Re: On Not Being Human

[Guest guest]

This was cut and pasted from the below links article. I could not

believe my eyes:

A few years ago, I was at a conference on language and evolution when

an audience member questioned a prominent child language researcher's

thesis by raising a counter-example: One aspect of the development of

children with syndrome didn't quite fit the researcher's

theory. The prominent child language researcher quickly

retorted, " Oh, I've seen children with syndrome. They don't

count. They're not even human. They must belong to some other species

entirely. "

With the wave of a hand, an entire group of people was erased from

the human race. Without a contesting word, members of the human

species were sacrificed — but a theory was saved. And what was the

distinctly nonhuman behavior demonstrated by some children with

syndrome? It was their ability to develop a prodigious

vocabulary, prior to developing the ability to extend an index finger

to point.

>

> http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=2124

>

> On Not Being Human

>

>

>

> APS President Morton Ann Gernsbacher, University of Wisconsin-

Madison

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I definitely feel, at least in my case that I am not human. Even

before I was diagnosed as autistic I had made the statement that I did

not feel that I was human. I totally lack many human qualities and

merely mimic this behavior to avoid freaking people out. I eat

differently, I react to various stimuli differently, I think

differently. I have never met anyone like me, I stick out like a sore

thumb everywhere I go. I do not feel inferior to humans just

different. I have different strengths and shortcomings. But overall I

feel superior to humans in many ways.

GJ

>

> http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=2124

>

> On Not Being Human

>

>

>

> APS President Morton Ann Gernsbacher, University of Wisconsin-Madison

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Besides the " earth to Rhonda " teasing in high school, I always felt

different but not non-human. At times I have felt that I was MORE

human, in my compassionate responses to situations and people. Too

compassionate in some cases. I might not have empathy but have an

overabundance of sympathy, which I understand to be feeling what the

other person is feeling, whereas empathy is being able to imagine

what the other person is feeling. I have little idea there, only can

imagine how it might be for ME if I had the same experience. Anyway,

I am often the only person who notices little details of injustices,

differential treatment of others, racism, etc. I fluctuate between

feeling superior and feeling supremely flawed. I was surrounded by

people who wanted me to be other than what I was so developed very

low self-esteem. Finding out I am autistic has actually helped my

self-esteem a LOT. My father, interestingly, used to always complain

about what friends I did have (which I resented greatly) saying they

were just " sheep. " I wonder how many autie parents use the sheep

metaphor when talking with their children?

I don't relate a lot personally to the " being from another planet " ,

as I do believe I have a right to be on THIS planet, the way I am,

stims, and prosopagnosia and visual thinking and sensory differences.

I am working toward being both as functional as I care to be and also

being my autistic self when I want to or need to. I don't have a lot

of support but I maybe don't need it since I've been operating on my

own since I was a kid, never really following the well-meaning (or

not well-meaning) advice of others as it mostly did not apply. OTOH,

I do relate to and understand the " being from another planet " since

we are so different from the " norm. " I think the idea that normality

is something to be desired or emulated or mimicked is actually what

is *abnormal.*

a, I don't remember your story (if you told it) about how you

found out you are on the spectrum. I would like to hear it if it's OK

with you to post it. Mine was seemingly random, unless I want to

believe that " everything happens for a reason, " which I have a HARD

time with. I was working on a document that had the acronymn PDD-NOS

in it and just had to look it up... and I went from there, realizing

the Wikipedia definition of high functioning autism was referring to

ME! I am headed toward my late 40s (which are ages 48 and 49, in my

cosmology!) Let's see... February 6 will be my 8-month anniversary of

knowing I am an Aspie.

Rhonda

>

> I know exactly what you are talking about, I felt the same way as a

kid

> especially, long before I knew I was AS (only just knew in the last

16

> months or so and I'm going into my 40's this year). Even with all

the

> pain/teasing and lack of friends and understanding, etc., I felt I

was

> " above " them all with their " sheep " mentalities and petty concerns

that

> just manages to hold our species back from its true potential.

