Page 2 | AIBU to feel conflicted about Elon Musk having ASD?

NiceGerbil · 09/05/2021 22:50

And really obv he can and should say what he likes... It's not a personal thing more a general impact thing. To discuss.

It does feed into the 'extreme male brain' / genius thing which has left a lot of girls and women undiagnosed. So that's another side.

HazeyJaneII · 09/05/2021 22:52

@ThatIsMyPotato

If he is claiming to represent people with ASD he should know some people don't like the term Aspergers due to links with Nazis.

He isn't claiming to represent people with ASD.

He (and with many others) has a diagnosis of Asperger's, whatever the links (I realise that it is not now used as a diagnosis in the UK, but for many people, it is their diagnosis)

NiceGerbil · 09/05/2021 22:54

'I'm sure his announcement won't help everyone. I would be surprised on current record if he turned philanthropic'

Bitcoin investment?
The satellites issue?
The reports of what he's like to work with?

He's a person who has drive and great ideas and manages to deliver unbelievable things.

IMO he is also extremely arrogant and with the things he can do that's a worry. He doesn't strike me as someone who is open to criticism/ slow down/ what about this. More of a steamroller with a single minded vision.

When he's bunging stuff into space that's not great IMO.

VivaDixie · 09/05/2021 22:56

@Nowthereistwo

I think it's amazing what he's achieved and I liked this quote (taken from BBC):

"Look, I know I sometimes say or post strange things, but that's just how my brain works," he said.

"To anyone who's been offended, I just want to say I reinvented electric cars, and I'm sending people to Mars in a rocket ship. Did you think I was also going to be a chill, normal dude?"

And yet he called a brave hero a 'paedo'. This quote is a horrendous non apology.

I still think he is a tosser.

GlassBoxSpectacular · 09/05/2021 23:00

@ThatIsMyPotato

If he is claiming to represent people with ASD he should know some people don't like the term Aspergers due to links with Nazis.

Is he “claiming to represent” anyone other than himself?

Is he debarred from using “Aspergers” in his self-identification because some people don’t like it?

What is the “right” way to talk about your own Autism, and who gets to decide what the “rules” are?

SnackSizeRaisin · 09/05/2021 23:01

The people I know with Asperger's are not "a bit of an asshole" in fact quite the opposite, more likely to go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. And not remotely egotistical or arrogant either. The social awkwardness is there but they are transparently nice people. It's not a stereotype I was aware of at all regarding Asperger's.

MrsTroutfire · 09/05/2021 23:02

He has ASD and it's a fact. End of story. You can't decide whether or not to have it based on the social ramifications.

Daydrambeliever · 09/05/2021 23:03

It's great. I'm glad he feels able to talk about it. I hope it helps others understand that asd traits can be both wonderful and limiting at the same time. I wonder if there have been times in his life where he might have swapped his intellect for the ability to better understand how nt's communicate and relate.

flashylamp · 09/05/2021 23:05

I realise that it is not now used as a diagnosis in the UK, but for many people, it is their diagnosis)

Aspergers is still diagnosed in the UK using the ICD10. ICD11 is coming in the next few months and it will all be ASD just as the diagnosis using the DSM 5 are. But for now it is entirely possible to get an Aspergers diagnosis in the UK

PostLockdownLife · 09/05/2021 23:06

Someone can be a plonker with diabetes, asthma or whatever.

HazeyJaneII · 09/05/2021 23:07

Sorry @flashylamp, we were told that it was not used any more when ds was assessed a couple of years ago, maybe the paediatrician was anticipating the change.

flashylamp · 09/05/2021 23:08

@HazeyJaneII

Sorry *@flashylamp*, we were told that it was not used any more when ds was assessed a couple of years ago, maybe the paediatrician was anticipating the change.

They probably use DSM V so would be correct in that 'they' don't diagnose it.

