AUTISM = "no drive to explore"

Experts point out that unlike normal people, the severely autistic lack
the urge to explore the world. Hmm. This could explain a few things
about certain posters in these newsgroups, who claim to lack a drive to
explore.

"And how do you educate severely autistic children? How do you teach
those who, for the most part, have no language, and no particular
compulsion to acquire it, who are BORN WITHOUT THE NEED TO EXPLORE THE
WORLD, who would rather spin round and round in a circle, or do the
same jigsaw over and over again, than play games with their peers, who
won't make eye-contact, or copy, and who fight bitterly (and sometimes
literally, with nails and teeth and small fists) for the right to
remain sealed in their own world?" - Nick Hornby, renown expert on
autism

http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/u...ouse/swta.html

wrote:

Experts point out that unlike normal people, the severely autistic lack
the urge to explore the world. Hmm. This could explain a few things
about certain posters in these newsgroups, who claim to lack a drive to
explore.

Are you saying that anyone who does not want to go to Mars is Autistic?
I like to explore ways of stopping the goverment from taxing me to fund
boondogles and foolishness.

Bob Kolker

wrote:
Experts point out that unlike normal people, the severely autistic lack
the urge to explore the world. Hmm. This could explain a few things
about certain posters in these newsgroups, who claim to lack a drive to
explore.

"And how do you educate severely autistic children? How do you teach
those who, for the most part, have no language, and no particular
compulsion to acquire it, who are BORN WITHOUT THE NEED TO EXPLORE THE
WORLD, who would rather spin round and round in a circle, or do the
same jigsaw over and over again, than play games with their peers, who
won't make eye-contact, or copy, and who fight bitterly (and sometimes
literally, with nails and teeth and small fists) for the right to
remain sealed in their own world?" - Nick Hornby, renown expert on
autism

http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/u...ouse/swta.html

There is a strong drive to explore, discover and develope space in
this group. It is generally expressed in practical discussions of how
to reduce launch costs, find markets and build infrastructure. A
manned mission to mars costing perhaps half a trillion dollars dosn't
seem to be a sound way to accomplish these goals.
Projects that are within the range of a few billion dollars, that
the public might support are the usual fodder. Maybe you could come up
with a plan, explain how you could indulge your drive to explore within
this price range. Or you could continue to go round and round in your
own circle.

wrote:

Experts point out that unlike normal people, the severely autistic lack
the urge to explore the world. Hmm. This could explain a few things
about certain posters in these newsgroups, who claim to lack a drive to
explore.

You just gave anyone who was on the fence a convincing reason to never
take your posts seriously again. Congratulations.

--
Erik Max Francis && && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
San Jose, CA, USA && 37 20 N 121 53 W && AIM erikmaxfrancis
I love mankind; it's people I can't stand.
-- Charles Schultz

On 4 Jun 2005 07:33:22 -0700, wrote:

Experts point out that unlike normal people, the severely autistic lack
the urge to explore the world. Hmm. This could explain a few things
about certain posters in these newsgroups, who claim to lack a drive to
explore.


That isn't exactly what they claimed.
The thing is, if the urge to explore was such a generally powerful
one, humans would be nomads. People who lived pretty much their
entire lives in the same ten miles would be historical curiosities.

Erik Max Francis wrote:


Experts point out that unlike normal people, the severely autistic lack
the urge to explore the world. Hmm. This could explain a few things
about certain posters in these newsgroups, who claim to lack a drive to
explore.


You just gave anyone who was on the fence a convincing reason to never
take your posts seriously again. Congratulations.


