Institute for the Study of the Neurologically Typical: Research Archives

[Website for Erik Engdahl] --> [Subhomepage about autism spectrum conditions] --> [Institute for the Study of the Neurologically Typical] provisionally hosting the disappeared(?) parody site http://isnt.autistics.org . It does not seem to be found elsewhere on the web other than in archives.
Views expressed on the hosted site are not necessarily the views of host owner and vice-versa.

The current page is a mirror image of http://web.archive.org/web/20100207021736/http://isnt.autistics.org/archived.html (7 Feb. 2010)
having adress http://www.erikengdahl.se/autism/isnt/archived.html .
Links originally internal to the disappeared(?) site are remade to become internal to the hosted mirror site.

Research Archives

Add your "research". | Go to current research.

As the 41-year-old mother of a 6-year-old boy (he was diagnosed with autism at age 5) I can honestly say that I believe many of us so-called NTs are actually closet-autistics. I took your test to see how I rate and, according to the results, I'm on the spectrum (the only one I "missed" had to do with calling for support about a computer problem and realizing the 'puter was unplugged). Not that that bit of information would surprise me. By the way,
this is a really great site! I stumbled across it while surfing around this afternoon, just kickin' around with one of my best friends (my trusty computer)and, as usual, being by myself and doing anything to confirm the commonly held opinion of me that I am antisocial, socially inept, hell-bent on keeping to myself, and a bit of an odd duck. I relate better to my son than to just about anyone else I know. My very few friends are very different too. Probably borderline NT or on the cusp of the spectrum themselves. Coincidence? I think not. Thanks for the great
site!

Season <jimiseason@lakemac.net>
A wheatfield, NE USA - Wednesday, December 29, 1999 at 13:52:58 (CST)

Kudos! As a recovering NT, I am currently engrossed in dissertation level study of the variables that allow NT's and persons "on the spectrum" communicate effectively. Any personal anecdotes that may add to this study are warmly welcomed. I have worked for over 15 years now to overcome my tendency to try to "fit in" , to adhere to the social niceties that have been put into place by the majority. You will note that I say recovering because an NT can never be totally "cured". There is no cure to typicality. Nevertheless I strive to break the mold every day. Thanks for your contribution to the understanding of the human condition.
mrylou <ulauem@sprynet.com>
Goleta, CA USA - Tuesday, December 21, 1999 at 11:55:30 (CST)

Great site, keep it up. The neurotypical is such a misunderstood subject, mainly because there are very few persons able to take an objective view of them. Good thing they are so numerous - one can find subjects for study all over the place.
There should be more of us involved in the research of the functions and dysfunctions of the neurotypical mind. One only needs to look at the NT's in the Jerry Springer Show (tm) to appreciate how much help these poor creatures need.

Aspie <aspie@europe.com>
Malta - Saturday, December 11, 1999 at 08:00:02 (CST)

Thanks for the relief! My 14 year old son was officially diagnosed as PDD-NOS this summer. We have done a lot of reading, and have realized that PDD-NOS and Aspergers is merely crap, it's all autistic spectrum.
Laine is into 'net time, I just wish that he'd spend some time mousing around sites like this one!
I had trouble while growing up too (I admit it, I still don't fit in well) I wish I had had these resources when I was 10. I guess I'm borderline NT.
Anyone who'd like to get into Laine's world with him is invited to E-mail him at brckyard@netins.net. His interests are heavy on stock car racing, sports & cards, weather & natural disasters, volcanos & related geology, cartoons & TV aimed at much younger veiwers than he.
Muskie, I like your veiwpoint!
Kim Ring <brckyard@netins.net>
Riceville, Ia USA - Thursday, November 25, 1999 at 11:52:47 (CST)

I have not read all of the site yet but of what I have read all that I can say is YES! It is so true of my case.
Jonathan McNabb <jonathanmc_uk@yahoo.co.uk>
Ipswich, Uk - Thursday, November 18, 1999 at 15:28:49 (CST)

I absolutely love this page. I never knew that anyone else thought like me. I never knew that there could be other people who sit alone watching people yacking with each other and notice that the coversation has absolutely no intelectual value. I never knew that there were other people who look at the world the same way I do. I feel like I'm in the matrix because I can see right through this world. I see past the appearences to what the NT dominated society is really all about.

Michael <piles4u@yahoo.com>
Bethlehem, PA USA - Friday, November 12, 1999 at 13:58:58 (CST)

As an aspie, I must say I totally support this research project. Grants, fellowships and entire institutes must be offered to continue this ground breaking discovery. Please accept my offer to work as one of your professors. Sincerely, Liane Holliday Willey, EdD author of "Pretending to be Normal: Living With Asperger's Syndrome". :-)
Liane Holliday Willey <hollidaywilley@earthlink.net>
USA - Monday, November 08, 1999 at 11:09:24 (CST)

Thank you so much for this site! This is exactly what I needed to read this morning. My son is hyperlexic and PDD NOS. Even though he is inclusioned in "regular" first grade, I find it difficult sometimes to relate to the mother's of NT kids and their (trivial) problems. Perhaps your site will help people like me to be more empathetic towards those poor NT folks. =;->
Thanks again! And Best to You!
Dawn DeSelms <deselms@worldnet.att.net>
OrBlando, FL USA - Saturday, November 06, 1999 at 07:42:10 (CST)

Loved this page!!!! I am a Brit writer (novelist,broadcaster and advice columnist) living with, and madly in love with an Asperger syndrome man who is younger than I am. His eccentricity conforms with mine (I have temporal lobe epilepsy, a horribly high IQ, and am an Aquarian) and although there are times when I know I can't get through to him, the thought of living without his genius for the unexpected in my life is unthinkable.
barbara <bjthink@aol.com>
Leicester, UK - Friday, October 22, 1999 at 09:46:55 (CDT)

I would like to say that I read your page and liked what I saw. I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at the age of twenty-three. It's about time that someone criticized this garbage about us "lacking empathy", "malicious","failing to see others as those who think and feel". You know what I'm talking about stuff written by the "Holier than thou" NT experts who obviously thought that their sh-- don't stink from our viewpoint. Now I read Hans Asperger's paper on "Autistic Psychopathy In Childhood"-the man who discovered AS- and did you read what kind of garbage that that bigot had written about us?
Irrelevant <Judas1@goplay.com>
San Francisco, CA USA - Friday, October 22, 1999 at 00:21:25 (CDT)

As a recovering NT father of three ( 2 of which have autism ), I don't think that I've ever laughed so hard at a web page ( actually, at my monitor ). I started printing the funnier as well as the more serious responses when I realized that almost everything was "print-worthy" ... besides, I only have so many refrigerator magnets.

Instead, I have created a link to this site, from my web page, From The Ramparts: http://www.fromtheramparts.com
so that other recovering NT's ( or is it more politically correct to refer to us as people with NT ? ) can share the view.

Standing ovation !!
Carl Daisy <cdaisy@mich.com>
MI USA - Sunday, October 17, 1999 at 23:40:36 (CDT)

Gee,

I'm only 5 for 10--NT WHAT AM I???
two autistic boys--f_m3 & jopers...5/10 that one of 'em will join this guestbook, I suppose....

Thanx for the smile(s)
sf thomas
finger_man <finger_man@luckycharm.org>
UC, CA 94587 - Wednesday, October 06, 1999 at 11:45:32 (CDT)

hey, Muskie, I love this site! :-) i took the test, but mis-marked question #8 & answer came out renting a cabin & having a romantic ski vacation with my honey... or whatever.... Well, I MEANT to answer that I decline invitations & play video games. I don't even HAVE a honey, don't need one, don't want one. Too time consuming & doesn't fit in with my life. BTW, I got all the other answers right! LOL
Dogaroo
OR USA - Friday, October 01, 1999 at 02:51:25 (CDT)

I surfed around a little and loved it! I am unfortunately NT but my
8 yr old son is Asperger's. We are stuck in Germany and I just
had a blood-burning fight with his teacher. No affordable private schools in the vicinity to turn to. I fight both sides of the family because nobody believes it ('cept Daddy) and I feel REAL alone today. Don't worry, Sven is worth it all. Thanks for the insight. Also have twins (3.5) with Down-Syndrome and the other one OCD / possible PDD-NOS - but spectrum and NOBODY for sure sees it.
Loved the site and will pass on the URL. Thanks so much!

Rebecca <TheSnowWhites@compuserve.com>
Dormagen, Germany - Tuesday, September 28, 1999 at 15:25:23 (CDT)

As many of you know, Peter Singer, an advocate of the legalized murder
of disabled persons (especially those with cognitive disabilities, such
as autism) has been appointed to a tenured chair at Princeton
University's Center for Human Values.

