‘Neural noise’ could be a hidden advantage of the autistic mind
But some research, including our own study, has explored specific advantages in autism. Studies have shown that in some cognitive tasks, autistic people perform better than allistic people.
Autistic people face ignorance, prejudice and discrimination that can harm wellbeing. Poor mental and physical health, reduced social connections and increased “camouflaging” of autistic traits are some of the negative impacts that autistic people face.
So, research underlining and investigating the strengths inherent in autism can help reduce stigma, allow autistic people to be themselves and acknowledge autistic people do not require “fixing”.
The autistic brain is different. It comes with limitations, but it also has its strengths.
Or, an autistic who isn't afraid and/or shy to share that they are actually autistic?
Or, an autistic person who is active in the autism acceptance “movement” (if we can call it that)?
Or, perhaps, an autistic who were interviewed and disclosed they're autistic?
Maybe you have other considerations or criteria that defines “openly autistic” for you?
NOTE: Being openly autistic is a choice and is not for everyone. I think it is safe to say that we all face discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice for being actually autistics, thus, most choose not to be open about it.
However, recently, there has been a slow growth in numbers of openly autistics, and like with most things in life, we have different criteria, definitions, and cultural considerations.
Thus, I am curious what you think, personally or maybe your immediate environment or organisation, is an openly autistic person. Or, when do you consider one as openly autistic.
Again, this is not about if an autistic person should be openly autistic or not. ^_^
@ronsboy67 Interesting. The IRIS franchise, especially the spin-off Athena, was well received here. In my case, it's actually the first time I've heard someone who did not like it. I guess that points to cultural differences and genre preferences. Was it perfect? Of course not.
As for Strong Woman, was it not the point of the writer to expose it without getting a negative reaction from their own culture? If one's culture (in this case, the writer's) still have prejudices against this and that, fiction is often the best way to express it and to expose it. Fiction has been used that way for centuries.
Many #Kdrama I've seen for the past 7 years touched on sensitive issues common in South Korea that either no one is talking about or you'll get cancelled for raising it up (for example, toxic feminism). So, fiction became a medium. It's there, and hopefully people in Korea noticed it at least (because foreign fans typically missed it and instead are drooling for their favourite actors).
This is what I like with K-drama, and #Jdrama for that matter, there are social issues embedded in their stories. This has been forgotten, in general, in Western entertainment. In the West, it's about how much money they'll earn; to the point that they'll pretend they agree with “movements” just so members of those “movements” will watch their shows. This is why I like “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”, because of all the “nuTrek”, SNW is the only one that went back to its roots (but it does not mean I don't like the other ”nuTrek” series).
Going back to Korea, it was actually amazing that productions like “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and “Innocent Witness” were green lit, as well as, “The Devil Judge” and “The Killing Vote”. These shows directly addressed social (and political) issues. If I take a guess, they got green lit because those issues (prejudice against #Autistics; and corrupt politicians) apply not just in South Korea, but everywhere else; otherwise, they more likely have to do embed it, or just mention in passing.
In any case, maybe it is just me. When I watch, I try to unlock the mind and goal of the writer, and understand the story from their perspective. What made prompted them to write it this way? What drove the director to express an act in a particular way?
For example, the K-drama “Please Don't Date Him”, and another one I can't recall right now, got so much negative reaction from foreign audiences. Some even had the audacity to make statements like “it doesn't happen in real life” or “the writer should quit, they don't know how to write a good story”. But, when I explained it to them, they changed their mind.
It's the same with “Grid”, “Alice”, and “Sisyphus: The Myth”. The writers got reactions like “the writer is dumb”; “that's now how time travel works”; “they should stop writing, they suck”. Likewise, after explaining it to them, they understood the story and what the writer had in mind.
So, I guess, it is just me seeing things differently in these stories. Maybe because I see these as a form of #Art. If it is an art, then we have to view it and understand it from the creator's perspective.
I want to write about kindness and paranoia. Hopefully it might resonate with someone or help. Or maybe someone can help me.
I want to be a kinder person but I really struggle with it.
I have day to day paranoia. It is by far the worst mental health problem I have (apart from when I had psychosis but that hasn’t returned thank god).
I think people are being nasty to me, that they have “got it in for me” and want to hurt me or my family in some way. If I’m around groups of people talking I think they are trying to infect me with their thoughts. Especially people I don’t know. Especially people with strong opinions.
This, in turn, makes it had for me to be kind. If my paranoia is triggered I can be quite nasty to people which is horrible and it also feels horrible for me. I end up not knowing who I am and it can take days to come back to myself. My thoughts are incredibly out of shape and irrational. It can end up with me being very self destructive.
I am not sure if this is due to my autism or not. I think in part it must be because it's all about being overwhelmed by thoughts.
I have tried to confront kindness head on by setting up my own Printmaker’s Chat server but it hasn’t worked. I’ve tried leaving nice comments on Instagram but end up feeling horrible.
