First of all, I agree with you that self-diagnosis is dangerous. However, I'm from a rich country with a great healthcare system (The Netherlands). Others with ASD might not be as fortunate as I am.
> I've met a few people who have self-diagnosed themselves as autistic. It's kind of become a catch-all for people with eccentricities and/or offensive tendencies. In the cases I've seen, the people are either just unsocialized having spent most of their lives alone at a computer, or simply very selfish and can't be bothered to make an effort towards not saying things which might offend sensitive people.
Typical NT denial that mild ASD is more rampant in society than they'd like to admit.
> It also seems like there's such a strong pressure now for people to fit in with the masses
That pressure was much stronger in the past where you were either Christian or dead. You either functioned (worked), or you were a beggar on the street. Psychology? Diagnosis? Autism? Unheard of. ASD umbrella is new in DSM-V. The amount of undiagnosed people who now get diagnosed is increasing in this century. My simple explanation for that is: "we understand autism better nowadays" and "mild autism is part of the ASD spectrum".
> it's a disorder and we assign professionals to treat it.
ASD cannot be treated. You can learn to cope with it, live with it, but you cannot make it go away (ie. treat a disease).
> However, I'm from a rich country with a great healthcare system (The Netherlands). Others with ASD might not be as fortunate as I am.
I feel reasonably comfortable saying that strip clubs are probably not generally giving their dancers generous healthcare plans; if the woman feels like she's got things under control it's hard to say what benefit an expensive diagnosis would give her, beyond satisfying doubting online commenters.
> I've met a few people who have self-diagnosed themselves as autistic. It's kind of become a catch-all for people with eccentricities and/or offensive tendencies. In the cases I've seen, the people are either just unsocialized having spent most of their lives alone at a computer, or simply very selfish and can't be bothered to make an effort towards not saying things which might offend sensitive people.
Typical NT denial that mild ASD is more rampant in society than they'd like to admit.
> It also seems like there's such a strong pressure now for people to fit in with the masses
That pressure was much stronger in the past where you were either Christian or dead. You either functioned (worked), or you were a beggar on the street. Psychology? Diagnosis? Autism? Unheard of. ASD umbrella is new in DSM-V. The amount of undiagnosed people who now get diagnosed is increasing in this century. My simple explanation for that is: "we understand autism better nowadays" and "mild autism is part of the ASD spectrum".
> it's a disorder and we assign professionals to treat it.
ASD cannot be treated. You can learn to cope with it, live with it, but you cannot make it go away (ie. treat a disease).
> shrug
shrug indeed. "Move along, move along"