This Tuesday, September 21st, 1999, starting with Peter Singer's first
class at 9:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time (13:30 GMT), protests against
Singer, including civil disobedience, will begin at the Princeton
campus.

We, the members of the Autistic Liberation Front (a shadowy and
somewhat fictitious underground organization) wish to express our
complete support for the planned action against Peter Singer. We are so
confident in the ultimate success of these protests that we are urging
everyone who can't be in Princeton tomorrow to participate in the civil
disobedience to join with us to

---------------------------
Apply for Peter Singer's Job!!!
---------------------------

* Go to http://www.princeton.edu/~uchv/application/app.html before
9:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday.

* Fill out the form, including whatever accurate personal information
seems appropriate ("none at all" comes to mind as one option), and
explain why you think you can do a better job of teaching ethics at
Princeton than Peter Singer. This should not be too hard a case to make.

* At 9:30 AM exactly, hit that "click to submit" button. If it doesn't
go through right away, laugh gleefully and keep trying :-)

* If/when it does go through, you may want to take a look around the
rest of Peter Singer's department website at http://www.princeton.edu/~uchv/
Be sure to reload the pages frequently to insure that you have the
latest up-to-the-minute documents. Actually, the web is such a
transient medium you may want to hit that Reload button every few
seconds :-)

If for some unfortunate reason the website stops working, but you
still want to apply for Peter Singer's job, here are some alternative
methods:

* FAX the reasons why you can teach ethics better than Peter Singer
to the University president at (609) 258-1615 (white lettering on
a black background is soooo trendy...). While you are at it, fax a
copy to Peter Singer's department head at (609) 258-2729.

* TELEPHONE the president of the University at (609) 258-6101 and
explain why you can teach ethics better than Peter Singer. You can
also let his department head know about this at (609) 258-4798

* EMAIL the reasons why you can teach ethics better than Peter
Singer to the president of the University at hts@Princeton.EDU. Be
sure to send a copy to his department head at
agutmann@phoenix.princeton.edu

Because the Autistic Liberation Front does not want to take up too much
of the time of the fine people at Princeton who hired Peter Singer, we
are encouraging everyone to hit the "submit" button on the web form at
9:30 AM exactly, and focus any followup activities between 9:30
AM and 10:00 AM.

9:30 AM Eastern Time is...
8:30 AM Central Time
7:30 AM Mountain Time
6:30 AM Pacific Time
13:30 Coordinated Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time)

Happy job hunting!

Autistic Liberation Front
We Are Everywhere, - Monday, September 20, 1999 at 20:04:54 (CDT)

Hi, I really liked your site! I have an 8 yo son who is
autistic (high-functionning) and he seems to be quite happy with himself... I always say that he is just different and that if I was living on "his planet" where everybody is autistic, I would be the one labelled "handicapped". Your site just confirmed that!! Thanks
Mich�le <faubert@colba.net>
Montreal, Canada - Monday, September 20, 1999 at 09:08:39 (CDT)

Great site. My 10 year old son Max is autistic. Early on I decided to attempt to get into his world rather than trying to just force him to be "normal." Every day I become more convinced that it's the rest of the world that has the problem. They say autism is genetic. Perhaps there's hope for me.
Ed Duffy <Eduffy3242@aol.com>
Security, CO USA - Tuesday, August 24, 1999 at 16:40:35 (CDT)

Just had a thought. (Fanfare please!) The study of language itself - structure and function etc and of SEMIOTICS (the signs all around us and their meanings / implications - sometimes like detective or forensic clues) is fascinating and enlightening. It's really helped my understanding of art too. (The meanings of paintings, objects themselves - or the meanings we give to / read into them etc.) For SEMIOTICS read; F. Saussare, R. Barthes, U. Eco, C. Peirce etc.
I mean well, sorry if I'm intruding clumsily.
Pat <Beesmith@btinternet.com>
Essex England - Tuesday, August 24, 1999 at 06:22:29 (CDT)

We'd just had a visit to a psychiatrist, during which my daughter hid in her zipped up coat, (if I'd been wearing one, I would have hid too!)and were feeling pretty depressed when we were told of your site. It really cheered us up. I'd felt terrible putting my daughter through all that kind of stuff again, just to get the right kind of support at school. (I am probably within a little-known sub group of NT. I always laugh at everything. Is there any help for me?)
Pat <Beesmith@btinternet.com>
Essex England - Tuesday, August 24, 1999 at 04:41:23 (CDT)

This is for anyone who was told they were autistic, but don't feel they fit completely. There is a disorder named Semantic pragmatic disorder. It is being discussed as maybe or maybe not autistic spectrum. Look it up. If you'd like to hear more or ask me a question, send an e-mail.

Denise <Denisev2@netscape.net>
- Monday, August 23, 1999 at 15:10:50 (CDT)

I was certainly born NT. I probably need my whole life to 'recover' from NT. Life certainly gave me opportunities to learn to think differently. My son, Martijn, who is diagnosed autistic with severe learning disabilities, 8 years old now, provides me with all the material I could possibly need. The humour we have developed together, from his side almost without speech, mostly directed at people who have NT (to whom else) is of such joy to me. I myself am deadly serious. As a curator/writer in the field of visual arts I was trained to do so. My site [ come.to/nonsymbolic ] is theoretical and much more 'dry'. It does try to explain things however, mainly to people who have NT and who never would have guessed ho much they have been living in a cage. I also would like to have a chat with Musky, to tell more about the projects I am doing and see whether we can do something together. This is an inspiring site.
Ine Gevers
ine gevers <ine.gevers@planet.nl>
utrecht, netherlands - Monday, August 23, 1999 at 04:39:58 (CDT)

That's right. Here's to people like muskie, to people who give a sh*t and raise a stink. To *ssholism! May you someday become one, Rod, instead of just some nearby growth, all puffed-up but soft, battle droid's rhyme.
Henry Holyoke Lightcap <hlightcap@home.net>
Home, PA The Famous U. of S.A. - Saturday, August 21, 1999 at 19:39:09 (CDT)

You autistic "people," in my opinion, are something less than human. Sorry, kids, but I'm entitled to it. (To Assholism!) - Roderick.
Roderick <rodthewise@littlefeat.com>
Ocean City, NJ USA, of course - Thursday, August 19, 1999 at 19:34:44 (CDT)

You autistic "people," in my opinion, are something less than human. Sorry, kids, but I'm entitled to it. (To Assholism!) - Roderick.
Roderick <?>
?, ? USA, of course - Thursday, August 19, 1999 at 19:33:45 (CDT)

Personally, I embrace this humor - this form of relief from the sometimes cruel reality of society and the stereotypes and "norms" they try to inflict on my son and others who are autistic. "Funny", I never saw this site as meanspirited. And it's quite "comical" how few NT's usually see this as dark humor with a cruel agenda. It's not at all. It's for the rest of us AC or NT who actually live in the realm of autism. Laughter is the best medicine. And if some NT or "expert" cant take a stim or a few light hearted moments of our lives, and let us share the rapture and the joys of autism - then they can go pound sand. Is it truly politically incorrect (altho I'm not quite sure anything political can ever be correct;) for my son and others to stand up and be counted as humans with humor and satire? To stand up and tell society that the only true disabling feature of autism is societies ignorance of autism? To stand up and say before you judge my delays, judge your own - judge societies? I think not. Is it mean spirited for autistics to say "the experts are full of it"? Arent they the autistics the ones who are best to decide that? My son is only 6, and I can say that everything the "experts" said about him and his future and his schooling was amazingly so off the mark that it would be laughable if it wasnt so tragic for the others who heed the advice of the "experts". One myth of autistics is that they dont have humor. Well this site alone proves that to be el-wrongo doesnt it? Look at what is being shown to you here. Life, passion, intelligence, and humor. Yes, humor - the first rule of humor is to be able to laugh at yourself. Here we have the means to laugh together. Giggles, grins and nods of understanding can sometimes sweep away the isolation in our lives. There are so many sites that claim to be expert sites that spread nothing but chaos and contempt for our loved ones. Go after them. The ones who halt futures with myths and missinformation. Let us move forward with goodwill and a little brevity.

To Mark Koontz - I loved your writing. I would truly like to be able to print it and hang it in my house and carry a copy with me. May I? Re: alien contact.

