to be fed up of people using Aspergers as an excuse

[SomeGuy]

Just reading DM (yes, IABU, I know), story about some bloke who got into a facebook tiff and sued for libel:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1298010/Facebook-libel-Law-student-dubbed-paedophile-wins-10-000-li bel-damages.html

'Jeremiah Barber posted an indecent image of children on Raymond Bryce's page on the social networking website along with the comment: 'Ray, you like kids and you are gay so I bet you love this picture, Ha ha'.

The image, which hundreds of users could see, showed Mr Bryce superimposed on to a collage of pornographic pictures.

It was 'tagged' with Mr Bryce's name, allowing his 800 friends on the site to see it.

His victim, who is now a law student, pursued the civil claim against his former school friend and was awarded £10,000 at the High Court yesterday for the stress and anxiety the incident caused him.'

'Mr Bryce, 24, who lives with his parents in Stone, Staffordshire, suffers from high functioning Asperger's Syndrome, but has secured a place on a full time degree course studying law at Stafford University.'

So in other words he's intelligent and successful and has lots of friends. So why should we care that he 'suffers' from Aspergers? It doesn't make the libel any worse, or make him more of a victim.

Here's another story, from Friday:

www.thisiskent.co.uk/tunbridgewells/Asperger-sufferer-admits-cash-card-theft-friend/article-2442184- detail/article.html

'Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court heard on Friday how 22-year-old Michael Funnell, of Addison Road, invited a group of friends around to his house for a party on March 6.

He took their coats to hang them up and when Steve Goodwin's back was turned, took his bank card, before withdrawing £120 from a cash point.

He had memorised his friend's PIN when with him a couple of days before.

Brian Ferris, defending, said: "I am told my client has Asperger's syndrome. He can offer no explanation as to why he steals in this way."'

You wouldn't get them saying 'I am told thay my client doesn't have a very good job, because he is not very bright.'

Another story from today:

www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/Spared-prison-camera-showers/article-2442265-detail/article.html

' A MINISTRY of Defence manager who set up covert cameras to watch naked men in the showers has been spared jail.

Hensman, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, was working as network manager in communications and systems at the MoD police HQ in Wethersfield when he was accused of voyeurism.

Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC told him: "You were originally prosecuted for sexual offences [voyeurism] but because of your psychiatric makeup these charges were dropped.

"In February 2006 you set up some sort of video recording equipment which recorded movements of people coming in and out of the showers, involving some images of naked males' private parts.

"You were doing it because of your psychiatric condition."

Asperger's is an autism disorder characterised by social interaction problems.

Judge Goldstaub said that people have to "accommodate" others with psychiatric disorders and be "tolerant", adding "it's not their fault".'

It seems to be a popular plea for people accused of child pornography offences:

www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/2031606.indecent_images_man_avoids_jail/

'A BARMAN who was caught with more than 900 indecent images of children has been spared jail.

Southwark Crown Court heard because Jonathan Bristow had Asperger's syndrome he could act on impulse and become obsessive about collecting things.'

mammadoo's advice was very general anyway. I mean 'PECS' - oh right hadn't thought about that. She probably meant symbols rather than PECS anyway. I don't think it would stop my son picking up a twix from a cafe and walking off without paying, as he did last week -of course I grabbed him and we paid. He's been going to shops for over 11 years, school takes him shopping a lot - and yet he still has no concept of money or paying for an item or ownership- and we all use PECS (and symbols).

I understand what Heracles is saying but not sure if I could explain it. Please don't shoot me down if I say the wrong thing

There are parents out there who read lots, use google way too much. But because they do now read everything properly they just pick out a few things and then the next day their child does something and they start to panic. So they read some more and this goes on and on and before you know it, they are convinced their child has whatever they have read about.

it makes sense in my head anyway. I don't think he is for one minute saying that any parent here has done that tho.

And why do I think Heracles is a he???

I thought heracles was a he as well.

I think it was because of the name, I first saw hercules

Plus, it is said, that the amount of people with ASD is rising. So people have said is it being diagnosed properly? I can see why people would think that. It's a logical thought process along with the bad press.

