Archive for August, 2011

your dreams will be reduced down to breathing, and you will be grateful

The thing about not-being-a-person is: They will say those people and the price of being a person is to nod and agree that yes, those people aren’t people at all. They will have no idea who they are talking to. You yourself will start to forget, too. They will say a million small things that sow the seeds for violence done against you, and you will smile and let them. You will do math, constantly. How much do I want to be a person today? How much do I want this project to succeed? How much honesty can I afford? How much dishonesty will kill me? What is the cost of coming out? Is there a way to delay, soften, transmute? How long can I survive as half a person? Ever since the world ended ... I don't go out as much. People that I once befriended, just don't bother to stay in touch. Things that used to seem so splendid, don't really matter today. It's just as well the world ended -- it wasn't working anyway. Your dreams will be reduced down to breathing. [Read More]

on 03/5/12 | 2 Comments | Read More

A Critique of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) Test: Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, I outlined the basics of the EQ test, introduced the definition of cognitive empathy assumed by the authors of the test, and critiqued the statements on the EQ that speak t...[Read More]

on 08/31/11 | No Comments | Read More

A Critique of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) Test: Introduction and Part 1

Introduction The Empathy Quotient (EQ) test was designed by Simon Baron-Cohen and Sally Wheelwright, and is included in their 2004 paper The Empathy Quotient: An Investigation of Adults with Asperger...[Read More]

on 08/30/11 | No Comments | Read More

Extrovert Critic: “You’ll Never Get Laid If You ____”

How many times has any male introvert nerd been told “If you like (DandD, klingons, magic cards, x…) you’ll never get any girls”? The aim of this criticism is to point out the superiority of...[Read More]

on 08/29/11 | 4 Comments | Read More

How Extensive Is Autism’s Penumbra?

My fascination with autism from the start has had to do with what might be termed autism's penumbra.  In Autism & Oughtism's post on avoiding the confusions engendered by this concept she explain...[Read More]

on 08/26/11 | 4 Comments | Read More

The Eternal Song, Part Eighteen: Coda

The hiking trail was well maintained, wide and smoothly graded, where it led inland from the beachfront hotel. Elaine Dalton looked up from her brightly colored map of tourist attractions, noticed th...[Read More]

on 08/24/11 | 3 Comments | Read More

Round-up: Autism & Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory

In response to some discussions I have seen on Wrong Planet and other ASD forums I decided to delve into the concept of an autistic culture. Having been familiar with Hofstede's dimensions I decided...[Read More]

on 08/23/11 | No Comments | Read More

Unity Without Uniformity: The Implications of Wikis

The internet has resulted in forms of collective human association without any individual being crushed by the collective. One form of such an association has come to be called a ‘wiki.’ In t...[Read More]

on 08/22/11 | No Comments | Read More

Autism In The Mirror

Comedian Glen Wool, musing on the sacking of the middle classes and treasuries of the United States and other nations by the looting class, has suggested that newspapers be divided into just two secti...[Read More]

on 08/19/11 | No Comments | Read More

Part 8: Autism and Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory - Indulgence v Restraint

The last of Hofstede's dichotomies, Indulgence v Restraint (IVR) was introduced via a study performed by Michael Minkov in 2010. It is the least studied of the dimensions and I only include it here ...[Read More]

on 08/18/11 | No Comments | Read More

The Eternal Song, Part Seventeen: Nightfall

Awiyan counted the stars in the clear sky above the foothills. The familiar patterns of the constellations gave her comfort in a world where so much was changing. She could sense the uncertainty fro...[Read More]

on 08/17/11 | No Comments | Read More

Part 7: Autism and Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory - Long Term Orientation

After Hofstede's initial research various researchers explored his findings and looked for areas that might have been overlooked. In 1985 a group of primarily Chinese educators administered a test t...[Read More]

on 08/16/11 | No Comments | Read More

Response to A&O’s reply re: “Cornering Slim Shady in the Round Barn” and the definition of Neurodiversity

Thank you for the kind words, A&O, and the thorough, thoughtful, and gracious reply.  It’s a pleasure disagreeing with you. My view is that neurodiversity is polycentered, that it legitimat...[Read More]

on 08/15/11 | 2 Comments | Read More

Reply to “Cornering Slim Shady in the Round Barn” re the definition of Neurodiversity

