Do you have autism?

[Smothered_In_Furs]

I have aspergers.

Because of it, I have a overwhelming interest for soft things such as fur.

 

 

Just curious.

[Furman54]

Me too

[red_fox]

Dunno about it, but I do have a high level of anxiety

[GreyHand]

Yes, mainly manifesting itself as social communication disorder. Learned to hide it behind artificial confidence, though.

[furwerdio96]

Yes I have autism for some time now it scares the hell outta me sometimes I'm not myself when I get angry

[Paulwhiffen]

I’m autistic and I’m sure my overwhelming love of fur is made stronger by my autism 

[SimonG]

I also have Asperger’s, although a slight/minor version. It doesn’t affect my everyday life, only in certain situations where it can have an impact on how I react to certain people. 
I usually think about my love for Fur in some fashion nearly everyday, so I’ve never made a connection between the two. 

[calijoe]

The same for me: the psychologist who did the tests on me was of this opinion. For me, the love of furs led me to love leather, down jackets and boots.

[FurRugLover]

For those with autism, do you also like trains/railroads, elevators, fire alarms systems, fire suppression systems or equipment, and/or power lines?  These tend to be very popular autistic special interests.

[Worker 11811]

I bristle at the characterization of autism as a disorder.  To me, it's just a way for doctors and psychologists to dismiss things they don't want to take the time to understand and pigeon hole people into categories to make it easier for themselves.  It pisses me off!

When people say that autism is a spectrum, my reply is that LIFE is a spectrum!  Everybody is different.  No two people are the same!  Trying to place things on such a "spectrum" is an insult to human dignity!

Some people are short.  Some people are tall.  Some people are fat.  Some people are skinny.  That's people.  That's life.  Yes, there is such a thing as being "too skinny" or "too fat" but those are special cases that need to be dealt with on their own terms.  Doctors can't just put people on a "Fat Spectrum" and be done with it.

Sure, some people are different.  Maybe it's social anxiety.  Maybe it's a difference in sensory sensitivity.  I don't know, it could be one of a million things.  You've got to take people as they come and not try to classify them into categories like "autistic" or "retarded."  (*)

If you treat people a certain way, they are likely to act a certain way.  If you treat a child like he's retarded, he'll learn to act like he's retarded!  The same goes with autism.

We need to start treating people like PEOPLE.  If somebody is a little bit different then so be it!  If somebody is so different that they need help then that help should be available at the snap of the fingers.

IMO, 90% of people who are diagnosed with autism are simply variations of "normal."

 

(*) There is a difference between saying "retarded" and calling somebody a "retard."  By using the word "retarded" I speak of people who have such low cognitive ability that they need help in daily life.  I would never call a person a "retard!"