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What is the symbol for neurotypicality?

Dom's idea is close. How about that godawful puzzle, but precisely 68 pieces pieced together surrounding a single piece that is missing?

After all, for every one autistic child, there are 68 of them according to the CDC. And that they are as much a mystery to us as we are to them.

Then maybe someone can make a new symbol for both neurologies, having made the point about the existing icon which doesn't seem to be universally appreciated. We're people- not puzzle pieces or any other inanimate, non-organic metaphor.

CDC Press Releases
 
The autism prevalence rate in the U.S. is 1 in 68 births. The autism rate for males is 4.5 times that of females. The CDC estimates that autistics comprise only 1 percent of the world's total population. Prevalence is not the same as percentage of population.
 
Can you explain this a little Alcyon? What is the meaning behind the circles and what does the star shaped diagram signify? Are those nodes?

I think this was the diagram included in the voyager spacecraft. The two circles at the top I think is diatonic hydrogen, the circles at the bottom is our location in the solar system. Big circle is the sun. Not sure what the star is.
 
So 67 spread-out puzzle pieces, one in five and a half colour-coded pink, and strongly implied to depict dogs sniffing each other's butts when put together?
 
No, sorry, that was the gender rate in autism. What is the gender rate in neurotypicals?
 
CDC website probably has that information. I think gender rates for NTs is 50% male and 50% female but females usually live longer than males so there are more females alive on earth than males.
 
I thing it should be a gray, broken chain link, because not only are their lives booring and colorless, they are mising their link to the future of human evolution.

Either that or a gray circle with a piece missing.
 
Statistical facts aren't subject to subjective interpretation so it doesn't matter if one is NT or not. It is just straight reporting without opinion. The reasons or causes for variations in epidemiological facts can be -and will be - endlessly debated by everyone, regardless of being NT or otherwise. It's like climate change. The facts prove it is here but people will debate causation forever.
 
Statistical facts aren't subject to subjective interpretation so it doesn't matter if one is NT or not. It is just straight reporting without opinion. The reasons or causes for variations in epidemiological facts can be -and will be - endlessly debated by everyone, regardless of being NT or otherwise. It's like climate change. The facts prove it is here but people will debate causation forever.

I think what Judge is saying is that the actual or reported numbers don't matter as much as the propaganda being spread in connection with it, just like it doesn't matter to the people who come up with stuff like the puzzle piece logo or the light it up blue bull how we, the alleged recipients, feel about these things.
 
This works for me...apparently, it's pretty inclusive and label free

ClFlN8C.jpg
Since Pluto got demoted to being a planetoid, we are going to have to recall these greeting cards (lest our alien neighbors get confused)...! ;)
 
Statistical facts aren't subject to subjective interpretation so it doesn't matter if one is NT or not.

Neurotypicals vastly outnumber people on the spectrum of autism. Period. That's the only point I'm trying to get across regarding the CDC.

Parsing CDC conclusions in whatever direction won't change the reality that profoundly impacts those of us on the spectrum of autism that you seem to be attempting to marginalize. Again, that seems easy for you to do.

With the conduct of NTs often reflecting this disparity manifested in their desire or even insistence that we automatically conform to their way of thinking. It's likely to matter to a great many of autistic people. Especially those who absolutely cannot neurologically comply.

There are more of you than us. And that demographic has consequences for us as it does regarding so many social minorities in many societies. That's all.

Clearly we agree to disagree. Feel free to argue that point, but without me.
 
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We are in total agreement that NTs vastly outnumber autistics. I suppose all minorities, of which I am one, resent their limited numbers and the imposition of the will of the majority on the minority. However, unfortunately or not, governments such as the U.S. bend to the will of the majority. Rightly or wrongly, majority rule is deemed by modern society as the most equitable form of government. Maybe you favor socialism or totalitarianism? If so, look to the history of countries with those forms of government to see how well autistics survive in those places. Do you know any autistics from North Korea or Russia? How are they doing compared with you? (This is irony.)

I don't think NTs want to make autistics "think" like NTs or even care how autistics think or act, as long as autistics do not endanger themselves or others or cost a disproportionate amount of money to support. Sadly, the real issue with NTs is the monetary cost of supporting autistics from diagnosis to death because so few are employed and self-sufficient.

As an aside, just as autistics resent the perceived biases of the NT world, please be aware that NTs resent the constant disparagement of themselves by some in the autistic community. It's like biting the hand that feeds you. If you are aggrieved by some silly symbol used to depict autism (isn't the puzzle piece just Autism Speaks' or the National Autism Society's symbol or logo and not some internationally recognized symbol for autism?), then how do you think NTs feel when autistics advocate adoption of NT symbols like commenter #29 above? Those types of comments are crude, in bad taste, insulting, insensitive and evidence a lack of understanding of NTs and the existence of a major chip on one's shoulder about one's disabilities which NTs did not cause. Maybe the symbol for NTs should be a dollar sign?

I would not spend my time, money and resources as a volunteer tutor for autistics if they did not want me to do so, did not ask me to help them, and did not work so very hard to learn the GED materials. Their actions are entirely voluntary and not coerced by anyone as far as I can tell. They are driven by a desire to better themselves and achieve goals of which they are rightfully very proud. If I am making them "think" like NTs in order to pass the GED exam by teaching basic grammar, writing, literature, history and math, and they don't want to learn that, then I'm clearly wasting my time trying to help them achieve their self-stated goals which you imply they really do not want. I know better than that and, like most NTs, attribute the nasty anti-NT comments to the sad frustration of people who simply don't know and don't want to know any better. I know it is merely venting, but not all NTs understand that.
 
