Nerd Syndrome

[kingandy]

Some months back Ant successfully applied for a post with the disability department at the University. Somewhat disappointingly, it was on an "as needed" basis and until now they've not needed him. However they've apparently been in touch to see if he'd be interested in working with a student with Asperger's.

Naturally I've been reading all about it.

"Unlike those with autism, people with AS are not usually withdrawn around others; they approach others, even if awkwardly, for example by engaging in a one-sided, long-winded speech about a favorite topic while being oblivious to the listener's feelings or reactions, such as signs of boredom or haste to leave. ..... People with Asperger syndrome often display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused."

Man, this shit describes half the people I know.

Comments

[ajon.livejournal.com]

Ah, you see Andy, it's because there's an autistic spectrum and Aspergers is on it at the high functioning end. Izzy (Rich's sister who's a specialist Psychologist in Aspergers) told me that there are various things that people (mostly men) with autism are measured against. These are things like empathy and socialising, which they tend to be low on, the ones they're good at are things about order, being able to concentrate for long periods of time.

Apparently Bill Gates has Aspergers and a lot of Nobel prize winners. We're fairly sure my brother has it but it's undiagnosed. A lot of scientists and computery people have it too and there's some people who think there are epidemics of it in California in Silicone valley and at Oxford and Cambridge.

[ajon.livejournal.com]

Sorry, should've added that what this seems to boil down to is that you can display some of the tendencies but if you're balanced with other attributes then it becomes unimportant.

I wonder if there's an opposite side to the syndrome, people who're are v good socially, empathetic are disorganised, can't concentrate etc etc. It seems unfair that there isn't a word to describe them. (I'm possibly setting myself up here ;)

[ajon.livejournal.com]

Google is my friend. Apparently it's called Williams syndrome http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/williams1.shtml - sorry Andy, I'm bored.

[kingandy]

You want me to say "women", don't you.

[stsquad.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of self-diagnosed autistics out there. I don't know how many of them actually do have Aspergers compared to the number that only claim they do. People are quite capable of having characteristics associated with autism without actually being autistic.

[kingandy]

I liked the part that says 'This social awkwardness has been called "active but odd".'

I really am interested in this sort of thing. Particularly I'm interested in exactly where the line is drawn between somebody who's an insensitive bore, and somebody who has a medical condition.

[ed-fortune.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine actually does have diagnosed Aspergers. Nice chap, comfortable only really with geeks (and those geeks his partner likes).

Also, this:
http://www.homeonthestrange.com/view.php?ID=190