What is teh general view of NT's on this forum?

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Hey guys! I was wondering what the general view of NTs is from people on this forum? Are there many NT members?

I ask because I have seen some posts made by people who think that NTs are boring or inferior. Of course I realise that not all think this way because many of you are in relationships with NTs.

I'm not sure if I'm NT or not - I certainly don't have a normal mind. I also have Synaesthesia. I'm good friends with PhilosopherBoi via AIM and he has told me to get "checked" for Autism so I don't know...

Thanks in advance for responses

I have no problem with NTs, most of my friends are. Yeah they can be confusing but they're nothing to complain about.
Why people think they're inferior I don't know, it's hypocritical to moan about NTs not being nice to us then slagging them off.

People are people.

I only use the term 'NT' when trying to describe a thought or behavior pattern that is more stereotypically 'normal' as opposed to an autistic.

You will see some anti-NT bias here, though. It's best if you just overlook it and glean what you can from the posts that have merit.

Good luck

I like NTs, they can just be a bit comfusing and I have one NT friend at school

NT is just a word. It doesn't define anyone. They are just people. They also have problems too.

Actually, there is no general opinion on 'NT's here. WP is too diverse. Although sometimes people do tend to be rather loud and obnoxious about their opinion. IT happens to us all. Still, that doesn't mean the other half of WP agrees with whatever opinion the other half has.

We have so many representatives of a whole spectrum of opinions here - from loving NTs, wanting to be NT, liking to associate with them, getting along with them, thinking they're as normal people as those with ASDs to hating NTs, not being able to get along with them, being put down by them or thinking they're evil people. We have those that don't care about superiority, those that thin NTs are superior to those with ASDs and that those with ASDs are superior to NTs and so on and so forth.

Cool! Thanks guys
I know that I've always struggled to get along with the majority of NTs and I have never been one to have many friends from the start of Secondary school onwards. I have discovered I get on better with the few Aspies/Auties I have interacted with than many of the NTs I have interacted with. I find Aspies/Auties fascinating and just want to know so much about them. Most NTs bug me and even anger me.

For me, NT means someone who is not part of the AS community or helpful to it in any way. Even if someone is diagnosed as not having AS, I consider them an Aspie if they consider themself one or consider themself a member of this community. Even an Aspie who considers themself NT and doesn't want to be a member of the AS community, I still consider Aspie. But the rest of the people, whom I call NTs, I do not like.

Well I haven't used the term much myself, it feels like I'm distancing myself from people without disorders when I use it. I've seen a lot of negative things said about these "NTs" it is almost like some people here want to have an excuse to group people up into the offending group, to me that kind of borders on what racism does.

Basically an NT is so diverse that it is impossible to have one general opinion. Some NTs like Michael Savage think they know everything about how the brain works, and that asperger's is not anything but a brat. Others are really good about it.

Strangely enough I get on far better with NT's than those on the spectrum!!

Being deeply entrenched on the spectrum myself, I have over time and the years started to get a fairly good order of Theory of Mind. Now I see interspectrum wars more and more often. Why?

Seems if I think of my children's school, there are plenty of teachers who even now would be I am sure diagnosed on the spectrum themselves. Knowing what to look for and studying the spectrum for many years both as a parent, autistic spectrum and professional, now as a student (mature!), I see many problems between especially Aspie teachers with ADHD students and vice versa!

Even in my academic life I know someone who is supposed to know ALL about the spectrum as they lecture on the subject, openly revolted by a personality that I had hi lighted as ADHD! Duh!! This person knows my DX is ADHD with other spectrum related conditons and traits! How insulting. But then it is to me apparent that she is an Aspie, NOT that I am a diagnostician, just a gut feeling and a lot of questioning. My bessie mate is an NT, I can count on her for her advice (which is always first class), support and above all friendship, she doesn't blow hot and cold at me and just remains constant. What a bonus and how lucky am I!

