I doubt most people realize the Catch 22 situation that hinders society from being able to dispel the myths about Aspergers syndrome and to get the proper information that’s needed in order for the right people to be in authority on matters in regard to Aspergers.
Most of the time and money being poured into research to study about AS is not only wasteful, but also potentially destructive. Too many wrong conclusions are made because of relying upon observations. Observations are fine, but what is lacking is enough of the right kind of communication.
How can I say this, especially when I haven’t had as much time being aware of Aspergers existence as many others? Because the information that really counts, when it comes to grasping what Aspergers is, does NOT come from structured research done in controlled environments specifically designed for studies.
The best source of knowledge, as with most things, comes from experiences that happen in life naturally.¹ For example, we can’t control things like who our relatives are and/or the way a lot of events unfold over time. Such things can be a curse or a blessing, depending on how you perceive them and what you do with them.
My life is a good example of a situation in which a desired outcome or solution seems impossible to attain because of a set of inherently illogical rules and conditions. The desired outcome I’d like to see is a way for me to take what I’ve learned and have it boosted up to the forefront so it is at least on par with all the misinformation that has already had a chance to spread. The set of inherently illogical rules have arrived because too much wrong information has received the opportunity to embed itself into society. A condition that adds to the impossibility has to do with the amount of insufficient intelligence that exists. There are other conditions too (e.g., politics), but those kinds of things are not as exclusive to Aspergers.
Starting with intelligence, it is both relative and relevant. An IQ point gives the illusion of an intelligence level as being absolute (existing independently), but such numbers should not be used like those on a measuring cup. It’s disgusting to see how IQ points have become like a scoreboard in a competition event! That being said, intelligence still remains highly relevant for understanding Aspergers. However, a high IQ isn’t enough to guarantee its comprehension. Adding to that, other aspects also influence the ability to grasp such a complex concept as Aspergers.
What is known about AS is only the tip of the iceburg. The bulk of it will probably always remain a mystery to most people. I’m not saying we should give up on educating the public about AS. What I am saying is that those who have the authority to create and/or enforce rules and/or laws that set the way society handles Aspergers must NOT be done by those who truly do not understand it. In all probability, those who do ‘get it’ well enough will also have the integrity to incorporate their knowledge properly. Wrong motives usually produce unreliable outcomes. Curiosity driven by those who love an aspie(s?) is not the same thing as the type driven by a passion to be an ‘authority’ on the subject.
I gave one example of how illogical rules and conditions affected Mary Newport in my post about Unequal Reactions to Fame. I have many examples, but I can’t publicize them without putting the people in these examples at risk. This is also why I have to keep what I post limited to a certain level that’s far from being as helpful to society as whatever I may already have on my blog for others to gain insight from.
This ‘handicap’ works the other way too. I could offer more if I could get feedback that would have greater detail instead of comments remaining relatively vague. That’s to be expected given the risks that come along with using the internet. In spite of such blocks that exist for developing a greater understanding of Aspergers for those who don’t ‘get it’, fate has managed to provide alternative sources for helping me to understand the neurotypical mind. I will not divulge the specifics I’m referring to because of knowing what can happen if I do. People should know I don’t want to hoard what I get and use it only for myself and my family, but also people should know society is to blame when beneficial information is kept private.
I doubt I’m the only one who is aware of society being its own worst enemy in this way. What’s uncommon is to see attention brought to this situation. If it wasn’t for certain people of high intelligence, who actually know me (not totally, but well enough) and who give their input as to what they’ve witnessed happening and continue to see happening, what I was beginning to suspect never would have been confirmed.
One fact repeatedly witnessed is how consistently judgments made about me can end up being completely opposite from the truth. Another thing pointed out was this correlation → The lower the intelligence, the lower the accuracy of judging. The higher the intelligence, the less mistakes (generally speaking). Patience and proper information are also necessary, but without enough of a capacity to process the information gained, the ability to reach the level of insight necessary to begin to perceive things correctly is impossible. That might sound arrogant, but how can anyone point out this vital aspect without offending some? To refrain from such bold statements, is irresponsible behavior.
¹Neurotypical moms observing their aspie children they live with day and night can be more helpful than psychologists whose only exposure to aspies are their clients who come into their office by appointment. However, those sources alone do NOT provide enough information for either of them to be writing as reliable of a book about Aspergers as certain aspies can (can does not mean will). Children have not lived a substantial lifetime yet, so it is impossible for them to be able to offer what mature aspies can give, especially ones who have experienced a lot of different things in life.
