Autistics not helping the cause challenging myths

[Rachie]

I didn't intend to write this post right now. It is something I have had in mind for sometime. I find it difficult to locate old posts. I had a title but lost it in my mind when I came to post. so opted for a close one.

I will try and keep my words short. Some of what I have read post diagnosis has come from within the Autistic circle. I started with only positive thoughts pretty much. I then started reading how autistics are more likely to be victims of rapists etc etc. I disliked it so much than when I saw in the political section I just blocked that entire section from ruining my day. Lets not carry all that here but the essential information if needed to this debate. That has nothing to do with my life and not reflective of it.
Probably thosr people though are easy to be exploited and vunerable and there are gradients as well. These are support forums here to listen and to support the cause surely as well.

How many would like to post in a forum full of more likely and how could that give autistic people when we are all struggling just like everyone else. It is not also other people to be around autistics. I though have a good basing on what is true or not.

It is not right and you can become guarded about some points of your life on here with all these more likely's said by autistics which can be challenged.

Think about it and happy holidays.

 

[Outdated]

This is more a statement about the particular society you live in rather than a generalistaion of the world as a whole. Some societies are more likely to look at differences in a curious light rather than out of fear and loathing, and some societies are so backwards that to them even slight differences must be the result of witchcraft and inherently evil.

I then started reading how autistics are more likely to rapists etc etc.

Whenever you read something like this check the sources of information and what else those authors like to write about. You'll likely find that they also like to write about alien abductions and how man landing on the moon was faked as a conspiracy, etc.

 

[Rachie]

Thank you for your thoughts Outdated. This is though really coming a lot in the case from the autistic community. For example in this post autistics were said to be more likely to XYZ and this is not related to alien abuduction. I have this sort of thing in several threads, but just selecting one link below.

M

Post in thread 'If you were honest with yourselves, how many of you hate having this condition?'

Nov 25, 2024

And how can I live in peace with autism when there's so much to be fearful about having autism?

"Autistics are more likely to become homeless"

"Autistics are more likely to develop epilepsy"

"Autistics are more likely to become murder/rape victims"

"Autistics are more likely to get Parkinson's disease"

"The lifespan for autistics is short"

"Autistics are more likely to commit suicide"


Living in fear of my own body because I don't feel physically normal after reading such scary stuff about how our bodies are different (different blood types, gut bacteria, heartbeat, risk of...

• Misty Avich

Would most people like to spend a lot of tim3 with these more likely's some of them....a few rare few would I imagine. I know it is not just it is thought by many. There are deeper explanitions. I will continue to ignore them and post the same.

Potentially it may encourage others to not join this community and similar because of public perceptions that can formed by reading things more likely online without scientific explantionation.

 

[Misty Avich]

Sorry, post deleted by me, as I think I was being paranoid. I think you're just worrying about those points as much as I do? I have an anxiety disorder and I'm not the brightest spark in the box, so those two combined can cause one to feel frightened due to being clueless of what's true and what isn't.
I'm not the best at retaining information or looking for reliable sources to educate myself. I just take other people's word for things then freak out and try to seek reassurance. It's a shame that some autistics come on to these sites to just associate everything bad with autism. And many autistic people are willing to just back them up without feeling any kind of anxiety towards it, while there's me sitting there going "oh my God I'm gonna die because I'm on the spectrum and so XYZ is more likely to happen to me than my neurotypical peers". I envy those who just approach such horror with little to no emotion and go into scientific nerd mode instead.

 

[Rachie]

Sorry, post deleted by me, as I think I was being paranoid. I think you're just worrying about those points as much as I do?ntific nerd mode instead.

Hi Misty don't be paranoid, I've seen quite a lot like this on the internet. Just that post was the one I read last. You are no way alone in writing that and some is backed by science but have an explantation like the health things. It is good though if we explain why this is so.

This is the real world say you are trying to talk to someone in the real world and they say they are a rapist etc etc a lot of people would move away from them and not come back. This is like more mild at its worst on a forum...that link could perhaps put some people of from joining or posting a more likely group with some of them.

Nothing to be paranoid about and try and enjoy the holidays as much as you can.

 

[Misty Avich]

Hi Misty don't be paranoid, I've seen quite a lot like this on the internet. Just that post was the one I read last. You are no way alone in writing that and some is backed by science but have an explantation like the health things. It is good though if we explain why this is so.

This is the real world say you are trying to talk to someone in the real world and they say they are a rapist etc etc a lot of people would move away from them and not come back. This is like more mild at its worst on a forum...that link could perhaps put some people of from joining or posting a more likely group with some of them.

Nothing to be paranoid about and try and enjoy the holidays as much as you can.

