Let's compare and contrast!

[conuly]

Some of these traits are traits of autism and some of them are traits of cancer. Let's see if you can spot the difference!

This is a disease which is marked by excessive growth, aka tumors. Answer: Cancer. Hard to tell, but the word "tumor" gives it away.

This is a neurological difference/disability which is marked by either gaze aversion or staring. Answer: Autism. People with cancer generally will look you in the eye for the appropriate amount of time.

This can develop later in life. Answer: Cancer. It should not be possible to become autistic later in life.

This can kill you. Answer: Cancer. Contrary to popular belief, autism does not snatch children, nor does it kill them.

Congratulations. You now know the difference between autism and cancer. There will be a quiz later.

Comments

Autism can kill, apparently, but in a very roundabout way ;))

[prezzey.livejournal.com]

This reminds me...

I was reading the county newspaper a few weeks ago, and it described autism as a disease that can kill people. I ran into the living room where my family sat, brandishing the newspaper, screaming "THIS DARN THING SAYS AUTISM CAUSES DEATH!!" As I was doing this 'complicated' maneuver, my legs had sort of gotten mixed up and I fell flat on my face in front of my brother.

My brother: "See, autism does cause death, just like you demonstrated."
Me: *owww*

:DDD

Oh, and a bit of nitpicking:
It should not be possible to become autistic later in life.
What about Childhood Disintegrative Disorder? I don't know whether "before age 10" counts as "later in life". If one's past 10, one cannot really become autistic all of a sudden, you're right; but before that, there is a slim possibility.
CDD is very rare, though.

Re: Autism can kill, apparently, but in a very roundabout way ;))

[eofs.livejournal.com]

If the suspected links between the MMR jab and autism are true, that would be a cause of later developing autism.

If the suspected links between the MMR jab and autism are true,

[prezzey.livejournal.com]

I have yet to see any indication of that.

[rho]

How indicative of autism is gaze aversion type things? I've always had a huge problem with that, ranging from when I was little and used to get told off for not looking people in the eyes and wondering what on earth it was I was being reprimanded for, up to last Tuesday when I found myself doing it in a conversation with disability support woman from university.

(and yes, before any asks, I'm well aware of the danger of playing games of "match the mental condition", but historically, I've found that getting information about how people with symptoms similar to my own experience conditions and what have you can lead me to a better understanding of me. if that makes any sense)

[conuly]

Very. Gaze aversion is the classic sign of autism. Many autistics are the opposite, and stare, but that's not a classic sign of autism.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Errrrrrrr.

What was the point of this post? This one was a bit weird.

[prezzey.livejournal.com]

Check a previous one for context:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/conuly/622226.html

[conuly]

People have this thing where they compare autism to cancer. I have no idea why, they just do. And the two are nothing alike!

[wakasplat.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not, I've known a couple very vocal people who insist that autism does kill.

They look at it something like:

* If an autistic person is institutionalized and dies in there, they're dead because they're autistic. (Not because institutions suck.)

* If an autistic person walks into the street and gets hit by a car, they're dead because they're autistic. (Not because there was a car there.)

* If an autistic person doesn't report that they're in pain and dies of a disease that wasn't treated in time, they're dead because they're autistic. (Not because people weren't vigilant about looking for signs of disease in a person who can't communicate that kind of thing.)

* If an autistic person basically does anything dangerous that non-autistic people wouldn't be doing at the same age as the autistic person, they're dead because they're autistic.

And, the absolute worst:

* Autism should be re-labeled a terminal illness because it can cause your parents to murder you. (I shit you not, I've heard that from parents of autistics.)

So therefore they say that autism does kill and that those of us who are against curing autism are just ideologues who don't respect the lives of the "poor miserable LFAs".

As someone who's walked into streets, put myself in dangerous situations, failed to report potentially fatal illness, and survived attempted murder in an institution, I seriously beg to differ.

[conuly]

Pity stupidity no longer kills... *sighs*

[staircase-wit.livejournal.com]

I can sort of see where they're coming from, but if you drag out the logic far enough, it's like saying "guns don't kill people, having hands kills people... end hands before it's too late."

