Being " downgraded " .

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On a certain level , being DX's Aspie , well into my 40s , on a certain level , makes me feel , on a certain level , " demoted " .
Like in thye military . Or , the Indian caste system . Or (Spoiler!) Mark Twain's novel
" Puddenhead Wilson "'s end . REALLY brief time for a post , this was VERY! rushed !

Shouldn't. As a rule, we're more intelligent, more logical, more goal oriented and focused on our interests, and tend to excel more at our interests. Don't internalize the bad press we get.

The intelligence thing is a myth (intelligence is as prevalent in those with AS as the normal population) but I don't see the label as a "downgrade". A little more understanding by the general populace would be nice though.

Are you certain on this, or is it something the NTs made up to further devalue us? I have a high IQ, as does my aspie son, and I have seen other aspies on here that had scores that were sky high.

I try to find the positives in everything, and even age. For example, now that you're into your 40's, you can talk about how it was back in your day and how the kids are spoiled and ramble on, and really mean it! LoL

You made me search about for some quotes According to Paul Cooijmans, founder of the the high IQ Giga Society: "Actually, within the group of individuals with Asperger, those with high intelligence are a minority (just as they are in the general population), and in the group of highly intelligent persons, those with Asperger are a minority (just as they are in the general population)."

http://www.paulcooijmans.com/psy/asp.html

While he has no credentials in the psychological arena, I would hazard to guess he might know a thing or two about intelligence distribution. Or not.

Also, I would imagine a lot of AS people artificially inflate their scores, or imagine them to be higher than than they are, to compensate for their marginalized status.

...I had little time to write , and , again , I have little ...

You've been like this your whole life, the only difference now is a label. It doesn't make that much of a difference.

I can see how that would affect people who've 'come out' to the world.
But I can't see how it affects anyone who hasn't - other than in influencing their self-concept.
And even then, how much of anyone's self-concept is determined by what they read on the web/in the press ?
Or is it purely an ego thing ?
If the latter, then surely the complaining's misplaced because a large ego infers a positive self-concept.
I know how good or bad I am, how smart or dumb I am.
Why would other people's published opinions on AS make the slightest bit of difference ?

Can anyone explain ? - I'm sure I'm missing something here.

A large ego is detrimental to self development and interaction with those around you if it is not founded on actual talent. I like to refer to it as "American Idol Syndrome", after the contestants weeded out in the first few weeks. If a person has nothing on which to found their claim of prowess, they are going to become repeatedly frustrated.

There is a point in time after a late in life diagnosis that you feel a need to apologize to your family, your siblings, your ex lovers, wives or others, your friends, etc. about being the way you 'were' before you knew how you 'are'.
It takes a couple of months to get past that stage but the good news is that you know know why you are the way you are and you don't have to apologize or make any excuses from now on. It'll eventually become a very liberating experience.

There is a point in time after a late in life diagnosis that you feel a need to apologize to your family, your siblings, your ex lovers, wives or others, your friends, etc. about being the way you 'were' before you knew how you 'are'.
It takes a couple of months to get past that stage but the good news is that you know know why you are the way you are and you don't have to apologize or make any excuses from now on. It'll eventually become a very liberating experience.

I'm not diagnosed yet but there's no question in my mind what the results will be when I go to be tested.

I kind of feel bad now that I know that I am not just lazy and stubborn, but that I am actually *misunderstanding* situations and there is actually a *barrier* between me and NTs.

Of course my family's autistic traits didn't help me get along with them either, which is why this is not as freeing for me as it may be for others.

Still, I'd rather know, so my life can make some sense. And the truth is, these labels seem to be what helps people understand you and *not* dismiss or downgrade you. It's fascinating how just having a name for it will change people's attitudes towards a set of behaviors.

Maybe you misunderstood. The 'label' will only make it harder for you to relate to NT types, not easier, since even in todays world the AS or Autistic label means you're abnormal and perhaps mentally unstable. Around 60% of the population actually thinks you have a brain disease. Friends will usually slowly drop away if you come out of the closet. People will walk on the other side of the street and dodge down the opposite grocery store aisles.

Maybe you misunderstood. The 'label' will only make it harder for you to relate to NT types, not easier, since even in todays world the AS or Autistic label means you're abnormal and perhaps mentally unstable. Around 60% of the population actually thinks you have a brain disease. Friends will usually slowly drop away if you come out of the closet. People will walk on the other side of the street and dodge down the opposite grocery store aisles.

Heh. Do you promise?