Asperger's Community to NT Society at Large

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There is a possibility that the media will get a hold of WrongPlanet.net since William Freund made some posts here. Because of this, we should prepare a statement about who we are, our perceptions of this tragedy, and what we think needs to be done in the future.

Who we are:
We come to WrongPlanet.net to share our experiences, to learn from each other, to support each other, and to have some fun too. We have Asperger's syndrome or other conditions on the autistic spectrum that mean we have to overcome obstacles most people never even have to think about. Our ability to understand the subtleties of social interaction may be inferior, but we have a unique perspective and much to offer the world if we can find our niches. Despite our apparent eccentricities, we aren't so different from everyone else: We have our interests, our biases, our insights, our bad days, and our good days too.

Some perceptions we share:
I personally am ashamed for how I responded to William Freund's first cry for help here on WrongPlanet.net. I mistook his post "Suicide Threat!" for a sick prank because he was asking for "free money." My response did not make matters better for him. I can understand the constant barrage of unendurable suffering, that sense of complete hopelessness, that he must have been feeling. I believe he made the worst of all choices; but, in his despair, I can understand how he could not perceive anything better. What I find most shameful, though, is how society treats those who are a bit odd.

What needs to be done:
Everyone needs to feel loved. Everyone needs to feel like they can accomplish something real. It is all too easy for us to forget about those outside our circle of friends and our family. We must never forget the lonely man we see straggling by one day at the grocery store or the poor kid being mocked by his classmates. We all have a moral duty to welcome every person as a fellow dignified human being. We must remember that for every atrocity there was an antecedent. Even the most hardened, vicious people were once sweet, innocent children. What happened to them? We must rethink our values. Does our focus on material success and competition above all else actually foster alienation of the self from society and contemptuous attitude? The fact is we could do more, and we must do more. One more tragedy is one more too many.

the Mods are on the case, neanthumain. and thanks for your post - may we use part(s) of it if necessary?

i am confused who is William Fruend and why is he famous?

He was a poster on WP who commited suicide.

If anybody wants to add to what Neant said, please do so, but make it of a qualitative nature.

Thanks.

NeantHumain, that was truly a beautiful post.

He was a poster on WP who commited suicide.

http://www.wrongplanet.net/modules.php? ... pic&t=6849

could we keep all discussion in the thread as linked above? thank you.

Vivi
(as Mod)

Well said, Neant... society needs to learn to be more understanding and accepting...

That's sadly part of the problem - society is built upon norms, and if you don't fit in, you're cast out. Those who are cast out try everything to get into the clique, often with disatrous results.

But people also need to pay attention to what's going on around them, not focus on themselves and their own selfish demands for life... he cried out for help and nobody heard him.

Also, we should tell the NT's that we are the next step in evelaution. We don't feel the NEED to socializle and put up with needless small talk. We are better then NT's. Thats why NT's don't like us.

I wonder how many of the visitors here have read this topic.

There's been 341 views so far. Do views from visiters not show up or something?