General Discussion

backscatter712

(26,357 posts)

66. Good point.

Sat Sep 1, 2012, 11:57 AM

Sep 2012

Take a person with Asperger's (and let's assume he's not psychopathic.) Say that person says or does something offensive, and another person reacts by being visibly upset. The person with AS won't read the facial expression and body language of the person he offended, so he'll be oblivious to the consequences of what he did. But if you intervene, tell the person with AS "Hey, that wasn't cool what you said. Did you see how that person reacted? He's really upset!" At that point, the person with AS will understand, his empathy will kick in, he'll feel mortified, and he'll probably apologize.

A psychopath, OTOH, knows when the person he offended is upset - he's really good at reading emotions. But he's like Dick Cheney. You tell him "Hey, that wasn't cool - that guy's really upset." and he says "So what?"

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I think Mitt has Aspergers Syndrome [View all] Heather MC Sep 2012 OP

Or else he could just be that out of touch. ananda Sep 2012 #1

60 years in a bubble will do that too. russspeakeasy Sep 2012 #2

I just think he's an old-fashioned socio-path. Cleita Sep 2012 #3

And that's what makes him scary, We need a President that would be a little bothered Heather MC Sep 2012 #17

There is actually a pretty extensive overlap between psychopathy Jackpine Radical Sep 2012 #29

This is exactly the sort of misunderstanding that leads to the armchair diagnosing going on Pithlet Sep 2012 #36

If I understood Jackpine correctly (from a thread long, long ago), 'sociopath' is not coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #62

Good point. backscatter712 Sep 2012 #66

Yes, exactly. Pithlet Sep 2012 #73

Bingo. hifiguy Sep 2012 #108

Sorry,but you're absolutely wrong about liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #95

I didn't say they lack empathy, but that they don't SHOW it Jackpine Radical Sep 2012 #120

I know did you not MEAN bad, but DonCoquixote Sep 2012 #128

What horseshit. We aspies have a conscience, sociopaths don't. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #140

I was talking about misdiagnosis based on superficial appearances. Jackpine Radical Sep 2012 #143

Aspies have a lot of empathy- sometime too much elkepelka Sep 2012 #142

I think it's a fielder's choice. sofa king Sep 2012 #75

Agreed. I am dx'd Asperger's hifiguy Sep 2012 #105

I completely agree with you. smirkymonkey Sep 2012 #160

I posted that months ago and was vilified here... PCIntern Sep 2012 #4

I think you were on to something. randome Sep 2012 #9

No, he isn't. As has been pointed out on this thread, liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #96

I will have to look up your post Heather MC Sep 2012 #15

Look in my journal here PCIntern Sep 2012 #23

I don't think it's a matter of getting roasted for your assessment matt819 Sep 2012 #109

You were not vilified by me - Mira Sep 2012 #60

It's in his journal on page 7 - n/t coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #65

I thank you verily - n/t Mira Sep 2012 #111

Verily you are most welcome! (I'm channeling my inner coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #124

I actually think there's some truth to this. Bush (Poppy) was out of touch. This guy Mitt is odd. reformist2 Sep 2012 #5

Was POTUS joking when he mentioned not only has Mitt not released his tax returns but also nc4bo Sep 2012 #6

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm... Heather MC Sep 2012 #21

Probably the most interesting post here BeyondGeography Sep 2012 #37

They aren't required to ann--- Sep 2012 #74

Mccain released his and he's been around the block a few times too. There were some questions nc4bo Sep 2012 #92

A thread a few months ago talked about Ilsa Sep 2012 #134

I've been thinking that for a while now. His social barometer is way off. nt Kahuna Sep 2012 #7

Thanks I was worried I was going to get totally blasted Heather MC Sep 2012 #11

You deserve to be totally blasted for your Fristian diagnosis. onenote Sep 2012 #145

Perhaps i do but... Heather MC Sep 2012 #147

The fact that others may "think" it doesn't justify it onenote Sep 2012 #162

The difference is, though, that he liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #98

No. cali Sep 2012 #8

+1 madinmaryland Sep 2012 #150

I think he just has Asshole Syndrome myself.. Fumesucker Sep 2012 #10

Asshole Syndrome--eventually to be included in DSM-14 pinboy3niner Sep 2012 #34

OMG, that was hilarious. That's exactly what he needs! valerief Sep 2012 #59

ROTFLMAO - Just posted to my FB page as the cure for Mitt's social coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #77