Watching the forums and having just written my last assignment on ' Internet and Autism', it is clear that many who frequent most forums, gardening, politics, music etc are enjoying what they perceive as a 'social networking life'. Do NT'S live on the computer? Not many is the answer, at least not perseverating for as long as many on the spectrum! It is mainly those of us on the spectrum who rely so heavily on social sites and forums, AND there is plenty of empirical research to support that. I am happy to post the papers if anyone wants them.

Trolling, flaming threads, arguments and disagreements that are taken way beyond a keyboard and screen are sadly all too common. Inappropriate comments, knee jerk posts, cruel jibes and mobbing are to me is likened to cyber terrorism. So why? I guess there is plenty of ODD ABOUT? Yes of course NT's love computers too, but to them there is a limit, to us it is not so clear cut! Most of us love the computer, don't we? Even though many of us oldies cannot manage to get ourselves out of a mess if we hit the wrong key by mistake!! But that is age, I keep telling myself.

My son got three detentions today from a teacher who is clearly on the spectrum. This teacher has been collecting French books for 3 decades, rigid in his routines and has a dreadful hand to mouth stim (biro all over his mouth most of the time), he loves systems and has degrees in French, Science and Mathematics.............his style is to punish and detain......................groan. My son is a mischievious but harmless lad with a lot of hyperactivity, dyspraxia and epilepsy...............most of that is invisible. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot do right for doing wrong. Yet my other son who is Asperger gets on famously with him. Then to show the other side of the coin, another teacher with clear ADHD, cannot stand my Aspie son as he does not go quickly enough in her class!! !! This all leads to misunderstanding and an escalation of events that end normally in tears.

Can't we just all tolerate each other, why are some of us regarded differently? And why does the NAS here in the UK, close their door on my son who is ADHD (DAMP) YET welcome my Aspie son with open arms? Grrrrrr

Maybe that is why I find NT's so much more stable! The ones I know do and can get very upset, but it takes some doing! I rarely see them go into meltdowns with the same alarming regularity as me. Don't get me wrong I love the spectrum and ALL that goes with it, but sometimes folks, just sometimes, we do get a bit out of hand, don't you agree? Without NT's and US the world would be a very boring place.

If you have a good NT in your life, count yourself lucky, we can learn a lot from them and they from us. Let's just all get on!!

I'm NT and it is nice to hear that all of you don't hate them. I notice once in a while posts from people that do not like NT's. Although I do understand as much as I am able to, I sometimes wonder if my posts may not necessarily be welcome because of that. I considered posting that very question just yesterday. I really don't want to post if I am offending anyone, but at the same time I really value everyone's opinions here very much. I have a son on the spectrum, and a few of his friends are as well, and I want to understand where he is coming from, what his needs are, if I'm approaching things in the wrong way or making decisions that are counter-productive or harmful to him. In my opinion, I think that asking someone on the spectrum what it's like on the spectrum and how it has been for that person throughout their lives is better information than I will get in any book or from any professional. Most of the time people on this forum have been really great. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate and have benefited from the feedback and support on this forum. I'm glad most of you don't mind us hanging around.

You can't classify a complete group of people... That's like a male forum saying, 'What do you think of girls?' There's way too many to make a fair conclusion on them, and vice versa. Some NTs are complete jerks, some NTs are amazing. I don't think it's rational anyway to label such a big group. It's not like people have a choice on whether they're NT, so it really doesn't reflect their personality(I know that can contradict, but I hope people understand what I mean). If you're going to judge people, judge them by their religions or something they actually have a choice in(yes- I do judge people by their religions, but not to extensively).
By the way, this isn't aimed at the OP, just the people who hate all NTs... it just seems ridiculous.
EMZ=]

Hi Mommy Jones and THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO POST IT!! And come to that...... thoughful enough to want to know about us on the spectrum and be empathetic enough to ask if that is ok! What a lovely NT you are! So many of you are, I am so sorry you have not had the greatest of times posting. It takes all sorts to make a world and that includes NT's.

