Talk:Randolph Stewart, 13th Earl of Galloway

Possible autism
Unfortunately, the subject isn't described or proved as having been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (only that he might have been so diagnosed with an ASD if he had pursued such a diagnosis), so including the subject in the WP category "People on the autism spectrum" is likely to be denied and re-edited by a future WP editor. While compelling speculation (such as the biographer's remark about the subject) about such a diagnosis may be included in Biographies of Living Persons, it wouldn't qualify the article to be categorized in any existing WP categories. If the subject were deceased, the article could be referenced by the WP article titled "Retrospective diagnoses of autism" (an article specifically for those historic subjects who weren't diagnoses as autistic in their lifetimes), but not until the subject is deceased. So, it appears that categorization of this article based on its speculation of autism is caught between two WP policies. Editors may maintain the referenced speculative statements in the article, but shouldn't be surprised if the article's categorization within one of the autism-related categories is removed in the future.2001:558:6008:3B:DC7B:1CA9:8865:D4A5 (talk) 12:52, 4 June 2016 (UTC)
 * I agree, and will remove the category. I believe that "It is possible that had he been born today his behaviour would have been recognised as autistic", while true, means little. Today, in the UK, children with undiagnosed behavioural conditions are classified as "autistic", not because it's a useful diagnosis, but as a way of ensuring that their parents get aid. Maproom (talk) 13:00, 4 June 2016 (UTC)
 * The comment does not have a citation so I will tag the need for one to encourage search for a published source.18:54, 8 February 2024 (UTC)