No More "Asperger's Syndrome"

And I suppose people with sickle cell disease [wikipedia.org] are merely suffering from prejudices as well? After all, it's a "genetic difference" as well.

I did notice you were careful never to actually say that diseases cannot be genetically based, so I assume you are willing to grant that some are. If you're willing to grant that sickle cell disease is indeed a disease, as I would assume you are, then you'd need to draw the line at some place, but where? We would both agree that having a different eye color is not a disease, but I think we may differ, in that I tend to lean more towards believing the non-politically correct idea that if a genetic mutation leaves you significantly less capable of functioning, whether due to mental or physical differences, it would be a disease. Of course, at least to me, "disease" is purely descriptive of a condition, and in no way prescribes a behavior or response.

For instance, to quickly clarify what it does not necessarily mean, it does not mean that they are necessarily at a disadvantage. Sickle cell disease confers malarial resistance, and at least in the case of my friends with Asperger's, they have exceptional abilities to recollect minute details from long ago (whether that's a learned skill or a trait of the way their brain is wired differently, I couldn't say with certainty, of course, but I believe the latter). I don't see a reason to pity anyone in those positions, since they are people who must make the most of themselves, just like everyone else.

Additionally, it does not mean that they are inferior people. We define ourselves, and who a person is is more than just their body and mind. We are all born with things we need to work through, and whether that's a weak chin, dashing good looks, a bald spot, or Asperger's, we either choose to allow ourselves to be defined by them, or we choose to define ourselves despite them. That rests entirely on us and is entirely of our own doing. It's our own fault if we allow them to define us.

Long story short, just because someone has a genetic difference that may classify as an error (which isn't the case here, since Asperger's is hereditary) does not mean that THEY are an error, so people should stop treating "disease" like it's some sort of dirty word and call things what they are. This mentality of coddling people by using useless terms isn't helpful to anyone, and it gets in the way by delaying recognition and response. Instead, be honest. If I'm going bald, say I'm going bald. Dancing around semantics isn't helpful to anyone.

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/b-OSYG3TW-U/story01.htm

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