Being on the spectrum myself with 5 children diagnosed (I am too!), life is a struggle, from start to finish I think although hopefully I am not quite at the finish yet! Many of us have battled through storms, hurricanes and tornadoes just to stay alive! Many have quite understandably angry and frustrated at the 'lack' of systems there are out there to help us. It is not helped by the constant abuse that many of us with invisible disabilites have. Would a teacher yell at a deaf child for not hearing the fire bell? Would a policeman arrest a blind man for not being able to see a warning sign? So why do children on the spectrum get detentions for a meltdown? Why do they get blamed for stuff that is not their fault? Why?

The journeys that many of us take are stony at best, we are shattered, upset, not understanding why no one can help or shed light on what makes us different. You see we all know we are different but can't explain why? It is a bit like having an operation but the anaesthetic although it appears to have worked, in actual fact hasn't and you feel and see everything. A living hell for many.

Parents are blamed constantly, misrouted, ill advised and chastised. Kids are constantly shouted at and made to do things that they just are not able to do. Professionals are struggling under the sheer volume of patients that are banging at their doors and the goverment .....................do nothing. It is bad enough for those with a physical or visible disability, they don't get it much easier. I know of several with cancer who recieve no support and have to trek to the hospital daily by themselves, some as much as an hour or two away. It is hopeless.

Diagnosis? Depends on who you see, if you are lucky enough to see anyone? Support? Not a lot, Understanding? Not much of that either. It just seems like one battle after another after another. To those of us on the spectrum who find understanding life a tad tricky most of the time, we cannot understand WHY NO ONE ELSE UNDERSTANDS!!

There is tons of empirical evidence at our disposal now, technology is going at the speed of sound and we simply cannot keep up. Since the internet evolved, it has opened up channels that autistics never knew about! We can self inform, study, research and communicate with the world now. But who listens to us? One of the many parents that I help looked jaded the other day, I asked why...........................she had had offers of help!! ! Hoooray!!........................no not really, she had struggled, had panic attacks and agonised at the prospect of being SENT to 4 parenting classes in a week..................no not just round the corner, a total travelling distance of 90 miles! In the UK that is a long way. And WHO may I ask looks after her son when he is school refusing?

So forgive us sometimes when we seem rude, we are just battle weary and very scarred most of the time. We get defensive and then argue ourselves into a paper bag often. Life is frustrating when you are scared. That is the biggest problem. We get scared and frightened but it comes out all wrong as if we are raging nutcases with tempers to match!

But to know that NT's are genuinely interested enough to sign up and post is fantastic and from a personal note, I am very happy that you are kind enough to post. We need to learn about you too, then maybe we wouldn't get ourselves into such a state sometimes. It is the best thing in the world to have a friend, a real friend. But for many of us on the spectrum that is difficult. So now you know why I love NT's, my best mate has been a tower of strength, a lifeline, a Godsend. Without her who knows who I would be today? So thank you to ALL NT's who join us here. You are welcome and I do hope you will stay through the bad times as well as the good.

Don't take anything personally is my best advice and if you get short shift from someone just turn the computer off and smash a plate!! JOKE!!

Agreed with MommyJones. I'm glad I can be a part of such a forum because interacting with self-aware auties/aspies has helped me learn a lot and will help me in the work I want to do and also in my own personal life - I really appreciate this.

Thanks for all your responses people

Despite what the majority of people are saying on this topic, there's actually a ton of prejudice against "NTs" on this board. I'm not NT, but it still drives me crazy. I hate all the prejudice and the gossip that goes around on here...

NT's can be both the best and worst people in our lives. Simply put.

It's similar to the Christians on a religion forum I post on. There is no clear data available to work out a ratio of the ones I want to applaud, kiss, worship etc.. to the ones I want to check for any signs of brain activity.

Ultimately, we're talking about a huge group of people who are individuals. To categorise and stigmatise them would be unfair. Of course, every large group, even this one, has its fair share of divisive, closed minded people. It's really up to those on the receiving end to try and recognise reasons and use discernment, and hopefully work to overcome the barriers put up.

In short, when taking flak from the other side, note that it's not all of them, try to figure out why, and bridge the rift.

It's never worked for me in offline life, but I know that advice is sound. It works very well online. Presence of logic?

((((hugs))))

~Loving Light~