re: Is Autism some sort of new badge of honor?

There’s a couple things this society promotes, one being a victim that requires pity.

The second is be “original”. Claiming something like autism puts you in a low percentile group. That makes you different and your social status depends on it. Same thing a Harley guy does with his badge of honor or Jeep people do. They just picked a more financially sound investment. It doesn’t cost anything to say you are autistic.