Aspergers anyone?

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1

Hi all,

I just wanted to see if there are any members of the space who have
aspergers syndrome?

I dont mean to pry but Im looking for some advice.

Kevin

2

/wave one here - feel free to email me directly.

Thanks,
ChrisOn 10 Jul 2014 12:22, “Kevin Conroy” kconroy188@googlemail.com wrote:

Hi all,

I just wanted to see if there are any members of the space who have
aspergers syndrome?

I dont mean to pry but Im looking for some advice.

Kevin

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3

I think you will find that most computing/techie people are somewhere on
the autistic/aspergic scale. It’s quite normal - you have to be somewhat
unusual to want to spend hours in a darkened room, reading obscure/arcane
manuals and talking to people who are not there, in front of you, because
it’s easier than talking to people who are there, in front of you.

Most of us are “high functioning” so we are not what the psychologists
would deem a problem and not even worth a great deal of study.

I have not submitted myself for diagnosis but I often find myself looking
up TV episodes on Wikipedia in order to understand why someone felt the
need to take a specific action, in response to a stimulus that I just plain
missed, due to being unable to read an expression or understand the social
ramifications of a problem.

Andrew Gladwell.On Thursday, 10 July 2014 12:22:16 UTC+1, Kevin Conroy wrote:

Hi all,

I just wanted to see if there are any members of the space who have
aspergers syndrome?

I dont mean to pry but Im looking for some advice.

Kevin

4

I think you will find that most computing/techie people are somewhere on
the autistic/aspergic scale. It’s quite normal - you have to be somewhat
unusual to want to spend hours in a darkened room, reading obscure/arcane
manuals and talking to people who are not there, in front of you, because
it’s easier than talking to people who are there, in front of you.

Well, if it’s a scale then every human is on it somewhere, by definition.

However I think that saying most people in the industry are far enough
along the scale to qualify as as aspergic is an overreach - whilst there
may be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic.

http://psychology-tools.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/

If I was to define the most common attribute of people in the industry,
it would be a tendency towards pedantry, not aspergism :wink:

Alan Burlison

5

Definitely…pedants everywhere…and plumbers too according to Alan!On 10 July 2014 18:48, Alan Burlison alan.burlison@gmail.com wrote:

On 10/07/2014 16:56, Andrew Gladwell wrote:

I think you will find that most computing/techie people are somewhere on

the autistic/aspergic scale. It’s quite normal - you have to be somewhat
unusual to want to spend hours in a darkened room, reading obscure/arcane
manuals and talking to people who are not there, in front of you, because
it’s easier than talking to people who are there, in front of you.

Well, if it’s a scale then every human is on it somewhere, by definition.

However I think that saying most people in the industry are far enough
along the scale to qualify as as aspergic is an overreach - whilst there
may be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic.

http://psychology-tools.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/

If I was to define the most common attribute of people in the industry, it
would be a tendency towards pedantry, not aspergism :wink:

–
Alan Burlison

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6

Ta Dah!

Your score was 34 out of a possible 50.
Scores in the 33 - 50 range indicate significant Austistic traits (Autism)

  • pretty much puts me where I thought I was - just over the line, not
    enough to worry about.

whilst there
may be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic

I personally see it as normal for people in the industry to have some
traits of being autistic/aspergic. Therefore it does concern or surprise
me when I meet someone who evidences strong traits of these conditions and
I can still work with/for them.

Andrew.On Thursday, 10 July 2014 19:13:15 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Definitely…pedants everywhere…and plumbers too according to Alan!

On 10 July 2014 18:48, Alan Burlison <alan.b...@gmail.com <javascript:>> wrote:

On 10/07/2014 16:56, Andrew Gladwell wrote:

I think you will find that most computing/techie people are somewhere on

the autistic/aspergic scale. It’s quite normal - you have to be somewhat
unusual to want to spend hours in a darkened room, reading obscure/arcane
manuals and talking to people who are not there, in front of you, because
it’s easier than talking to people who are there, in front of you.

Well, if it’s a scale then every human is on it somewhere, by definition.

However I think that saying most people in the industry are far enough
along the scale to qualify as as aspergic is an overreach - whilst there
may be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic.

http://psychology-tools.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/

If I was to define the most common attribute of people in the industry,
it would be a tendency towards pedantry, not aspergism :wink:

–
Alan Burlison

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<javascript:>.

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7

Definitely…pedants everywhere…and plumbers too according to Alan!