Yes, I

> think we are human...just BETTER humans that are on the

evolutionary

> cutting edge. As far as I'm concerned, if they don't allow our

kind

> to thrive (via committing genetic genocide) then there is no hope

for

> our species at all because our kind (with our neurologies) ARE the

key

> to humankind having any kind of future at all. Not a doubt in my

mind

> about that at all.

>

> a

>

>

[Guest guest]

I've always felt not quite human or a little further along the evolutionary

scale than most humans. But those who want to say we are not human in order to

deprive us of basic human rights and dignity, they are wrong!

Once I told a guy I was dating and cared for very much, " we are a subspecies " .

And I think that's right. In the same way, what we call races are really

subspecies, so my feeling of always coming from a minority race (even though it

says white on by birth certificate) are valid.

Once my baby brother fell from his bed, and everyone in my family, except me,

was upset, even crying. I didn't get upset or cry because I knew he was ok.

(Not sure how I knew, but I knew.) After a while it became evident that he was

ok, and everyone calmed down. My mother said to me something like, " why didn't

you get upset? Don't you care about him? He could have been hurt! " " But he

wasn't, " I replied. She slapped my face and said, " You're so logical and cold! "

What's wrong with being logical? And as for being cold, emotions take an

awful lot of energy, better to save them for something real.

I believe that human consciousness is reaching a tipping point in its

evolution, due to the huge numbers of humans, and mass commucations becomming

more available especially Internet. We (autistics and cousins) are on the

cutting edge of this tipping point, and are a valuable component in this cosmic

experiment of consciousness that we call humanity.

Joni

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Joni

What you say is exactly what I think as well. My theory is that

autism is the salvation of humanity. A new species that will make

decisions based on fact not on emotion. Look at the world today and

it is undeniable that making decisions based on emotion and

superstition has wrought havoc on the world. It is not neccesary for

autistic neurology to become the norm but rather just reach a

critical mass within society to create the tipping point you speak

of. Once the tipping point is reached the autistic neurology will

become dominant due to the superior technical skills of the autist.

The need for direct socialization will become less important and

even counter productive in the new technical world. The

neurotypicals will be relegated to work in the hospitality,

entertainment and service industries, effectively becoming our

slaves in a way. They will be quite happy in this capacity for the

most part. Political leadership will be dominated by autists,

ushering in an era of peace and prosperity that will span millenia.

GJ

>

> I've always felt not quite human or a little further along the

evolutionary scale than most humans. But those who want to say we

are not human in order to deprive us of basic human rights and

dignity, they are wrong!

> Once I told a guy I was dating and cared for very much, " we are

a subspecies " . And I think that's right. In the same way, what we

call races are really subspecies, so my feeling of always coming

from a minority race (even though it says white on by birth

certificate) are valid.

> Once my baby brother fell from his bed, and everyone in my

family, except me, was upset, even crying. I didn't get upset or

cry because I knew he was ok. (Not sure how I knew, but I knew.)

After a while it became evident that he was ok, and everyone calmed

down. My mother said to me something like, " why didn't you get

upset? Don't you care about him? He could have been hurt! " " But

he wasn't, " I replied. She slapped my face and said, " You're so

logical and cold! "

> What's wrong with being logical? And as for being cold,

emotions take an awful lot of energy, better to save them for

something real.

> I believe that human consciousness is reaching a tipping point

in its evolution, due to the huge numbers of humans, and mass

commucations becomming more available especially Internet. We

(autistics and cousins) are on the cutting edge of this tipping

point, and are a valuable component in this cosmic experiment of

consciousness that we call humanity.

> Joni

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call

rates.

