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So you're saying autistic people should not have children?
by tacheiordache 3y ago
So you're saying autistic people should not have children?
- xyzelement 3y agoI think he's just probing the improbability of this scenario absent a genetic component (which wouldn't be surprising to me if there was - is it asserted that autism is non-genetic?)
- mass_and_energy 3y agoI mean, I'm autistic and will adopt instead of having biological children for that very reason. I'm high functioning and still had a cursed childhood owing to it. I wouldn't roll the dice on bestowing that on anybody, let alone my kin. I realize that's a pretty hot take to many people but as someone that dealt with the best-case scenario of the disorder, this isn't something any kid should have to deal with.
- jprete 3y agoI'm willing to take the risk if the opportunity shows itself. But I've spent so much time understanding what the disorder did to me that I think I could teach my child the things that took me so long to learn.
- mass_and_energy 3y agoThat's a fair point, and a good way of looking at it. My biggest concern, to be honest, is that they'll be low-functioning and it'll be because of the hand I chose to deal them. The thought alone is haunting
- the_sleaze9 3y agoI find this inspiring - truly an example of heroism and bravery. Bravo.
- jknoepfler 3y agoThe specific questions asked were "what are the odds of that?" and "is there a genetic component?" The answer to the latter is "yes", which although unquantified in the responses, at least intuitively changes baserate assumptions. I'm not sure how one draws a normative assertion out of the questions, implied or otherwise.