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Celebrities who come out as aspies

Divrom said:
I never get the interest in this kind of thing.

What difference does it make?
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If anything, it seems that if a celebrity goes on about it, it raises more awareness than whenever I (or you) get on a soapbox.

I guess there's a discussion to be had if we need awareness and all, but I think that's one of the main things when it comes to reading about someone "coming out".
 
I think it may be a way of raising awareness of aspergers, considering it is practically ignored.
 
I, for one, enjoy reading stories like these.

Susan Boyle--that's not all that surprising, but Daryl Hannah--wow! Never knew about it. I was a big fan of her as Elle Driver in the Kill Bill movies.
 
King_Oni said:
If anything, it seems that if a celebrity goes on about it, it raises more awareness than whenever I (or you) get on a soapbox.

I guess there's a discussion to be had if we need awareness and all, but I think that's one of the main things when it comes to reading about someone "coming out".
Click to expand...

Yep, that's a perfectly good point.

To be fair, my frustration comes from countless discussions about whether or not e.g. Einstein was an Aspie. Nevertheless, thanks for your answer.
 
We judge people by who they are, not their diagnosis. If people are successful because of their autism, then we need not worry, we just stay focused on our dreams and achieve them.
 
I think this kind of topic is fairly interesting personally, and if anything, quite encouraging :)

Most of the time when people think of being diagnosed with anything, they think that there's something wrong with them. Celebrities can people give hope. Celebrities with aspergers can show that we aren't disabled, merely different. I love to hear these stories, because it fuels me, and encourages me to follow my dreams, passions, and obsessions. It also educates society as to what we are truly capable of.

I think the thing I love most about it, is that it explains why there are some celebrities I relate with more, and when they come forward and admit such a thing, it's then I learn how to recognise other people with aspergers, because without them, or fictional characters with aspergers, I wouldn't have learned how to recognise certain behaviours in other people. I probably would have continued thinking I was the only one for years, and maybe never wised up to what was really going on. Everyone needs role models, even aspies.
 
Vanilla, I agree absolutely. Most people need role models and celebrities 'coming out' can inspire the rest of us. If 'they' can do it then maybe we can too. Susan Boyle had a miserable life before getting the opportunity to let the world hear that wonderful voice and now getting a diagnosis has given her peace of mind.
 
I think it is very beneficial for anyone famous, who isn't a horrible person, to share that they have AS. The world sees someone thought to have something positive to contribute, who also has this weird problem, but is still appreciated. Said enlightened NTs then associate AS with the possibility of Aspies being contributing members of society. Hearing about historical figures who were probably Aspies serves the same purpose. "Hey--if so-and-so had AS, it didn't stop him/her from becoming famous." I was very happy to hear about Susan Boyle because she had spent so much of her life in discomfort for feeling rejected.
 
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