Contents

1. Introducing Yourself
2. The "Clique"
3. Roll Call
4. Photo Album

1. Introducing Yourself

Just as if you were walking into a room full of people in real life, it is appreciated if you could introduce yourself when you first start to post. This is not compulsory, but it does help us to get to know you.

The sorts of things you might like to include in your intro are:

• The name you wish to be known by. Some members are shy of using their real names, and that is fine as long as we know what to call you.
• Your interest in a.s.a.
  e.g. "My son has just been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome"
• A few biographical details (not your life story, unless you want to post it, just if you're married/single, an AC or parent of AC, what country you live in etc). Just so we feel we know you a little. Many members put their "autism status" next to their names and may list children with their ages, and partners/spouses.
  e.g. Anna H. (AS), mother to Emma 5yo (NT), Alice 4yo (?AS) and Sam 2yo (?AC)
• Any queries, thoughts etc. that prompted you to post to the newsgroup.
  e.g. "How do I cope with my son's temper tantrums when he's non-verbal?"

Alternatively, you could just launch into posting and not worry about introductions, although this does ocasionally lead to some confusion (especially if you share a name with an already established poster). It is very much up to you - the above are simply suggestions, based on personal experience.

2. The "Clique"

It has become fairly common for Newbies to a.s.a. to complain that we are too "cliquey", that ACs, particularly, tend to gang up on posters they disapprove of and exclude people deliberately.

Firstly, you need to understand that manners may "maketh a man", but they certainly don't maketh an AC. Manners are part of the whole social skills thing that ACs find difficult. So, you may not be welcomed to the group: on the contrary, a statement you made on your introductory post might be pulled apart and analysed in it's minutiae. This is nothing personal - ACs show their acceptance of you by treating you as part of the furniture; and honour you by taking your statements for disection. If they don't like you, they'll tell you. However, for some indefinable reason, some Newbies get openly welcomed, probably because someone has remembered that they are supposed to welcome Newbies, and the others follow suit.

Secondly, for ACs, the idea of excluding someone deliberately, or saying subtle things to undermine them because they have some unspecified reason for disliking them, is totally incomprehensible. It's a skill they just don't have. Most ACs will take a person's friendliness as genuine, and will assume friendliness by default, unless proven otherwise.

For many ACs (and carers of ACs) this is perhaps the first time they've ever felt part of any group of human beings and felt acceptance. It is the first time many ACs have ever communicated with someone like them. It is the first time that some of the parents have communicated with other parents who *really* know what it's like. It is a heady sensation for those unused to it. Maybe that is why if they feel threatened, or suspect that a Newbie is trying to split them up, they will retaliate (rightly, or wrongly).

You need to understand the passionate loyalty ACs and AC-carers often feel for one another, and the protectiveness many higher functioning ACs on the group feel towards their lower functioning "cousins".

3. Roll Call

A roll-call is called regularly on the a.s.a. newgroup, to allow people to introduce themselves. It is not compulsory to join-in, but if you would like to, simply post your details to the newsgroup and you will be added. People usually include their known-name, their children (if they have any), if they are married, their employment or school and whether or not they or their children are on the Spectrum.

The Roll Call is not officially archived anywhere, but like all newsgroup posts, can be found at the Google news archive, on the WWW.

4. Photo Album

By Don (deegeepro), keeper of the album:

a. The album origins.

Although suggested earlier, I volunteered in April 2000 to put together an album where those that wished to could post and share the 'faces behind the names' so to speak. Overall, I think it has received good response with the text and picture screens around 170 in number.

b. The contributors.

Anyone who wished to email attached photos to me would receive the URL and password provided I considered them not to be a 'newbie' - ie. felt that I 'knew' them well enough, through their postings, to accept them as a regular, genuine poster and not an undesirable lurker that could fake an interest in the NG.

c. The password.

This was voted by the majority of contributors to be a reasonably safe way of avoiding anyone 'stumbling' into our album. In fact, many considered it to be safe enough to add screen-info with brief, personal background details. BTW many people considered to be 'oldies' have received album access without any photo contributions.

d. 'Oldie' vs 'newbie'.

This has been the most difficult decision for me. It is extremely subjective and largely subject to 'inner gut feeling' on my part. I have had occasions where I have had to direct-email other group members to estimate whether someone new to me is actually a regular poster and seems genuine. In early days, some people that were rejected accepted this and patiently waited (and posted more) until I felt comfortable with their genuineness. Lately, with my infrequent reading of the NG postings, it has become even more difficult to distinguish who I feel is genuine and who is not.

e. Who should have access?

[Note from Kalen: In June, 2001, the site which was hosting the album announced that they were shutting down, thus necessitating a move to a new site. References to a "new URL" are due to this unavoidable move.]

Of course, those that already have access should continue to but note that the password in the new URL is to change. This is my own 'ploy' to force contributors to re-apply for the details. Then, if the previous password has inadvertently 'leaked' the new one should re-start this basic security.

f. The 'new' album.

Still under construction, I believe that Jennie's suggestion that those that wish their pictures to re-appear should re-request same is a good one. The main added advantage in this would be the removal of some outdated photos.

Originally compiled by Anna Hayward on behalf of the alt.support.autism newsgroup, November 2000. Original site design and HTML by Kalen Molton. Please address any general queries to Mike Stanton. Broken links and problems of a technical nature should be addressed to John Muggleton by entering details in the comments box of the form here. Any opinions expressed in this article are personal and should not be construed as medical advice. We are not representatives of any of the companies discussed, nor do we receive any form of commission.

The latest version of this faq is at www.mugsy.org/asa_faq