Autism in Runescape

[DAE2008]

Reference for those who don't know - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

 

So, you're mining or whatever, and perhaps you see someone acting strangely, perhaps spamming or spouting nonsense. You would kindly tell them to go away, or be quiet and around a quarter of the times this happens, all I see is "sry, iv got autism", "ive got autism lol", "Sorry, Autism." etc. I mean, really? Do they? I'm not so sure. I feel awful for doubting, but if it turns out some of them are pretending, I would take every single one and push them off a cliff. It's like someone pretending to be paralised from the waist down, so they have an excuse to sit down no matter where they go.

 

The reason for my doubting is that it's kind of something you want to keep secret. It seems to me that it's like telling everyone that a dog bit your crotch, and that's why you're walking awkwardly down the street. It doesn't seem like something I'd tell to too many people, never mind to a complete stranger. But then, I wouldn't know.

 

What's your opinion - do these people have what they say? Are they using it as a front to be idiotic or whatever? Has anyone else come across quite a few people saying this?

[Wouter828]

Well your guess is as good as mine. I've never had anyone say anything like that to me. I do wonder why people with autism decide to play an mmog though.

[Poppet]

I have Autism are you insulting me with this thread. <_<

[Seabourch]

Well if they were lying it would definitely be wrong. But then again autism comes in different levels of autism, so they could actually be autistic but still be able to play the game. Best to give them benefit of the doubt since you could always just log off if their behaviour irritates and go to another world.

[Great_one]

Excuse me if I'm mistaken, but if they do have a serious case of autism would it even be possible for them to play a mmo? Much less any other video games?

[Iximi]

I have spent a fair amount of time with autistic children in my life and I can say that, in even the most extreme cases, video games are something they tend to pick up. It would seem strange tho for a MMO to be the game of choice, simply because the nature or autism deals with blocks to social communication. Using it as an excuse I cant see in anything more the more mild cases. However I'm not professional in any way, and this is just what I have observed.

[fat_klutz]

Like most mental illnesses autism's severity can very greatly. I don't have a lot of experience with autistic kids but I do know one who plays console video games at a pretty high level. I wouldn't discount the fact that their COULD be people out there playing with autism but I severely doubt they would say it. Just put them on your ignore list.

[Giordano]

Either way, if they did legitimately have Autism, they should shut the [bleep] up. From what I'm understanding, it isn't like a death-dooming disorder that makes you act [developmentally delayed]ed (in the social sense).

 

And besides, we're discussing kids. 99% chance they picked that word up from their friends and think they got it.

[DAE2008]

I have Autism are you insulting me with this thread. <_<

 

I'm truly sorry about this. I'm not stereotyping I hope, and I have nothing against Autism, or people with it.

 

However, I thought you might be a little more annoyed about the things other people say. If people are pretending to have something that you have, which I assume has some kind of impact on your life, you'd be very irked about it. I know I would.

 

"And besides, we're discussing kids. 99% chance they picked that word up from their friends and think they got it."

 

Yeah, perhaps.

[Ollyc3]

Never experienced that before but I'd instantly doubt people who said it, mainly because of the 99% thing mentioned up there ^

[Poppet]

I have Autism are you insulting me with this thread. <_<

 

I'm truly sorry about this. I'm not stereotyping I hope, and I have nothing against Autism, or people with it.

 

However, I thought you might be a little more annoyed about the things other people say. If people are pretending to have something that you have, which I assume has some kind of impact on your life, you'd be very irked about it. I know I would.

 

"And besides, we're discussing kids. 99% chance they picked that word up from their friends and think they got it."

 

Yeah, perhaps.

 

Thank you. :^_^:

[aspeeder]

From what I'm understanding, it isn't like a death-dooming disorder that makes you act [developmentally delayed]ed (in the social sense).

That actually sums it up pretty well, from what I gathered from discussions about "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" (An ok book, took me an afternoon to read if you're interested in autism) there are just certain things "normal" people do in conversations to be socially acceptable that autistic people have trouble picking up on. Obviously that is a broad generalization, but it's a good start.

[Unknown_Warrior]

Kids these days love using mental disorders like AD(H)D, Autism and Asperger's Syndrome (oh dear God, Asperger's) to justify their actions as acting like complete trolls/lunatics/idiots on the internet. Even if they have just a mild form of said disorders, or don't have it all, basing their diagnosis on pseudo-psychology found on the internet, hearsay or vague textbooks.

 

It is not limited to RuneScape. It's a common thing to see on places where one can comment anonymously as well, such as Imageboards.

