Theory about "us"

[Technician1002]

I'm just an old fashioned geek. I'm a little OCD but no Aspergers.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I'm sorry, the questions describe the "being an average male" syndrome.

For example, "not engaging in banal inane conversation" is a virtue, so why is the inability to make small talk suddenly become a problem?

Take ADHD, isn't it essentially what we used to call "being kids"?

I'm with MrC and wngover on this one.

I know one person who would definitely qualify, if he hasn't already been diagnosed, and he personally sees no problem in not feeling attracted to either girls or boys, not having many friends and caring about his social life. To him, it seems irrelvant and not important, while i'm sure he knows it's not normal he probably doesn't care and thinks it is irrelvant to his way of life.

Psychologists are free to observe his behavioural traits and categorise them approrpiately, but they are not qualified to judge if any of it is a problem which needs to be fixed.

the distinction between a healthy and dysfunctional mind

That is completely subjective to the cultural milieu in which one exists, you can use science to identify the features and causes of personality traits but not to judge between a healthy or dysfunctional mind.

I just think the general focus here is another example of the "pussifycation" of Western civilisation. Here, have some Zubaty quotes.

[Necrosis]

Mrrr at any rate I have been in a mental clinic before, diagnosed with scitzophrenia, based on a few minor things, and one major things, I kept hallucinating.. But that could also be explained by something as simple as not having slept in a day or 5 when I arrived, when they started me on the antipsychotics I slept though and it went away, needless to say I stopped taking them as soon as I left that hellhole... and havn't been psychotic ever since..




At any rate, my doctor had tunnel vision about everything blamed everything on sleepy pills and/ or schitzoprenia, (now just sleepy pills since he's smart enough that a one time psychosis is not enough for you to be schitzo) With that eliminatet maybe the guy can diagnose me with something equially stupid and maybe it'll help, who knows, but the insomnia still lingers, and so does my insanity.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I have been in a mental clinic before, diagnosed with scitzophrenia

No wonder you were contemplating a 150 bar BBMG

[Necrosis]

I have been in a mental clinic before, diagnosed with scitzophrenia

No wonder you were contemplating a 150 bar BBMG

Well it was 300 bars before I compromised on shots per fill.

At any rate, schitzofrenia is now a thing of the past.

So now they all too well want to diagnose me with some other mental illness so i'd better fake the one of my own choice.

[Brian the brain]

I wasn't saying it is an illness or a problem.Not for me at least.
It does however explain what makes me tick.

And it helps to understand myself in certain situations.

As far as I know it is not something that can or possibly even should be treated, unless maybe it truely messes up your life.

The condition is clearly an overdevelopment of the " male/solo" charactaristics and an underdevelopped " female/together" side.

Some typical behaviour goes along with it, wich gives me an insight...well maybe just in how the world sees me.

And Jack.It isn't a matter of healthy or disfunctional.
It is a matter of different but functional.

You seem to have a sick mind yet it functions.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

The condition is clearly an overdevelopment of the " male/solo" characteristics and an underdeveloped " female/together" side.

WIN!

[Insomniac]

the distinction between a healthy and dysfunctional mind

That is completely subjective to the cultural milieu in which one exists, you can use science to identify the features and causes of personality traits but not to judge between a healthy or dysfunctional mind.

I just think the general focus here is another example of the "pussifycation" of Western civilisation. Here, have some Zubaty quotes.

Of course it's subjective, but I don't think I got across what I meant by 'dysfunctional'. I meant the extreme end of the spectrum, where one is unable to survive independantly. Think severe autism and the like. Extreme mental illnesses can be seen as disadvantagous for survival even from an objective standpoint.

My point was that while it is possible to identify such an extreme dysfunction, as you look at people who show the same traits but to a lesser and lesser extent, it becomes impossible to settle upon an ideal 'normal' pool of personalities, with everything beyond being considered an illness. So while everyone likely has traits in common with a certain syndrome or mental illness, it is, by its very nature practically impossible to diagnose as a disease anything but the most extreme of cases.

...

I'm not sure if any of what I just said makes all that much sense though, when it's past midnight it would seem that my writing gets quite verbose...

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

And Jack.It isn't a matter of healthy or disfunctional.
It is a matter of different but functional.

You seem to have a sick mind yet it functions.

If you look through any catalogue of historical personalities considered to be "twisted", I'm sure you'll find the vast majority have extremely functional minds, mostly above average. How they chose to put that to use is a question of morality or lack thereof, not mental illness.

it becomes impossible to settle upon an ideal 'normal' pool of personalities, with everything beyond being considered an illness. So while everyone likely has traits in common with a certain syndrome or mental illness, it is, by its very nature practically impossible to diagnose as a disease anything but the most extreme of cases.