I think there's a much easier explanation IDemo Sep 2012 #12

I think that's a chicken and egg question laundry_queen Sep 2012 #99

Disagree IDemo Sep 2012 #116

Not aspies - I was talking about sociopaths laundry_queen Sep 2012 #139

This is a disgusting and offensive OP, an insult to Aspies. Dr. Frist-like diagnoses msanthrope Sep 2012 #13

Is it really that hard to tell who might have Aspergers? reformist2 Sep 2012 #16

There are signs. Pithlet Sep 2012 #19

Exactly, I may not be a Dr, but when my youngest son was two, I was qualified enough Heather MC Sep 2012 #45

What else made you qualified was you know your son Pithlet Sep 2012 #53

In Mitt's case i believe Heather MC Sep 2012 #85

unmitigated bullshit. cali Sep 2012 #72

apparently the aspergers community does not feel it is unmitigated BS Heather MC Sep 2012 #87

your basing it on one thread in one Aspie community? elkepelka Sep 2012 #156

Welcome to DU! Robyn66 Sep 2012 #159

Thank you cali Robyn66 Sep 2012 #148

The bullying incident where he got with others to cut the kid's hair - NOT Aspie. MH1 Sep 2012 #64

I think the bullying alone laundry_queen Sep 2012 #100

100% correct. hifiguy Sep 2012 #112

Agreed. He strikes me, seriously, as more of a narcisisstic sociopath. n/t K Gardner Sep 2012 #157

If you can't recognize the signs, then you shouldn't diagnosis, doctor or no... Moonwalk Sep 2012 #67

Are you a doctor qualified to diagnose Mitt? :) reformist2 Sep 2012 #69

Nope. But you misunderstood. I agree that people are qualified to diagnosis Aspergers even if... Moonwalk Sep 2012 #80

His complete lack of empathy and self-centeredness pnwmom Sep 2012 #104

i have experienced the grandiose narcissism. his inability to create facial expressions seabeyond Sep 2012 #106

Agreed. Pithlet Sep 2012 #18

I apologize, being Offensive is not my intent Heather MC Sep 2012 #20

You weren't being offensive, you were asking a relevant question and some sob sisters byeya Sep 2012 #24

Yes... PCIntern Sep 2012 #31

I think he has a periapical abscess foo_bar Sep 2012 #44

Mitt is one of the most dishonest SOBs in the world. backscatter712 Sep 2012 #56

Dr. House to confirm, please! randome Sep 2012 #61

You know what, Heather??? One day, someone's gonna look at some asshole and their behavior msanthrope Sep 2012 #113

Agree. I also object to all the armchair psychiatry that goes on around here. cbayer Sep 2012 #22

Disliking someone is not enough for a dx loyalsister Sep 2012 #68

Sorry, PCIntern Sep 2012 #25

PC, respectfully...my daughter spends her days struggling to show the 'neurotypical' what a great msanthrope Sep 2012 #115

I'm an NT and I really do sympathize with her. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #119

Hi... PCIntern Sep 2012 #122

I understand, and thank you. nt msanthrope Sep 2012 #123

and yet the Asperger community or Aspies to you asks the same question 6 months ago grantcart Sep 2012 #26

The OP sounded like; "What an asshole! Maybe he has Aspbergers?" n/t lumberjack_jeff Sep 2012 #49

Aspie is the term my daughter uses. There is no substance to address. msanthrope Sep 2012 #110

No substance to address grantcart Sep 2012 #117

+1000 lumberjack_jeff Sep 2012 #48

another thank you! Robyn66 Sep 2012 #151

Mit is the culmination of living a privileged life for 65 years madokie Sep 2012 #14

Respectfully disagree PCIntern Sep 2012 #27

Special Pithlet Sep 2012 #32

How does that change what I said, it doesn't! madokie Sep 2012 #127

he lies too much for me to think that fascisthunter Sep 2012 #28

One of those links was from October 2011, which also mentions Asperger's. Frustratedlady Sep 2012 #30

No, he's simply an entitled dick. Liking mean-spirited jokes is not a characteristic of Aspergers. Brickbat Sep 2012 #33

+ 10000 loyalsister Sep 2012 #78

mittens is the direct opposite of his father madrchsod Sep 2012 #35

or, they simply are of two different generations, ya think? loyalsister Sep 2012 #76

There might be some evidence of long term mental deficit but intaglio Sep 2012 #38

husband has issues with walk. bugs him. these are not big things for him. but twice seabeyond Sep 2012 #50

The walk could be explained by too tight Magic Underwear nadine_mn Sep 2012 #135

Bush to woman working three jobs: "what a great American story" IDemo Sep 2012 #39