It's okay. I get anxious about all those things too, though I don't agree with any of them as such. That's why I put them in quotation marks. I know it's an autism site and everything but it would be better if people toned down on the "are autistics more likely to have/be [insert frightening/unpleasant trait here]?". I once had a meltdown because I read on another autism site that autistics are "more likely" to get brain cancer. I remember running into the sitting-room crying my eyes out to my mum after I read that, saying I wanted to die and didn't want to have this brain any more. My mum said that's a silly thing for people to put online, but I wailed, "but they added a study! I never know what to believe!" I was in a right state. I don't know how people could post such things, as if to make autism out to be a life-threatening disease or something. I know Downs syndrome can be associated with physical illnesses and conditions leading to a shorter lifespan, but I was always taught that autistic people are physically quite lucky, being so most of us look "normal". And I say that because I've seen threads with users posting photos of themselves and they don't have any distinct features like Downs syndrome people do, and most of us are adults size and mostly healthy, with health conditions most likely being unrelated to autism - even though they still try to claim that every ailment they have is due to autism.

You enjoy the holidays too.

 

[Rachie]

It's okay. I get anxious about all those things too, though I don't agree with any of them as such. That's why I put them in quotation marks. I know it's an autism site and everything but it would be better if people toned down on the "are autistics more likely to have/be [insert frightening/unpleasant trait here]?". I once had a meltdown because I read on another autism site that autistics are "more likely" to get brain cancer. I remember running into the sitting-room crying my eyes out to my mum after I read that, saying I wanted to die and didn't want to have this brain any more. My mum said that's a silly thing for people to put online, but I wailed, "but they added a study! I never know what to believe!" I was in a right state. I don't know how people could post such things, as if to make autism out to be a life-threatening disease or something. I know Downs syndrome can be associated with physical illnesses and conditions leading to a shorter lifespan, but I was always taught that autistic people are physically quite lucky, being so most of us look "normal". And I say that because I've seen threads with users posting photos of themselves and they don't have any distinct features like Downs syndrome people do, and most of us are adults size and mostly healthy, with health conditions most likely being unrelated to autism - even though they still try to claim that every ailment they have is due to autism.

You enjoy the holidays too.

Hi Misty. I really hope you have a restful holidays. It is common in the world and as I wrote nothing to be paranoid about. I only linked that post as Outdated said it was about aliens like it wasn;t ever coming from everyday autitstics as well.

I want to move on-. about the health issues this article explains a bit. Now, I will say don't read it now if you are going to perhaps as I do not wish to ruin your christmas. However, not everyone marks it and we are adults and I shouldn't have to delay posting some evidence in case it causes distress the truth, .I wouldn't read it now. It didn't bother me, it just helped me to understand a bit more. On the epilpsey if you have never had it I am not a scientist but I would say you would be unlikely to get it so that perhaps that should not be of a concern to you.
I get get concerned something I have may have a fit like if a light is too bright and strobing but as well I may be worrying where I shouldn't be. I get anxiety especially living alone . I am very litreal and my body seems like it can believe something sometimes and act like something even though my doesn't like issue around autism and possession. It was like my body paniced and it was difficult to pull out of it so I need to be careful what I read.

Increased rates of chronic physical health conditions across all organ systems in autistic adolescents and adults - Molecular Autism

 

[Misty Avich]

Will I get cancer?

 

[Misty Avich]

Studies like that seem to only involve people with severe autism disability with limited communication skills, functioning and sense of danger. Even if I had difficulty with functioning I'd still know how to seek help if I was really that desperate. Although I do know how to function, or even if I struggle I'm aware of what I'm struggling with and how much impact it could have on my health and wellbeing. I'm good at seeing patterns in things and can even get an idea of a realistic prediction of the very near future, for example "if I do X and Y, hopefully Z will happen". Although my ADHD can contradict this, but still doesn't put me in any sort of danger. I'm too hyperaware of myself and others and can work things out very well. While this feels like a curse at times (high anxiety and overthinking), I guess it can be a survival technique too.

 

[NB79]

I think is correct that autistic are probably more in danger, the whole 'naive' thing, we all know autistics get bullied a lot sometimes. And the more severe the autism, sadly there are monster that take advantage of people, not just autistics, but elderly etc.

 

[Rachie]

I was in hospital for several years and knew several consulants and they treated me as autistic as well. I read several years ago that the brains of autistics and neurotypicals are virtually identical on scans and you really struggle to see any changes especially in less severe cases. More changes are seen in sensory people with sensory processing disorders although that is not a medical diagnosis.

The differences may be in the neurological system more response.

