I've done some reading--yes, Wikipedia for some of it, but a PBS website for some other reading. And yes, also SomethingAwful. In fact, I countermanded SomethingAwful's recommendation not to look at the Wikipedia article on Asperger's Syndrome. Thanks to my own slight hypochondriac tendencies, I seriously thought for a second or two that I might have Asperger's--just like SomethingAwful warned that I might. (Might self-diagnose, not might have Asperger's Syndrom) But, you know what I thought to myself? I thought, "Jon: you don't really have Asperger's Syndrome. You're really kidding yourself if you think you do. Yes, you can probably say that you've got some of these "symptoms." You are a very focused person, you don't get along well with everyone, you're logical, etc. But you're a great guy. Don't hamstring yourself by slapping on a label that makes your few shortcomings easier for you to ignore." (I still can't believe I said, in my own head, "you're a great guy"; I really should be punched.)

 

With all my reading, I'm beginning to believe that Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD exist. I didn't, before, for quite a long time. ADHD sounded like a miserable excuse for not being able to sit still and pay attention. Asperger's Syndrome, or "Internet disease," likewise seemed like people trying to pawn off their social maladjustment as a serious condition. So, I guess it all boils down to this: I may or may not believe that some people really have these problems; what's more important, though, is that I can't stand people making excuses. Even people who have these problems don't need to go around advertising, just the same as I don't need to go around telling people, "I don't like people." I need to just suck it up and deal with it. If I go around with a sign around my neck advertising my problems, it helps no one. Similarly, I don't need to get reminded by people that they have some diagnosed disorder whenever they run into some difficulty. Deal with it.

 

If you have to ask me to stop doing something, like being sarcastic because you can't tell the difference thanks to your Asperger's Syndrome, that's one thing. But saying, "Wait, wait. I don't get what you mean, sarcastic guy, because I have a disorder that makes me 'mind-blind.' It's called Asperger's Syndrome. You may have heard of it." And, of course, that person would be perfectly straight-faced as he or she said that, since that person cannot him- or herself use sarcasm. There's a big difference between arranging to make things easier, and flashing your neon disorder at everyone else.

 

So, I'm still skeptical. I've always said that it's easy to tell the difference between someone who's got it together and somebody who has some kind of mental problem; the key is that I can tell, because my scrutiny of other peoples' characters is impeccable. People who claim to have either of these diseases should be easily distinguishable from others. Then again, perhaps my weirdo alarm goes off equally on people who have serious problems and people who just need a swift kick in the ass and a little tough love. I'm willing to concede that.