Re: Other Forums of Interest

[Guest guest]

http://www.geocities.com/environmental1st2003/FAM_Secret_Society.html

<< Clicking " Click to enter site " results in a 508 unused error.

The path followed was from FAMLadiesLodge.

[Guest guest]

" http://www.geocities.com/environmental1st2003/FAM_Secret_Society.html

<< Clicking " Click to enter site " results in a 508 unused error.

The path followed was from FAMLadiesLodge. "

That's the FAM Website Address. Spammers took down the site and Yahoo

will not put it back up.

Adminsitrator

[Guest guest]

Sorry. I meant hackers.

Administrator

That's the FAM Website Address. Spammers took down the site and Yahoo

will not put it back up.

Adminsitrator

[Guest guest]

Why won't Yahoo put it back up?

>

> " http://www.geocities.com/environmental1st2003/FAM_Secret_Society.html

> << Clicking " Click to enter site " results in a 508 unused error.

> The path followed was from FAMLadiesLodge. "

>

> That's the FAM Website Address. Spammers took down the site and Yahoo

> will not put it back up.

>

>

> Adminsitrator

>

[Guest guest]

I hope they stay open too for these reasons. They are also a good social outlet.

I hope if you close this down that you open something else. It has really been a lot of helpful information for me...especially to get away from all the anti-vaccine histeria, etc. etc.Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

The participation here is about average for this kind of forum. The small forums that I belong to have a hundred or more members, but still it is only a few that actually participate. On the larger ones, ones about games or TV shows, etc, have huge memberships, but there are also frequent fights and arguments and lots of trolling.

So this site is pretty average in terms of posting and we have much less trouble than most.

In a message dated 9/22/2008 12:32:05 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

I think my biggest problem is that not too many people who join the forums actually use them. I would love to see more participation. Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

> I'm not a paying customer so they aren't going to devote any time

into

> bringing me back online.

>

> I am still contemplating what I want to do. I have been thinking of

> shutting down the forums for some time, so I don't really care that

the

> website is down even though I put a heck of a lot of effort into

> setting it up.

>

> I may just put front page links to the MIC podcasts. I am not sure.

>

> It may be time to totally revamp Fellowship of the Aspergian

Miracle

> anyway.

>

>

> Administrator

>

I hope if you close this down that you open something else. It has

really been a lot of helpful information for me...especially to get

away from all the anti-vaccine histeria, etc. etc.

[Guest guest]

Is that really a post you've seen?

In a message dated 9/22/2008 2:59:16 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

"My fifty friends and I were at the mall -which is where we all hang out everyday, ya know?- and someone suggested that because I have this fixation on Mel Gibson, I might be Aspie, cuz like, Aspies have perseverative interests, ya know? And like, I'm a really picky eater too because I won't eat salads unless they're with French dressing. Plus, sometimes I get sad, and I want to just hide from the world, and when that happens, I just go in my room and no one sees me for at LEAST half an hour. So, like, do you guys think I'm Aspie?"Administrator Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

I was hoping that wasn't an actual post, but it seemed so realistic.

I've talked to some people over the years who have a trait or two, or think they do, but it was so flimsy that it was funny. Usually it is a trait they have "now and then." AS isn't now and then. Its always there, though your mood can make it easier or harder to deal with.

In a message dated 9/22/2008 3:08:39 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

And the behaviors they list out are laughable. I am sure these people are legitimate with their questions, but they exemplify how on the scantiest and flimsiest of evidence they believe they fall on the spectrum.AdministratorLooking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

" I hope if you close this down that you open something else. It has

really been a lot of helpful information for me...especially to get

away from all the anti-vaccine histeria, etc. etc. "

I think my biggest problem is that not too many people who join the

forums actually use them. I would love to see more participation.

But I have toyed for a while of getting some decent software and

creating a board with PM boxes and that sort of thing. The thing

about that is, I would not have as much of an ability to screen

members and put them in different places like I do now.

With the Yahoo Groups I can keep NT parents in the Family Forum (per

request of some of the older members) and have this place be just for

Aspies, or people who think they are on the spectrum.

It's a toss up.

I will also say that when I started these boards, I had it in the

back of my mind to do something bigger in the autism world, and with

the Midnight In Chicago project, I am accomplishing that. That is not

to say that these boards have served their purpose, but all one needs

to do is look at the home page to see the sort of activity we had in

here during the first two years verses now, even though we have more

members.

