Every day is challenging because I have to manage my energy, mask in social situations and at work, etc
On the other hand, I like who I am and I'm also very good at what I do because my brain is structured the way it is. I can imagine a society that is structured in a way, where I don't need the accommodations I'm currently dependent on
If the negative impacts I'm experiencing are a consequence of the how we've structured our society, then I don't think it's autistic people who need to change to fit in
Of course there are much more severe cases than me where autistic people need much more support and have severe learning disabilities, where it could be a huge improvement to quality of life
If it was possible to fully trust that a hypothetical "cure" would only be used in these severe cases, I might be excited about a potential breakthrough, but historically this unfortunately haven't been the case
Isn’t it like the Ozempic? Some take it, some don’t.
You could make the exact same arguments for blindness. Every day is challenging, difficulties are mostly a consequence of how we've structured society, it's other people who should accommodate those who have different needs, etc.
This narrative seems to originate from, and is perpetuated within online autism communities. I think it's great that people feel content with the way they are but I don't understand the animosity towards a mere suggestion that a cure should exist.
I'm familiar with the history behind it and I'm on high alert when someone ventures into eugenics, however I firmly believe that we should be looking for a cure, just like we do for every other illness and disorder.
(I seem to be a rare type of autistic, because while I can reliably find all three other major types, it has been very difficult for me to find more of my own :/)
If you had a superpower, but it came with a curse, that you couldn't always get to work on time, would you trade it in for a normal life?
On the other hand, i don't see why a company wouldn't accommodate someone's minor quirks to get access to a superpower.
These are not equivalent, synonymous terms. I think that your premise might need some work.
There's plenty of people in the world who are healthy, autistic, and not disabled at all.
Ultimately its all about being able to manage your life. If you run into troubles due to some condition it can cause to want a drug for it, but if you can manage often it can feels wrong to take it.
I also see this sentiment frequently but as someone who was diagnosed later in life I couldn't relate to it less. The scattered brain has lead me down some interesting (and fruitful) paths I wouldn't have explored otherwise, but 95% of the time it just distracts me from goals that are actually meaningful to me in the long term, and adds social friction and conflict.
I'd like to see someone study why there's such a stark difference in how people perceive it. Stimulant medication, good sleep, physical activity all help somewhat but they just take it down a notch. There are some aspects where they help a lot and others where they barely make a difference.
galleywest200•8h ago
onesandofgrain•2h ago
SoMomentary•1h ago
RobotToaster•36m ago
Bryan Johnson took it for 5 years in an attempt to slow aging. He eventually discontinued because it was causing an increase in skin infections (as you'd expect from an immune system suppressant), but cycling could mitigate that.