Need to finish that work project, and wish you had the mental intensity to do it? Just take a synapse-regulating inhibitor, induce temporary autism, and you'll want to ignore your friends and do nothing but number-crunching for days. Autism-inducers could become as popular as Provigil among the geek set by 2020. Last night, in fact, a group German researchers announced they'd perfected the method for inducing autism. (They can also cure it.)
Over the past year, researchers have demonstrated several times that they can turn mice autistic by messing with brain chemistry -- and then "cure" them using the same techniques. The discoveries could lead to a scenario similar to the one in Vernor Vinge's novel A Deepness in the Sky, [/php]where people are given a brain treatment called "focusing" that essentially turns them autistic and makes them obsessive, detail-oriented workers.
It might also lead to recreational autism, where people who want to take a break from having messy emotions about other people decide to unplug and enter a state where human relationships are no more important than inanimate objects.
Read about how scientists can induce autism [PNAS] and how they can cure it [BBC News].
I was wondering how many people in here might consider using the "NT pill" they may create using this method. I realize the anti-cure sentament that this group represents and I fully agree with it, but I am curious as to how many here might consider giving this thing a try knowing the condition that it will only turn you into an NT for a short time and you go right back to your usual style. I'm not asking who would get a regular prescription to this, just who might be tempted to give it a try to see what it's like.
I would totally refuse it, I'm disappointed that so far people have been voting yes. Remember that alcohol (a known neurotoxin, this is why it causes such bad drunken behaviour) can temporarily "cure" autism too.
At least when I'm drunk, I don't feel like a *** in comparison to those around me, normally I'm that guy sitting alone not talking to anyone, but when I'm drunk, I'm the guy at the Karaoke machine singing every Johnny Cash song they have without a care in the world of what others think of me. Sure it's a "neurotoxin", but I figure since I'm gonna die anyway, is living a life of feeling inferior to everybody else all the time really worth it to extend my life another decade?
not on my life. i would sooner commit seppuku than take it.
look at the mental health "industry" as it currently is. medication is seen as the be all and end all.
if they think they can "heal" us with one easy little pill, then you honestly think it would be a prescription thing? that will have "repercussions" (IE: Sectioning) for failure, or (most certainly in my case) willful disobedience, to take it?
and...well, when i was younger, i was prescribed Ritalin. now, this may be unconnected, but i have no memories of those...8-10 years, other than the days i didnt take it, and those are only returning to me recently.
I wouldn't touch the stuff, not a chance.
If I was curious enough, and I am not, the only way I would use it, would be if I synthed it myself, so as not to put money in the hands of scum.
and thats Lestat saying that!
oh, and...this "attitude" that Gareth mentioned in the other thread....seems to be more prevalent post-Farking. just my opinion.
I think there's two seperate questions being asked here
The first question is "If it was possible for you to become NT for a short period of time, would you do so, out of curiosity as to what it was like?"
To this, my answer would be yes - same as if you substituted NT for female, black, schizophrenic, etc. I'm a curious person.
The second question is "Would you endorse through purchase a drug that could remove autistic traits for short periods of time?". My answer to this one is an emphatic no - the social cost would be disapproval of autistic people "not taking their meds", extra work discrimination, parents believing that they could or should force these drugs on their children, social pressure forcing people to take the drugs (e.g. through relationship or peer group "interventions"), etc.
Given the current social clime, there's no reason to believe that not taking these drugs would be considered an acceptable option.
I would totally refuse it, I'm disappointed that so far people have been voting yes. Remember that alcohol (a known neurotoxin, this is why it causes such bad drunken behaviour) can temporarily "cure" autism too.
At least when I'm drunk, I don't feel like a *** in comparison to those around me, normally I'm that guy sitting alone not talking to anyone, but when I'm drunk, I'm the guy at the Karaoke machine singing every Johnny Cash song they have without a care in the world of what others think of me. Sure it's a "neurotoxin", but I figure since I'm gonna die anyway, is living a life of feeling inferior to everybody else all the time really worth it to extend my life another decade?
The fact you describe yourself as feeling inferior to everyone else unless you're drunk (and thus equal to other drunks) is not a good thing to base major decisions on. It is in fact more a symptom of low self-esteem and/or depression and should be investigated.
So you're gonna tell me that when you're in a large group of NTs and they're all talking and you can't for the life of you figure out what they're talking about with all the metaphors and sarcasm, you don't feel the least bit inferior? If that's the case than you sir are a better man than I.
And yea, I have low self esteem and depression, but I also have another thing that you Europeans never have to worry about, I have no health insurance, and a very limited income, so the closest I'll get to having something investigated will be either in an online forum, or by a bartender.
No wonder I stay away from the stuff!
