markmc20001
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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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YES IT IS.
I have a close relative with high functioning Aspergers,(not autism)
Every sympathetic comment in this article describes him exactly. Aspergers people are unable to evaluate all the likely consequences of their actions because they think in simple black and white terms, in a very rationalistic way.
Thay are not astute, particularly about other people and their motives and also their own motives and consequences.
I was relieved to see that the US judicial system is taking this into account. It is to the credit of this system that it does.
I agree wholeheartedly currer. I used to teach maths - an ideal subject for people with Asperger's as it is so tightly structured, just like IT, which is where these people are often happiest. I have taught students whose sophisticated knowledge of the way that computers work is such a total contrast to their understanding of how people and society works. They are easily capable of getting into hacking just for the intellectual challenge. They really do find the real world amazingly difficult to understand.
The difficulty is going to be that it will go the way of dyslexia, another real and serious handicap that has been hijacked by others looking for excuses.
It's really interesting for me on a personal level because I've had a form of autism since I was like four years old. But having CFIDS/ME really brought it out. And I'm a hacker. I never thought of ever using autism as an excuse for hacking, however, it enhances my ability to hack. It's the reason I have that focus. Maybe some of the self discipline and the attention to details. Coding and hacking are just my thing. That talent was always there, but I think the autism definitely enhances it and makes me better at it.
Hi Markmc
I know exactly what you mean. I got on pretty well with a couple of my students that had Aspergers, and, like you, they were able to come up with some really fresh ideas and to see things that challenged me (which I really enjoyed). If you look back through the great thinkers and scientists over history, it is reassuring to see just how many of them had some sort of "difference", whether it was physical or mental. I often think that it is that sort of challenge that enables or encourages fresh outlooks.
I spent some time in industry in the late 70s as a teacher/industry liaison bod, and came across lots of examples of gifted IT staff having troubles communicating with engineers, despite both being scientific in nature. I was almost tempted to change careers and try my hand as an intermediary.
One thing that has struck me though is the high proportion of people with ME/CFS who have someone on the autistic/Asperger's spectrum in their family. It seem from my experience to be very much higher than the norm.