I don't think NTs want to make autistics "think" like NTs or even care how autistics think or act, as long as autistics do not endanger themselves or others or cost a disproportionate amount of money to support. Sadly, the real issue with NTs is the monetary cost of supporting autistics from diagnosis to death because so few are employed and self-sufficient.

Perhaps you are thinking of the more extreme cases when you say here that we might "endanger ourselves", but speaking for myself, I am far, far more likely to be "endangered" by an N.T., and in more ways than I can list here. I also don't consider it to be "my fault" that whenever I have been able, on those rare occasions, to support myself through having a full-tiime job that I was usually the first one to be made redundant, even though I followed all the rules, turned up on time, took my job seriously et cetera, whilst the "teacher's pets" (i.e. favoured ass-kissers and gossips) would get to keep theirs.

As an aside, just as autistics resent the perceived biases of the NT world, please be aware that NTs resent the constant disparagement of themselves by some in the autistic community.

As though we had a level playing field here, as though there was just as much discrimination against N.T.'s as there is against us. What planet are you living on?

It's like biting the hand that feeds you.

So... we should be thankful for their "charity", because without them we would be nothing? So we should just forget all the mistreatment and abuse they put us through? Forgive and forget? No, I don't think so.

If you are aggrieved by some silly symbol used to depict autism (isn't the puzzle piece just Autism Speaks' or the National Autism Society's symbol or logo and not some internationally recognized symbol for autism?), then how do you think NTs feel when autistics advocate adoption of NT symbols like commenter #29 above?

I have no idea. How DO they feel? Do you really think they even care, or would care if they aware of it, which most of them are not?

Those types of comments are crude, in bad taste, insulting, insensitive and evidence a lack of understanding of NTs...

So should I feel sorry for them? Not gonna happen.

...and the existence of a major chip on one's shoulder about one's disabilities which NTs did not cause.

Except, that they DID cause the existence of what you cavalierly dismiss as being nothing more than a "major chip". You know, the physical and psychological abuse, the bullying, the... do I really need to say this?

Maybe the symbol for NTs should be a dollar sign?

Yes, maybe it should.

I would not spend my time, money and resources as a volunteer tutor for autistics if they did not want me to do so, did not ask me to help them, and did not work so very hard to learn the GED materials. Their actions are entirely voluntary and not coerced by anyone as far as I can tell. They are driven by a desire to better themselves and achieve goals of which they are rightfully very proud. If I am making them "think" like NTs in order to pass the GED exam...

So, on the one hand you claim you are not coercing them in any way, but then you don't seem to be concerned that you may be "making them think like NT's". Okay, maybe I just read it wrong (or something).

...by teaching basic grammar, writing, literature, history and maths, and they don't want to learn that, then I'm clearly wasting my time trying to help them achieve their self-stated goals which you imply they really do not want.

All of this applies regardless of whether or not the students in question are autistic or not. If students, regardless of their "wiring", are simply not interested in what you are teaching them, then they will end up failing. It has nothing to do with whether or not they are autistic and, what's more, autistic students tend to be far more effective at managing their time, can better concentrate on a given task than NT students, and make far better pupils overall because they don't waste the teacher's time causing trouble, gossiping, being a brat, and so on, so you should actually be having FEWER problems with them than you would if you were teaching "normal" students.

I know better than that and, like most NTs, attribute the nasty anti-NT comments to the sad frustration of people who simply don't know and don't want to know any better. I know it is merely venting, but not all NTs understand that.

No, I'm not sad and frustrated, and I really don't care whether or not N.T.'s understand that I am "merely venting", because they really don't deserve any sympathy from me. They are the ones who rule the world, remember. They are the ones who make the rules, the ones who have all the privileges, and it is because of them and their illogical ways that the planet is in the horrendous mess it's in. That's not "NT-bashing", that's just the truth, plain and simple.
 
A circle of empty cans?

ie. the empty cans rattle the most.

I feel a bit mean saying that though. It's not like society is built with NTs in mind, it's built for and by the small percentage that have the power to dictate the environment that the rest of us inhabit.

Good little worker bees.

I think it's harder on us than the "enslaved" NTs, but it's still hard on them.

The internet has been changing all that of course, and individuals have power now.
 
I don't think NTs want to make autistics "think" like NTs or even care how autistics think or act, as long as autistics do not endanger themselves or others or cost a disproportionate amount of money to support. Sadly, the real issue with NTs is the monetary cost of supporting autistics from diagnosis to death because so few are employed and self-sufficient.

You must not have met many NTs. They definitely care how I think and act. You should see how they stare even when I don't actually do anything. It took me years just to get them to stop touching me all the time.

As an aside, just as autistics resent the perceived biases of the NT world, please be aware that NTs resent the constant disparagement of themselves by some in the autistic community

I addressed the possible negative NT reaction in the original post.

Have you ever heard of the social model of disability? It states that if the tables were turned, and it was you who didn't get accomodations, you would be every bit as disabled as we are now.

When people in power insist that they are "being oppressed" by the people they oppress, it is nothing more than a common silencing technique. It is better for us to reciprocate.

If I am making them "think" like NTs in order to pass the GED exam by teaching basic grammar, writing, literature, history and math, and they don't want to learn that, then I'm clearly wasting my time trying to help them achieve their self-stated goals which you imply they really do not want

Now you are just willfully misunderstanding. Academic thinking is not the sole domain of neurotypicals, for one. If your motivation for teaching autistics is along the lines of "they are so cute!" however, you are doing it wrong. Judge didn't even say "don't help them achieve their goals", but rather "don't impose your own goals on them".
 

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