Post by Aquarian MonkeyPost by d***@fsmail.nethttp://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/02/aspergers-syndrome-dropped-psychiatric-dsm
Dolphinius
(Male, age 40 +/- a few months, UK, self-diagnosed AS)
Yes. I am not sure how people think that will be helpful. So many people say it is the same thing, but I fail to see it. I already think we are calling multiple distinct conditions "autism." I fail to see how lumping the few distinctions that have been made back into the same pot as progress.
I don't think it matters much one way or the other.
I think a pretense of distinction when folks really have no idea what's
going on is counter-factual. Thus, removing the distinction and
acknowledging that all folks really understand is a cluster of symptoms
does strike me as progress; albeit a small progress. That doesn't stop
anyone from self-identifying any way they choose.
Once the causes and specific differences become better understood, I
think it makes sense to form distinctions based on known mechanisms of
action rather than arbitrary rules. Even then, I don't see how that
stops anyone from self-identifying however they choose.
Chihuahua's are the same species as Great Danes, and Papillons are the
same species as Irish Wolf Hounds. I don't think it diminishes them or
their unique characteristics to call them all dogs. Yet, they are far
more different from one another than Aspies from Auties. As are women
from men, and we characterize both of those as human.
Granted, breed standards are nothing but a set of arbitrary rules. I
don't think they improve either the species or the breeds much, and
sometimes cause breeders to make rather questionable husbandry choices.
I suppose one could say the same thing about health care practitioners
and questionable diagnostic choices.