Janet "Azul" <azulism@yahoo.com>
CA USA - Saturday, August 07, 1999 at 03:00:42 (CDT)

JimG:

This site is not to promote hate towards NT's. It is to show that there is ignorance towards autistic people. At http://isnt.autistics.org/humor.html it is clearly stated.
omicron <udj2ldd@omicron.8m.com>
- Friday, July 30, 1999 at 15:05:09 (CDT)

Reply to JimG:
Christians who uncritically embrace gays know who they are -- because they have endured divisive conflicts with their "fellow" Christians in order to practice their beliefs. They do not need you to protect them from the likes of me.
And congregations who can agree from the outset, as a group, that they are comfortable sanctioning gay marriages, or who, to a member, can gracefully and respectfully minister to the asocial loner, would be the exceptions that prove the rule; how many would not be made up mostly of gays or autistics in the first place? Gay congregations are rare; autistic congregations, I think, we have yet to see. So where, exactly, would your beef be, regarding stereotypes?
Black humor, satire, that unlikely conjunction of dark truth and merriment, is an unholy union in the eyes of many people. NT or not, it is a very American trait to refuse to recognize such a marriage. In Europe, I understand, Mark Twain is a philosopher; here, he is either a "humorist," or he is a misanthropic crank. Light entertainment, or ugliness revealed, but in his own land, never the twain shall meet.
It is *un*diagnosed autistics who make up the *majority* of the autistic population; the DSM fulfills its duty to the insurance industry by defining the criteria narrowly enough to exclude the vast numbers of us who "shade out to normal." So we are not stereotyped; our character is not even *recognized*. The negative aspect of our reality is more like being born without arms, and then shamed and penalized for the rest of our lives because we "refuse" to shake hands. So we see a lot of dark truth out there that entirely escapes most people. Black humor, I think, is one of our prerogatives. It's our way of being philosophical.
If you can't stand the darkness, JimG, then stand out of the way of our light. And next time, muster up a little courage and leave your e-mail address.
Mark Stairwalt <stairwalt@earthlink.net>
Bloomington, IL Mairca tha BaYOOtiful! - Tuesday, July 27, 1999 at 03:39:06 (CDT)

I am glad to find this site... I have a few neurotypical features but have been told by doctors that I am not, in fact, NT. I hope that my research on PSAD (Pseudo-Simultaneous Awareness Disorder) has been of some help to understanding the sensory and social processes in this condition.

I have found that it helps, in research, to interview sufferers of PSAD about their experiences, but that their words must not be taken literally due to the linguistic manifestations inherent in this perceptual state.

Amanda <nightsng@netcom.com>
- Monday, July 26, 1999 at 22:29:59 (CDT)

JimG, it is you who needs to re-examin your steriotypical
feelings,not
the posters on this geustbook. I am sick of seeing those
who are not part of a disinfranchised group whining like hell
about those
Lyra <lyra@zipcon.net>
WA USA - Sunday, July 25, 1999 at 13:07:22 (CDT)

I found this result to be a riot--sometimes you need an edge to your humor to really get people's attention.AFter all, it is a cherished belief of many, particularly in the "helping" professions, that they hold no prejudices, so in order to confront that (false) belief you have to be a bit rude.
Sarah Boslaugh <ssboslaugh@yahoo.com>
Jersey City, NJ USA - Friday, July 23, 1999 at 06:51:42 (CDT)

Unlike the other "investigators", I find this site, while certainly
humorous, to be somewhat sad and disheartening. I personally have been
searching the web for AS info so that I could help and better
understand the six year old son of a good friend of mine, who
does appear to have most, if not all, of the DSM AS characteristics.
It is sad to see that those who have suffered by being stereotyped
can think it humorous to stereotype others. While the clinicians
might indeed need a kick in the pants, the meanspiritedness in some
of the posted "research" is sad to see. Maybe I'm an old
liberal fuddy-duddy, but prejudice is *never* funny to me.
Jim G <jimg@nohatemail.invalid>
Seattle, WA USA - Wednesday, July 21, 1999 at 11:30:52 (CDT)

I have three sons who have Apserger's, PDD/NOS and a Non-Verbal Autistic. They are my world, my wisdom, my joy, my teacher's, my center, my happiness and my life. I love them for who they are. For the abilities they possess and not for the disabilities that others see. I am grateful that they are in my life and that I have learned so much from them. To learn how to really see life as it unfolds. To enjoy the little victories that others never see....
I rejoyce each day in them and their achievements. And although I am NT I have been given the gift of seeing life and appreciating it more because of my sons!!
Mary Phillips <Fiveinatub@aol.com>
Upstate , NY USA - Wednesday, July 21, 1999 at 11:28:49 (CDT)

My mother thinks I have Asperger's Syndrome, chiefly because I'm intelligent, I have my own opinions, and I don't particularly enjoy her miserable company. She's a delusional piece of shit, and naturally, I hate the bitch. Have a blessed day.
Dexter Taylor
- Monday, July 19, 1999 at 01:00:22 (CDT)

First Contact
Mark J. Koontz

He was there, in cotton pajamas adorned with cowboys, settled with rapt attention before the small black and white screen, when the Russians launched the first orbiting satellite. No one watched with him - he had no friends.
He was there too, when U.S. astronauts first walked on the moon. The screen was larger then, and in color, but other than that his world was the same.
He was there again when the first shuttle lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, and he also followed closely the construction of the Aricebo dish, and the inception of S.E.T.I. All those years he was alone, a stranger in his own world, and he was as strange to it as it was to him.
He is there now watching images transmitted from Hubble, and is awaiting the construction of the International Space Station. He watches on an oversized screen in digital surround sound, while a single tear escapes his eye. He wonders how it is that they search the universe for signs of life when he is here, waiting for them to notice him, a natural born alien.

Mark J. Koontz <mkoontz@u.washington.edu>
Seattle, WA USA - Wednesday, July 14, 1999 at 12:02:40 (CDT)

A Methodist Mother Meets The Autistic Community

(In which her son, an uppity Aspie showboater, points out how, as autism becomes more widely recognized and we become more visible as a group, we might do well to take an interest in how other marginalized groups are treated by the NT world.)

The following e-mail sprung from a phone conversation with my NT, thoroughly Methodist mother (blessed be her heart), in which she reminisced about having taken in a floor show during a visit to the "My, Oh My Club," in New Orleans' French Quarter, as a self-described "innocent country girl," early in her marriage to my father. After explaining that at the end of the show, all the dancers had removed their bras, revealing themselves to be in fact men, she confided to me that that had been her first experience with "the gay community."

"Oh, really?" I replied. "I wasn't aware that you'd had a second experience." While my father, listening on another line, roared with appreciative laughter, my somewhat flustered mother harrumphed and sputtered, "Well . . . I certainly hope not. But in this day and age, you never can tell . . ."

Since discovering my autism last year at the age of 36 (thanks to my autistic longtime friend and current girlfriend and her two autistic daughters), I've come to understand better how my religious and political sympathies (and antipathies) came to be what they are. Mom is still working on understanding how anyone she raised could fail to see things her way; perhaps some of you will be able to get more out of what follows, which I wrote to her later the same night:

************************************

My communities . . . have always included some gay and lesbian people, as acquaintances, friends, and sometimes enemies. We have never referred to them as the gay community. The only transvestite we've ever known is the straight boyfriend of "Aunt Mimi," a co-worker of Rochelle's, and the girls' favorite babysitter. The most morally depraved thing he's ever done is take some of Mimi's makeup to a drag show in Chicago, for the whole weekend, without asking.

"In this day and age," it has become clear to some of us that homosexuality is no more a lifestyle choice than is autism. In Tony Attwood's words, "They cannot change, and many do not want to." Couple this with the fact that for the first 19 centuries A.D., homosexuals (who somehow escaped Christ's notice entirely), like autistics, not only had no name, but mysteriously escaped being identified as a threat to marriage, and certain questions arise.

In the next hundred years, what's to stop autism from being identified as a threat to family values? We are not social people, not much given to fellowship, Christian or otherwise. Those of us who make little or no effort to hide our autism often make others uncomfortable. Some we even make angry.

Worse, we're breeders. We don't waste energy recruiting innocent young people into our "lifestyle;" we are fruitful. We multiply. Are there no obscure Old Testament verses that might be called into service to chastise at least the really provocative, flaming autistics? Perhaps even to justify a ban on autistic marriages? Or autistic ordinations? Surely the openly autistic are not appropriate role models for outgoing, people-oriented youth?

I am following with interest the contortions of the Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist leadership over these very issues. The solutions under consideration seem to all be variations on the theme of, "It's all right if you *are* gay, so long as you do not *act* gay." There, indeed, but for the grace of Yahweh, goes the "autistic community."

