Guest guest Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Daneka, I have only been to a few little places here in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but would love to try something a bit more difficult. The people I have gone with are not quite that adventurous, but I would not mind doing some real hiking. I never thought of doing it as a fundraiser! What great idea! I have traveled to 47 states, though not in persuit of Geocaching. The ones I have done have been right in the middle of the city (easy to find in New England). From: Daneka Wheeler <danekawyahoo (DOT) com>Subject: [aspires-relationsh ips] Driving DirectionsTo: "Aspires Aspires" <aspires-relationshi psyahoogroups (DOT) com>Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008, 6:09 PM This whole driving issues has me curious. I would have assumed that people with Aspergers, being "visual thinkers," would excel at navigating while driving.My own husband is HORRIBLE at directions. He often takes a wrong turn just getting from our house to the freeway. I always assumed that it's the result of not being able to multi-task -- he can't deal with the level of focus needed to drive and keep his destination in mind. Missed turns, ending up in the wrong part of town, etc. are commonplace events when he's driving. If I'm talking to him while he's driving, so much the worse.For his birthday, I bought him a GPS unit for his car, and he hated it. Couldn't stand the voice telling him to turn, etc. I understand that. He prefers to have mapquest pages that he can look at - however unsafe that might be.Anyone have similar experience?Daneka, who is surprised by the number of us who have the same experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Daneka Wheeler wrote: > Hey Bill, > I completely agree about male drivers NEVER asking directions. Hardly > unique to my husband. When I was in high school, I first noticed it. > Every experience since has confirmed it. WHAT is their problem? The Standard Male Imperative: " NEVER let them see you sweat! " > you said, > " Visual thinking " has nothing to do with it. That's more to do with a > cognitive style, and less to do with any particular result of it. " > > I'd appreciate more explanation. > In the context of driving directions, isn't someone either " visual " or > they are able to remember directions? > If I give someone directions: go one-half mile, turn right, then go 1 > mile, turn left, etc. I assume they can remember, and are not visual > thinkers. > On the other hand, if I show someone a map, then I assume " visual. " No? > Doesn't the " cognitive style " kick in - such as it is, to whatever the > situation asks? No. Like any other cognitive style, the " visual-spatial " one doesn't just " kick in " . Like AS, one is *born* with it, and it's one's " style " for life. One can't turn it on & off; one " does it " all the time. Also like AS, it's a bit of a spectrum: One may have *some* of the v-s cognitive properties but not others. Or have additional cognitive properties other v-s do not have. Among *definite* NTs, a-v is uncommon. Among *definite* AS, it's much more common. Some aspects of the a-v style **may** be a defining autistic cognitive style. *I* think that's a near certainty. For *starters*, check out <http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/Visual_Spatial_Learner/vsl.htm> That's one of Silverman's sites. Very readable; and to the extent there's any real authority, she may be it. I think the term was popularized by her, especially the hyphenated form. But the concept of a separate/special cognitive style isn't all that new. Note while you're surfing her sites how closely " gifted " and " Asperger's " resemble each other! IMHO, " gifted " is *part* of the autism-spectrum - it's just not pathologized. Another site (not hers) is <http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/visual-spatial.htm> Both have a lot to digest. But don't stop there: Google on " gifted " and/or " visual-spatial " , separately and in combination; and/or in combination with " Asperger " , " autism " , and similar. NB: " Visual-spatial " by itself garners over 200,000 'hits " . > > Daneka > > --- > Subject: Re: Driving Directions > Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008, 10:48 PM > > Daneka Wheeler wrote: > > This whole driving issues has me curious. I would have assumed that > > people with Aspergers, being " visual thinkers, " would excel at > > navigating while driving. > [ snip ] > > " Visual thinking " has nothing to do with it. That's more to do with a > cognitive style, and less to do with any particular result of it. [ snip ] - Bill, 76, AS -- WD " Bill " Loughman - Berkeley, California USA http://home.earthlink.net/~wdloughman/wdl.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 I had no idea he was like that... > > > > > This whole driving issues has me curious. I would have assumed > that > > > > > people with Aspergers, being " visual thinkers, " would excel at > > > > > navigating while driving. > > > > [ snip ] > > > > > > > > " Visual thinking " has nothing to do with it. That's more to do > with a > > > > cognitive style, and less to do with any particular result of it. > > > > > > > > > Anyone have similar experience? > > > > > Daneka, who is surprised by the number of us who have the same > experience > > > > > > > > Daneka, ALL male drivers NEVER ask directions. > > > > > > > > - Bill, 76, AS; ...who has no such driving problem <wink> > > > > > > > > -- > > > > WD " Bill " Loughman - Berkeley, California USA > > > > http://home. earthlink. net/~wdloughman/ wdl.htm > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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