Dittos on that, Mr. Francis.
Although the thought of ALR and Rand Simberg debating each other would
be hilarious:
RS: "You are wrong; you do not have the innate intellect to understand
the truth of my argument."
ALR: "You are autistic."
RS "No, I am not."
ALR: "Yes, you are."
RS: "No."
ALR: "Yes."
RS: "No."
ALR: "Yes."
RS: "No."
ALR: "Yes."
RS: "No."
ALR: "Yes."
RS: "No."
ALR: "Yes."
RS: "No."
ALR: "Yes."
RS: "No."
ALR: "Yes."
RS: "No."
ALR: "Yes."
...and so on till sunset. :-)


Pat

On 4 Jun 2005 07:33:22 -0700, wrote:

Experts point out that unlike normal people, the severely autistic lack
the urge to explore the world. Hmm. This could explain a few things
about certain posters in these newsgroups, who claim to lack a drive to
explore.

"And how do you educate severely autistic children? How do you teach
those who, for the most part, have no language, and no particular
compulsion to acquire it, who are BORN WITHOUT THE NEED TO EXPLORE THE
WORLD, who would rather spin round and round in a circle, or do the
same jigsaw over and over again, than play games with their peers, who
won't make eye-contact, or copy, and who fight bitterly (and sometimes
literally, with nails and teeth and small fists) for the right to
remain sealed in their own world?" - Nick Hornby, renown expert on
autism

Asperger's syndrome (which might be a mild form of autism) is
frequently mentioned on rec.arts.sf.fandom since some of the
descriptions sound like sf fandom.

ObSF: Focus in "A Deepness in the Sky" by Vernor Vinge

P.S.: June 18 is Autistic Pride Day.

--
http://hertzlinger.blogspot.com

wrote:
Experts point out that unlike normal people, the severely autistic lack
the urge to explore the world. Hmm. This could explain a few things
about certain posters in these newsgroups, who claim to lack a drive to
explore.

I find this remark pretty insulting, as well as showing your lack of
understanding of autism.

"And how do you educate severely autistic children? How do you teach
those who, for the most part, have no language, and no particular
compulsion to acquire it, who are BORN WITHOUT THE NEED TO EXPLORE THE
WORLD, who would rather spin round and round in a circle, or do the
same jigsaw over and over again, than play games with their peers, who
won't make eye-contact, or copy, and who fight bitterly (and sometimes
literally, with nails and teeth and small fists) for the right to
remain sealed in their own world?" - Nick Hornby, renown expert on
autism

Nick Hornby is a writer and a father to an autistic child, not an
expert on autism. He may be an expert about football (soccer as you
call it in the US) though.

I wouldn't call Hornby a renowned expert. He is a popular writer who
has achieved some degree of success. It just so happens that he is also
the father to an autistic child. That doesn't make him a renowned
expert, just someone who knows more than the average person.

Stephen Spielberg has Asperger's Sydrome, which is on the autistic
scale. Many people with Asperger's are very successful in what they do
because of their obsessive and insightful perspectives. Equally, many
are incapable of simple tasks because they are too busy thinking about
their obsessions.

Either way, I suspect that a person suffering from autism or Asperger's
would have other offline obsessions, and that were they to become
obsessed with internet newsgroups, they would quickly suffer a
breakdown. That's not to say that compulsive newsgroup antagonists
don't suffer mental ill health, just that it's more likely to be
something other than either of these conditions. Loneliness and a lack
of career fulfillment must play a part in this.

Here's an example of someone who not only posts compulsively but who
also resorts to outrageous lies in order to prop up their imaginary
newsgroup life:

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...ad11eed04746e8

As you read through the thread, the strange internet madness of the
protagonist begins to slowly unravel.

On Sat, 04 Jun 2005 23:12:50 -0500, in a place far, far away, Pat
Flannery made the phosphor on my monitor glow in
such a way as to indicate that:

You just gave anyone who was on the fence a convincing reason to never
take your posts seriously again. Congratulations.


Dittos on that, Mr. Francis.
Although the thought of ALR and Rand Simberg debating each other would
be hilarious:

snip

I have been "debating" this creature, though I've little else to say,
and it bore little resemblance to your fantasy, Pat.