Disasters

Inf3rnoCat said:

Since I found out about the Chernobyl disaster some years ago now, I've been fascinated by it. It's not only this but others such as Titanic, the Fukushima and the earthquake distaster last year and the sinking of the concordia this year. I'm still not able to pinpoint what I find so interesting about all of these. Also when I was younger I used to be into weather and natural distasters big time. Maybe that's the reason, I'm not sure though. Anyone else share this interest?

I have just rread this post and I now know that being facinated by disasters is ok I am normal. I could never share my fascination with anyone I have kept it seceret cos I thought people would think I am a freak. I am just starting out on the prosess of being assessed for aspergers. Thank you for posting this it has made my day, I am learning so much about myself. xx

It intrigues me that people on the spectrum seeking answers to such events choose to sift through the facts over and over again, without being deterred by the emotional aspects or the complexity.

Neurotypicals perhaps don't have the propensity to find solice in facts and look more to spiritual, or something within, or something else abstract. Perhaps that's too much of a generalisation, but someone perhaps can offer more insight.

We've been on this theme before, about high achievers, particularly those making scientific breakthroughs who might, from contemporary accounts of their lives, be deemed to be on the spectrum. Then there's the other perspective that if they achieved, to that degree, then they cannot have been on the spectrum.

I wonder rather that, for many people on the spectrum, the fascination with facts, even if it doesn't provide answeers, is our solice. But every once in a while someone manages to take the quest for facts that much further.

All the more reason to convince government that supporting people on the spectrum to achieve more is not only good for individuals but may benefit the human race from time to time as well. And indeed, moreso as solutions get harder to find.

This is interesting. I was seriously obsessed with the Titanic disaster from the age of 11 until age 18. I watched the James Cameron film every day after school, and knew the screenplay off by heart. I knew everything about the boat, all the statistics, everything. I don't know why I was so engrossed, but I did find the film upsetting and tears came to my eyes - it might have been the emotional aspect that drew me to it; a way of exploring emotions in a safe environment in order to understand them better

Not disasters as such, but I get fascinated by major events such as wars, when, and as, they happen.

And, like you and disasters, I'm not really sure what it is that draws me too them - particularly as I consider myself a pacifist!

I was glued to the TV (24 hour rolling news is brilliant) all through the last invasion of Iraq, the recent Egyptian revolution, and most of the revolution in Libya (unfortunately I had to move before it was all over, and no longer have a TV license).

Disasters do also have a certain amount of 'draw' for me, but not as much.