[griffen.livejournal.com]

It's not possible to *become* autistic later in life, but it is possible to go through life without a diagnosis and being told "you're weird/you're rude/you're a jerk" and not understanding why.

[rantinan.livejournal.com]

well yes. Or being yelled at on average twice a day every day for 20 years to look people in the eye till you finaly crack the sads and walk out on your family and dont talk to them for years.

Autism can kill, apparently, but in a very roundabout way ;))

[prezzey.livejournal.com]

This reminds me...

I was reading the county newspaper a few weeks ago, and it described autism as a disease that can kill people. I ran into the living room where my family sat, brandishing the newspaper, screaming "THIS DARN THING SAYS AUTISM CAUSES DEATH!!" As I was doing this 'complicated' maneuver, my legs had sort of gotten mixed up and I fell flat on my face in front of my brother.

My brother: "See, autism does cause death, just like you demonstrated."
Me: *owww*

:DDD

Oh, and a bit of nitpicking:
It should not be possible to become autistic later in life.
What about Childhood Disintegrative Disorder? I don't know whether "before age 10" counts as "later in life". If one's past 10, one cannot really become autistic all of a sudden, you're right; but before that, there is a slim possibility.
CDD is very rare, though.

Re: Autism can kill, apparently, but in a very roundabout way ;))

[eofs.livejournal.com]

If the suspected links between the MMR jab and autism are true, that would be a cause of later developing autism.

[rho]

How indicative of autism is gaze aversion type things? I've always had a huge problem with that, ranging from when I was little and used to get told off for not looking people in the eyes and wondering what on earth it was I was being reprimanded for, up to last Tuesday when I found myself doing it in a conversation with disability support woman from university.

(and yes, before any asks, I'm well aware of the danger of playing games of "match the mental condition", but historically, I've found that getting information about how people with symptoms similar to my own experience conditions and what have you can lead me to a better understanding of me. if that makes any sense)

[conuly]

Very. Gaze aversion is the classic sign of autism. Many autistics are the opposite, and stare, but that's not a classic sign of autism.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Errrrrrrr.

What was the point of this post? This one was a bit weird.

[prezzey.livejournal.com]

Check a previous one for context:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/conuly/622226.html

[conuly]

People have this thing where they compare autism to cancer. I have no idea why, they just do. And the two are nothing alike!

[wakasplat.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not, I've known a couple very vocal people who insist that autism does kill.

They look at it something like:

* If an autistic person is institutionalized and dies in there, they're dead because they're autistic. (Not because institutions suck.)

* If an autistic person walks into the street and gets hit by a car, they're dead because they're autistic. (Not because there was a car there.)

* If an autistic person doesn't report that they're in pain and dies of a disease that wasn't treated in time, they're dead because they're autistic. (Not because people weren't vigilant about looking for signs of disease in a person who can't communicate that kind of thing.)

* If an autistic person basically does anything dangerous that non-autistic people wouldn't be doing at the same age as the autistic person, they're dead because they're autistic.

And, the absolute worst:

* Autism should be re-labeled a terminal illness because it can cause your parents to murder you. (I shit you not, I've heard that from parents of autistics.)

So therefore they say that autism does kill and that those of us who are against curing autism are just ideologues who don't respect the lives of the "poor miserable LFAs".

As someone who's walked into streets, put myself in dangerous situations, failed to report potentially fatal illness, and survived attempted murder in an institution, I seriously beg to differ.

[conuly]

Pity stupidity no longer kills... *sighs*

[staircase-wit.livejournal.com]

I can sort of see where they're coming from, but if you drag out the logic far enough, it's like saying "guns don't kill people, having hands kills people... end hands before it's too late."

[griffen.livejournal.com]

It's not possible to *become* autistic later in life, but it is possible to go through life without a diagnosis and being told "you're weird/you're rude/you're a jerk" and not understanding why.

[rantinan.livejournal.com]

well yes. Or being yelled at on average twice a day every day for 20 years to look people in the eye till you finaly crack the sads and walk out on your family and dont talk to them for years.