I wonder what Dave Spicer would make of the situation of today's gay Protestant. In his "Autistic And Undiagnosed: My Cautionary Tale," he wrote,

"Rewarding an autistic person for acting nonautistic is quite likely, in some cases at least, to result in an autistic person who acts nonautistic. This is not the same thing as the person no longer *being* autistic. Rather, it can be a person sacrificing his or her own identity in order to gain the acceptance and approval of others."

The acceptance and approval of others can certainly be said to be a traditional value, a family value; it is perhaps the very definition of a community value. It is not, obviously -- but perhaps not obviously enough -- a moral value.

If the God of Joseph and Abraham can help some people see this more plainly, well, Godspeed to Him.

He clearly needs it.

**************************
A postscript included the following:

I'm assuming you are familiar with the Defense of Marriage Rally, a national event held last summer in Iowa, as well as the Defense of Marriage Act. If you are not, you should be; the folks responsible for them were the congressmen you were so thrilled to see take over the U.S. House of Representatives a couple of elections ago. Amongst the bumper crop of shameful and ridiculous notions with which they have since favored the nation, one of the most cowardly and disingenuous was the code-naming of their desire to outlaw gay marriage, as the "defense" of marriage.

20th-century Christianism is the 800-pound gorilla of religious and moral discourse in America. It sits wherever it wants, arrogant and arbitrary, be it between homosexuals (who may or may not even be Christians) and first-class citizenship -- or, may we not expect, between those of us who are, in our very bones, "uncongenial to the group spirit," and whatever institution it might decide is threatened by that very absence of a group spirit that makes autistics autistic.

Christian churches, after all, are all about group spirit, and what threatens them need not make sense, even by their own rules. What, for instance, a flimsy, faulty institution must marriage be, if it must be protected from gay people practicing monogamy, commitment and responsibility?

What oh-so frail, fragile Christianist value, then, in the coming decades, might end up being similarly defended from the likes of [Rochelle's daughters, aged 5 and 8]? What sorts of healthily eccentric, sensitively gifted, weirdly and wonderfully spirited people can they look forward to being protected, in the name of someone else's god, from becoming?

Mark Stairwalt <stairwalt@earthlink.net>
Bloomington, IL The Famous U. of S.A. - Thursday, July 08, 1999 at 14:42:47 (CDT)

I have done extensive research with my twins, sadly one has been labeled NT. I have found the NT twin to be more confused and frustrated than her typical autistic sister. More results to follow.
katie holmes <funnier@gateway.net>
columbus, Ohio USA - Wednesday, June 30, 1999 at 22:18:07 (CDT)

I was originally diagnosed at the age of forty-six as having learning disabilities, even though while I was in the first grade my parents were told I was retarded, and would never learn to read or write.
Since my intial diagnosis, I've self-diagnosed myself as affected by Aperger's Syndrome. In case you're wondering how trustworthy a self-diagnosis can be, I'm a psych major at the University of Washington. I'm also a talented artist (poor NTs, they can't think in images. They can only paint and draw what's in front of them), and am currently working on two novels. I have also had a number of poems published in various national small press publications. Not bad for someone the NTs said would never learn to read or write. So much for casual diagnoses made by unqualified elementary school teachers.
I love the site. The humor hits home with a vengeance. I hope to see more.
Also, if anyone out there would like, I have been tutoring people like myself, and have made considerable headway in helping them to cope and learn, due to my peculiar insight (something no NT possesses). I think the most important lesson we can learn, as autistics is that it's okay to be as we are. Sometimes the problem isn't the individual, but a genuinely pathology of society and culture. I hope to hear from some of you, Autistic and NT.
Mark J. Koontz
On-Beyond-Zebra@Juno.com
Mark Koontz <On-Beyond-Zebra@Juno.com>
Seattle, WA USA - Wednesday, June 23, 1999 at 23:58:20 (CDT)

Thank you - I couldn't have said it better myself! My son is a 10 year old, brilliant, witty, inspirational child diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at 4 years of age. I share your outrage for my son and others like him. There is a very strong push on in our community for state sponsored, read paid, ABA
Bonnie Montminy <jbmontminy@home.com>
London, On Canada - Thursday, June 17, 1999 at 12:37:19 (CDT)

HELP! I teach science to seventh grade NTs. What can be done to help these poor children. Their neurological makeup makes it so hard to comprehend much beyond their own little world. They can not visualize anything except the ordinary and banal. I am thinking of consulting an expert on ABF (applied behavioral freedom) for methods to break through to their stale little typical brains. Luckily I have a six year old expert living in my house.
Becky Parker <rebajp@yahoo.com>
Pearl River, La U.S.A. - Wednesday, June 16, 1999 at 03:23:33 (CDT)

I have a 13 yo son with AS who was diagnosed at 11. I've always accepted his differences as I accepted my other children's. It never dawned on me that he had a "disability", but the AS diagnosis was very helpful in focusing on ways to assist him in getting along in an NT world. As a grad student in prenatal and perinatal psychology, I'm doing a paper contrasting research in schizophrenia and AS/HFA. In all of my years of reading research journals in many topics, I've NEVER run across any people written about with such affection as those who see the world through Aspergery eyes.
However when I have posed the thought that the rise in Asperger's is in response to our human evolution (Lamarckian, BTW) other professionals have laughed at me. I am not conceited about our social bonding needs as NT's. Your site has made me feel that I am on the right track.
Thanks!
Amy G. <AltrnBirth@aol.com>
Madison, WI USA - Monday, June 07, 1999 at 19:38:19 (CDT)

Many of these comments bring tears to my eyes. Sadly, I am NT, but my son is AS. He is my joy.
vicki <mvmccarty@aol.com>
- Tuesday, May 25, 1999 at 10:23:18 (CDT)

The Can CAN! webring is up and running, if anyone's interested. Understand autism, don't eliminate it!
Brenda <bafine@uwaterloo.ca>
Waterloo, Canada - Thursday, May 13, 1999 at 11:27:11 (CDT)

It's nice to see that not everyone(even though I'm NT :( )thinks like SOME professionals, I always hated when they said my son Stimmed ( I twist my hair ) and that he didn't have good eye contact ( I think he sees better pheriperally) . I especially hate when they say they know why he does something and I know they're dead wrong. Also they try to tell me he knows exactly what he's doing when he pinches or pushes some kid as if he's some rotten little kid- I don't believe it.. He's also really funny (to me) and I love repeating dialogue with him 5 million times, he can be annoying at times but so can I . He deserves to be treated like a human just like anyone
nancy <beachshack@msn.com>
oceanview, de usa - Friday, May 07, 1999 at 19:47:52 (CDT)

My current peeve! Why do NT's think that in a group situation everyone needs to be talking to each other? Or at least be listening to what someone else is saying?
What if you have nothing to say, don't feel like talking because the noise in the room is starting to get to you, and you just want to be quiet and peaceful?

NT's get OFFENDED if you don't join them in group coversation and call you rude, cold, unfriendly because you prefer to be by yourself! They take it PERSONAL when it has nothing to do with them!

I might go out to the car to wait for my husband after church and NT's think I'm mad at them! Why do they think my behaviour has anything to do with them?

Further research is needed!
Gail P. <rep@capital.net>
NY USA - Thursday, May 06, 1999 at 06:44:51 (CDT)

Guess who's been asked to be the consultant in psychology for the Helsinki Asperger Project which is being planned for the near-ish future.
David N Andrews <asperger.artforms@mailcity.com>
Kotka, Finland - Monday, May 03, 1999 at 10:20:21 (CDT)

Guess who's been asked to be the consultant in psychology for the Helsinki Asperger Project which is being planned for the near-ish future.
David N Andrews <as before!>
Kotka, Finland - Monday, May 03, 1999 at 10:19:50 (CDT)

I just read on Martijn Dekker's special site for some day that neurotypicals set aside for us higher beings that an autistic guy who was lured into killing someone by a known fucking psychopath is likely to face the death penalty, despite previous very good character. Normals love the death penalty... it allows them to commit murder, and justify it by saying they are cleaning up the world. When the decision to kill this autistic young man comes through, I suggest that the autistic community band up to FORCE the judges or the prosecutors in this case to do the job themselves. If they aren't the near psychopaths that I believe normals to be, then they'll change their attitudes to death penalties mighty fucking quick. Talk about attitude problems... no-one has the right (state supported or otherwise) to kill someone else.
David N Andrews <asperger.artforms@mailcity.com>
Kotka, Finland - Monday, May 03, 1999 at 10:17:32 (CDT)