I have been wondering what makes some autistics seemingly more likely to do some of those things raised. As I wrote they may be vulnerable and easy to exploit and not understand things and also perhaps some may have ropey special interests. Not all special interests may be desirable. For some may have interests in weapons and well I do not need to go further.

 

[NB79]

Some people are sensitive to certain topics, while others may like the topic and maybe there is nothing evil about it, is understandable i think. Maybe i have posted something that 'triggered your fears' the other time from what you talk about, it was not my intention.

 

[Boogs]

It may be worth keeping in mind that advantages and disadvantages exist everywhere in our lives. Autistic issues are only one of hundreds, even thousands of other conditions, from physical disabilities, to poverty, environmental damage, etc etc.

All these things need to be expressed statistically to be able to rationalise and understand, which is needed if real improvements are desired, to direct the efforts and resources those improvements would need to be effective.

So the old expression "lies damn lies and statistics" (and any variations on that theme) are down to the fact that few people understand statistics very well, making them easy to employ as tools of misinformation. Whether directed at us (autistic people) or we just pick up on that because of it's relevance to us, it can be very unhelpful and give an impression of things that may well not reflect everyone's reality.

Without those statistics, the could be only limited improvements made, they are a necessary evil, but as they say, the map is not the territory. The statistics are not the actual truth of the matter, they are just a way of measuring certain factors to quantify them for other purposes.

For some may have interests in weapons and well I do not need to go further.

Just as an aside - I'm fascinated with weapons, and have been as long as I can be aware of. But the idea of using one to needlessly hurt or kill a living thing makes me sick to my stomach. It's an intellectual fascination with a tool that's shaped much of our current society and culture - weapons were likely one of the earliest examples of tool use, but it doesn't necessarily mean I get any kind of pleasure from the thought of using one (though I readily admit some people do).

 

[NB79]

Yeah i like weapons too, i think lots of males do, but i would fire one only in videogames.

 

[Misty Avich]

Some people are sensitive to certain topics, while others may like the topic and maybe there is nothing evil about it, is understandable i think. Maybe i have posted something that 'triggered your fears' the other time from what you talk about, it was not my intention.

Yeah, I know. I think it's because I have so many hang-ups with being on the spectrum that I just cannot handle seeing information that autism means illness, disease and death. So it's not you. It's just me being angry that I have a seemingly dangerous condition that hasn't landed me in hospital so far.

 

[Boogs]

Yeah i like weapons too, i think lots of males do, but i would fire one only in videogames.

I wonder if this is an element of wish fulfilment, and why so popular in video games where the morality can be suspended. It's a way of getting what you want without working for it (beyond using the weapon).
A way of abrogating responsibility and forcing your ego over others whom otherwise would be too powerful to use force over, requiring effort and cooperation instead. We want what we want but we don't want to pay for it?

 

[Outdated]

I wonder if this is an element of wish fulfilment....

I grew up with guns being a natural part of life. I never owned one, my parents wouldn't allow it, but all of my mates did. The introduction of rabbits here caused an extreme ecological disaster and driving down country roads at night with spotlights and semi automatic .22s popping off bunny rabbits was considered a community service as well as being a lot of fun. I had a good eye for it and very quickly became a crack shot.

These days I have no interest in guns at all, the worlds too full of dickheads to have guns lying around the place these days. I also never had any interest in the shoot'em'up video games, it's nothing like real shooting and I find them quite boring. I have a real fascination for more advanced weaponry though.

 

[Boogs]

I have a real fascination for more advanced weaponry though.

Likewise, sometimes more as an abstract interest at what can be done. Learning about how fusion bombs work for example, really fascinating at how inventive we are at this.

My thoughts are that weapons were our first inventions, and a weapon will likely be one of our last, and it's weapons that have taken us to where we currently are, more than any other single thing. Whatever our feelings about them, the fact they are fundamental to us seems pretty certain to me and hence an important part of what we are.

And they can be great fun too!

 

[Outdated]

My thoughts are that weapons were our first inventions....

We are apex predators. We might wear a veneer of civility but that doesn't change what we are.

 

[Boogs]

We are apex predators. We might wear a veneer of civility but that doesn't change what we are.

Exactly! And it's a large part of what shapes us and why now that we've exhausted most prey and domesticated those we want, we now have mostly only ourselves to prey on (and have done for a long time now).

Also, we often have fixed idea's about what constitutes a weapon, but mostly those are simply tools with no other uses. But there's no much that can't be weaponised in the right circumstances.

Weapons are also a route to power at many levels, and nowadays money has become one of the most flexible and powerful of weapons, and weapons of resource starvation (such as money) are as old as the hills.