum.

I have done various online tests and score quite highly on those but am aware that such tests can produce false positives. I got my sister to score me on the RAADS-R at aspie tests and she actually scored me higher(163-9-86-35-33) than I scored myself(ave 147.0 15.0 73.5 27.0 31.5) The thing I did score myself higher on was language.

The true/never true choice does make it difficult for things that are often but not always true. Scoring conservatively, as those not always true being never true, I score myself 126.0 15.0 63.0 24.0 24.0.