February 18 -- "Day Without an Aspie"

[Vic Vega]

You forgot an option in your poll:

The idea is so ridiculous that I think this post is a joke.


That's the one I would have chosen.

 

[Dorian Gray]

According to This Wikipedia Article, Hans Asperger was born on February 18, 1906. He is the man credited with being the first to identify Asperger's Syndrome.

On that day, I intend to stay at home and contribute nothing to the economy. This is my small way of showing people what the world would be like without Aspies in the workplace. My hope is that eventually, this and similar actions will show the world just how many of us there are, and just how much of a contribution we make.

To this end, I've planned to communicate this event to the local news outlets -- radio and TV stations -- about a week after New Year's Day, with reminders every week until the actual day of the event.

And when I say "contribute nothing to the economy", I mean no purchases of any kind -- no gas for the car, no eating out at restaurants, no groceries -- nothing. I've also reserved that day as a day off from work. I may just spend the day either at the library or watching TV. Maybe I'll do some yard work, bake some bread, or paint the bathroom.

Please consider taking similar actions. Call your local news outlets and ask them for details on "Day Without an Aspie" (DWaA). Maybe you could even provide a few details of your own. The point is not so much as to "go on strike" as it is to get the media interested, and through their interest, maybe more non-Aspies will learn that we're people too!

So ... what do you think? Will you participate in a peaceful Day Without and Aspie on February 18, 2011?

This sounds ridiculous to me. Maybe well-intentioned, but what purpose does it serve? The economy would be affected the same if handicapped people didn't work, or Down Syndrome people didn't work, or gays, or any given group of people.

And what about the rest of the autism spectrum?

Not a well-executed idea, and if there are ever any greeting cards associated with this, well, there's your smoking gun.

 

[Dorian Gray]

When is the Day Without a Bipolar? I'll join in on it. Also, Day Without a Cripple, Day Without a Myopic, Day Without a Procrastinator, Day Without a Virgin...

I believe Day Without a Virgin immediately follows Day With a Virgin Nymphomaniac.

 

[Sledge]

Is anyone calling for Aspies to be fired or otherwise excluded from society?

4chan. Quite a few internet forums. I suspect this is more against irritating teenagers who claim to be Aspies than a problem with genuine Aspies.

 

[quixotecoyote]

4chan. Quite a few internet forums. I suspect this is more against irritating teenagers who claim to be Aspies than a problem with genuine Aspies.

This is probably a point against the necessity of a protest if the biggest problems are coming from internet trolls on 4chan and ED.

 

[Loss Leader]

I think that, as a condition, Aspergers has gotten a tremendous increase in attention over the last five years.

But if it helps focus more public attention on the issue, or if it helps make people with Aspergers feel more powerful and in control of their lives, then I have no problem with it.