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matrixrefugeeOkay... long, rambly post ahead, so you might want to get yourselves a drink first. I'd also better warn you that you might want to re-read it a few times as well to get the jist of it.
This month, April, has been declared Autism Awareness Month by an autism advocacy group called Autism Speaks. It's not often that I talk at length about my condition or my thoughts on it, but in the spirit of this month, I'm presenting to you an idea that has been to me that proverbial "splinter in the mind", to quote Morpheus in the first "Matrix" movie.
And the notion is this: persons with autism spectrum conditions are the next phase in human development, and a vital link in the chain of development towards not just creating practical AIs, but for the two species, human and sentient machine, to live alongside each other peacefully and in harmony. I'm not saying that autistics are likely to develop into cyborgs, though I have a feeling they're more likely to embrace becoming transhumans (ie. uploading their minds/consciousnesses into a mainframe of some sort that could handle the processing load that the human brain is capable of handling). But I believe that the fact that autistics think differently than most other human beings do is something liable to "click" with sentient machines, once we develop them. Not to denigrate other humans, but their thought processes are all too often driven by the appetitive aspect of our natures, whereas autistics are more driven by logic in a purer form, the way a machine is most likely to think since they aren't or aren't likely to be driven by the same drives as a human.
There's just one huge problem: the fact that many of the so-called "normal" or should I say, neurotypical humans (for instance, the "cure-bies" who think all autistics would be happier if we were all cured, or the sort who treat us in a manner similar to the way the so-called "moral majority" treats gays and lesbians) don't seem to be able to accept anything that isn't exactly like the way they are. I like to think that God sent people like me to this world to give the rest of humanity an idea of what their future creations will be like and to "practise" getting used to being around sentient beings that aren't driven by the same drives, ones that are more driven by logic than by appetite. The thing is, they have to get over trying to get us to be like them and let us be what we need to be. Because one of these days, there will be sentient machines of some sort, and someone is going to have to keep the two groups from aiming at each other's throats. If the neurotypicals can accept the autistics, maybe they can accept the sentient machines, and not treat them like slaves or property, but as intelligent beings worthy of their own autonomy and worthy of adjustments being made in society to fit their needs.
I can't help wondering how prophetic things like the "Terminator" movies, and especially both parts of "The Animatrix: Second Rennaissence" really are. And I'd hate for the neurotypicals to wind up alienating their autistic brethren and sisters so much that they wind up taking sides with the machines instead of mediating for peace, should there ever be an NBI revolt of some sort. I'm optimistic, but I know how fare too many neurotypicals tend to think and act, and I'd hate to see them seal their own fate.
This month, April, has been declared Autism Awareness Month by an autism advocacy group called Autism Speaks. It's not often that I talk at length about my condition or my thoughts on it, but in the spirit of this month, I'm presenting to you an idea that has been to me that proverbial "splinter in the mind", to quote Morpheus in the first "Matrix" movie.
And the notion is this: persons with autism spectrum conditions are the next phase in human development, and a vital link in the chain of development towards not just creating practical AIs, but for the two species, human and sentient machine, to live alongside each other peacefully and in harmony. I'm not saying that autistics are likely to develop into cyborgs, though I have a feeling they're more likely to embrace becoming transhumans (ie. uploading their minds/consciousnesses into a mainframe of some sort that could handle the processing load that the human brain is capable of handling). But I believe that the fact that autistics think differently than most other human beings do is something liable to "click" with sentient machines, once we develop them. Not to denigrate other humans, but their thought processes are all too often driven by the appetitive aspect of our natures, whereas autistics are more driven by logic in a purer form, the way a machine is most likely to think since they aren't or aren't likely to be driven by the same drives as a human.
There's just one huge problem: the fact that many of the so-called "normal" or should I say, neurotypical humans (for instance, the "cure-bies" who think all autistics would be happier if we were all cured, or the sort who treat us in a manner similar to the way the so-called "moral majority" treats gays and lesbians) don't seem to be able to accept anything that isn't exactly like the way they are. I like to think that God sent people like me to this world to give the rest of humanity an idea of what their future creations will be like and to "practise" getting used to being around sentient beings that aren't driven by the same drives, ones that are more driven by logic than by appetite. The thing is, they have to get over trying to get us to be like them and let us be what we need to be. Because one of these days, there will be sentient machines of some sort, and someone is going to have to keep the two groups from aiming at each other's throats. If the neurotypicals can accept the autistics, maybe they can accept the sentient machines, and not treat them like slaves or property, but as intelligent beings worthy of their own autonomy and worthy of adjustments being made in society to fit their needs.