[quote]
Need to finish that work project, and wish you had the mental intensity to do it? Just take a synapse-regulating inhibitor, induce temporary autism, and you'll want to ignore your friends and do nothing but number-crunching for days. Autism-inducers could become as popular as Provigil among the geek set by 2020.
I find this article some offensive, the way they refer to autism as having a calculator inside your brain to take good notes is stereotyped, also this article sounds like a shampoo comercial, wich makes it more disgusting because they are talking about a serious thing like being a way to disconnect from the world and do better their job
I'm a borderline so i think i have some idea of what's living like an NT, and i sincerely prefer to live the way i do, i found that Asperger's makes me see the world from a point of view that i see NT people doesn't have, it allows me to enjoy the life from a different way of NT's, and also allows me to refuge in my mind and enjoy the world inside it
though i respect if anybody wants to take it for curiosity, or as a permanent cure, after all, we are have the right to decide for our lives and for what will make us happy, of course if those decisions doesn't affect anybody else
It was my impression on first reading of the post that it was asking the hypothetical of a "magic" pill - a hypothetical question not surrounding an actual situation, with the physical and social consequences that would go with it, but as if, in a void, some disembodied voice says: "This is a magic, side-effect free pill to make you NT for an hour or so, then go back to being yourself."
To this, an answer of "yes" out of curiosity is just that.
If, however, the hypothetical situation proposed were: "A doctor in the real world has this pill that they say would be temporary and not have side-effects, and it will make you into an NT for awhile" -- then that is completely different. Then, all the real world consequences of such a decision (neurological, ethical, social, etc.) would come into play in the decision process.
I think that is why Gareth is so shocked by "yes" answers and the people who gave those "yes" answers are shocked that he is shocked.
BTW, in response to the topic of the thread, I vote "yes" for hypothetical #1 and "NO" for hypothetical #2.
I also think it incredibly unlikely that such a pill would be devised to make someone autistic OR NT temporarily. If they did, it would most likely only be pseudo-autistic or pseudo-NT, and have loads of side-effects (that's the nature of drugs in general, to have side-effects). It also creeps me out to think of people trying to drug themselves to enhance themselves in every way imaginable (reminds me of college kids taking Ritalin to focus for exams, even when they don't have ADHD or anything).
And what is THAT meant to mean pika? hehe
oh, nothing...:p /innocent
My arse! you are about as innocent as I am
Ok, maybe not quite that bitter and twisted, but I'l bet your getting there
Haha, I just noticed that your post count is 666, meow! I'm wrecked, don't mind me
i didnt want to post, so i wouldnt ruin it :p
and yeah, i suppose i am working on my Bitterness level
1 - please if anyone knows of any journal articles about this drug, cite them
I can't find anything about the drug, only articles referring to the research results which you have probably already seen.
In case not these are they:-
The first requires a subscription for the complete article.
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0711555105v1
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...230122.htm
These are older but are on similar lines.
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/fragilex-0625.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/a...ekey=82107
For what it is worth I wouldn't take the drug even if it was available, whatever it is it will be highly unlikely to be a single dose, more likely a course.
I have never particularly been in favour of taking any drugs as the first line of treatment, however I have needed to take analgesics for chronic pain.
Just over 12 months ago I was told I was depressed & prescribed Amytriptyline in a small dose, which altered my sleeping pattern drastically & caused me to be unable to think clearly....a zombie.
I was then given Venlafaxine again a small dose, this interfered with my speech centre causing me to stammer & continually make Spoonerisms, these side effects were so pronounced that people who knew me thought I had had a stroke.
In neither instance did the drugs cause these side effects overnight, it took weeks, but these have lingered long after these medicines were discontinued.
Incidentally neither did anything for the alleged depression.
I am sure that there will be people who swear by these same drugs, that is their choice.
I wouldn't take the pill. Why try changing something as beautiful and unique as we already are? Diversity and change is important, just think before you make decisions that will effect the entire universe.
We're human beings, the creators and destroyers of many things. Soon we'll be human beings the creators and destoryers of many things artifical. Soon after that we'll be creators and destoyers of nothing, because we'll be the ones being destoyed.
That's all I have to say, about that.
I don't care for the most part whether others care about my strengths. I use my strengths and work to overcome my weaknesses.
You are very fortunate in that self-belief Gareth. It took me a long time to get to that level, and a lot of depressive episodes. There are lots of us out there who never get to that stage...
Yeah, I agree with Gareth in this, and as ocampo says it took me many depressive episodes, suffering and meditation to reach that level, now I try to enjoy the life as it comes to me, I don't care if I have very few friends (or almost anybody) or if the people criticize me or don't like what I do. But of course there are times when I become some weak that I fall in a little depression. I think the key is to think that everybody have their weakness and strengths, and try to improve our weaknesses and bolster up our skills only to make us feel better, without caring the opinion of people who don't care of us