Why not ask them if they are autistic, rather than diagnosing them over the internet. Probably most severe autistics are diagnosed and aware of their diagnosis. I suspect there is a continuum though from "normal" to "autistic" without a clear demarcating line. I tend to side with tolerating them, whether diagnosed or not if they are not too disruptive.

Mmm. While "autistic" and "aspergic" are neither synonyms nor excuses for "arsehole" by a long shot, it's a Don't Bite The Newbies thing - despite the ridiculous quantities of crap that RC/newpages patrollers deal with, which can leave them understandably terse. Or a Don't Bite The Brittle thing.

Wikipedia is like a magnet for fact-obsessed asocial geeks, whether by inclination or brain structure. The trick being not to bend the structure of Wikipedia out of shape in the process of adapting to them. It's a tricky one all the way down.

(Tony sent a copy of his email to the AC as well for consideration in the two cases mentioned.)

- d.