>

>

[Guest guest]

GJ wrote:

>What you say is exactly what I think as well. My theory is that

>autism is the salvation of humanity. A new species that will make

>decisions based on fact not on emotion. Look at the world today and

>it is undeniable that making decisions based on emotion and

>superstition has wrought havoc on the world. It is not neccesary for

>autistic neurology to become the norm but rather just reach a

>critical mass within society to create the tipping point you speak

>of. Once the tipping point is reached the autistic neurology will

>become dominant due to the superior technical skills of the autist.

>The need for direct socialization will become less important and

>even counter productive in the new technical world. The

>neurotypicals will be relegated to work in the hospitality,

>entertainment and service industries, effectively becoming our

>slaves in a way. They will be quite happy in this capacity for the

>most part. Political leadership will be dominated by autists,

>ushering in an era of peace and prosperity that will span millenia.

Sounds familiar. History is full of people who thought they were

better than the rest and therefore more fit to rule. It usually ended

with slavery, too, as does your scenario.

" Superior technical skills " are no guarantee, as far as I'm

concerned. (Nor do all autists have superior technical skills.)

Dreams of domination are revenge fantasies and not my cup of tea,

ethically speaking.

Jane

[Guest guest]

I am paid to promote the importance of valuing diversity in people and

I feel uncomfortable at the thought of reversing the situation so that

there is a new underclass. equality will do me fine. It seems to me

that earth will benefit from all kinds of people. I feel a bit

nervous reading about people considering themselves superior. It is

too reminiscent of ubermenschen.

> >

> > I've always felt not quite human or a little further along the

> evolutionary scale than most humans. But those who want to say we

> are not human in order to deprive us of basic human rights and

> dignity, they are wrong!

> > Once I told a guy I was dating and cared for very much, " we are

> a subspecies " . And I think that's right. In the same way, what we

> call races are really subspecies, so my feeling of always coming

> from a minority race (even though it says white on by birth

> certificate) are valid.

> > Once my baby brother fell from his bed, and everyone in my

> family, except me, was upset, even crying. I didn't get upset or

> cry because I knew he was ok. (Not sure how I knew, but I knew.)

> After a while it became evident that he was ok, and everyone calmed

> down. My mother said to me something like, " why didn't you get

> upset? Don't you care about him? He could have been hurt! " " But

> he wasn't, " I replied. She slapped my face and said, " You're so

> logical and cold! "

> > What's wrong with being logical? And as for being cold,

> emotions take an awful lot of energy, better to save them for

> something real.

> > I believe that human consciousness is reaching a tipping point

> in its evolution, due to the huge numbers of humans, and mass

> commucations becomming more available especially Internet. We

> (autistics and cousins) are on the cutting edge of this tipping

> point, and are a valuable component in this cosmic experiment of

> consciousness that we call humanity.

> > Joni

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call

> rates.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

No joke, this is how I see it. I used the term slave because that

was the simplest way to describe the relationship and also as a

means of provoking discussion. The neurotypicals would have a

symbiotic relationship with the autistic ubermenchen, Nietzsche

predicted this. This is where this theory basically comes from. I

just described The theory in more topical terms. If you look at

nature there is no equality but there is diversity. In the animal

kingdom man has thrown off the balance of nature. We are all animals

but the human is a distinctly different animal. Humans are not the

strongest, fastest or largest yet we dominate completely. I say this

could be taken a step further within the human species, a distinctly

different animal that would dominate completely.

GJ

> > >

> > > I've always felt not quite human or a little further along the

> > evolutionary scale than most humans. But those who want to say we

> > are not human in order to deprive us of basic human rights and

> > dignity, they are wrong!

> > > Once I told a guy I was dating and cared for very much, " we are

> > a subspecies " . And I think that's right. In the same way, what we

> > call races are really subspecies, so my feeling of always coming

> > from a minority race (even though it says white on by birth

> > certificate) are valid.

> > > Once my baby brother fell from his bed, and everyone in my

> > family, except me, was upset, even crying. I didn't get upset or

> > cry because I knew he was ok. (Not sure how I knew, but I knew.)

