Originally posted by Lira
No. Evolution is just random. Just because something happened, it doesn't mean it happened for a reason other than the wiring being funky because of a change in its constitution.
While it is random, it is not JUST random, its something that continues to exist, but for one reason or another a certain selection wins out due to natural selection.
Look at the peppered moth ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution ). Both kinds existed, but when polution made their common environment darker the black moths flourished. Maybe there is something that can be learned or demonstrated by letting autism continue to develope on an evolutionary path?
cmay119
Her case is very severe. My younger brother has Autism, but is able to communicate and do a lot of daily tasks normally. Like Slylee said, the diagnosis of Autism is very broad.
The diagnosis itself of Autism seems like such a cop-out to me, because of how broad the diagnosis is. I almost look at it as just a generic labeling, the same as saying someone is Mentally Retarded.
I have a tough time labeling my brother with the same disorder as this girl, when my brother is fairly capable of speaking & interacting with others. He just can't hold long conversations without them running off course from a particular subject. His mind seems to be running in overdrive all the time, so he'll lose focus quickly of one subject and move onto another. He also doesn't have the need/desire to have physical spasms to block sensory-input, nor does he have a burning sensation in his body at all times. The girl actually seems very coherent when communicating through her laptop, to me it almost seems like she's not autistic at all, but some other disorder. Because, once she found the proper medium to communicate, she seems completely normal mentally.
Unfortunately, I don't have an alternative for diagnosis (nor does anyone else it seems), so it just seems to all be umbrella'd under the same disorder.
Joss Weatherby
quote:
Originally posted by cmay119
Her case is very severe. My younger brother has Autism, but is able to communicate and do a lot of daily tasks normally. Like Slylee said, the diagnosis of Autism is very broad.
The diagnosis itself of Autism seems like such a cop-out to me, because of how broad the diagnosis is. I almost look at it as just a generic labeling, the same as saying someone is Mentally Retarded.
I have a tough time labeling my brother with the same disorder as this girl, when my brother is fairly capable of speaking & interacting with others. He just can't hold long conversations without them running off course from a particular subject. His mind seems to be running in overdrive all the time, so he'll lose focus quickly of one subject and move onto another. He also doesn't have the need/desire to have physical spasms to block sensory-input, nor does he have a burning sensation in his body at all times. The girl actually seems very coherent when communicating through her laptop, to me it almost seems like she's not autistic at all, but some other disorder. Because, once she found the proper medium to communicate, she seems completely normal mentally.
Unfortunately, I don't have an alternative for diagnosis (nor does anyone else it seems), so it just seems to all be umbrella'd under the same disorder.
It is an umbrella term, there are different levels of autism, though I am not sure of what their actual classification names are.
There is also Asperger syndrome as well. A lot of people with these disorders often will have other mental problems as well such as OCD or bi-polar traits too, at least that seems to be the case in the lower level disorders.
cmay119
quote:
Originally posted by Joss Weatherby
It is an umbrella term, there are different levels of autism, though I am not sure of what their actual classification names are.
There is also Asperger syndrome as well. A lot of people with these disorders often will have other mental problems as well such as OCD or bi-polar traits too, at least that seems to be the case in the lower level disorders.
Yep, I'm aware of Asperger's as well, which my brother may have instead of being Autistic. At the time of his diagnosis though, I don't think Asperger's was an acknowledged disorder in the medical community. So doctors say Autistic, and I don't think they really question the diagnosis. He's now 24, but has the mental capacity of 6-7 year old. He has a very clear definition of right and wrong (in his eyes), no gray areas. So he looks at everyday issues with what seems like a true innocence. It's actually kinda refreshing at times.
He does have his moments where one minute he's completely calm and relaxed to suddenly panicked and anxious, so I'm sure he's got some sort of bi-polar disorder as well. Little things will really bother him as well, like being low on Handsoap in the bathroom. He keeps a large bottle of Dial liquid soap so he can refill the smaller dispenser bottle if it gets below a certain point. So definitely some OCD stuff going on there too.
It's tough, because when you have this disorder you seem to get a whole slew of others as well.
So they aren't retarded mentally but have a retarded body. That must suck.
This is why I want to go into Neuroscience so bad. This is CLEARLY some sort of motor problem in her CNS.
I'm seriously getting drunk about to go out and this video is a ing buzz kill. I just wanna hug that autistic sonofabitch right now.
wing
so i showed this to a 15 year old & his conclusion is:
"wow she has her own blog, its surprising because she's mentally disabled"
:conf:
quote:
Originally posted by r5a
to be honest i thought most autistic people were totally brain dead, not even gonna lie about that. so hearing about this is really eyeopening
Jake Benson
quote:
Originally posted by wing
so i showed this to a 15 year old & his conclusion is:
"wow she has her own blog, its surprising because she's mentally disabled"
:conf:
Sounds like the 15 year old you showed this to is mentally deficient.
Fledz
quote:
Originally posted by Joss Weatherby
I think autistics are part of an evolutionary trend that is not working out as it should. It seems like hypersensitivity to your senses would be an amazing thing to have, but unfortunately our brains can not handle it totally.
This is probably why savants are usually so good at one particular thing. They have the ability to not be totally overloaded with their particular sense.
Neat stuff. Hopefully we can learn from them and introduce a brighter tommorrow for humankind. :)
Pretty much. A normal brain is the most amazing filter you could possibly imagine. Most of us function well because we automatically ignore the vast majority of all sensory inputs.
In this case, her brain has a lot of trouble doing that, which is why she needs to do things to basically distract her brain. Amazing stuff.
Her conversational skills are fantastic.
quote:
Originally posted by Lira
No. Evolution is just random. Just because something happened, it doesn't mean it happened for a reason other than the wiring being funky because of a change in its constitution.
Actually, Nou has a point. It is random, but it can also be an adaptation to the environment. I read a few years back that apparently peoples thumbs are getting longer because we're using them so much more, especially with phones.
Lews
I'm totally following her on Twitter now. She's awesome.
I'm pretty sure I'm on the autistic spectrum (as are a number of people I know in real life and probably here as well). It's a very broad spectrum. Some people are very high functioning, some aren't so lucky.
ModernNosferatu
I would like to be her for a day also just to see the differences on the brain wiring. All autistic people have a unique intelligence.
Sushipunk
quote:
Originally posted by Lews
I'm totally following her on Twitter now. She's awesome.
I'm pretty sure I'm on the autistic spectrum (as are a number of people I know in real life and probably here as well). It's a very broad spectrum. Some people are very high functioning, some aren't so lucky.
(To be fair, I've never met you in real life)
However, if you're even vaguely like you are on the net, you're not even close to being on the Autistic 'scale', Lews.