I used to be bitter that WrongPlanet has so much activity, but now I

realize that the majority of the membership on these big boards are

not Aspies but Aspie wanna-bees or curiosity seekers, so I can live

with the fact that FAM is comparatively small. I just would like to

see more activity here.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

>

> I think my biggest problem is that not too many people who join the

> forums actually use them. I would love to see more participation.

>

I can't speak to what you said (in a non-quoted part here) about how it

used to be in the past, but I think what you're going through is common

to a lot of forums of various types. Even in a very large parenting

forum that I'm a member of, if you look at the number of overall

members versus those who are actually active, the percentage is still

small. I'll admit I've joined forums of various types over time that I

participated in a little for a while then fizzled out after I got the

answers I was looking for. It's just part and parcel of how forums

work. Not everyone feels the camraderie or finds their social outlet

everyone that they join.

>

> I used to be bitter that WrongPlanet has so much activity, but now I

> realize that the majority of the membership on these big boards are

> not Aspies but Aspie wanna-bees or curiosity seekers, so I can live

> with the fact that FAM is comparatively small. I just would like to

> see more activity here.

Have to say I got a bit of a giggle out of the notion of " Aspie wanna-

bees. " Maybe being Aspie is the " new cool " or something?!? They should

have to be bullied first and struggle with being misunderstood in

places to the point they have to quit their jobs. Pay their dues. LOL

[Guest guest]

" Have to say I got a bit of a giggle out of the notion of " Aspie

wanna-

bees. " Maybe being Aspie is the " new cool " or something?!? They should

have to be bullied first and struggle with being misunderstood in

places to the point they have to quit their jobs. Pay their dues. LOL "

Yes, I agree. I have to doubt people who say...

" My fifty friends and I were at the mall -which is where we all hang

out everyday, ya know?- and someone suggested that because I have

this fixation on Mel Gibson, I might be Aspie, cuz like, Aspies have

perseverative interests, ya know? And like, I'm a really picky eater

too because I won't eat salads unless they're with French dressing.

Plus, sometimes I get sad, and I want to just hide from the world,

and when that happens, I just go in my room and no one sees me for at

LEAST half an hour. So, like, do you guys think I'm Aspie? "

Administrator

[Guest guest]

>

> Yes, I agree. I have to doubt people who say...

>

> " My fifty friends and I were at the mall -which is where we all

hang

> out everyday, ya know?- and someone suggested that because I have

> this fixation on Mel Gibson, I might be Aspie, cuz like, Aspies

have

> perseverative interests, ya know? And like, I'm a really picky

eater

> too because I won't eat salads unless they're with French dressing.

> Plus, sometimes I get sad, and I want to just hide from the world,

> and when that happens, I just go in my room and no one sees me for

at

> LEAST half an hour. So, like, do you guys think I'm Aspie? "

>

>

> Administrator

>

Hilarous! Starting even with the fifty friends! LOL

[Guest guest]

" Is that really a post you've seen? "

Nope. I made it up. But it is representative of the posts I have

seen.

Also, out on Yahoo Answers, if you do a search for autism por

autistic, or Asperger Syndrome, just about every week, there will be

a question asking:

Do you think I'm autistic?

Do you think I have autism?

Do I have Asperger's?

Does my kid have autism/AS?

Etc.

And the behaviors they list out are laughable.

I am sure these people are legitimate with their questions, but they

exemplify how on the scantiest and flimsiest of evidence they believe

they fall on the spectrum.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

:-)

>

> " Have to say I got a bit of a giggle out of the notion of " Aspie

> wanna-

> bees. " Maybe being Aspie is the " new cool " or something?!? They

should

> have to be bullied first and struggle with being misunderstood in

> places to the point they have to quit their jobs. Pay their dues.

LOL "

>

> Yes, I agree. I have to doubt people who say...

>

> " My fifty friends and I were at the mall -which is where we all

hang

> out everyday, ya know?- and someone suggested that because I have

> this fixation on Mel Gibson, I might be Aspie, cuz like, Aspies

have

> perseverative interests, ya know? And like, I'm a really picky

eater

> too because I won't eat salads unless they're with French dressing.

> Plus, sometimes I get sad, and I want to just hide from the world,

> and when that happens, I just go in my room and no one sees me for

at

> LEAST half an hour. So, like, do you guys think I'm Aspie? "

>

>

> Administrator

>

[Guest guest]

That's a good point. Many aspies will run in cycles of socializing. I run through times of not wanting to have much to do with anyone and other times when I do want to talk with people. Problem is that around here, most people are only interested in things like gossip and other nonsense. That's the good thing about this site is that if there isn't I like being talked about, I can post something and get a conversation started, usually.

