Being primarily an auditory learner (as well as linear, logical ‘left brain’, blah-blah) has served me well. It seems the traditional education system is built for people who display those preferences, like me. But that ‘sound sensitivity’ can be a curse too, and far more than just a physical thing — as this video snip of Mark Jonathan Harris’ and Marhsa Kinder’s Interacting with Autism shows.
Before the glib among us write off Asperger’s and life on the autism spectrum as ‘plain rudeness’, self-indulgence, a fashion statement, or just a bad personality, and short of seeing everyone as a ‘victim’, there’s a middle ground: Where we can notice (a lovely word) that some people, who sometimes seem to have trouble concentrating or seem ‘easily distracted’, or have difficulty interacting socially, are walking a tougher road.
Have a heart for people like this. Especially children.
Sensory Overload (Interacting with Autism Project) from Miguel Jiron on Vimeo.
– P
Question .. and im not being provocative .. are you saying that you suffer from autism or aspergers?
These labels give me the shits.
Sometimes people can act like fuckwits – or be assholes – or just lose the plot …
Then they go back to normal (whatever normal is….)
Jesus Mary, Joseph, buddha and mohammed … and zoroaster (as a sop to sickly liberals) – we are governed by them.
Ivan.
Yes, I think I display some definite Asperger traits, self-identified, including intolerances and compulsions of different types.
See: http://www.thepaepae.com/is-there-a-‘whistle-blower’-personality-type/163/
… particularly the excellent radio documentary/movie soundtrack ‘Oops, Wrong Planet’ linked to in the comments. Listen to it and tell me what you think.
I share your unease with some use of labels, and particularly the ‘medical metaphor’ applied to behaviour. A big influence on my thinking was Hungarian Thomas Szasz, see a discussion about his ideas here (and Google him):
http://www.thepaepae.com/silence-is-consent/949/comment-page-1/#comment-93
However it seems to me that a glib or total denial of these demonstrated patterns/clusters of behaviour/strengths/weaknesses is pointless. Their existance becomes obvious.
The boy in that video above, reminds me of (even looks like) someone in my family who I deeply, deeply love. It’s poignant for me. My eyes misted watching it, as I empathized with his struggles.
As I said, I’ve done OK.
– P
Asperger has been a topic of discussion here at The Paepae since I started the blog: http://www.thepaepae.com/tag/asperger/
Please tread lightly.
Why would i not tread lightly? Why in gods good name do you suspect (even slightly) that i directly asked for clarification on the post? And why would you even begin to think i would lack that most necessary virtue of compassion?
Personally – we are all the product of our collective experience/s – or so I believe.
I’ve stood by and seen people – colleagues – labelled as various things and then observed that those who have given the labels – are often as mad as fucking hatters themselves. You name it – habitual denture-sucking, foodspattered cardigans, loose y fronts, chain smoking dikes dispensing childcare advice (like most of the labour party lineup and union personnel who dont shave their armpits) … and the list goes on and on and on and on …
If you feel you suffer from aspergers .. thats completely cool by me … i simply wanted to understand the nature of a post – that without that clarification looked a little left field.
Peter,
Thomas Szasz is very interesting – so much so, I don’t know what I make of his views yet. I will need to mull over it. Thank you for mentioning him again.
I am interested in the subject of what makes us human, and differentiates us from animals.
Some scientists used to believe that a distinguishing characteristic of humanity was empathy, but more recent studies have shown many animals are also empathetic (for example whales, dolphins and monkeys). The current theory, I understand, is that it is just a comprehension of complex language that distinguishes humans from animals.
This somehow saddens me.
Rgds,
*p*
*p*
I was introduced to Thomas Szasz’s ideas — about the forcible ‘labelling’ of behaviour that makes society uncomfortable and using an ‘illness’ metaphor (requiring ‘treatment’) to deprive people of their civil rights, including liberty, even though they’d committed no ‘crime’ — as part of my psychology studies at Victoria University.
Then, as a politics student, I followed up his leading light libertarian views … but, I think because of how I was introduced to him, they didn’t seem so extreme.
Context is everything, huh?
As for human/animal differentiators … gulp. Is that all? 🙂
– P
Peter,
“As for human/animal differentiators … gulp. Is that all?”
Perhaps spiritualism?
Do animals believe in God(s)?
Athiests worship their God of science, many others worship various religions.
Perhaps this distinguishes (most) humans from animals?
http://www.timephysics.com/albert-einstein.html
Rgds,
*p*
But then … who really knows what is in the mind or soul of animals. I’ve seen better behaviour from animals than from most humans.
At least they often respond conclusively to stimulus.
Maybe we all need to get over ourselves and realise we arent a special creation after all….
My Cat told me that … just yesterday….