Autism Spectrum Debate

This cluster involves discussions about Autism Spectrum Disorder, including its spectrum nature, common misconceptions, stereotypes, personal experiences, and debates over whether specific behaviors or commenters exhibit autistic traits.

➡️ Stable 0.9x Health
8,616
Comments
20
Years Active
5
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#6861
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Keywords

autismspeaks.org e.g SERT ycombinator.com AnthonyMouse ASD SA ADHD DSM PTSD autism autistic spectrum anxiety disorder diagnosis social adhd functioning disorders

Sample Comments

LoganDark Dec 23, 2023 View on HN

You may be on the spectrum (as am I), but explicitly calling out autistics doesn't make for a very good implication

willsmith72 Oct 2, 2025 View on HN

What you're describing is the whole reason it's called autism *spectrum* disorder

shlant Aug 10, 2022 View on HN

I think you should probably do some more reading into Autism Spectrum Disorder. Your comment echos cliched and harmful ideas of what Autism is.The reason "Spectrum" is in the name is because there is a wide range of ways it can manifest - from very severe on one end to less impactful (and in some ways beneficial depending on context) on the other. People who used to be referred to as having Asperger Syndrome for example are normally highly intelligent and capable individuals, many o

serverholic Jul 21, 2021 View on HN

Please tell me you aren’t always this autistic

nprateem Jul 22, 2021 View on HN

I think they assume you're not autistic

conistonwater Dec 16, 2019 View on HN

This sounds like a misunderstanding of the problems faced by autistic people.

baq Nov 25, 2021 View on HN

get yourself checked out for being on the autism spectrum. most people find the opposite true.

cardanome Dec 4, 2025 View on HN

If you have met one person with autism you have met one person with autism.This is true for anything else and no argument against the current diagnosis.There are people with Covid that ended up in the hospital and people with Covid who barely had any symptoms. Both have Covid.Autism doesn't work from "little autism" to "a lot of autism". One person can have strong sensory issues but decent social skills. Another bad social skills but not sensory issues at all. A

atlas_hugged Feb 1, 2024 View on HN

Context dependent indeed!My nephew and I both have it.I just seem like a weird guy to the average person, and sometimes people will even get offended if I mention that I’m autistic.My nephew, on the other hand, is what people think of when they think of autism: Arm flapping, making stimming noises/hums, echolalia, etc.And boy do I just adore that kid.His sense of humor is one of a kind.Anyway… I wish there were subcategories like there are for Depression or ADHD.People

BlueTemplar May 6, 2021 View on HN

I feel that is just one of the definitions of autism ?Anyway, I didn't want to suggest that everyone had to have it :https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25484160