Personally I think knowledge has got better. And years ago, people were labelled as having 'Autistic tendancies' which now they are on the ASD.

Starlight, all I did was explain what I thought he/she meant, or how I read it.

I have heard of a few schools/nurseries doing this, making parents worry etc....but I don't think it would happen as frequently as parents panicking over health issues. Google can be the root of all evil.

Years ago Dyslexia did have a stigma on it, but it seems to be more 'understood' these days. And mental health issues, it comes and goes in the press.

I do believe it is being diagnosed better. Years ago my son would have been labelled as a loner, backward etc......but now he has been diagnosed, it seems he is being understood by more people and not getting negative labels.

@wentmad, yeah that's somewhat the nub of it. Mt stance is actually supportive of parents with actual autistic children as it must be maddening (in the same way as when you tell people of your depression to be met with "yeah, I was a bit depressed once", relating to a time they lost twenty quid and split up with their boyfriend).

@maryz: then you're not who I'm talking about, are you? As I say, don't look for offence where there is none.

@starlight: because having to expain every purposely flippant thing I say gets bloody grating.

And yes, Heracles was a he; the he-est of the hes, in fact: don't you know your ancient gods? Tut tut, ladies...

I wish I was, it's a common complaint round these parts.

Anecdotal evidence is no evidence at all, but I'd not be so rude as to claim you were lying. Poor show, that.

No, just your average area, full of people able to understand basic English. I'll send you a brochure if you fancy a change of pace...

How would they tell?

(b-dm, tish!)

Heh, no, well, as I say, you need to be somewhere where people have too much time, money and existential ennui I guess. Your description of the locals would suggest that wouldn't be the case round your neck of the woods. Who'd be you, eh?

Ha ha! That may be it.

Oh, b-dm tish? Y'know, the drum sting on the end of a bad gag? Am I really.. have you never... ah fuggetaboutit.
x

Omg I think I know Heracles in real life.

Didn't the Partridge popularise b-dm tish?

On a serious note I'm not sure that individual parents popularise/imagine autism. ADHD? Certainly. And the media? Yes indeed. But most parents of young children imagine autism = unaffectionate child rocking back & forth and don't really want their child to be thought of in that way. Or they think their toddler doing jigsaw puzzles upside down, whilst reading and showing an obsession with numbers is a genius rather than displaying worrying behaviour. I think I was there once (minus the jigsaws but 17 month old ds1 could sing perfectly in tune to make up for lack of jigsaw skill).

And I think a delay in parents first raising concerns &. diagnosis is very common. We had a year & half delay when really it should have been obvious to anyone 6 months after our first discussion with the so-called pros. My cat could have done a better job. For those who have children who are higher functioning the delay can be years.

Oh before I go out for the day & come back to a bloodbath I'm not saying I think ADHD is made up- have seen close quarters what a nightmare it is.

And I wonder whether parents fo ascribe it incorrectly as I've said above. -I've never met anyone who does (have met quite a few kids who I think need a dx though). People on here have said they know people who make it up. Who knows?

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but surely (as many mums here know all too well) middle-class parents don't convince themselves that their DC has a touch of the spectrum, and, voila, they are diagnosed and, double voila, get these wonderful special advantages that must have passed me by?
Getting a diagnosis is a struggle for many people; it's not like they're dishing them out.
Star Sicilian mass services? Seriously? Perhaps I should visit...

Even for adults, the diagnostic process is a nightmare. (If you can find a specialist, and wait 2 years for a place on their list, and/or pay anything up to £1000 for a private referral....then go through all the interviews and questions and bring along family members who can vouch for almost every aspect of your entire life...)

...and then get zero at the end. Nothing. Not a sausage. Well, some abuse maybe.

Plenty have to try to make their own guesses about being on the spectrum because there's zero other choice available. Trust me, you only ask if you're desperate...and two more years of 'desperate' is too much for people.

Anyone saying that we're just wanting the label for fun because it's the latest fad isn't funny.