PS I'll have to admit that I have been very edgy lately. It is so annoying to have seen all of these bailouts first to a small percentage of mortgage holders who did wrong or were stupid and now to the super rich who give themselves multimillion dollar bonuses for driving companies into the ground. But then, people like me who have done everything right are getting the screws put to us what with much tighter requirements to even renew a loan or mortgage and even demands for principle reductions. That's why I just gave orders today that prices be damned, we're cutting and getting rid of as much debt as possible. I'll try to mellow out in my posts though.

I've thought about this and it would seem that given the very nature ofpersons with Asperger's, they may come to know they are not alone andthen go back to whatever intense study they may be involved with,ignoring everything else. For me, logging on and checking the forum isa habit or just part of my routine, though I may not always have time toreply because I would like to make my thoughts articulated properly. IfI write in a rush, I seem to miss things I wanted to say.Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

>

> Have to say I got a bit of a giggle out of the notion of " Aspie wanna-

> bees. " Maybe being Aspie is the " new cool " or something?!? They should

> have to be bullied first and struggle with being misunderstood in

> places to the point they have to quit their jobs. Pay their dues. LOL

You could say that because I've not been diagnosed, I am a wanna be. At

least that is what my husband thinks. Oh he tells me that I could take

medication for social & other anxieties I have and my behavior when

speaking to others is sometimes just strange or could be construed as

rude. These are small problems that I could change. He also has

encouraged me to go back to school because he thinks I'm so smart, I

could go into the medical field if I just applied myself. Of course,

getting out to do that would definitely mean being medicated daily.

Ugh.

Also, I think that anyone who is extremely knowledgeable on a subject is

cool. That's why I'd much rather come here and read these posts rather

than calling my sisters or socializing elsewhere (Not like I go out

looking for people to gab with ever). I do love them but when it comes

to spending time doing something productive, I'd rather be learning than

listening to gossip.

Kim

>

[Guest guest]

>> 12% with an A-1 rating? Holy Sh*t that's not right.

Yeah, I know! Read that yesterday in the Chicago Tribune's buisness section in this article. That would be a private loan from a bank.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/chi-sun-gail-marksjarvis-0921-sep21,0,1728348.column

>These people had better watch it or they are going to price colleges right out of existence, not to > mention make people hate the system even more.

It's been difficult for middle class kids to get grants and loans as is because if the parents do the right thing and save for the future, that money is used against you. Makes it damn hard to get grants when they see Mom & Dad have some money put away even though it's their lifeline for future medical care, housing, etc.. that they don't want to tap into.

> The military wouldn't be too bad, particularly Navy or Air Force since there > is less chance of getting into combat that way.

If you have the brains, you may never see combat. Both my brothers served, one in the Air Force and the other in the Navy. They were both tested and after basic training, were put into special training and never served with the regualar grunts. But it would be a gamble at this stage of America's involvement overseas and I don't think it's a risk my son is comfortable with at this time.

> Still, I can see not wanting to join up. Aside from the medical reasons that kept me out, I was worried > about the politics within the military itself and also from the politicians.

I could see the problem with my son with regards to taking orders from an idiot, he'd be insubordinate in a heartbeat! Or at least I think he would have a hard time controlling the sarcasm.

> It seems I was right on both counts given all that I have read about the > military internally and the games the politicians have played with it. Would have > made me crazy.

Makes me wonder what kind of medical training they have because my son wants to go into the pychiatric field. Time to dig in and do some research.

Kim

[Guest guest]

There's a lot going on in the background. You are right about the economic conditions and all that. There has have been warnings about this since at least 2001. Indeed in 2004 there were solid warnings and warnings made in Congress. Legislation came up but it was not acted on. Even now it is not being acted on in favor of this nonsense bailout bill, which is being loaded up with pork and regulations that won't help anything.

Now for behind the scenes. The Securities and Exchange Commission was cut under the previous administration. These cuts made the Enron and Arthur scandals possible, along with others. The funding levels were never put back up to where they should be.

The second bit is fallout from 9/11. After that attack, the government's priorities switched to terrorism. The FBI switched a lot of resources over to hunting terrorists. Other departments within the FBI were cut. Amongst those was the White Collar Crime Division. I don't know how much it was cut, but I know it was reduced. At the same time, white collar crime has been increasing over the last few years. Clearly they are less afraid of getting a few months in a plush country club jail because they know the FBI is distracted. I know a former agent in that department, maybe I should track them down and ask a few questions, though I'm not sure how much they could say.