That makes sense and I agree with most of what you said, apart from the use of the word "disease". If a personality trait is derived from a physical deterioration or abnormality, then yes, it is a disease, but otherwise I would refrain from referring to it as such. A bit like those who claim that alcoholism is a disease

We have people syndrome, all of us. Some of us "suffer from it", others make the most of it. End of

[Brian the brain]

My father told me I was silly once, or something like that so I threw it back at him.
Look who's talking.You can't even make "normal" kids.

He thought about that for a second and said..,:"Hmm, that's true."

We have people syndrome, all of us. Some of us "suffer from it", others make the most of it. End of

Hahaha.

Yes...Okay
Allergies do not exist because everybody sneezes sometimes.
It is merely fashionable to claim having it.

Poor eyesight is also a fantasy.
Just an excuse to wear cool looking glasses.
Right?

And if you quack, have funny big webbed feet and feathers don;t automatically assume you " could" be a duck.
Investigating the possibility could endanger your life...


As I said.
If it appeals to you you might want to look into it.

[Insomniac]

That makes sense and I agree with most of what you said, apart from the use of the word "disease". If a personality trait is derived from a physical deterioration or abnormality, then yes, it is a disease, but otherwise I would refrain from referring to it as such. A bit like those who claim that alcoholism is a disease

Ah, very true. Though the definition of disease is pretty broad, if Wikipedia is to be trusted... whether something is a disease or not seems to be a bit subjective. But let's not discuss that, it will make this conversation way more complicated than it has any right to be.

Also, in Aus we can't watch full south park episodes from that site.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Allergies do not exist because everybody sneezes sometimes.
It is merely fashionable to claim having it.

I'm not saying there isn't such a thing as mental illness, in the same way that some people have genuine allergies. But it's the same nutritionist/dietician thing, there's science and non-science.

[youtube][/youtube]

It's a bit of observational humour, but there's a lot of truth in it.

[Technician1002]

Science is a methodology of testing to see if a random event can be predictably repeated to properly define cause and effect.

Psudo science is playing in the casino till you win.

Science is understanding the odds and not playing in the casino unless you are the house because the outcome is highly predictable that you will go home broke.

The fringe sciences work on the few times someone was successful in a casino. Pulling the arm on the one arm bandit does pay out sometimes. Those grasping at hope play in casinos. Those with the science of the odds, run the house.

There are plenty of testimonials of those who hit the jackpot. Somehow the casino never goes broke paying them out.

If your study includes only those who won, the casino looks like a good deal.

When you study all the players and outcomes, it doesn't look nearly as good.

If I can't win, I don't play.

[CpTn_lAw]

Interesting thread (I actually re-wrote this to begin with something different than "I" ...frak...)
I don't think I have Aspergers' syndrome...
Seven years ago, due to anxiety and depression, i went to see a psychologist, who sent me do a full I.Q. and E.Q. (emotional Quotient) test. The resultat was high I.Q. and high E.Q. .
What bugs me the most is the concentration... I find it really hard to concentrate even 5 minutes on something that doesn't interest me, but i could forget to sleep if i'm in something that makes me tick.
BUT : having a high E.Q. => understanding of people in front of me... So, i don't think Aspergers applies to me...
I must have answered 6 "yes" , 2 "maybe" and 2 definite "no" to the video

[Fnord]

It's kinda funny now that I look back on it.

In my middle school days I was constantly class clown... the kid who always had something funny or sarcastic to say. I also was constantly in detention.

As the years went by I got sick of being punished, and more and more I started to be the one who preferred to sit quietly by the wall.

Now I don't joke at all mainly because I know nobody will know what the hell I was talking about half the time.
I only really engage in conversation when someone wants to know how something works or what causes x. This usually leads to the aformentioned senario.

Also, most stuff that provokes an emotional response from people doesn't work on me.
No, I don't care that the main charater's mother just died.
No, 9/11 didn't bother me much.
No, I didn't feel anything at the end of that futurama episode with Fry's dog.

I don't think I have aspergers. I have different interests than most people, and I understand most people don't particulary care about the oddball stuff I do. I don't regret that I don't have many friends because of it... like everything else in life, you either adapt to it or die.

edit.. Another thing, I can't remember names and faces at all. Someone can tell me their name and I'll forget it 5 seconds later. I seem to only pick up personalities(and voices to a lesser extent).