The Autistic Hacker: is He at Fault?

[Wintermoot]

If it were autism or schizophrenia I would say he should be let off.

you do know there is a huge difference between Autism and Schizophrenia right?

 

[Jazoni89]

I should know, I was a incredibly popular kid when I was very young (I had great social skills, and was very bright for my age). It was only when i was 12/13 or so that i started to feel indifferent about myself, and closed off from society.

Actually, Autism Spectrum Disorder can be tested for as early as 2 or 3.

Yeah, Autism spectrum disorder is very prominent in children as young as three (with various different behavioural patterns such as aggressiveness, and tantrums), but with Aspergers, it's much older, so that why it's diagnosed mostly in the teens. No one realised that i had Asbergers until I was around fourteen for example.

They may belong in the same category, but Autism spectrum, and Aspergers are two different things entirely. I don't blame you for not knowing, because it's a popular belief, which is proven to be completely untrue. For example, people with autism haven't got a huge amount of intellect, and they have increasing problems with their behaviour, and learning difficulties, while most people with Asbergers are rather calm, intellectual, but suffer in various social situations.

 

[Chibz]

Autism spectrum, and Asbergers are two different things entirely.

I was diagnosed with Aspergers rather late in high school. And I have to tell you that you are wrong here. Asperger Syndrome is on the autism spectrum. All people with asperger syndrome are autistic. Not all autistic people have aspergers.

Also, it is spelled with a p. Not a b.

 

[Jazoni89]

Autism spectrum, and Asbergers are two different things entirely.

I was diagnosed with Aspergers rather late in high school. And I have to tell you that you are wrong here. Asperger Syndrome is on the autism spectrum. All people with asperger syndrome are autistic. Not all autistic people have aspergers.

Also, it is spelled with a p. Not a b.

You've just contradicted yourself when you said that your Aspergers was diagnosed in your late high school years which in turn proves my point. As I described, it's a common misconception that Aspergers and autism spectrum disorder are in fact the same thing. When in fact the difference between the two are very distinct. I had a friend with autism spectrum disorder, and we were incredibly different to each other in our behaviours, and our views. Aspergers is on the autism spectrum, and it shares traits from autism spectrum, so that's why it's categorised as such.

I think you misunderstand me, when you say that not all people with autism has Aspergers, which is correct, I'm just underlining the various differences between the two.

Also, sometimes people like to pronounce it with a B, but you are right, it is a P.

 

[Chibz]

You've just contradicted yourself when you said that your Aspergers was diagnosed in your early high school years which in turn proves my point.

Actually, despite Aspergers being around for an ultra long time (1940's) there wasn't criteria for the diagnosis until the 1990's and diagnosis of it was completely unheard of (at least where I live) until the 2000's. If I was born a bit later, I would've been diagnosed with it much sooner.

Another term that often applies to Aspergers is high-functioning autism.

The problem is that I don't think you really understand how varying the different forms of autism are.

Spoiler: If you care

1. Classic autism
2. Asperger syndrome
3. Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), sometimes called atypical autism.
4. Rett syndrome
5. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

 

[renegade7]

If it were autism or schizophrenia I would say he should be let off.

you do know there is a huge difference between Autism and Schizophrenia right?

Yes I know there's a difference, but I meant they are both disorders that can seriously impair one's ability to function properly.

 

[renegade7]

If it were autism or schizophrenia I would say he should be let off.

I disagree. If you have anything and break the law then the crime and punishment should be treated with the same severity as someone without it. However, you should be given relevant care to make sure that no harm comes to you or anyone else. So yes, the guy should be charged. If he needs treatment or care give it to him; if he doesn't then let him rot with the rest of them.

Well, that depends on the situation. A schizophrenic who commits a crime while suffering a break from reality is not necessarily in control of his or her own actions. The same as an autistic, who may not understand the implications of their actions.

If the disorder caused the crime, then they should be treated, not punished. They should still be kept seperate from the normal population because they may be dangerous, but as in a facility where they will be cared for, not prison. If their disorder caused the crime, it's not their fault. Now, if they commit a crime and ARE aware of their actions (ie a medicated schizophrenic who is no longer experiencing symptoms) then they should still be put in jail, because it WAS their fault. They should still recieve treatment though, lest they become dangerous again.

The difference here is that the criminal had Asperger's, not autism. In Asperger's cases, the sufferer has all of their mental faculties, and so is (or should be) fully aware of their actions and the consequences. They're just a bit quirky, basically.