Hi everyone,

   I've just joined the group, my name is Chris. I am a 32 year old aspie male,
living near Stoke-On-Trent, England.

   Something I've been thinking about lately is:

   Do aspies have an advantage over neuro-typical people?

   The advantage I am referring to is one of morality and how we treat people. I
have been wondering whether the commonly occurring positive aspie traits such
as, being;

   * very loyal,
   * guardians of those less able,
   * uninterested in social politics,
   * logical,
   * ethical and principled,
   * dependable,

   make it easier/more natural for us to be good, considerate, kind, thoughtful,
loyal, caring, etc. people.
   I consider this to be the most important aspect of being a human, and the
measure by which our lives are a success or a failure.

   I have always had these kinds of traits. Only, recently I have begun to
consider the possibility that all my life I have had it easy, in the sense that
these things have come naturally to me because I am an aspie, and not because
this is my personality- me choosing to be the way I am.

   I wonder whether I'll ever get an answer to this. Although I suspect it's a
bit of both, as well as environment and upbringing. Also, the other factor of
having to suffer, struggle, and work extra hard at things, due to having a
disability or illness of any kind, does lead a person to be a better, more
thoughtful, and appreciative person.

   I suppose this is an age old argument, but I am coming at it from an aspie
angle, and asking whether aspies get a helping hand to be good people. And
therefore have an advantage over neuro-typicals in living a (in my opinion)
successful life.

   I believe that we all choose to be either kind or cruel, i.e. our intention,
what is in our heart, is entirely our choice, regardless of any other factor.
   Of course, mistakes we make due to Aspergers are often mis-interpreted as us
being bad people.

   Regardless, my attention is focused on aspies because of the hell we often
have to go through, swimming against the tide all the time. And any help we get
(albeit a key to the most valuable of doors) is only fair enough, I think.

   What do you think?

   Best wishes,
   Chris


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