Nicely done! As one who is NLC (neurologically less common, or, from the Institute's perspective, asymptomatic!) but highly functioning, it's nice to see such a professional-looking site on behalf of other NLC's. I mean no disrespect for my nuerologically much less common bretheren and sisters first diagnosed as autistic, whose dignity I appreciate, but I do like to see the AS spectrum represented by other than the image of small, mute children spending hours or days in the fetal position.
Although frustration with the NT-world is natural, I urge my fellow NLC's to refrain from the dangerous temptation of dividing the world into two (or more) camps, us and them (and them others) with only us being good and all of them being bad. This is no healthier a way for NLC's to view NT's than vice versa, or for whites so to view blacks, Serbs to view Albanians, etc. Compassionately consider that the NT's know not what they do, and even as we struggler to figure out what the fuck there doing and thinking, they lack the mental sophistication to figure out what the fuck we're doing. Sure, it's their loss and they hurt us, but don't we all do it to someone, sometime, in someway?
What is the cure for NT? The answer is the same as for NLC - its not a condition to be cured but one which requires one to learn techniques of adaption to ones environment. We (NLC) need different kinds of help and don't usually get it because society is set up to help in the ways that work for NTs. Oh well, probably not anything you don't already know.
I have just had a terrible week at work caused by my characteristics that are NLC characteristics - searching "high functioning autism" and surfing the links has made me feel part of a community and less like a helpless, hopeless freak. Regards to those responsible for the institute.
William Anthony Myers <wamyers@concentric.net>
Boardman, OH USA - Sunday, April 25, 1999 at 14:01:59 (CDT)

Consider this :-

It seems to me that the fundamental difference between people with AS and NT's is that the former lack herd instinct.

As society advances technologically, the need for herd instinct diminishes. In fact, it becomes a dangerous barrier to rational, objective thought.

Is AS therefore part of an evolutionary process? Is it part of nature's process for developing human beings to fit their changing enviroment?

P.S. love the idea for the site!
DB <DBe7412690@aol.com>
Woking, UK - Saturday, April 17, 1999 at 13:13:24 (CDT)

I AM AN NT. MY SON IS AUTISTIC. HIS WORLD IS MY ENVY. HE
HAS IT TOGETHER. HE KEEPS ME IN LINE. NT'S IF YOU TRULY
NEED HELP, SEE YOUR NEAREST AUTISTIC SPECIALIST. YOU CAN
BE SAVED. THEY WILL SHOW YOU THE SIMPLE TRUTH. LIFE IS
NOT AS HARD AS WE NT'S MAKE IT OUT TO BE. BORN AGAIN NT

ROBY <PUFFY91661>
HOUSTON, TX USA - Monday, April 05, 1999 at 02:00:16 (CDT)

Your site has a great sense of humor in a serious way.
My favorite is that NT's are unable to be alone....I have ridiculed myself for most of my life because I believed someone who said that this was not good...I am unable to deliver any parralell humor of my experince. I am just now comming into my cacoon with a delisious sence of truly entering the metomorphisious that should of taken place before I climed the tower, thinking it was the right way....
See sometimes we climb to the top of the tower and survive enough to find out that there is nothing there...and we are able to come back down and go into our cacoons and become beartiful butterflys that fly by the tower trying to let everyone know there is another way.......
Erin Anne Rager <rager@thevision.net>
Modesto, CA USA - Friday, March 26, 1999 at 09:40:52 (CST)

At 21, someone speculated if I had Aspergers. They asked if I had an imagination. When I said I did, they said I could not possible have AS.

As it turns out, I do have AS but I also have 'ghost' NT syndromes (i.e. I sometimes appear to be very normal and indulge in typical NT behaviours). Does this make me atypical AS or atypical NT ? Research please.
Richard McEvoy <richardmcevoy@hotmail.com>
- Monday, March 15, 1999 at 06:11:41 (CST)

Brilliant...makes me proud to be hyperlexic! I found an anti-CAN webring on www.webring.org, but it seems to be inactive. I'm thinking of starting a new one, but I'd like to get a rough idea of how many people are interested before I begin. Email me if you'd be interested in joining such a ring!
Brenda <bafine@uwaterloo.ca>
Waterloo, Canada - Sunday, March 14, 1999 at 12:55:08 (CST)

Theory is a poor substitute for field research. The next logical step is to cull a breeding pair of NTs from the herd, dart, and tag them with transmitters.

Perhaps in time we can simulate their enviroment enough to permit colse study in park like environs.

Sounds like an NSF grant to me

Lets
Julie mills <windmark@execpc.com>
- Thursday, February 25, 1999 at 22:16:23 (CST)

This is a beautiful site.
I never read something like that before.
I very liked this site.
Thank you for It.
Ayelet
Israel - Tuesday, February 23, 1999 at 18:55:44 (CST)

I was going to buy a pizza few days ago, the man told me it was more cheap for me to buy a n"umber 5 without ham" than a "number 14 plus mushroom", but they are identical!!!
I guess NT's are able to see the difference between *tomato mushroom cheese* and *cheese mushroom tomato*...
Amazing ability! I wonder how about *mushroom tomato cheese* and wish I could just get the pizza without having to talk with strange people about this...
Anita
Denmark - Friday, February 05, 1999 at 21:56:11 (CST)

Since my AS diagnosis in 1993 I have lived in denial. Silly me! Last week I set out to discover what it is to be AS. So I found ISNT via J. Norman-Bain's link, and creased up with laughter! Yet it does touch on some truths.

Perkons' Theory suggests to me that the 3yo NT reasons "I know, and Sally thinks as I think, so Sally knows" whereas to the autist "I saw it, so it was plain to see, therefore Sally probably knows". Perhaps autists grasp information theory in that the universe leaks information like a sieve, and being told off after stealing cookies reinforced this for me. I sense a profound irony in that the autistic TOM contributes to its own cause! And do 4yo NTs forget what's on the photo? How tragic!

I may go to the parties, follow the trends, put on an NT act, but if and when I change my way of thought I'll know the Dark Side has won me. Will look up 'stim' in the dictionary - wonder if I've done it!
Greg Cook <cs97gjc@brunel.ac.uk>
London, UK - Tuesday, January 26, 1999 at 10:32:13 (CST)

I just discovered to my dismay that I am NT. However, I am probably at the milder end of the spectrum. I am glad my son Neeraj is an autie and I have no NT kids. Love your page. I think it will help me reduce my NT traits.
merry barua <actaut@nda.vsnl.net.in >
New Delhi, Delhi India - Tuesday, January 19, 1999 at 11:42:02 (CST)

My name is Karen and I am an NT. I'm learning a better way of life by following in my ASpie son's light. I apologize for my way of thinking and promise to do better "One Day At a Time"
Karen
- Wednesday, January 13, 1999 at 18:47:58 (CST)

Thank you for your interpretation of the experts opinions!! I've never heard the term NT but have an autistic child. I can see parts of myself in almost everything I read however, nobody ever gave me a "diagnosis". I appreciate the humor because my Matty brings me so much joy in his perceptions of life. He has definitely made me find and confront my own soul. Would have been real bad to have missed that. And I would have.
Mona Alley <monaalley@hotmail.com>
Butler, AL USA - Friday, January 01, 1999 at 02:02:59 (CST)

Love your site. I am personally involved in some NT research regarding the NT's compulsion to respond to rhyming,out-of-context departure statements with a rote, rhyming,out of context departure statement as in: "See you later, Alligator." will invariably result in the response "After a while, Crocodile." This behavior occassionally escalates into a self perpetuating form of one-upmanship with each NT attempting to have the last word.
J. Harris <libertyeng@aol.com>
Virginia Beach, VA USA - Wednesday, December 23, 1998 at 10:00:30 (CST)

I'm afraid I fit the neurotypical diagnosis, but I like to think I have a less severe form of this disorder. I can step back far enough to see that my group actions are not based on logic, which may explain why few groups seem interested in having me. Anyhow, I appreciate your viewpoint that autism is no more a disorder than compulsive social conformity.
alli
- Monday, December 21, 1998 at 06:55:13 (CST)

I just stumbled in here off the internet....stumbling-typical NT behavior!
Great Site!!!
Dennis Debbaudt <ddpi@flash.net>
Detroit , MI U.S. - Friday, December 18, 1998 at 22:34:25 (CST)

Welcome to the new home of the Institute. I think the URL "isnt.autistics.org" is very appropriate :-)
muskie <muskie@grrltalk.net>
- Thursday, December 17, 1998 at 15:29:46 (CST)

