Refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/asperger_syndrome then answer the poll.

Yeah, I think I have something like Asperger's Syndrome. That or HFA. One indication is ring finger that's particularly long compared to the index finger.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/apendrapew/Picture2.jpg
Check and see if you have a similar pattern. Males are supposed to have ring fingers that are longer than their index fingers. It's a measure of hormone levels. Women who have long ring fingers tend to be lesbians.

Weird :O

Yes, I discovered I was autistic about three years ago, it explained alot. It was a revelation, and I feel much better about myself as a result. I can now recognize and avoid autistically difficult situations. It explains alot about my father and grandfather, too. My relatives were surprised when I told them why my grandfather acted that way, it was always a mystery to them.

i have nothing like it, my index finger is actually longer than my ring finger although not by much

I don't think that's an indicator of Asperger's Syndrome.

no, but in many cases it is true, especially if there is a big differance, my index finger is only about the width of a small wrapper apart

It's an indicator of testosterone, which may have some connection to autism... or not.

A new and positive approach to Aspergers...
http://www.aspergia.com/

Comprehensive resource on Aspergers...
http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/

OASIS forums. The format sucks and I was banned, but...
http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/messageboards.html#OFORUMS

Silly name for a personality type, an anti-social personality type.
These people always existed, before we called them nerds.

Silly name for a personality type, an anti-social personality type.
These people always existed, before we called them nerds.

It's called Asperger's Syndrome after the scientist who discovered it. It says that in the wiki link. Why is it silly?

OASIS forums. The format sucks and I was banned, but...
http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/messageboards.html#OFORUMS

lol, you got banned from an autism forum? heh, I'm not laughing at you. Just laughing at the absurdity. I'm wondering how the hell that happened.

Hahaha, that sounds like a pretty good intro to a joke. "So I got banned from an autism forum the other day..."

"... who would have figured autistic people could be so touchy?"

It's called Asperger's Syndrome after the scientist who discovered it. It says that in the wiki link. Why is it silly?

Because it's weak thinking. Why view yourself as a victim? It's personality, each person is flawed, so why don't we have asshole syndrome, geek syndrome, nice guy syndrome, or whatever? Everyone has something because theres no normal personality, I see this as another way to sell pills by convincing people that they are sick.

Unless a person with this syndrome actually goes to a doctor because they feel sick, then I see this as another ADHD or Anti Social Personality disorder, one of those personality traits popular among geeks and computer users which are good for working with machines but bad for working with people. I don't see how it's a syndrome, maybe it just needs a better name than a syndrome, it's too much like downs syndrome.

So the question is why would you rather have a syndrome than just be a computer nerd?

Because it's weak thinking. Why view yourself as a victim? It's personality, each person is flawed, so why don't we have asshole syndrome, geek syndrome, nice guy syndrome, or whatever?
People choose, to varying extents, to be assholes, geeks or nice guys. Autistic people don't choose to be autistic.

To date, I think I've only met one person with autism. He was intelligent and had a fairly well-developed sense of humour but was very monotonous in his speech patterns (a typical trait), and had a naive, child-like quality about him. It was clear from the outset that he was... different. People used to make fun of him for it.

You should be glad that your emotional reactions and social skills have developed naturally, without much effort on your part, and that you haven't had to learn the appropriate emotional responses in any given situation by watching 'normal' people.

Here's the wiki page on autism:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

Your homework for today is to read it.

Because it's weak thinking. Why view yourself as a victim? It's personality, each person is flawed, so why don't we have asshole syndrome, geek syndrome, nice guy syndrome, or whatever? Everyone has something because theres no normal personality, I see this as another way to sell pills by convincing people that they are sick.

Unless a person with this syndrome actually goes to a doctor because they feel sick, then I see this as another ADHD or Anti Social Personality disorder, one of those personality traits popular among geeks and computer users which are good for working with machines but bad for working with people. I don't see how it's a syndrome, maybe it just needs a better name than a syndrome, it's too much like downs syndrome.

So the question is why would you rather have a syndrome than just be a computer nerd?

It's basically autism, a well known developmental disorder. We are not anti-social. Some people known as geeks may very well be autistic, some not. There is no pill for Asperger's. It's not even that much of a problem most of the time, it mostly comes up with regard to relationships. I don't view myself as a victim of anything, in fact I'm proud to be different in this way.

The difference between this and a personality trait, is that personality traits can change if you want it to, but the traits that characterize Aspergers cannot.

"... who would have figured autistic people could be so touchy?"

Yes, empathy isn't their strong point. We are also conditioned to act in a neurotypical world, so it's surprising to encounter someone with the same traits.

I've read "The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time", which was quite good.

Sometimes I feel a bit socially awkward, so I thought about Asperger's. I'm 99% sure I don't have it though.

Alot of people do feel socially awkward, and may share some of the traits of Aspergers, but not all. This fact often masks the phenomenon. My mother is a counsellor and has degrees in psychology, and she didn't figure it out. While she accepts it now, she doesn't quite accept the true implications.

Sometimes I feel a bit socially awkward, so I thought about Asperger's. I'm 99% sure I don't have it though.
What phonetic said.

just been to vegas. Been counting cards with my mate charlie babbett.

Muh? Oh. Rain Man.

Muh? Oh. Rain Man.
you have very chubby fingers.

It's basically autism, a well known developmental disorder. We are not anti-social. Some people known as geeks may very well be autistic, some not. There is no pill for Asperger's. It's not even that much of a problem most of the time, it mostly comes up with regard to relationships. I don't view myself as a victim of anything, in fact I'm proud to be different in this way.

The difference between this and a personality trait, is that personality traits can change if you want it to, but the traits that characterize Aspergers cannot.

If it were autism they should / would have called it autism. Austistic people cannot talk. That's an actual disability. Not being social is not a disability, it's a strength.

I don't know if i have it or not .

If it were autism they should / would have called it autism. Austistic people cannot talk. That's an actual disability. Not being social is not a disability, it's a strength.

They call it one end of the "autistic spectrum". Sometimes autistic people that don't talk suddenly do. I agree not being social can be a strength, but since most people depend on society to some degree, it can also cause problems. Some people with Asperger's want to be social, but don't understand why their attempts aren't accepted.

TimeTraveler: How is not being social a strength? Get outta here.

you have very chubby fingers.

You wouldn't know chubby if it poked you in the bum! They're stout, thank you very much! and good for playing stringed instruments.

TimeTraveler: How is not being social a strength? Get outta here.

I think part of the confusion lies in the fact that TimeTraveler thinks Asperger's Syndrome is the same thing as Nerd Syndrome. He thinks nerds and people afflicted with AS are the same thing. Granted, people with AS are often nerds, but they really are not the same thing.

Another thing to consider is that AS is not like you either have it or you don't. People can be afflicted at different levels and intensities. But AS and nerd syndrome are not synonymous terms like TT seems to think. I think I know what I'm talking about here. People with Asperger's Syndrome really are different. Simply put, TT doesn't know what he's talking about. Does he ever know what he's saying? Honestly.