:wink:

Alan Burlison

8

Your score was 34 out of a possible 50.
Scores in the 33 - 50 range indicate significant Austistic traits (Autism)

And I got 12, which indicates little or no Autistic traits.

I personally see it as normal for people in the industry to have some
traits of being autistic/aspergic. Therefore it does concern or surprise
me when I meet someone who evidences strong traits of these conditions and
I can still work with/for them.

I’m not surprised, I just don’t agree it’s the norm. It certainly hasn’t
been the case for the majority of people I’ve worked with over the last
30 years. Quirky? often, yes. Aspergic? No.

Alan Burlison

9

28/50, some symptoms. I would have scored higher when I was younger.
Most people I know in programming would I think score similarly.

Will.On 10 July 2014 19:27, Andrew Gladwell gladwell.andrew@gmail.com wrote:

Ta Dah!

Your score was 34 out of a possible 50.

Scores in the 33 - 50 range indicate significant Austistic traits (Autism)

  • pretty much puts me where I thought I was - just over the line, not enough
    to worry about.

whilst there
may be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic

I personally see it as normal for people in the industry to have some traits
of being autistic/aspergic. Therefore it does concern or surprise me when I
meet someone who evidences strong traits of these conditions and I can still
work with/for them.

Andrew.

On Thursday, 10 July 2014 19:13:15 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Definitely…pedants everywhere…and plumbers too according to Alan!

On 10 July 2014 18:48, Alan Burlison alan.b...@gmail.com wrote:

On 10/07/2014 16:56, Andrew Gladwell wrote:

I think you will find that most computing/techie people are somewhere on
the autistic/aspergic scale. It’s quite normal - you have to be
somewhat
unusual to want to spend hours in a darkened room, reading
obscure/arcane
manuals and talking to people who are not there, in front of you,
because
it’s easier than talking to people who are there, in front of you.

Well, if it’s a scale then every human is on it somewhere, by definition.

However I think that saying most people in the industry are far enough
along the scale to qualify as as aspergic is an overreach - whilst there may
be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from saying
that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic.

http://psychology-tools.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/

If I was to define the most common attribute of people in the industry,
it would be a tendency towards pedantry, not aspergism :wink:

–
Alan Burlison

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10

30/50 which doesn’t really surprise me, and like Will would defiantly
have scored higher in the past

KimballOn 10 July 2014 20:12, Will Jessop will@willj.net wrote:

28/50, some symptoms. I would have scored higher when I was younger.
Most people I know in programming would I think score similarly.

Will.

On 10 July 2014 19:27, Andrew Gladwell gladwell.andrew@gmail.com wrote:

Ta Dah!

Your score was 34 out of a possible 50.

Scores in the 33 - 50 range indicate significant Austistic traits (Autism)

  • pretty much puts me where I thought I was - just over the line, not enough
    to worry about.

whilst there
may be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic

I personally see it as normal for people in the industry to have some traits
of being autistic/aspergic. Therefore it does concern or surprise me when I
meet someone who evidences strong traits of these conditions and I can still
work with/for them.

Andrew.

On Thursday, 10 July 2014 19:13:15 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Definitely…pedants everywhere…and plumbers too according to Alan!

On 10 July 2014 18:48, Alan Burlison alan.b...@gmail.com wrote:

On 10/07/2014 16:56, Andrew Gladwell wrote:

I think you will find that most computing/techie people are somewhere on
the autistic/aspergic scale. It’s quite normal - you have to be
somewhat
unusual to want to spend hours in a darkened room, reading
obscure/arcane
manuals and talking to people who are not there, in front of you,
because
it’s easier than talking to people who are there, in front of you.

Well, if it’s a scale then every human is on it somewhere, by definition.

However I think that saying most people in the industry are far enough
along the scale to qualify as as aspergic is an overreach - whilst there may
be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from saying
that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic.

http://psychology-tools.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/

If I was to define the most common attribute of people in the industry,
it would be a tendency towards pedantry, not aspergism :wink:

–
Alan Burlison

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11

Just to join in…I got 26 out of 50…I’m not surprised. I don’t
consider myself to have Aspergus traits. I consider myself to be
undiplomatic and socially inept at times…like everyone else!On 10 July 2014 20:36, Kimball Johnson kimball@bowerham.net wrote:

30/50 which doesn’t really surprise me, and like Will would defiantly
have scored higher in the past

Kimball

On 10 July 2014 20:12, Will Jessop will@willj.net wrote:

28/50, some symptoms. I would have scored higher when I was younger.
Most people I know in programming would I think score similarly.

