Theory work in progress: Autistics and Non-biological intelligence

[matrixrefugee]

Okay... 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.

Comments

[nightofcydonia.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I have to agree with you there, although if my current observations of the human race are anything to go on a lot of them are dumb enough to do just that. I have to say, I kinda like the idea of Aspies ending up as mediators between humans and their creations (although I have to wonder whereabouts people like me who are right on the borderline would fit in). I have to say though, there are other ways in which society is getting used to the idea of human-like machines, namely through media and particuarly anime. I've got a feeling that a lot of the anime geeks of the world would be AI sympathizers at the very least, that is, assuming that their fiction based adoration translates into real life, which it might not. For one thing the Uncanny Valley doesn't appear to effect audience perception of fictional robots. Take Tres for example. Looks like an attractive young man but doesn't act human at all. Never the less he's got a pretty large fanbase (although the fact that he's pretty awesome in the asskicking department probably helps). Hmm, there's a thought. Is it just me or are the Japanese more positive about the idea of A.I. then the western world?
~Weaver

[elaryn.livejournal.com]

What always gets me are the well-meaning friends who want you to "normalise" (whatever that means) yourself - that is, behave in a more neurotypical manner. If you're my friend, can't you accept me as ME, with all my little quirks and foibles? It's how I accept you.

If you get bored hearing about tornadoes or knitting or whatever, just politely ask to change the subject. I'm aware of my proclivity for rambling about this subject or that, so I won't mind, provided you're polite. And is it really hurting you if I insist on having someone accompany me to the doctor or feel uncomfortable staring you in the face?

I guess they think they're helping?

*sigh* Sorry for the mini-rant. I like what you've posted, and it makes a lot of sense.

Oh, and *hugs* Just because...

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

There's just one huge problem: the fact that the so-called "normal" or should I say, neurotypical humans don't seem to be able to accept anything that isn't exactly like the way they are.

You know, I agree with a lot of what you're saying in the overall post. But the type of global generalization exhibited in the bit I quoted isn't doing anybody any favors.

EDITED TO ADD: Yeah, yeah, I know... pot, meet kettle. I do it myself all the time. I'm just feeling particularly sensitive right now.

[ladyneferankh.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...I don't know, first of all, let me say--interesting post though!

I've got to say I agree with some of the points you make above--including that people will be so prejudiced against those who are in actuallity their brethen, that they'll "make deal with the devil" to keep them out of their society.

Must say that I also agree about the desire of most people to "normalize" you--even when it comes to the most petty things, such as not wearing the exact sort of clothes etc;. It's really pretty chilling to watch how they will turn on one who they've decided is the "other".

Thanks for the well thought out post * hugs *

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Like I said, it's a work-in-progress, and it's liable to be full of bugs that need to be worked out. I was thinking of the "cure-bies" among so-called autism "experts" and the sort of people who tend to treat people like me the way the "moral majority" tends to treat gays and lesbians.

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

*nods*

Understood.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

It's been found that folks in Japan don't seem to have the "Frankenstein Complex", as Isaac Asimov so aptly named the West's tendency to anticipate an impending robot rebellion. I'm puzzled as to why this is so, and it's something I've been looking into.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Nah, your posts don't bore me in the least, and I've never seen you as the typical "Can't you just be just like us happy smug marrieds with three kids, who aren't obsessive over sci-fi and urban fantasy?" types that think they can try to rebuild my life for me while ignoring the things they need to take care of in their own.

:: Hugs:: back at yah.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Hee, you know, I'm glad you pointed out this flaw in my reasoning. Thanks for the feedback! I've edited the post accordingly.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm glad to hear that. It's good not to be boring. ;-)

Asperger's is as much a part of me as my hair colour or my height. It's so nice to talk to someone who understands.

[koemiko.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I've always felt that that if there is some sort of alternate consciousness, be it robots or spiritual, I think that people who aren't "normal" will be the ones better able to master it.

Sort of like a trade off. Being unable to fit in with the rest of society or make the grade with them versus being able to think outside the box and see everything differently.

Of course, maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part...

[anivad.livejournal.com]

I like this post.

[elaryn.livejournal.com]

Ooops..."Anonymous"was me... ^

[nightofcydonia.livejournal.com]

I'm kinda puzzled about it myself. Maybe it's got something to do with a sizable chunk of western history going as follows; ruling classes live off the backs of others and treat them like crap. Lower classes have enough. Violence happens. Perhaps it's got to the point where we can't imagine anything sticking up for itself en masse without it resulting in a blood bath. There's probably more to it then that though. *shrugs*
~Weaver

[anivad.livejournal.com]

Got some time and an IMDb account?

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."

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Hm. I think I had an IMDB account a long time ago, but danged if I can remember my screen-name or password on there. However, I have a few thoughts on this, which you are certainly free to quote me on.

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...

[nightofcydonia.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm pretty sure that you're the only person I've come across who's got L pegged as an Aspie (that said, it'd certainly explain a lot). *grin* I suspect that I'd qualify as at least a pistachio, although whether my weirdness is actually due to Aspergers is another question altogether. Out of curiousity, what exactly is it about the Wachowski's that trips your Aspie radar?
~Weaver

[anivad.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

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*

[anivad.livejournal.com]

Though someone else came in on the thread to say this:

"I'm delurking because determining whether people are on the Autism Spectrum is what I do professionally. It's also something I live with myself, as an Aspie. I express emotions but differently than others. I can and do socialize but I need LOTS of me time to recuperate. I'm married with a child, but my relationship only works because my husband is pretty close to being on the Spectrum himself. Our son is a complete social butterfly so far and it confounds us to no end LOL.
I would never diagnose someone without an actual consultation in person, but I strongly suspect that Reeves is on the Spectrum somewhere, probably Asperger's or PDD-NOS. Anakin, I loved your website of quotes. Look folks, all you have to do is read that site and there it is.

And it's not a DISSERVICE to him if he is on the Spectrum, it's a testament to where a person can get despite, or perhaps because of, this syndrome. It's not a disease or a mental condition, it's just how the brain works. And that's why most of us dig him. He's a totally unique person who makes no effort, outside of his actual acting gigs, to be anything other than he is.

You know, Steven Spielberg has been diagnosed with Asperger's, as has Daryl Hannah, and Dan Akroyd."

It probably says something that the only people who claim that Keanu isn't an Aspie are the non-Aspies... those who have AS tend to think he does too.

[anivad.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the spam, but:

"Keanu was just interviewed LIVE on Rove he was brilliant - funny, relaxed and a great story teller. I read that other thread about how he is shy and introverted etc and has Aspergers well I would say this interview put paid to that."

I need backup. :(