My husband, who was referred for an evaluation by our family therapist 3 1/2 years ago for Aspergers left a note on the steps for me and my two pre-school kids and ripped much of our joint property from our house last new years eve day. We had been together for 19 years, married for 12. He most likely does have Aspergers. My heart aches day and night. He just got laid off and although he is a year 2K programmer, who knows if he can get it together to get another job. He lives with a girl friend he knew 20 years ago in college and has filed for divorce He is sending Xmas cards to my friends with the kids and his girl friend in the photo. I have had lots of trouble accepting the situation over the last 3 years. His family would not listen to my concerns. My father has had 3 forms of cancer and surgery ever year. I am trying to take the high road but it is very hard. I would like to know if there are any support groups for family members. My sense of humor has taken a beating but laughter is the best medicine. thanks
Deb Picciuto, MPH <Dpicciuto@MHAlink.org>
burlington, ma usa - Wednesday, December 16, 1998 at 07:01:17 (SGT)

Took your advice from a few weeks ago when I first viewed your site! Applied for the disability allowance which he IS entitled to and even got backpay for 12 mths. We are now going to have a great xmas and I look forward to being able to supply B with the things he needs to fulfil his interests!
I was pretty confused as to how to look at him(disabled or not) as on his good days he excels. You had to be here yesterday though when he was sick and screaming for no apparent other reason.A person with Aspergers does not like to vomit because they can't comprehend HOW you could feel better afterwards, even though that's what Mummy says is so!
Thanks again for putting perspective into my life... B thanks you too!!!!
Jenny Weyman <weyman@shoal.net.au>
australia - Wednesday, December 09, 1998 at 09:25:50 (SGT)

Very funny, great idea. As a care worker in this field, your institute site should be required orientation reading. anyone who isn't amused shouldn't be hired.
Ron Schlosberg
Victoria, BC Canada - Monday, December 07, 1998 at 08:35:18 (SGT)

As a lifelong observer of NT's, or "Nastily Typicals", as we
call 'em here at the Institute for Putting Neuro-Typicals to
Sleep, I have come to the conclusion that these people are, at
best, unproductive nuisances who should be put to sleep as
quickly as possible so as not to use up scarce resources so
desparately needed by more deserving populations, such as
stockbrokers, investment bankers, and anyone else wealthy enough
to subsidise our work. Don't waste time and effort feeding and
teaching these useless little things, when all that really needs
to done, is to put 'em to sleep. Ask Dr. Kevorkian and Richard
Lamm;they'd agree!
Seriously, nice to see a site like this. As an autie, I've en-
dured my share of diagnosing and teasing, and, as a result, am
not always overfond of "normals." On the other hand, praise be
to those people out there, AS, CP, and NT alike, who've accepted
me for who and what I am, for that's all I can ever really be.
May we all find such people!
Keep up the good work, and fight the powers that be!
Autistically, Donald Rilea.
Donald Rilea <bakuninmeow@hotmail.com>
Las Vegas, Nv USA - Sunday, December 06, 1998 at 10:03:40 (SGT)

As a functioning design professional, I often have an opportunity to persuade NT clients to agree to design proposals. Many of them entirely lack any ability in three-dimensional visualization - let alone training in technical drawing - and are therefore unable to assess proposals in rational terms. Despite their disablingly poor visualization skills, however, many of my NT clients compensate with unusually high social interaction skills. Unfortunately, these "social adepts," as I term them, often rely on these undeniable strengths to compensate for their atrophied visualization skills. Thus, a social adept will assess a statement such as "the plywood won't be here on Thursday because the truck crashed," purely in terms of its social implications, concluding that any person uttering such a negative statement must be "unco-operative," "not a team player," and so forth. Luckily, with patience and toleration, social adepts can be trained to understand that statements about plywood may even contribute to team goals in the long term, or at least be distracted by generous lardings of gratuitous social stroking in the short term. Just keep in mind when dealing with NT "adepts" that the important thing is their signature on the consulting cheque.
Heidi Overhill <overhill@istar.ca>
- Tuesday, December 01, 1998 at 15:23:57 (SGT)

Sorry for my bad english, but I'm dutch, so bear with me...
I've discovered that NT's don't have a good spatial insight,
By which I mean a good 3D map built inside, as most A.S.
have. Whe are therefore genetically more advanced. Mother
Nature rather have that the food collector comes home from
the woods with food without greeting his wife, than that he's
hopelessly lost in the woods, and dies missing his wife and
children.
Ewout Pool <epol@globalxs.nl>
Bodegraven, Holland - Friday, November 20, 1998 at 03:54:02 (SGT)

Medical researchers will present their DNN (Defeat Neurotypicalness Now) Protocol at a conferences to be held this Spring in Oregon, Vermont, Minnesota, and Northern California. Neurotypicalness can be cured in our lifetime.
alan kurtz <alan_kurtz@umit.maine.edu>
Orono, ME USA - Thursday, November 19, 1998 at 00:13:27 (SGT)

Son just *diagnosed* with A.S.Have all the forms
to apply for a disability allowance but now
am going to throw them in the bin!He is no more work
than my other two N.T kids.They have the true disabling
features.Thankyou ,thankyou, thankyou.I'm going to try
hard not to be too much like a N.T person.
Jenny <weyman@shoal.net.au>
n Australia - Monday, November 16, 1998 at 08:15:19 (SGT)

Great site. I was fairly close to NT until my son was born. He discovered my sensory deficits when he was about five. He was astonished to learn that I couldn't hear the water in the fire hydrant two blocks away. His compassion was touching. He has tought me to see the colors in voices and
he compensates for my hearing problems by putting my ear over the hydrant so I can hear. I have also learned to step on just the right block in the video games and read books upside down. I'm so lucky to have a good teacher. I am learning, but it's so hard! It takes all of my effort to do things he can do so easily! Maybe I'll start a NT support group...
Jean <finders@lynnet.com>
- Saturday, November 14, 1998 at 01:33:55 (SGT)

I have a daughter who is becoming an adolescent and is becoming
increasingly NT; although several years ago she was showed
signs of mental health. Although she is able to use a
word processor and surf the web and has her own web page
(http://www.a.jetinternet.com/sarah), she is also becoming
distressingly obsessesed with such non-issues as appearence.
Also, she engages in compulsive, self-destructive behavior
such as shaving her body hair and a desire to pierce her
earlobes.
However, I think that there is hope. Recently, I took her to
see "Godzilla". As we emerged from the theater, I asked her
opinion of the film. She thought the film was not credidble
because Godzilla's hylex was on the wrong side of the feet.

Have there been studies about NT in adolescence?

Jeff Silverman <jeff@jetinternet.com>
Seattle, WA USA - Tuesday, November 10, 1998 at 02:38:00 (SGT)

I believe that the NT problem can be solved. Upon my research
I came to the conclusion that NT, being a genetic gift, can be
radicated if taken care of at an early enough age. The solution that
I'm proposing is simple, however, demanding in both time and effort.
Every person diagnose with NT should, between the age of 5 to 15,
take a 40 day trip to a desert nearest to their house. This piligrim-
age must be done ALONE.

NT- I've tested negative <verture200@theglobe.com>
Rochester, NY U.S - Friday, November 06, 1998 at 07:06:02 (SGT)

As an NT, I didn't realize the prognosis was quite so bleak!
Crystal <crysev@sprint.com >
Toronto, CANADA - Wednesday, November 04, 1998 at 07:31:46 (SGT)

One definite thing I've noticed about NTs is lack of
imagination and creativity. While I am swimming with ideas,
I don't think I need to share every one of them and have
them "approved," the NT person measures their ideas by
what others think, and can't imagine any way of life
beyond their own experience.
Tara <tedwards@ccs.neu.edu>
- Thursday, October 29, 1998 at 07:31:24 (SGT)

Ach, what a relief to read that NT is no longer a topic left untouched! My youngest sister and a few friends of mine suffer this wretched disorder. She exhibits such heartbreaking symptoms as:
goes to movies and dances in groups (inability to function on own), needs a constant umbilical line to those like-"minded", via telephone if no other outlet is available, goes along with grouop thinking
(thinking goes in quotes, actually) and generally loves nauseating things like Disney and Johnathan Taylor-
Thomas. Unfortunately, the prognosis is not good: Her family (she's a half sister) has a history of NT and she cannot be induced to do anything on her own, barring reading! I try to reassure my mother that this sister is all right, but
she can see through the stoic facade - in my sister, I see a life wasted by the horrible thing I now know to be NT.
Kendal Obermeyer <kendalo@ix.netcom.com>
- Thursday, October 29, 1998 at 02:58:07 (SGT)

I propose that we build special schools for NT children,
and that each child be put into a class by himself and
forced to persue independent study. In this way we can
foster greater independence of thought and overcome their
social delusion. With such training, they may someday
even be able to live independently.
Ted <tknupke@ibm.net>
Naugatuck, CT USA - Monday, October 26, 1998 at 13:19:15 (SGT)

I would like to propose a new construct in the continuing investigations on Theory of Mind. I propose that autistic spectrum persons have an Hypothesis of Mind, as opposed to the Theory of Mind held by NT individuals. A theory is a set of assumptions, facts and accepted priniciples that can be used to explain and predict events. An hypothesis is a tentative explanation of a set of facts which can be tested by further investigation.