He has an inability to connect or empathize, but I think it's a personality disorder. TwilightGardener Sep 2012 #40

I agree. I think he has Aspergers. Jindal provided him an opportunity SDjack Sep 2012 #41

Trees are the right height. grantcart Sep 2012 #51

I don't know. . I think his problem is B Calm Sep 2012 #42

Asperger's is a psychological and not a health issue, but it's still kestrel91316 Sep 2012 #43

sorry, being the CEO of a company like Bain or the Governor cali Sep 2012 #54

Online sources mention lip smacking as a sign of autism aint_no_life_nowhere Sep 2012 #46

You mean like this? starroute Sep 2012 #63

And Ryan with the tongue poking the jaw thing is just fucking creepy. lonestarnot Sep 2012 #146

during his speech, looking closing at expressions when trying to be heartfelt, it is like plastered seabeyond Sep 2012 #47

I don't. I think he's a psychopath. backscatter712 Sep 2012 #52

That's a possibility. Of course, he could just have 1%er Syndrome. valerief Sep 2012 #55

"what's wrong with Mitt" hfojvt Sep 2012 #57

No, he's just a prick Spider Jerusalem Sep 2012 #58

I do too. Although I wonder about that car crash in France, he was in bad shape.. CK_John Sep 2012 #70

As a professional I'll say this: nolabear Sep 2012 #71

Right! Rmoney is just a tool. nt valerief Sep 2012 #79

+1 nt Live and Learn Sep 2012 #114

And not every person who has trouble with socializing is autistic. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #118

There are a number of things that could cause Aspergers-like behavior starroute Sep 2012 #81

I doubt it LeftishBrit Sep 2012 #82

He has been taught to respond in this way. BanzaiBonnie Sep 2012 #83

A question for the psych and medical professionals here: can coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #84

Check out my reply upthread. In short, of course. But dx are only dx. nolabear Sep 2012 #102

I truly think you are wrong. And as the mother of a child who is on the spectrum, I think it a cruel Moonwalk Sep 2012 #86

Yep. Look at when he gave that kid in his high school a haircut. backscatter712 Sep 2012 #89

I am not going to let my temper get the best of me here because I know the OP means no harm Robyn66 Sep 2012 #88

It is obvious to me that he does *not* have Aspergers. dawg Sep 2012 #90

Excuse me, my son is an aspie liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #91

THANK YOU Robyn66 Sep 2012 #94

You are so right. dawg Sep 2012 #121

No kidding! liberalhistorian Sep 2012 #132

Thank you! JohnnyLib2 Sep 2012 #126

danke fascisthunter Sep 2012 #137

As an aspie who's sometimes an asshole, Mitt's just the latter n/t DotGone Sep 2012 #93

WHERE IS ODIN??? Robyn66 Sep 2012 #97

Why does he have to have 'something'? Rex Sep 2012 #101

So he chews a lot of gum rock Sep 2012 #103

Nah - his just has never had to consider KT2000 Sep 2012 #107

I'm Autistic, and I am bone weary of having us be confused with sociopaths. KamaAina Sep 2012 #125

What they said. It's 'Asperger's'. Not 'Asshat's'. n/t renie408 Sep 2012 #130

Bingo! elkepelka Sep 2012 #155

Welcome to DU! KamaAina Sep 2012 #161

I think I understand... Kalidurga Sep 2012 #129

Youngest son of priviledged/wealthy parents.. SoCalDem Sep 2012 #131

How about this: Brigid Sep 2012 #133

Not mentally ill; emotionally ill. Fire Walk With Me Sep 2012 #136

This Aspie thinks he's a narcissist. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #138

Hi ODIN!!!!!! Robyn66 Sep 2012 #149

You have got to be kidding me elkepelka Sep 2012 #141

He is an asshole and I seriously doubt it's because of Aspergers SomethingFishy Sep 2012 #144

I'd been thinking that also. marew Sep 2012 #152

I have a son who is high-functioning autistic. It is not that he does not care, it is that he OregonBlue Sep 2012 #153

I think you have Assbooger's Syndrome. be still and know Sep 2012 #154

FFS: not everyone we dislike is a sociopath, a narcissist, has Asperger's, etc REP Sep 2012 #158

I haven't taken this idea seriously until just now. I watched a You Tube clip Voice for Peace Sep 2012 #163

Did Mitt Romney Lie about Causing the accident that Killed Leola Anderson -- a passenger in his car? courseofhistory Sep 2012 #164

Your source please... DURHAM D Sep 2012 #165