I know what I need to do is say to myself “is what I’m about to say kind?” but it’s very hard. Once I’m triggered I feel like I need to get into a hole for a few days and avoid everyone. I know I should be practising CBT but it has never worked.
If you have any suggestions at all to break the cycle I’d welcome them.
@JohnBloor Re: kindness, it’s the number one thing guaranteed to make me cry. I think #autistics are so used to casual cruelty, and when someone is genuinely kind it's unexpected and beautiful.
Re: suggestions, I would say take baby steps. Start with a place where you feel safe to be kind. Practice there for a bit.
If you can feel yourself approaching nasty, maybe you could practice a different response beforehand to use next time. Like, “I need some air, excuse me" seems irreproachable.
1 + 7 = 8, although an even number, it symbolises infinity and eternity, and us #ActuallyAutistics
13 is also special.
A Prime
An Odd
A Fibonacci number
And depending on whom you ask:
The 8th Fibonacci number
The 7th Fibonacci number
Ironically:
The anniversary of my first romantic relationship was on: 1997-07-17. It was my first love who picked that, and she had no idea what my favourite numbers are.
My height is 175 cm or 5'7.5" to 5'8.5" (depending on whom you ask).
Favourite time of the day: 07:00 and 19:00 (7pm). 19 is the 8th Prime. (There's 8 again.)
It's the horrifying extension of the sandwich method, wherein you must "sandwich" what you actually want to communicate between two slices of vapidity, so as not to alarm an allistic.
@neurotraveler I absolutely and definitely have to make sure I put things where hubs expects to find them. Since we had to move, he has become badly discombobulated, because everything is not where it was...we moved from a 3 bedroom house with a large yard, to a 16ft van with annex, in a caravan park. His tool shed is at his sister's place. A lot of stuff is in a storage unit. It is a huge adjustment, and it drives his every-thing-in-its-own-place-mind crazy. (doesn't do much for me, either).😕 #Downsizing sucks for #autistics😬 @actuallyautistic
Do you know how easy it is for an autistic person to get an impacted bowel? Because we suck at processing a lot of plant fibers? And absorbing plant proteins?
Autistic people and their moms do.
Their dads and random strangers and opportunists pretend they don't.
It describes it as:
“Autistic burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic life stress and a mismatch of expectations and abilities without adequate supports. It is characterized by pervasive, long-term (typically 3+ months) exhaustion, loss of function, and reduced tolerance to stimulus.” ~Raymaker et al, 2020
Typically the Autistic person in question will still have multiple demands in their life that require cognitive resources, despite having little to no resources left to give. Life goes on, as they say.
@bookstodon@bookwyrm
Did you know that if you live in the US, you can ask your #library to order #books? Budget constraints exist, but if we don't ask for our bookstores and public libraries to carry books written by #autistics for autistics, many voices are missing from the digital & physical spaces. Please consider how your requests help diversify what is available publically and keep expanding your requests to include more voices. #actuallyautistic#autism#audhd
Season 04 Episode 11 of Fringe featured the meeting of the two Agent Astrid Farnsworth, one an autistic and the other neurotypical.
This episode aired on 2012-02-04 and entitled “Making Angels”.
The autistic Agent Astrid Farnsworth came from the “Amber World” (the parallel world), and the NT Astrid is from the “Prime World” (our world basically).
The character is, I would say “basic” as far as portrayal of an autistic person. Some would say it's a stereotype. But I like her nonetheless because it was not exaggerated, and the focus was not on her autism instead it was about her many skills.
And in this episode, we saw through her that autistic people are humans too. That we have our own struggles, we do cry and feel emotions (contrary to the claims that we lack it), and we just want to live like everyone else.
The autistic Astrid was introduced in season 2 (2009–2010). The actress, Jasika Nicole, was praised for her performance of both the neurotypical and the autistic Agent Astrid.
How about you, what do you think of her character? How was the performance (specifically with autistic Astrid)?
Season 04 Episode 11 of Fringe featured the meeting of the two Agent Astrid Farnsworth, one an autistic and the other neurotypical.
This episode aired on 2012-02-04 and entitled “Making Angels”.
The autistic Agent Astrid Farnsworth came from the “Amber World” (the parallel world), and the NT Astrid is from the “Prime World” (our world basically).
The character is, I would say “basic” as far as portrayal of an autistic person. Some would say it's a stereotype. But I like her nonetheless because it was not exaggerated, and the focus was not on her autism instead it was about her many skills.
And in this episode, we saw through her that autistic people are humans too. That we have our own struggles, we do cry and feel emotions (contrary to the claims that we lack it), and we just want to live like everyone else.
The autistic Astrid was introduced in season 2 (2009–2010). The actress, Jasika Nicole, was praised for her performance of both the neurotypical and the autistic Agent Astrid.
How about you, what do you think of her character? How was the performance (specifically with autistic Astrid)?