> > After a while it became evident that he was ok, and everyone

calmed

> > down. My mother said to me something like, " why didn't you get

> > upset? Don't you care about him? He could have been hurt! " " But

> > he wasn't, " I replied. She slapped my face and said, " You're so

> > logical and cold! "

> > > What's wrong with being logical? And as for being cold,

> > emotions take an awful lot of energy, better to save them for

> > something real.

> > > I believe that human consciousness is reaching a tipping point

> > in its evolution, due to the huge numbers of humans, and mass

> > commucations becomming more available especially Internet. We

> > (autistics and cousins) are on the cutting edge of this tipping

> > point, and are a valuable component in this cosmic experiment of

> > consciousness that we call humanity.

> > > Joni

> > >

> > >

> > > ---------------------------------

> > > Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call

> > rates.

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Um, not quite what I had in mind.

To bring humanity past its current crisis will require decisions to be made

not on logic or emotion, but on a blend of the two, which is wisdom. For

example, Hitler's regieme was very logical and rational, where certain premises

led inevitably to certain conclusions, but it is not to be admired as a model

for future human evolution.

I see human consciousness evolving in the manner of a neural network, and our

heightened sensory acuity, our different perspective on the relations of parts

to the whole, and our different styles of communication will help us to make the

quantum leap into the new forms of consciousness which is to come. Not all of

us have enhanced technical skills; some of us have not even mastered such

commonplace technology as writing utensils, eating utensils, and toilets. But

we all have heightened sensory capabilities and a greater proportion of this

sensory imput reaching the conscious level. The other characteristics that

autists have in common (different balance of analytic/synthetic cognition,

different style of meta-communication) will likewise serve well in the quantum

leap.

We are a cosmic experiment. Not all experiemnts will be successful, and not

all components of a successful experiment willl be successful. However, all

experiemtns and their components are necessary and valuable to the optimal

outcome. -- Joni

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[Guest guest]

I too have felt like I must belong to another species all of my life,

but I cannot agree with the sentiment that AS people are 'superior'.

When I read what others have posted, a couple things came to mind.

The first thing I thought of is something a friend of mine said.

Months ago, when I first discovered I was AS, I was dating a man that

two of my room mates matched me with. I went along with it and dated

him, although I knew such things make me extremely uncomfortable due

to my aversion to touch (among other things I won't go into here, it

is not the point of the anecdote). The point being that these four

people (three room mates and this friend I used to date) are

essentially my family, so when I discovered Aspergers, I told them

first. This particular friend, , happens to work for a company

that runs assisted living homes for mentally handicapped adults (some

of which are MR and autistic, but I didn't know that until later). At

first he was skeptical, but I directed him to some of the material I

had been reading, both written by 'professionals' and by people on

the spectrum. The entire point of this rather rambling paragraph

being that he told me that some of the material he read made him feel

like he was prejudiced against because he is NT. He also said that

this was not a feeling he was used to or comfortable with as a middle

class white man in America, but he thanked me for the experience

(which I don't understand as I am not the one that wrote the

material).

For the curious, after reading he completely agreed that I am aspie,

was fine with just being friends, and also used the information to

improve his relationship with his company's autistic clients.

Another thought I had was one of something that happened to me as a

young child. I was an artistic prodigy of sorts, was drawing rather

accurate pictures of animals and people before scribbling as other

young children do (I also copied whole pages out of books before I

could read, don't know if that is actually related at all to the

drawing). My family (especially my Mother) always made much of my

talent, but I never realized I was different from other kids until

kindergarten. The state fair was going on in Texas, which is where we

lived at the time, and the class was each supposed to draw something

from the fair. When I saw the other kid's pictures, I was horrified,

and kept asking the teacher what was wrong with the other kids; could

they not see what a horse (etc) looked like? This was my awakening

both to alienation and a bit of a superiority complex.

I guess my point with the above anecdote being that it is easy to

feel alienated from/superior to to others if you cannot relate to

them or understand that others have experiences and abilities

different from your own. I guess that is rather obvious, though...

Donna