Heard from some mental health pros since publishing: some now estimate that 10-15% of our population is ‘spectrumy’ and struggle to some degree with empathy, rigid thinking, consideration of others, social cues, interpersonal skills, etc. That's a much higher number than the NIMH numbers I cited above.
I’m the mother of an autistic teenager and I really don’t know where to begin here. I could point out that I have not been able to find proof that Mark Zuckerberg has actually been diagnosed with autism nor that he has ever shared that highly personal information with the media. I could note that your post seems lacking in research and full of sweeping generalizations. I could mention that watching TV shows in which neurotypical actors portray autistic characters does not make one an expert on autism, anymore than watching Grey’s Anatomy makes one a doctor. I will also mention that many medical professionals and mental health providers are grossly undertrained in the area of neurodiversity.
But what I’ve decided to focus on are some of the longstanding and harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about people with autism that you are perpetuating in this post. It’s also important to note that autistic people are not a monolith and should not be treated as such.
Despite your assertions, and the vague stats you provided, I’m here to tell you that in fact many high-functioning autistic people:
-are capable of deep empathy
-can make emotional connections with others
-are not aggressive
-can be flexible
-don’t have a certain “look” about them
-do have a sense of humor
-do not care about tech or coding - or Reddit!
-are probably not interested in taking over the world, supervillain-style
There remains a negative stigma attached to neurodiversity and autism that we have yet to overcome as a society, in part thanks to casually insensitive and uninformed portrayals of autistic people in all forms of media.
I don’t know what you intended to accomplish with this article other than what appears to be attention seeking through incendiary, half-baked assertions. What you certainly did accomplish is giving your readers permission to perpetuate tired and hurtful stereotypes about one of society’s most marginalized and vulnerable populations.
And no, you absolutely do NOT get a pass on all of this by stating up front that you love Aspies and have friends on the spectrum. It doesn’t work that way.
I am always open to hearing opinions that differ from mine, but I’m really not seeing any nuanced reasoning, deep thought, or journalistic integrity here, only misdirected rage - and it’s truly disappointing.
Watched the RB video! Yup. But the focus is less the tech/ASD ideals? that folks have swallowed up, and more so the schemers/profiteers that want to make the world wholly dependent on it.
Great piece again, Christina. I also sense Elon Musk's concern for things, but I'm not sure his concern is one of empathy. If it is and I'm reading him wrong, it may be due to his facial expressions, which do indeed seem "on the spectrum". However, he recently expressed possible support for Ron DeSantis for president, and that concerns me greatly.
This article definitely has my wheels spinning, but unsure of the course of thought. Want to advocate defensively, that we 97 percent have a lot of autonomy and can absolutely live without a smartphone—been practicing showing up to places like my kid- without a phone and with very little money and seeing how the day goes. Been the best days of my life so far. This piece gnaws because I realize, through the lens of observing my kid and her six year old friends, that her dating and friendship pool is affected by the absence of boredom, pacifying effect of having a smartphone or tablet shoved in their face every car ride, wait in line for groceries, etc. At least the 16 year old you described was engaging with his dad.
My comment isn’t really contributing but I’ll end with: thanks for writing, thinking, and creating some discomfort to make room for free thought.
Heard from some mental health pros since publishing: some now estimate that 10-15% of our population is ‘spectrumy’ and struggle to some degree with empathy, rigid thinking, consideration of others, social cues, interpersonal skills, etc. That's a much higher number than the NIMH numbers I cited above.
I’m the mother of an autistic teenager and I really don’t know where to begin here. I could point out that I have not been able to find proof that Mark Zuckerberg has actually been diagnosed with autism nor that he has ever shared that highly personal information with the media. I could note that your post seems lacking in research and full of sweeping generalizations. I could mention that watching TV shows in which neurotypical actors portray autistic characters does not make one an expert on autism, anymore than watching Grey’s Anatomy makes one a doctor. I will also mention that many medical professionals and mental health providers are grossly undertrained in the area of neurodiversity.
But what I’ve decided to focus on are some of the longstanding and harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about people with autism that you are perpetuating in this post. It’s also important to note that autistic people are not a monolith and should not be treated as such.
Despite your assertions, and the vague stats you provided, I’m here to tell you that in fact many high-functioning autistic people:
-are capable of deep empathy
-can make emotional connections with others
-are not aggressive
-can be flexible
-don’t have a certain “look” about them
-do have a sense of humor
-do not care about tech or coding - or Reddit!
-are probably not interested in taking over the world, supervillain-style
There remains a negative stigma attached to neurodiversity and autism that we have yet to overcome as a society, in part thanks to casually insensitive and uninformed portrayals of autistic people in all forms of media.
I don’t know what you intended to accomplish with this article other than what appears to be attention seeking through incendiary, half-baked assertions. What you certainly did accomplish is giving your readers permission to perpetuate tired and hurtful stereotypes about one of society’s most marginalized and vulnerable populations.
And no, you absolutely do NOT get a pass on all of this by stating up front that you love Aspies and have friends on the spectrum. It doesn’t work that way.
I am always open to hearing opinions that differ from mine, but I’m really not seeing any nuanced reasoning, deep thought, or journalistic integrity here, only misdirected rage - and it’s truly disappointing.
Watched the RB video! Yup. But the focus is less the tech/ASD ideals? that folks have swallowed up, and more so the schemers/profiteers that want to make the world wholly dependent on it.
Great piece again, Christina. I also sense Elon Musk's concern for things, but I'm not sure his concern is one of empathy. If it is and I'm reading him wrong, it may be due to his facial expressions, which do indeed seem "on the spectrum". However, he recently expressed possible support for Ron DeSantis for president, and that concerns me greatly.
This article definitely has my wheels spinning, but unsure of the course of thought. Want to advocate defensively, that we 97 percent have a lot of autonomy and can absolutely live without a smartphone—been practicing showing up to places like my kid- without a phone and with very little money and seeing how the day goes. Been the best days of my life so far. This piece gnaws because I realize, through the lens of observing my kid and her six year old friends, that her dating and friendship pool is affected by the absence of boredom, pacifying effect of having a smartphone or tablet shoved in their face every car ride, wait in line for groceries, etc. At least the 16 year old you described was engaging with his dad.
My comment isn’t really contributing but I’ll end with: thanks for writing, thinking, and creating some discomfort to make room for free thought.