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L.A. Times Columnist Says Geek-Autism is a Good Thing
rillian writes "Gary Chapman has an interesting take on the geekness-autism connection in his Digital Nation column in the Los Angeles Times: So what? Some of us are offended by this connection because it makes us even less normal, but he points at the opposing point of view: that the concerns of 'normal' people can be shallow and don't advance civilization. We need more Edisons, not more pop stars."
Who, slow down there, Sig.
:) based solely on the ability to express thought through a counting machine, across some wires, and around the world. As more people come to realize the worth of this action, more will realize the worth, socially, of "geeks". Also, if you happen to believe in the real-world notion of karma, all the negativity you are spewing forth is bound to come back and bite you in the ass.
From someone who's website starts "Welcome, now go away" where do you get off saying you've been ejected by society. The biggest reason for that is the "I think better than you, therefore I AM better than you." philosophy. Which, BTW is the exact same as the "I can beat you down, so I WILL beat you down." philosophy. Geeks as a whole are VERY arrogant and the vast majority of people don't go for that, at all. As a matter of fact it causes people to shun you, and cast you out of their social circles. Much of this the article was discussing, just giving a reason for a phenomena. Add to that a bit of paranoia "All eyes are on us. We are under attack!" and you get a social outcast.
I see more of this as accepting of the geek culture. A culture based in thought, not physical action. (this thread is Katz's wet dream) Where people are judged (given Karma
Just chill out a bit, go get yourself one of those super-cool Athlons.(and don't take this as a personal attack, it isn't, just some observations that your comments brought to the fore)
+&x
This isn't news really, but it is a well written article. The real interest I have in this is the insistance, even among researchers who should know better, that some people are 'normal' and others deviate from that normalcy in some way. In this case by having a 'mild form of Asperger's syndrome'. One scientist mentioned in the article even goes so far as to discount the idea on the basis of the fact we Geeks are not horribly impaired. Meaning we are normal I guess...
So, just what is normal? I used to wonder that a lot when I was a kid, because I knew for a fact I wasn't 'normal'. I even wondered if I smelled different from everyone else in some way, although the truth was simply that I could not socialize in the same manner other kids did -- and had an intuitive understanding of math, could read at a college level and had a better volcabulary than my teachers. These simple facts were enough to isolate me; an isolation so common among geeks that we have already discussed it at length here on /.
The thing is, I have come to understand that none of the other kids were 'normal' either! They were just better at pretending. At picking up the little cues that control flocking behavior in the schoolyard. Inside most of them were wondering the same thing I did, and hoping like hell they didn't have to go through the hazing I lived with on a daily basis. Those few who felt no doubts at all probably lacked the intelligence and imagination it takes to see yourself as the victim, or else they were true sociopaths. Doubt what I am saying? Talk at length with your spouse or your 'normal' siblings...
So, what is normal? Aren't we all really part of a continuum? On the one hand you have highly disfunctional people who cannot even feed themselves and on the other you have highly socialized individuals who -- as they are often lawyers, salesmen, politicians and actors -- don't really contribute that much to society themselves. The rest make up the middle of the bell curve, and those of us blessed with an ability to concentrate to extremes, remember seemingly inconsequential details and avoid wasting time with dumb stuff like style and appearance are the prime movers of the new era.
Geeks of the world unite! You have nothing to loose but your propeller beanies!
More seriously, perhaps the real need here is to avoid discussions of 'normal' versus geek and focus more on ways each person can maximize their effectiveness in the world. For some of us this means computers and programming, our natural skills and inclinations make us good at it. Others are particuarily good hairdressers. We are each born with a mix of talents and abilities that, together, make up our IQ. The really good thing about being a geek, and this I know from personal experience, is that we can actually apply many of the traits that make us what we are to becoming good at the other stuff if we decide it is important enough. I once took the time to seriously study body language, basic psychology and public speaking. Now I have those skills when I need them, even if I choose not to exercize them most of the time...
Jack
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Are you an SF Fan? Are you a Tru-Fan?
I can just see it now, the nervous parents waiting in a doctors office. A doctor steps in through the door with a serious face and clipboard full of readings:
/. Karma of 100+ and patches to the Kernel class of geek here.
/. is like a steer's horns, a point here, a point there and a lot of bull in between.
doctor: I believe I have some difficult news,
mother: oh god..
doctor: the tests are in and it looks like your child is going to a...
father: It can't be!
doctor: I'm afraid so, it will be a geek, no doubt about.
mother: oh god...
father: But, this can't be..
doctor: I'm afraid..
father: But I was varsity football, my wife was a cheerleader. I never touched a compute...
mother: We took precautions, they said it couldn't happen.
doctor: Sometimes it just happens, thats all. There was nothing you could have done.
father: Is it bad?
doctor: I'm afraid so. The reading is one of the highest I have seen. We are talking a
mother: oh god...
doctor: Of course, we understand if you choose not to take on the burden of raising such a child...
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Have you ever noticed how normal people are mildly retarded.