I wrote a post a week ago about the problems with defining “Neurodiversity.”  The questions I posed in that piece remain un-answered (and perhaps that is because there are no answers; I will di...[Read More]

on 08/15/11 | No Comments | Read More

Why Introverted Nerds Like Fantasy and Sci Fi

It’s perfectly Ok and respectable to have seen some trek and wars. However, you’re crossing way over the line if you know who Salacious Crumb is or know just how Shaka felt when the walls fell....[Read More]

on 08/15/11 | No Comments | Read More

Cornering Slim Shady in the Round Barn: On “Pinning Down” Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity.  In contrast to the proprietor of Autism & Oughtisms [A&O] who reports first hearing the word less than a year ago, it's been a little over a decade for me. It merited one sen...[Read More]

on 08/12/11 | 2 Comments | Read More

Acceptance of Diversity within Neurodiversity (?)

Neurodiversity.  The better part of a year since I first heard the word, and I still can’t tell you what it means.  It’s not for lack of trying:  I’ve been reading posts by people who label...[Read More]

on 08/12/11 | 4 Comments | Read More

Part 6: Autism and Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory - Masculinity v Femininity

The dichotomy I will be addressing in this post is bit problematic because the naming of it is challenging in its sexist titles. Hofstede decided that countries that show competitiveness, assertiven...[Read More]

on 08/11/11 | No Comments | Read More

The Eternal Song, Part Sixteen: Unicorn

As Riadne descended the mountain, the bare rock beneath her sandals gave way to hard-packed earth dotted with small shrubs and thin, dry tufts of grass. The afternoon sun had been warm enough, at the...[Read More]

on 08/10/11 | 1 Comment | Read More

Part 5: Autism and Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory - Uncertainty Avoidance Index

The Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) from Hofstede measures how a culture handles ambiguity, uncertainty and change. Those groups that measure high on the UAI tend to experience high anxiety regard...[Read More]

on 08/9/11 | 1 Comment | Read More

Introverts and Sports

Sports in their most popular form are just another social venue.  The minority players are involved in an intricate group activity and the majority spectators are involved in a mass cult of fandom...[Read More]

on 08/8/11 | 1 Comment | Read More

A quicky on the internet and ASD; how something rotten led me to something beautiful

Because the awareness and (arguably accordingly) the numbers of autism, are on the rise, and yet it still remains mysterious and misunderstood, “autism” is an easy term to toss around when you w...[Read More]

on 08/5/11 | No Comments | Read More

Invitation to a Flash Mob - August 6th

When : Saturday August 6th at 11am. Where – Downtown Olympia on the East side of Heritage Park at Capitol Lake Parking : Free Parking is available around the lake. WTHECK? -  Try to find us fo...[Read More]

on 08/5/11 | 1 Comment | Read More

Part 4: Autism and Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory - Individualism v Collectivism

Next up for Hofstede's dichotomies is Individualism v. Collectivism. This measures the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups and how they perceive themselves in that group. Individu...[Read More]

on 08/4/11 | No Comments | Read More

The Eternal Song, Part Fifteen: Ebb Tide

Clumps of seaweed cast up on the rocky beach shriveled and stank under a hot cloudless sky. In the tide pools, small fish darted back and forth while crabs scuttled across the pebbles. Apart from th...[Read More]

on 08/3/11 | 2 Comments | Read More

Part 3: Autism and Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory - Working well with those in authority

Hofstede's Power Distance Index (PDI) measures how we perceive the hierarchical authority in a given situation (family, work, etc.). On one end you have more autocratic and/or authoritative expecta...[Read More]

on 08/2/11 | No Comments | Read More

Reflections on a Changing World

The neurodiversity movement got its start in the early 1990s, when a few autistic people got together on mailing lists and dared to imagine a day when they would be seen as equals in society. Their c...[Read More]

on 08/1/11 | No Comments | Read More

Introvert Survival: Handling Extrovert Interrogations

When a Loud person asks you a question it is best to give a quick, snappy, truthful answer. Directly stonewalling or displaying reluctance to answer personal questions from someone you don’t trust...[Read More]

on 08/1/11 | No Comments | Read More