Bigbluebuttons · 09/05/2021 23:13

Hmm. My four closest relatives are fully diagnosed paid up ASD’ers. I love them all dearly and their autism is a part of who they are and makes them wonderful and unique. However the same condition can also make them extremely difficult, and behave like absolute dickheads without a care in the world. If they didn’t have ASD they wouldn’t be as wonderful but they also wouldn’t be quite such arses sometimes.

Bigbluebuttons · 09/05/2021 23:15

And when I’m talking about dickhead behaviour, things like one of them not visiting his wife who was stuck in hospital with their new baby, because it was a Wednesday and he goes to judo on Wednesdays and always has. And was when his wife was somewhat disappointed. That sort of thing.

Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 09/05/2021 23:19

You don't get to pick and choose who has autism. It's not an elitist membership club for which you can fulfil quotas for who is represented within it.

UhtredRagnarson · 09/05/2021 23:19

but on the other, I feel that it perpetuates a stereotype of people with ASD being male tech gurus with a serious case of 'being a bit of an asshole'.

So are you saying people shouldn’t feel able to tell people about their own diagnosis if they conform to the stereotypes about that diagnosis?

Gilead · 09/05/2021 23:23

It is not Asperger’s disorder.
Yes he’s Autistic, or has Asperger syndrome, whichever he chooses to call it.
Many of us who are actually autistic prefer to use Autistic Spectrum Condition, as opposed to disorder.
The distancing from using Asperger is due to Hans Asperger’s work with the Nazis.

Moonpeg · 09/05/2021 23:27

There are two young boys in my street aged 12. Both are horrible little bullies. They both have autism or Aspergers. Their parents let them terrorise the street. The police can’t do anything. The parents hide behind the fact they have disabilities if anyone goes to the door. We have had enough and are ready to sell up and move. My nerves are shattered with these total little shits

flashylamp · 09/05/2021 23:29

@Moonpeg

There are two young boys in my street aged 12. Both are horrible little bullies. They both have autism or Aspergers. Their parents let them terrorise the street. The police can’t do anything. The parents hide behind the fact they have disabilities if anyone goes to the door. We have had enough and are ready to sell up and move. My nerves are shattered with these total little shits

I am bit confused what relevance your shitty neighbours have here? You haven't commented regarding the AIBU - just come along to call 2 boys with a disability 'shits'

Bigbluebuttons · 09/05/2021 23:31

Moonpeg are they little shits because of their ASD, or are they little shits AND they have ASD?

UhtredRagnarson · 09/05/2021 23:32

They both have autism or Aspergers.

Sounds like you don’t actually know whether they do or not.

NiceGerbil · 09/05/2021 23:37

I forgot about what an utter bastard he was to the man who helped rescue those children.

I work in IT and like I say this label is used to excuse men behaving like wankers.

Of course it's a diagnosis which can relate to massive problems.

But in day to day life it's being used in some areas to excuse men who are gits.

And the idea of the man who is a genius but has various issues is very very old.

Girls with these conditions are under diagnosed.

Men who are arseholes are excused.

Same old.

Original poster

Apparentlychanged · 09/05/2021 23:37

@PostLockdownLife

Someone can be a plonker with diabetes, asthma or whatever.

You can, but nobody is going to say that you are a plonker because you have asthma or diabetes.

Some of Elon's opening sounded a bit as if he was justifying some of the completely stupid shit he's said on twitter by saying he does that stuff because he's autistic. I can't really be open about my own diagnosis because of the stereotype autism = insensitive/callous, which would be devastating in my own line of work, so part of me is a little bemused. That said, I'm happy he feels he can speak out.

OP posts:

Moonpeg · 09/05/2021 23:39

UhtredRagnarson
One boy has autism, they other boy Aspergers.I know what each boy has, we have been bullied by both for the past year.

Bigbluebuttons · 09/05/2021 23:41

But Moonpeg is the objectionable part of their behaviour as a result of their ASD or a coincidence?