Published on 12, July, 2020
Sorry to ask but the more I read all of you, the more I wonder. I take part in this forum because I am the mum of an autistic boy who has sever language delay, stimming, meltdowns, shuttdowns etc.. however I am an astrophysicist and in my career I have worked with many people with small quirks and we were all working together in this very open minded rational atmosphere without anyone refering to an autistic label. Sure my office mate was always making the same joke and switching the lights in the same order and unplugging his things I'd be there or not but I never made a fuss about it.. I just reminded him I was still there and he would very kindly switch on the light again for me. Just to say, has society become so normative that no more quirks are allowed because all sensitive rational people (most scientists are by nature) have, as far as I have seen (nearly 50 years old, lived in 5 countries and met loads of scientists, engineers and the like. Is society excluding this way of thinking more and more? Or is there more that I do not get? What is the border between autism and hypersensitive rational (which tend to go hand in hand)?
Some of those "small quirk" people will be autistic. Some aren't but have some significant traits. They aren't the graceful the Swans they seem on the surface. Their little legs are powering 50 to the dozen against a neurotypical tide, they do not understand.
Yes, society once tolerated "little quirks", let us find our own niche where it suited us. The IT driven, social media age leaves no room for this being different business.
I'm sort of bemused by your post. I'm not sure whether you are saying: 'We're all a bit autistic. Never mind', or whether you are legitimately noting that society is becoming less well adapted to difference (felt that in the bank the other day, lol).
Might not be our place to say and I might be bang out of order here, but you do astrophysics right? Engineering and science is where some "nerds" aka undiagnosed autistic people do oft gather - odd little quirks and all and are reasonably well treated and tolerated 'cos everyone is like that in those environments. Attwood did call the world's universities "Aspie day care centres".
And errr, statistically engineer/scientist is a common profession for parent of quirky, autie kid...hmmm, is it vaguely possible that you and your quirky colleagues are on or edging toward the Spectrum too and therefore it''s all a bit "perfectly normal" to you all? Might be speaking out of turn here, but err worth thinking about. If so, not a bad thing, is it? Where would we be without our nerdy scientists, astronomers and engineers? Still trying to figure out how to make fire by rubbing sticks together, no doubt.
I am indeed noting that society is becoming less well adapted to difference and was wondering wether you also see it this way and yes spectrum feels normal to me as you explain. As you point out where would we be without this "nerdy" way of thinking? Nerdy is another label that worries me. I still prefer "sensitive and rational", that's how I see it.