Regarding Asperger's and Disclosure: the dilemma

In support of disclosure:

• People will understand why you engage in certain odd behaviors and are less likely to take a "flat" emotional affect as a personal insult. They might even be more understanding of little quirks and cut you a little bit of slack.
  
• Also, honesty is crucial, and pretending to be something you aren't is an awful way to have to live. Spectrumites should not have to be closeted.
  
• Disclosure also allows one to provide information and examples such as Temple Grandin to educate people and to give insight into why you're so fucking weird.
  
• In the workplace, disclosure prevents people from being able to fire you for autistic behaviors...although many employers will make end runs around this and eventually fire you anyway or find ways to induce you to quit.
  
• Neurodiversity rocks! Don't live in shame! We're equal!

Against disclosure:

Most people, having little to no knowledge of or experience with Asperger's, will insist that you do not have it and that you are "normal", not realizing that most people on the autism spectrum really don't like or want to be "normal", because normal life seems incredibly boring to many of us. Therefore, they will tell you that it is all in your head (which it is, but not in the way they're saying) or that you have been misdiagnosed. As if the shrinks, physicians and other experts are far more fallible and uninformed than they are....
• Also, if they do believe that you have it, they may begin to discount your perspective, experiences, etc, because you don't think the way they do.
  
• Many mistake autism as a "mental illness" which it is not and our populace is still very prejudiced against any type of mental illness.
  
• Many people have this idea that all autistics are retarded
  
• or brilliant
  
• Or savants.
  
• Many people avoid interaction with those who are perceived as not being normal. This is part of the herd mentality. I always say that I don't care about those people anyway, because I don't wants to be friends with them to begin with if they're that way....but honestly, it still hurts. Sometimes it hurts a lot.