[Obtaurian]

Never experienced that before but I'd instantly doubt people who said it, mainly because of the 99% thing mentioned up there ^

 

This. I've never had that happen to me, but my first reaction would be "troll" or "idiot."

[anonymous_user]

I would doubt that these people are honest since I've got a friend on RS with autism and he behaves perfectly normally. Best thing to do is ignore them until they go away and it's unlikely you will ever encounter that individual again.

[Carl]

Those that announce it so openly, are ones who I'd say are fools. They don't have what it is they claim, however, try use that as a poor excuse for their behaviour. I know one autistic person who plays RuneScape, and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this person and any other. One of the nicest people you'd ever meet.

[Lielac]

DX

 

My brother's an Aspie. (Probably.) He ADORES RuneScape, plays it a lot, but DAMN does he keep to himself. I think the only trade offers he's ever done were for Shield of Arrav with my mage pure, me giving him a ton of feathers because he wanted to go fly fishing, and a few others that were either with me, a pure of mine, or one of my sister's characters. And he doesn't talk much, in-game. I get him to emote yes-no if I want him to answer a question... XD

 

My sister, on the other hand... DX She'd get muted about once a day if I hadn't convinced her that NO, saying 'moo' over and over again is not something you do. You either shuddup or you say something useful. (She's 8. And she's probably the most neurotypical of my family.)

[Bauke]

The people who you depict in your topic start look more like complete morons to me. Doubt it's autism. Autistic people don't understand the world around. They focus incredibly on details, take everything literally (don't understand sarcasm), avoid eye contact, etc. It's an impairment of social interaction.. and that doesn't include typing nonsense on your keyboard.

 

I'm sure there's autism in Runescape, with that much players... but the people described in the topic start ain't autists. Or they just use it as an excuse to act like a complete jackass.

[The Dark Lord]

I personally think a lot of people on this game have Asperger's. With the intense obsession some people have while playing, it's hard for me to not believe they are a little autistic.

[Bauke]

I personally think a lot of people on this game have Asperger's. With the intense obsession some people have while playing, it's hard for me to not believe they are a little autistic.

Actually that sounds more like a compulsive-obsessive disorder, lol.

[InkofDeath]

It's impossible to tell if someones telling the truth over the internet, but it's pretty much a given they're lying nine times out of ten.

 

I really do not think people with said disorders would actually type out their disease, but would first in some way try to troll or infuriate you first.

[Lielac]

I personally think a lot of people on this game have Asperger's. With the intense obsession some people have while playing, it's hard for me to not believe they are a little autistic.

Actually that sounds more like a compulsive-obsessive disorder, lol.

 

1. It's obsessive-compulsive.

2. Aspies/autistics tend to be OCD about the things they're into.

[Bauke]

I personally think a lot of people on this game have Asperger's. With the intense obsession some people have while playing, it's hard for me to not believe they are a little autistic.

Actually that sounds more like a compulsive-obsessive disorder, lol.

 

1. It's obsessive-compulsive.

2. Aspies/autistics tend to be OCD about the things they're into.

1. Think you know what I ment, but alright I stand corrected.

2. Yes, but (for example) being obsessed with one particular thing and doing it constantly points more toward OCD. But anyways it's not much use discussing a case that was made up. And I think it might even be called addiction. But your point is true.

[Atom Smash40]

My guess is that they are most likely faking, and i hope they get banned for it. Autism is no joke, and like people above have said, those with autism lost likely aren't going to be playing an MMO. Shame on those who claim they have it. I'm sure even if there were autistic kids/adults playing, they wouldn't be shouting random crap in the first place. You have to actually type stuff, it's not like there's a microphone thingy in the game that hears what you are saying and types it. And this random blab sounds more like Tourette's, and people with Tourette's FOR SURE won't be playing an MMO.

 

The people who you depict in your topic start look more like complete morons to me. Doubt it's autism. Autistic people don't understand the world around. They focus incredibly on details, take everything literally (don't understand sarcasm), avoid eye contact, etc. It's an impairment of social interaction.. and that doesn't include typing nonsense on your keyboard.

 

I'm sure there's autism in Runescape, with that much players... but the people described in the topic start ain't autists. Or they just use it as an excuse to act like a complete jackass.

 

this man speaks the truth.

[KingJD]

I know an autistic kid that use to play, my ex-gf use to babysit for him so I got to babysit him while he was playing runescape sometimes. He was quite social with me though, asked me questions all of the time. He played a bunch for a while.. he seemed pretty interested in doing most everything but the quests were a bit beyond his grasp I think