Aspies For Freedom

In another thread, you folks have said my creativity is an indication that I have intelligence, despite my claims to the contrary.  Tonight I just realized my creativity is probably the result of very slow-processing speed, executive dysfunction, and learning challenges...  all of which, combined, results in me taking significantly longer time to "capture" details than the average person.  In so doing, I can detect patterns and see associations in things, that other people might just skip right past because faster processing speed usually just takes the necessary data.

I said in another thread tonight that this kind of intelligence does not "count," because it's the result of a seriously flawed brain.  What's more, how can you use this kind of creativity in a productive or meaningful way, if you don't have the executive functions or the processing power to "go the distance" ?  This has been my life experience... the ideas are there, but the ability to start, execute, and complete is almost entirely missing.  So I feel this does not count and it certainly does not make me "intelligent."

I still am looking for the reason I have been brought into existence.  I don't believe I will "fall back" on being a righteous human being in absence of anything that works properly in my brain.  Ever stop to ask yourself why learning disabled people are the nicest folks you'll ever meet?

Gee....  I wonder  

Batman55,
  Ok, you've gained some insight into your nature; now you need to *find* a way to put it to good use.  

  Ask yourself: is there a way you can find someone who can help you *compensate* for your limitations? You might not be able to do things yourself, but as part of a team (not necessarily one you have to be in close contact with), you can do your part, give the results to them, and *they* can implement it.

  -BobB

you dont need university ,you should go to trade school

As far as using academic ability to measure intelligence, that's done all the time at least where I live.  Where I live, people generally seem to be judged on the merit of their accomplishments, esp. academic achievements.  Basic conversation about college, where I live:  "X or Y person went to X or Y Good College and finished on time, achieved well on the debate team, and was a RA who was also dean-listed.  He's always been very bright."

But I've never overheard a conversation that says "X or Y person did not go to college, did poorly in high school with no extracurriculars, lacks cognitive flexibility, cannot plan anything beyond 5 minutes, and has achieved nothing.  He's always been very bright."

See what I mean?  

RA? Dean-listed? I do not understand these colloquialisms. No need to be ashamed.

Inferiority complex? No. Do not judge yourself against others. Judge yourself absolutely and as an individual

This is beautifully written, Wondering1.

What I'm trying to say is that a person with aspergers sees the world of social relations around them and feels somehow unable to participate fully in an idealised world. In actuality true friends are few and far between, while people may use each other as stepping stones to get what they want, be that lower overhead, money, sex, social caste, or even a sounding board for their ideas.

I'll admit it, Batman, I'm selfish. I like to get my ideas out there as a kind of self-therapy.

I only mean experiential learning such as a job where you are forced to interact to a degree, and then you can decide where you fit in from there. A college provides an environment where there is some level of socialisation outside of work. Sure, others may step on your feelings at times, but then, you can pull back to whatever comfort level you so choose.

Some interaction might cut the cycle of self-deprecating rumination.

If I were not in academics I would not be employable. Simple as that.

It's not really an obsession as such with college, but instead there is a possibility that Batman555 might meet others of a similar intelligence level. Aspies abound at colleges, and so, such an environment might be actually less of a challenge socially, and one in which he might find his own niche.

You don't have to have any particular skills to work at a college office. I once knew a girl that had dropped out of high school and returned to school in her mid 30's. She started by working in one of the departments, btw one which was not her eventual major.

Besides there are events with free tickets, there are a myriad of social groups, there are professional fraternities that only meet to discuss their own majors. There are so many special interests that it would be hard not to find one in which to interact, even if on a limited basis.

As for me, I've either never lived close enough to a college or university to do more than attend classes once or twice per week. Also, there is the issue of very limited pay, and I've had to pay my own way most of my life.

Do you know that people with asperger's often are much better at book learning than picking up details quickly in a classroom.

As far as executive dysfunction goes you write far too well, and far too clearly for this to be a problem.

There really is no valid, testable hypothesis to explain what you feel.

Rather than quote or misquote the rest of what you've stated I leave you with this one word, "Depression".

That is exactly why I think that state (public) schooling is preferable to home-schooling. That is why I believe, however ruthlessly, that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Even the most negative of experiences can result in wonderful outcomes. My parents were fairly abusive and my childhood largely unpleasant. I do not think that this is a good thing. I do believe that there should be a mediation, with neither brand of parenting allowed to ossify in the process. Tough love is exactly that: it is truer than relentless attention or forgiveness. We should not have to conform, but similarly we should not be left to suckle at the teet for too long. If you grow up without any sense of independence, struggle etc...then you are in a dangerous position. It's not a hopeless one, but the only way to overcome it is to immerse yourself in reality. Reality, whether NT or not, is not the subsumption into a personal and insular world. All human beings require -some- form of socialisation and participation.

You already know why people won't agree with you... because it's not true.  Because although you may not be intelligent in certain types of intelligence, you are in fact intelligent in others.  I guess you've had a bad day and you don't feel good about yourself.  Seems you have a lot of those... maybe that's telling you something about the way you're living your life.  Maybe you don't get out of the house enough, even just for a walk through the park or a bikeride... maybe you are stuck in a rut that you need to get out of.  I don't get want you want from the people here.  You must know that nobody is going to tell you you're stupid, because it's simply not true.