This construct complements Frith's ideas about the drive for central coherence vs local coherence.

Autistic spectrum individuals could be expected to form their self-concepts differently than NTs, but I'll have to think about this more before I can develop the testable hypothesis.

BA
VA USA - Wednesday, October 14, 1998 at 21:23:18 (SGT)

This is my Theory of Mind:

1. All people have minds (Duh!).
2. I can not know what is in them unless they tell me.
3. This is okay with me.

What I don't understand is why is this not okay with them?
I shall visit your site frequently in my quest for knowledge.
BA
VA USA - Wednesday, October 14, 1998 at 01:45:12 (SGT)

I am a social psychologist, and I have been researching this condition for some time operating under this paradigm. It appears that neurotypicality is something of a problem... these people want to be just like each other, so they invent rules called societal norms in order to effect this. When an individual fails to be able to live such lies, then that person is labelled as having something wrong with them. Entirely puzzling behaviour indeed. At some point, the notion that these people are sane must crumble, because it seems that they cannot justify anything under a soc-psych paradigm (do none of you wonder why the clinical psychology courses never include social psychology as a subject? It's because soc-psych flies in the face of their ideas and "research".
The natural normality is to have predisposing conditions for mental problems. The NT normality is to create the precipitating situations for the so-called mentally ill or disturbed!
This can be argued quite well using only the basic theories and principles of social psychology. The clinicals get frightened by this, and hide from it (Ostrich Syndrome).

David N. Andrews
Certificated Social Psychologist
Teacher
Mathematical Physicist
Super-nerd
David N Andrews <aut.dna@mailcity.com>
Helsinki, Finland - Tuesday, October 13, 1998 at 21:04:12 (SGT)

Yes, we know the trauma of parenting an NT child--one who makes sense, all the time,
the obsession with dinos when he was 7, etc. I'm so happy there's support for parents like us.
Eva Whitley <ewhitley@qis.net>
Uniontown,, MD USA - Monday, October 12, 1998 at 10:42:03 (SGT)

Enjoyed your observations greatly!! (Food for thought, similar to something I posted to a listserv a little over a year ago: We have far more allegedly NT folk who, although they pass first- and second-order theory of mind tests with ease, seem to be perpetually clueless when it comes to relationships. Witness publications such as Dr. Laura Schlessinger's "Ten Stupid Things..." series for men and for women plus certain talk shows that capitalize on human misery [waste?!?!]!)
Kelli Bond <versakel@earthlink.net>
CCA USA - Monday, October 12, 1998 at 07:32:42 (SGT)

thank you for researching this serious topic! as an employee in the television news industry, i have often come across stories where people fitting the NT profile are in trouble with the law, causing problems for everyone else, and cluttering the legal system with obsessively selfish litigation. perhaps we could test possible cures on the NT's currently occupying the jails and give them a way to be useful and helpful to all the suffering NT's out in society.
daa <aymara1@juno.com>
panama city, fl usa - Sunday, October 11, 1998 at 04:11:44 (SGT)

Cyberagnosia---almost normal, but disabled

Meet Freda. 33 years old, female, she looks like just an ordinary autistic woman. She learned to read at the age of 2, she stims, she perseverates, she shows normal ability to notice the noise of a ventilater or fluorecent lights in the next room, she does not show excessive crave for company---she is almost autistic. Psychologists, speech pathologists, psychiatrists, everyone says, "Don't worry, you are just a healthy Aspie." But she does have a problem. She cannot use computers properly. Almost autistic. This fact makes her overall functioning level higher than those of full-fledged NT people, but at the same time it also makes it impossible for her to get helps she needs and deserves. She does have a symptom of NT, she does suffer from it, but she is not NT enough to be diagnosed as NT, and to be qualified for the adequate accommodation provided to officially diagnosed NT people.

Test results showed that she has NT symptoms in only two areas. Inability to flap, and cyberagnosia. She can compensate her inability to flap using a proper assistive technology, a pinwheel. She can gaze a pinwheel instead of
flapping, but she had to purchase her pinwheel herself. Local NT Support Center rejected her application for the free pinwheel lending program, just because she does not have official diagnosis of NT, even NT-NOS in partial remission.

She could get a pinwheel by hard working and fundraising run by friends, but the problem of computers remains. She needs full-time technical support to survive in the real world.

There are many people show only one or two symtoms of NT. They do not meet the diagnositic criteria, but their life is devastatingly affected nevertheless. To meet their needs and help them compensate and function in the real world, a new name for them are needed. Cyberagnosia----this is not an official diagnosis, but necessary to acqire the service and accommodation they desperately need.
FUKUMOTO Fumio <fumiotlztflpf8@po.teleway.ne.jp>
Japan - Saturday, October 10, 1998 at 16:13:53 (SGT)

Way clever, and insightful to boot. I would caution that there is a remarkably wide variety of NT types, subtypes and phyla, much like plants. For example: the chatty, child-obsessed neighbor is a rather different, if equally banal, creature as the BMW-lusting business school graduate.

Seriously, though, it's high time people stopped thinking that there is a NORMAL way to see the world, and anything deviating from the intrinsic party line must be stamped out. Political correctness, for all its social virtue, is an example of such thought-style fascism. Autistic people are a living reminder that it's fully possible to live without buying into dominant thought-styles, and the rest of us would have much to learn on that account alone.

Loved the site too.
Fred
Ann Arbor, MI USA - Saturday, October 10, 1998 at 00:58:40 (SGT)

He He, As someone who is not NT, and has been 'diagnosed as NAT (neurologically atypical) or 'disordered', i can really appreciate the humour of this site. I have found humour to be one of the greatest defences against NT professionals who would like to believe that the 'disordered' are doomed and lack insight....humour is the greatest sanity-maker, and a link between those who might otherwise/or simultaniously be in great pain. In times when I have been hospitalised for my psychiatric 'disorder' I have shared many increadibly meaningful and often humourous moments with fellow patients...I have also noticed that it is very rare for professionals to join in the very human sense of humour that many of us possess (after all, they must keep up that 'professional' facade). Despite my suposedly 'debilitating' disorder I lead a very rich if difficult life. My sympathy goes out to all those suffering NT, the alternative perception impaired, the normality-fixated, and those who have missed out on experiencing the community of diverse, humourous, and loving individuals who happen not to fit into the category of 'neurologically normal'.
sarah McMurphy <amonksj@hotmail.com>
perth, WA Australia - Friday, October 09, 1998 at 17:05:49 (SGT)

I Live in fear of having an NT child. They take so much
care and alway bother you for things that have no meaning.
And they clutter up the house with meetings to talk about
nothing. The only solution I've found is to not have any
children. If there is ever a cure - I will be much relieved.

Larri <kor@pophost.tlg.net>
San Jose, CA U.S.A. - Thursday, October 08, 1998 at 16:03:41 (SGT)

As bibliography for NeuroTypical, try the books of Rene' Girard.
Tristano <mc9628@mclink.it>
Rome, Italy - Sunday, September 27, 1998 at 03:53:45 (SGT)

To be serious, a nice site, Muskie. I've only seen some
of it, but I liked the clear challenge of the
professional pronoucements about autism. This is IMNSHO,
but, it stuns me the degree to which the professionals
can just plain have it WRONG. (I.e. all kids with autism
are non-physically affectionate. BZZZT. Wrong.) And lovely
are the consequences for autistic kids who may suffer
a self-fufilling prohpecy as a result of his bad information.
This is maybe an unfair thing to say (ooh... it's late and
I can feel saying something foolish comming on...), but
it seems to me that many (if not most) NT researchers are
incapable of being objective enough to study autism. The
disorder itself seems to affect such a subtle aspect of
communication that they don't even realize that it's
affecting their interpretations (i.e. if someone has flat
affect it means they don't have emotions, and lack
empathy). [rant mode : off]

-M.

M. Robbins <Splat1000@hotmail.com>
N. Calif., CA USA - Saturday, September 26, 1998 at 19:55:57 (SGT)

My child won't stim. I'm so embarrased! Oh god help me!
He won't do it in public, even in overwhelming sensory
chaos, when it would be perfectly normal! Fortunately
noone stares or makes comments, and tell me it's actually
helpful for NT's not to, but I just want him to be able to
"pass". Because if people think he's like everybody else,
then they won't have problems with him when they find out
he's different.