I can't help wondering how prophetic things like the "Terminator" movies, and especially both parts of "The Animatrix: Second Rennaissence" really are. And I'd hate for the neurotypicals to wind up alienating their autistic brethren and sisters so much that they wind up taking sides with the machines instead of mediating for peace, should there ever be an NBI revolt of some sort. I'm optimistic, but I know how fare too many neurotypicals tend to think and act, and I'd hate to see them seal their own fate.
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Date: 2008-04-12 03:41 am (UTC)Help me out here -> http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000206/board/flat/101262763?p=3&d=102990580#102987438
The person said: "Keanu's been "linked" to a lot of things, but what exactly "links" him to Asperger's substantially? I really would like to know because this is getting annoying. Especially considering I'd have no problem whatsoever if he had Asperger's, but a lot of it seems to me like some lame attempt to explain his voice pitch, which all comes from trying to justify the acting criticism he gets.
He's an athlete, not clumsy. He has many friends, by all accounts, OF HIS AGE GROUP. Liking to be alone sometimes does not equal Asperger's. By other accounts he was a social kid. What exactly is wrong with his posture when he communicates? How exactly does he "lack enjoyment in activities with other people" (according to the Asperger's website) if he was a hockey player and in a band?
He seems to have a wide variety of interest, so how is he "preoccupied" with one thing or really single-minded in any way?
How can he be "unaware" of social cues and have great manners at the same time?
Routines? I imagine a film set is pretty damn routine, straying from it would result in far fewer accolades he keeps getting from directors.
As for relationships, how do we even know how many or few he's had, how do we know enough to pull of a diagnosis here?
He doesn't have WEIRD or wrong face expressions, he simply doesn't have exaggerated face expressions. And some people whose face tends to be less expressive talk with their hands. It can also be a cultural thing too.
I just don't get it. So please enlighten me, whoever has Asperger's."
no subject
Date: 2008-04-12 06:51 pm (UTC)I think, depending on the severity of the particular case of AS that a person has, some of the quirks that go with it can be compensated for. Myself for instance, people have commented on how polite and well-mannered I am, despite the fact that I've been diagnosed with AS. I credit my parents for raising me with a strict (but certainly not fascist) code of manners. What people can't see is the at-times constant stream of "Whoops, did I say that right?" and similar little glitches that pop up in my head. I've had to train myself to filter these out or to keep them at bay till I'm safely out of a social situation.
I've also had people comment that I tend to deadpan a lot, and I've noticed Keanu seems to do this as well, which, I'll admit, is one of the things about him that trips my "Aspie" radar.
Thing about AS is that, like other Autism Spectrum Conditions, it in itself is a spectrum of conditions and severity of the symptoms, or rather, it's a color that has many shades. I'll use green as an example. You've got shades of green ranging from pale mint or sea green (folks with really mild symptoms) to a shade of dark green that's almost black (folks with really severe symptoms, eg. the kind of Aspies that resemble L in "Death Note").
For that matter, there's something about the Wachowski Brothers that trips my "Aspie radar" even more than Keanu does...
no subject
Date: 2008-04-12 09:54 pm (UTC)~Weaver
no subject
Date: 2008-04-13 08:48 am (UTC)Someone else later on added this reply:
"To me Keanu does not behave or seem like an "Aspie" (what an awful abbreviation) at all. To me nothing seems really wrong with him despite that he might be a highly gifted adult who wasn't discovered during his childhood years.
It is common that highly gifted people get labeled with diagnoses like Aperger syndrom, borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, dyslexic etc. and only discover later in life that all their socializing problems, their problems to succeed in very easy tasks etc. are due to the fact that they are highly gifted.
I have the feeling that Keanu was to bright to succeed in high-school because he was extremly bored and out of his boredom he was the class-clown and disturbt in lessons. He didn't find any friends among his peer group because he had thoughts and troubles people at his age hadn't so he hang out with his sister or adults who stayed at his mother's home to whom he could relate to.
I could go on ... but am running out of time. So just try to give it a thought and stop to stigmatize someone without even knowing his inner universum. I think I know it happens with the intension to help and to explain his behaviour, but it leads nowhere."
*sigh*