We now have a working theory on how autism develops — a genetic predisposition allowing malfunction in cell danger response — and an almost miraculous clinical treatment for it in children that is currently undergoing trials.

Oh my God this is going to be an ethical minefield the likes of which we have never seen, and I say that as someone who has Autism. Like right now people on the Spectrum, as well as people with conditions like ADHD, are looking at the things RJK Jr is saying not just about Autism but Neurodivergency in general and getting very worried. Like he's saying people on adderal should be sent to labour camps and there should be a national register of Autistic people. Man believes people like me are an existential threat to the country. That's Nazi shit. Straight up fucking Eugenics for Neurodiverse people in general. The idea of an "Autism Cure" like this could very well turn into something we really do not want to see and I think we need to understand that.

Like here's the thing: I'm not one of those "Autism is my Superpower" types. It's an annoying, frustrating, horrible disability that fucks with me everyday in ways even I understand. But while it is horrible, and has fucked me six ways from Sunday, I also have to admit that without it, I would be a vastly different person and not in a good way. Without Autism, I would not have had a history degree, I would not have the hobbies, interests and knowledge I have, I wouldn't have had the impact I have had on the world or the ideas I have had. Fuck, would I be writing this comment if I didn't have the 'tism?

I'll also be honest with you, Autism, while being a disability also likely gave us a lot of people who did a lot of things they wouldn't have otherwise done if they weren't on the spectrum. I might be speculating with a lot of these figures, but Newton, Einstein, Turing, Babbage, Cavendish, Lovelace? What would the world be like if they weren't Autistic? I don't think they would've done a lot of what they had done if they were not. I'm not sure computers would exist without Autistic people, nor do I believe a lot of science and art would exist too.

Also, how are we defining Autism. We go back to the days of Hans Aspberger, who invented a condition to say "yeah, they have the 'Tism, but they're useful"?

It's a bit like if you gave a bigot the ability to wipe and entire group from reality and they chose gay people, and then suddenly they notice the phone in their pocket has disappeared and there's no internet.

malfunction

Ehhh... Maybe it just functions differently. Not really big on the negative connotation there.

The world would be a much more boring place without our autistic friend. They don't need a fucking "cure."