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Did you think things had feelings?

Mark (NicheMarket)

As a child did you think 'things's had feelings?

Like toy cars, buildings, roads, plants, cups, etc?

I keep reading how child autists see people as inanimate objects. But I'm unsure if that's true. I was terrified/bewildered by new people, but also I felt objects were animate and had feelings. So in a room with people it seemed fair I gave attention to the ignored. It's also why I felt some days we had to go on a certain road, because it wasn't fair to ignore it, or maybe if we always used one road it won't be upsetting for it if we used a different road. When I stimmed, I had to finish my stim before answering someone because it wouldn't be fair on the parts I hadn't done, and it was too much to stim and answer.

I can still sometimes feel bad when I get rid of something, that it'll now it's unloved. Is that why some of us hoard?

Is this a being a kid thing? Or an autism thing? Or me? I feel it's not that I lacked empathy, it's that it extended to everything and so dividing my empathy up meant there wasn't much for humans.

Parents

  • My son feels like this. He seems to attach more feelings to inanimate objects than people. He hates the thought of getting rid of certain things as it makes him feel bad. But if does make the decision for them to go, then they have to be destroyed as opposed to being sold or given away. He can't bear the idea of them still being in the world somewhere but not knowing where or how they are being treated! Does that make sense?

  • in reply to NAS71069

    I can definitely relate to the fear of not knowing how they'll fair after me, but wouldn't want to destroy them, I don't think. But it made me think of people when they split up and how sometimes they'd like the ex not to exist, or be anhilated, or have fantasies of killing them. I read an evolutionary psychology paper on this and it made sense where those feelingscan come from. So yes, I get it.

  • in reply to Mark (NicheMarket)

    Interesting. Don't s'pose you remember the Paper and where I could get a copy? Sounds like it may be enlightening Slight smile The thing is they're not necessarily only objects like toys or personal possessions - he wants to keep those indefinitely - the ones he wants incinerated are random objects like tables, chairs, shelving! Just because it's better that they don't exist anymore! If that makes sense?

  • in reply to NAS71069

    I think plenty of philosophers have worried about this. And lots of books and films cover this ground, like Blade Runner. In a way it's a deep question, what are feelings and emotions? What is it to be human? If we're just cells that have been wired and programmed a certain way by our environment then at some point machines will reach the same. So what is it that makes us human?

    The blog link above could be interesting for him. How old is he? Would he like this forum?

  • in reply to Mark (NicheMarket)

    Really? I'l have to let my son know that, as I think he worries about the things he worries about sometimes! Slight smile He always feels better when he realises he's not alone Slight smile Not literally of course - he prefers being on his own Slight smile But he's always surprised when he finds out that other people have had similar thoughts to his own Slight smile

  • in reply to NAS71069

    I think I'm mostly over it. But then I've adapted and got used to things that I don't notice my quirks, but on this one I'd say at 50 I'm well over it.

    But yes, I've been concerned about how AI might have feelings but humans won't care cos they're machines so will cause them suffering.

  • in reply to Mark (NicheMarket)

    Wow, how strange Slight smile I shall have to look it up. Sounds very interesting read whether it sheds light on my son or not Slight smile Thanks Niche

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