I try to show him how to stim, but he
just won't do it. (I think it's deliberate, just to annoy
me.) Heavens, what ever am I to do?!

M. Robbins <Splat1000@hotmail.com>
N. California, CA USA - Saturday, September 26, 1998 at 19:44:30 (SGT)

It is so good to see new research being done on NT. Ten years ago it would have all been attributed to overaffectionate parenting (i.e. "toaster-oven moms"), and that myth badly needed dispelling. Thank you for your wonderful site.
Kyrie <Elleason@aol.com>
FL USA - Friday, September 25, 1998 at 05:41:09 (SGT)

This is an excellent site, making points that need to be
made, with wit and clarity. As someone doubly invested in
progress towards social parity for autistics and cousins --
I'm the father of a son dxed PDD, and have a "mild" variant
of AS myself -- I think this site's message and point of
view need to be heard and adopted in a lot of places.
Phil Schwarz <pschwarz@ix.netcom.com>
Boston, MA USA - Friday, September 25, 1998 at 04:52:00 (SGT)

This is a great website. Neurotypical syndrome is a terrible
disease. I have known people who have had NT. People who
have NT are in all walks of life, but most of the ones I
have known, were in the Legal,medical,and Psychiatric
professions. It is great that people with NT finally have
a website, that they can access, in order to get treatment.
Maybe a dose of vitamin B, ECT and Psychotropic drugs,
might help some people, with NT. I will refer people with
NT, to this website.
David olsen <do1234@yahoo.com>
Flagstaff, AZ USA - Thursday, September 24, 1998 at 13:10:01 (SGT)

I've been studying means of communicating with NTs for a number and have had a fair degree of success, as several prominant ACs know. In studying NT behavious, it has become apparent that NT Disorder limits the ability of the individual to perceive alternate points of view and see the commonality between people, leading to behaviours ranging from aversive to outroght hostility, the most telling incidence of that being World War II.

Many NTs also seem to have difficulty in adapting to modern technology, being unable to adapt their thought patterns to manipulate the predictability and logic of computer technology, instead, expecting the machine to conform to their wishes. Despite several adptations, such as Microsoft Windows, making technology NT friendly has met with limited success. More research is still needed in the area of adaptive technology. Perhaps one days, a computer will be developed to be able to unravel the mysteries of NT thinking.
Tony <tlang@freeway.apana.org.au>
Melbourne, Vic Australia - Tuesday, September 22, 1998 at 21:34:46 (SGT)

It is often percived that Neuro-Typicalism is severe. However, NT can be charaterized as to be on a spectrum, making a Severe Neuro-Typical (SNT) or a Mild Neuro-Typical (MNT). The spectrum acts like a continum: You can go to severe to mild, and vice versa. It is sometimes found that Autism/Neuro-Typical interaction results in a harmounus way of life. However, both the AC and the NT must have a mild case, for either to have a severe case and be able to interact is impossible. On the other hand, overcoming NT is possible, and you CAN become an AC: Take a look at the ones who first realized they had autism at an older age! They need to be congradulated for their efforts. Right as this moment, I am in a heavaly-crowded NT place of gathering (school), and I see your observaions as accurate and true.

-Chris Slater
Chris Slater <golfnut299@bigfoot.com>
Rice Lake, WI USA - Tuesday, September 22, 1998 at 21:14:10 (SGT)

No amount of vacinations, sugar coated cereal & milk, and good
AC genes has cured 3 of my 4 children of this devastating
disability. Has anyone had any luck with ABA? Is there a
support group I can contact?
Understandably this has been quite a shock to a good AC/AS
couple like my husband and myself. Was it something I ate
when I was pregnant? something I read? something I wore? I
will never shake the guilt. I love them all as much as Alex,
its just sometimes I wish I could wave a magic wand and make
them all autistic too. Life would be so much easier. Hard
enough living on this planet let alone raising NT inhabitants.
jypsy <jypsy@isn.net>
Canada - Tuesday, September 22, 1998 at 20:36:41 (SGT)

Yes....it's true. No matter how much I try to deny it, I am hopelessly NT! *sob* My autistic little girl loves me anyway, but it's still a terrible burden to bear. *Please* tell me that there will be a cure in the near future!
Donna <donnafreak@aol.com>
KY USA - Tuesday, September 22, 1998 at 13:40:27 (SGT)

I think a lot of those NT's are just faking it and need tickle therapy.
Mary <m5ary@earthlink.net>
- Tuesday, September 22, 1998 at 09:50:51 (SGT)

Thank you so much for being the first web site to write
about this horrible, awful disorder. I felt so sorry for my
whole family (except my father, and maybe grandmother, who
are not NT). Now I know there is a way to *cure* them of
their evil ways.

Victoria Nicholls <nicho_v@cs.odu.edu>
Chesapeake, Va USA - Tuesday, September 22, 1998 at 07:09:55 (SGT)

I like your site. It's good to hear that so many people are taking care of those less fortunate. My parents are NT, and my brother and sister are NT. They really do not know how to take care of themselves. Their diets full of fat and low in fiber. And they keep losing stuff. They can't even work the VCR! I don't know where they would be without me. If their heads weren't screwed on, they'd fall right off. Unfortunately many NT's don't have someone like me to take care of them. Hopefully there will be a cure soon. Maybe you could get a support message board for those who deal with NT at http://www.insidetheweb.com so we can all help eachother cope with this terrible condition.
Omicron (Quijkhler Xyquez) <quijkhler>
CA US - Monday, September 21, 1998 at 09:44:02 (SGT)

Oh yes, lovely site, you have certainly done much to expose the plight of those NTs. Hmm, since there are so very many of them, can we afford to treat them?
It occurred to me that it might be possible to turn a blind eye to their troubles, after all, they don't make that much of a fuss. And most of them are self supporting!
Yolanda <pippi@dlcwest.com>
shhhhhh, don't tell, SK Canada - Monday, September 21, 1998 at 04:21:39 (SGT)

Great site :) It is good to see someone is at last doing something for sufferers of this devastating disorder, lets hope a cure is found soon...
wASP <wasp@ossett-mouldings.demon.co.uk>
England - Monday, September 21, 1998 at 02:57:31 (SGT)

Great page I've sent this address to my friends Keep up the research. Help is badly needed.
Mary-Fisher@juno.co
Mary Fisher <Mary-Fisher@juno.com>
Philadelphia, Pa North-America the States - Monday, September 21, 1998 at 00:44:54 (SGT)

What a great site you have! Very clever! Love the layout. You did a great job! I did have trouble reading some of the links against the black background of the navigational bar. A few were bright blue & that was easy to read but most were dark blue or purple & I couldn't read them too well. Love your site!!
Raynmom <raynmom@geocities.com>
- Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 20:52:28 (SGT)

What a great site! I do not have autism, but luckily am still not NT! How horrible that would be to only see the world in so many colors.
Christy <80sgrrl@gte.net>
Lakeland, FL USA - Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 20:07:04 (SGT)

Does anybody know if there has been any success in the treatment of technologically challenged NT's? I am *really concerned* about their ability to adapt to the technological demands of the 21st century.
C.J. Widman <cj414@uinet.campus.mci.net>
- Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 10:33:43 (SGT)

It would be nice if there were a medical test for NTism. I think I might have it and I'm pretty sure my 9 year old daughter does. Thank goodness for her twin brother who has autism, he can help us to learn what being non-NT is suppose to look like, and therefore help us in our day to day lives. Without him our lives could be colorless and boring possibly, I don't even like to think about it. He helps us to see life from his perspective and we love him for that, plus he's just a cool kid. Your site has the possibility of helping even more of us NT's out here to lighten up a bit, thanks!
Bette Baysinger <2banon@ridgenet.net>
CA USA - Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 09:41:19 (SGT)

This information is frightening. Although my youngest son is neuorlogically impaired (aspergers) my older two children have only a few such characteristics. Fortunately they march to a the beat of a different drum (artist/musician) and therefore have escaped the humdrum existence that must befall an individual who is diagnosed as an NT. There is help for NT's however. Perhaps with more research and possibly medication trials all NT's can be helped.
Mary Greenlaw <Green2998@a0l.com>
- Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 08:22:44 (SGT)

My daughter is NT!!!!! This is a great website!
Frieda Weeks <Bunznbunny@aol.com>
Liverpool, NY 13090 - Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 08:05:37 (SGT)

THAT many are NT? What a tragedy.

(signed) Patty from inlv.demon.nl
Patricia Clark <temp: ggma@ptw.com; perm. hindriaz@ctaz.com>
Dolan Springs, AZ USA - Sunday, September 20, 1998 at 05:21:22 (SGT)

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