In a message dated 9/22/2008 4:05:23 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

People have elected a government that is representative of themselves...a cowardly government who will let them get away with irresponsibility when the crap hits the fan.Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

That's not a bad idea. I hated college when I first went because of the other students. I went back a few years later and I was much more focused on my studies and made friends amongst the older students who were also more serious. Getting a little work history never hurts either.

In a message dated 9/22/2008 4:11:53 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

You may want to have him work for a year before he goes to college and save up some money to defray expenses. I went straight to college out of high school but had saved up quite a bit from various jobs to pay for much of college. Still, I think I could have benefitted from waiting a year before I went in. Some people tend to learn more when they are older -even if it is only a year, and so the wait may be worth it.AdministratorLooking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

[Guest guest]

" You could say that because I've not been diagnosed, I am a wanna

be. At least that is what my husband thinks. "

Possibly you are, but I doubt it. What I have noticed on forums like

WrongPlanet is that wanna-bees drop in, post like mad for a

while...and then enter into conflict with people who are legitimately

diagnosed.

Usually they accuse the diagnosed Aspies as constantly being in a bad

mood, or cross, or opinionated, or rude, or " stuck on particular

topics " , or " anti-social " or capable of being social if they'd just

apply themselves. Then the wanna-bees get ganged up on and they quit,

usually saying that if they ARE Aspies, they hope they aren't because

Aspies are pretty un-cool.

You have never entered into conflict with anyone here and understand

the need to be able to behave intelligently and intellectually for a

change rather than idiotically as our NT counterprats are sometimes

prone to do.

You ever get the feeling when you come in here and we have a

discussion about something deep (like politics, or the military, or

about black holes, or computers) that we are doing something

secretive and maybe shunned but still pleasurable, as though we have

to look over our shoulders when we talk to make sure we won't

get " caught " or made fun of, but we wouldn't give up the discussion

for the world? That is an Aspie thing.

NT professors often feel " faculty parties " are really droll, as I am

sure company soirees are to many executives. We delight in that sort

of discussion and would rather shun a gossippy get-together to talk

about the kinds of things that bore everyday people.

You have NOT been diagnosed, but knowing you as I have over the years

you've been posting here, you do indeed seem very Aspie.

" Oh he tells me that I could take medication for social & other

anxieties I have and my behavior when speaking to others is sometimes

just strange or could be construed as rude. These are small problems

that I could change. "

You could take meds and they might help, but fundamentally, if you

are an Aspie, you will always be one. Chances are your quirks are

less the result of anxiety disorders and more the effect of having a

brain that is wired differently.

" He also has encouraged me to go back to school because he thinks I'm

so smart, I could go into the medical field if I just applied myself. "

I loved college, but the fact that I had to actually work toward a

degree was an annoyance. I got a BA and did some work towards my

Master's, but I would have much preferred just taking classes and

learning. People have suggested that I continue my studies because I

am so intelligent, but they forget that intelligent people are no

different than any other person in terms of their interests and

pursuits. Maybe I enjoy thinking about all sorts of theoretical

things, but I hate the idea of term papers and a master's thesis just

as much as any less smarter person would.

" Of course, getting out to do that would definitely mean being

medicated daily. "

When I went to college, I simply resolved not to get to know anyone

there unless they made a move to get to know me. That made things

easier. I could just focus on studies. What I discovered was that I

was pretty much ignored. The population on campus was 25,000 so, even

in one's major, you might not even see the same person in two

different classes in any given semester. People just assumed you had

your own life and left you alone. It made it bearable.

You got a bit of trouble in the dorms though. You had floor meetings

where your Residence Assistant gave you news on rules and things

going on on campus. You had to be there for those and I found those

to be uncomfortable, because after those events people would

socialize and say " Hey, you ought to come over to my room for some

beer with the rest of these guys. Or, her, we're gonna crash Alpha

House next weekeend. They're having a beer bash, wanna come? "

If you said no outright, they treated you as you would expect: That

you felt as though you were above them somehow. And so they would try

to take you down a peg. But I could always get out of those things by

saying I had to research a term paper, or do some homework or

whatnot. Being an English major, I was at one point taking five

literature classes and I had to read five novels a week. So that got

me out of social events.

