Neurodiversity and social change
Apologies for the light posting as we gear up for an ambitious year. Encouragingly enough traffic remains strong, however the winter break anticipated late last year seems to have finally arrived. Frequency of posting should head back up as we move into February. [image via Flickr/Creative Commons][Read More]
Mark Stairwalt on 01/27/12 | No Comments | Read More
The Last of the Wild Autistics
I've said it before and I'll say it again — my generation is the last of the wild autistics. Many of us were never given any autism-related diagnosis as children. Those of us who did recieve cli...[Read More]
Lili Marlene on 05/31/10 | 2 Comments | Read More
The Unbroken Spectrum: Projection
Years ago, long before I had any familiarity with psychological jargon, I remember running across the phrase “egodystonic homosexuality” and being highly amused at what an absurdly clinical term i...[Read More]
Mark Stairwalt on 05/28/10 | 5 Comments | Read More
The French Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the wearing of veils, as reported by feminist blogger Aimee Sea in an article pointing out the tremendous irony in the idea that women must be ...[Read More]
Gwen McKay on 05/26/10 | 2 Comments | Read More
The Unbroken Spectrum: Ridicule
Having come full circle back to the assertion that there is no clear dividing line between the autistic population and the “non”-autistic population, this seems like an apt time to have a closer l...[Read More]
Mark Stairwalt on 05/24/10 | No Comments | Read More
Minutes before I was going to post what I’d had prepared for this morning, I ran across today’s xkcd web comic, and will likely not be able to get to sleep without writing about it. It features th...[Read More]
Mark Stairwalt on 05/21/10 | 1 Comment | Read More
As the free sharing of information and creative endeavors on the Internet moves the economy away from a focus on consumerism, we can expect that the careers of the future will differ in many ways from...[Read More]
Gwen McKay on 05/19/10 | 1 Comment | Read More
As economist Tyler Cowen discusses in his book Create Your Own Economy, today's digital media are causing society to develop in what he characterizes as a more autistic direction. Instead of passive...[Read More]
Gwen McKay on 05/17/10 | No Comments | Read More
There’s an implicit perspective behind most of what I write here at Shift, and I think behind much of what others contribute, a perspective that’s not exactly a secret, but one that I don’t thin...[Read More]
Mark Stairwalt on 05/14/10 | 1 Comment | Read More
On top of my bookshelf I keep a Prosperity Tree, which is by far the most ridiculous gimmicky item I own. It's about the same height and width as my open hand and has pale blue silk flowers, a white...[Read More]
Gwen McKay on 05/12/10 | No Comments | Read More
I was recently perusing some back issues of science magazines, and I came across an article about an aspect of human genetics that is interesting but is not currently connected with any “cutting edg...[Read More]
Lili Marlene on 05/10/10 | No Comments | Read More
Mountain Goats of the Uncanny Valley
Now that the subject of autism and the uncanny valley has been laid on the table, I’d like to draw on that metaphor by sharing some further imagery that offers new ways to think about autistic pe...[Read More]
Mark Stairwalt on 05/7/10 | 1 Comment | Read More
Strong Women and Social Change
Theory of mind, as Andrew Lehman explains, can be understood as a modern cognitive style that contrasts with the tendency of ancient matrifocal societies—and autistics—to engage in primary process...[Read More]
Gwen McKay on 05/6/10 | No Comments | Read More
Is misandry relevant to autism?
Is misandry relevant to autism? [This is a recycled enhanced question that I posted a while ago at an online autism discussion. It attracted an answer, but I don’t think it addressed the full s...[Read More]
Lili Marlene on 05/5/10 | 5 Comments | Read More
A Changeling’s Alternate Reality Story
A tale of becoming, in others' eyes, something not quite human... You ought to have known better than to walk out of your house, late at night on Halloween, while dark wisps of cloud were briskly blo...[Read More]
Guest on 05/3/10 | No Comments | Read More
Autism has been here all along.
Considered as an evolutionary condition with far-reaching social implications, its full presence and impact remain hidden in plain sight, unrecognized and uncredited.
Part neurological mystery, part social construct, and part secret society unbeknownst even to its own members, autism does not lend itself to explanation by those who hold it apart from society, from themselves, or from consciousness itself. Definitions are revised, overhauled, and abandoned all while efforts to explore and examine this condition on its own terms are only now gaining momentum.
Shift Journal aims to showcase and encourage such efforts. Entertaining the notion of autistic as a legitimate way to be in the world, from the crossroads of theory, society, and personal experience, Shift welcomes relevant contributions from all comers.
Mark Stairwalt
Editor and Publisher
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In a world which relentlessly demands practical advice for day-to-day, Shift Journal remains focused on promoting reflection and discovery. Readers however who are seeking useful information and how-to guidance assembled by a down-to-earth, conscientious and scientifically literate crew who once sought such information themselves and found it difficult to come by may find The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism to be just what they are looking for:
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Shift Journal founder Andrew Lehman's groundbreaking cross-disciplinary work Evolution, Autism, and Social Change draws from evolutionary biology, neuro-psychology and related fields to outline an evolutionary process complementary to natural selection that may explain some forms of autism as well as -- and perhaps more importantly -- long-term shifts in large-scale social structure. Download or purchase Evolution, Autism, and Social Change here.
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New or established writers wishing to contribute original or previously published posts may use the submissions page or contact us directly.
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NeuroTribes Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism Neurodivergent Sexuality Just Stimming Autism and Empathy Autistic Passing Project