But my observation of psychologists is that they go through fads of diagnosis. I would bet that a lot of kids who are currently being diagnosed would not have been diagnosed a few years ago, and most would not be so diagnosed in a few years. Most are probably within the normal range of human behaviour and are just fine.

The psychiatric journal reports on AS specifically refute the diagnosis fad theory, according to an NPR report on the topic. They (the articles in the journals, written by psychiatrists) also cited the reason for a certain underdiagnosis as being due to the marginality of the behavior of AS subjects, i.e. their behavior was considered a bit strange (marginal), but not necessarily beyond the range of what people consider to be "normal". A study of such a case can be found here.

Remember that psychology is the "profession" which was responsible for mass misdiagnoses of childhood abuse (see False Memory Syndrome), electroshock therapy, frontal lobotomies, etc, etc, etc.

No need to remind me ;) (This is common knowledge.) But also remember that the practice of medicine used to involve blood-letting. Substantial progress has been made in both areas.

This goes double when their claims allow non-technical people to take pot-shots at people who are otherwise put on a pedestal.

I think you are underestimating "people" here, but your suspicion may have some merit in certain individuals. In any case, pot-shots are also fired at non-technical people.

But this is a generalized level of doubt. I have not done more than read the general articles and had a gut level reaction. If I cared then I would look into it farther. Until then I don't know, but am unconvinced that self-proclaimed experts know either.

The experts in this case are a bit more than self-proclaimed. What you are saying amounts to "I don't know anything about this, but I won't give anyone else's claim the benefit of the doubt." You apparently feel strongly about this topic, so I think you might want to look into the claims in a little more detail before rejecting them too strongly. :)

Disclaimer: As a kid I was diagnosed as having childhood schizophrenia by someone who was thought to be an expert on the topic. For a variety of reasons I am confident that the diagnosis was ridiculously wrong. And that initial experience may have permanently biased me on the topic of psychologists...

Well, your forthrightness definitely goes to your credit. ( At least you didn't start quoting L. Ron Hubbard :P ... a reference to the anti-psychologist theme throughout Mission Earth)

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Allolex

Update 2003-09-22 16:02:43 CEST: changes above underlined.