" Also, I think that anyone who is extremely knowledgeable on a

subject is cool. That's why I'd much rather come here and read these

posts rather than calling my sisters or socializing elsewhere (Not

like I go out looking for people to gab with ever). I do love them

but when it comes to spending time doing something productive, I'd

rather be learning than listening to gossip. "

Likewise.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

" I'll have to admit that I have been very edgy lately. It is so

annoying to have seen all of these bailouts first to a small percentage

of mortgage holders who did wrong or were stupid and now to the super

rich who give themselves multimillion dollar bonuses for driving

companies into the ground. "

It's the " social " thing to do, and herein lies the other aspect of

cooperative endeavors in the business world: Whenever you have a group

project going, the end result is most of the time less than if everyone

worked on a portion of the project individually and put them together

at the end.

If the whole project is coming up short, in other words, everyone in

the group will cover for everyone else so that no one person in the

group is singled out to take the blame.

That is what is going on here.

People have elected a government that is representative of

themselves...a cowardly government who will let them get away with

irresponsibility when the crap hits the fan.

What should have happened is that lending restrictions that were in

place decades ago should have been left there. Then no one could have

made bad loans, no one who wasnb't credit worthy could get a loan, the

housing boom would never have happened, and the mortgage crisis would

never have occured.

But in this politically correct day and age, no one wants to say to

another face to face: " You blew it! You are not worthy to receive a

loan! Get out! "

And so now all the taxpayers in this country are going to pay for the

irresponsibility of people who I have criticized for being

irresponsible.

Like you, I resent the fact that I am right in my view of things but am

literally going to be taxed for my opinions, and for behaving like a

fiscally responsible citizen in light of the spend, spend, spend

economy everyone else perpetuated.

The one good thing about this...if it can be said to be good...is that

this bailout isn't going to help anyone over the long term, and there

will come a point where the nation will be so financially strapped for

cash that it will tax people and businesses to the point where all

those who are getting a free ride now will get really driven into the

ground. They will have no jobs, no income, they will still lose their

houses, and the government will have no money to give them.

" But then, people like me who have done everything right are getting

the screws put to us what with much tighter requirements to even renew

a loan or mortgage and even demands for principle reductions. That's

why I just gave orders today that prices be damned, we're cutting and

getting rid of as much debt as possible. I'll try to mellow out in my

posts though. "

Yep. I understand.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

" I feel the same way and have been uptight lately. My eldest will be

graduating High School and has looking into grants & loans and from what

I read, the intrest rate on those loans will be looking at 12%, even

with our A-One credit score. We pay our bills on time, pay off our debt

early, try to save for a rainy day and are going to get screwed for

something out of our control. What are we suppose to do, tell him to

join the military? "

Kim,

You may want to have him work for a year before he goes to college and

save up some money to defray expenses. I went straight to college out

of high school but had saved up quite a bit from various jobs to pay

for much of college. Still, I think I could have benefitted from

waiting a year before I went in. Some people tend to learn more when

they are older -even if it is only a year, and so the wait may be worth

it.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

> You may want to have him work for a year before he goes to college and

> save up some money to defray expenses.

A good suggestion, though I know he is anticipating moving forward

towards his goals. We have many things to discuss and will know more

when we crunch the numbers. A lot will depend on the grants he has

applied for and wether he may change his mind about where to attend

college. Private colleges have more donated monies to give scholarships

to those who are bright enough yet not in a position to afford the

expense but as of now, my son really wanted to attend UIC.

When I know more, I'll feel less nervous that's for sure.

Kim

[Guest guest]

How many people are actually part of this forum...I normally just have everything e-mailed to me otherwise I would not be so likely to keep up with it (even though it is a great outlet). I know we do often hear from the same people. I guess that is nice for those of us who do use it more often as we get to know each other better. I feel like I actually know you guys and hopefully you feel similar to me ~Subject: Re: Re: Other Forums of InterestTo: FAMSecretSociety Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 1:24 AM

The participation here is about average for this kind of forum. The small forums that I belong to have a hundred or more members, but still it is only a few that actually participate. On the larger ones, ones about games or TV shows, etc, have huge memberships, but there are also frequent fights and arguments and lots of trolling.

So this site is pretty average in terms of posting and we have much less trouble than most.

In a message dated 9/22/2008 12:32:05 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply@yahoogroup s.com writes:

I think my biggest problem is that not too many people who join the forums actually use them. I would love to see more participation.