Will.

On 10 July 2014 19:27, Andrew Gladwell gladwell.andrew@gmail.com wrote:

Ta Dah!

Your score was 34 out of a possible 50.

Scores in the 33 - 50 range indicate significant Austistic traits
(Autism)

  • pretty much puts me where I thought I was - just over the line, not
    enough

to worry about.

whilst there
may be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic

I personally see it as normal for people in the industry to have some
traits

of being autistic/aspergic. Therefore it does concern or surprise me
when I

meet someone who evidences strong traits of these conditions and I can
still

work with/for them.

Andrew.

On Thursday, 10 July 2014 19:13:15 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Definitely…pedants everywhere…and plumbers too according to Alan!

On 10 July 2014 18:48, Alan Burlison alan.b...@gmail.com wrote:

On 10/07/2014 16:56, Andrew Gladwell wrote:

I think you will find that most computing/techie people are
somewhere on

the autistic/aspergic scale. It’s quite normal - you have to be
somewhat
unusual to want to spend hours in a darkened room, reading
obscure/arcane
manuals and talking to people who are not there, in front of you,
because
it’s easier than talking to people who are there, in front of you.

Well, if it’s a scale then every human is on it somewhere, by
definition.

However I think that saying most people in the industry are far enough
along the scale to qualify as as aspergic is an overreach - whilst
there may

be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying

that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic.

http://psychology-tools.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/

If I was to define the most common attribute of people in the
industry,

it would be a tendency towards pedantry, not aspergism :wink:

–
Alan Burlison

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12

I wasn’t going to reply, but Alex nailed it.

Kevin, Sorry for the highjacking of your call for help. If you don’t get
the info you need, consider professional organisations. Without wanting to
teach you how to suck eggs (or google) consider contacting
www.autism.org.uk/. Check the “enquiry” page. They helped my friend out
immeasurably a couple of years ago. Hope you get what you need bud!

BazOn 10 July 2014 20:47, Alexander Lang alexanderlang1980@gmail.com wrote:

Just to join in…I got 26 out of 50…I’m not surprised. I don’t
consider myself to have Aspergus traits. I consider myself to be
undiplomatic and socially inept at times…like everyone else!

On 10 July 2014 20:36, Kimball Johnson kimball@bowerham.net wrote:

30/50 which doesn’t really surprise me, and like Will would defiantly
have scored higher in the past

Kimball

On 10 July 2014 20:12, Will Jessop will@willj.net wrote:

28/50, some symptoms. I would have scored higher when I was younger.
Most people I know in programming would I think score similarly.

Will.

On 10 July 2014 19:27, Andrew Gladwell gladwell.andrew@gmail.com wrote:

Ta Dah!

Your score was 34 out of a possible 50.

Scores in the 33 - 50 range indicate significant Austistic traits
(Autism)

  • pretty much puts me where I thought I was - just over the line, not
    enough

to worry about.

whilst there
may be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way from
saying that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic

I personally see it as normal for people in the industry to have some
traits

of being autistic/aspergic. Therefore it does concern or surprise me
when I

meet someone who evidences strong traits of these conditions and I can
still

work with/for them.

Andrew.

On Thursday, 10 July 2014 19:13:15 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Definitely…pedants everywhere…and plumbers too according to Alan!

On 10 July 2014 18:48, Alan Burlison alan.b...@gmail.com wrote:

On 10/07/2014 16:56, Andrew Gladwell wrote:

I think you will find that most computing/techie people are
somewhere on

the autistic/aspergic scale. It’s quite normal - you have to be
somewhat
unusual to want to spend hours in a darkened room, reading
obscure/arcane
manuals and talking to people who are not there, in front of you,
because
it’s easier than talking to people who are there, in front of you.

Well, if it’s a scale then every human is on it somewhere, by
definition.

However I think that saying most people in the industry are far
enough

along the scale to qualify as as aspergic is an overreach - whilst
there may

be a higher proportion of people in the industry who have aspergic
tendencies than in the wider population, that’s a long, long way
from saying

that it’s the norm for people in the industry to be aspergic.

http://psychology-tools.com/autism-spectrum-quotient/

If I was to define the most common attribute of people in the
industry,

it would be a tendency towards pedantry, not aspergism :wink:

–
Alan Burlison

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13

Just to join in…I got 26 out of 50…I’m not surprised. I don’t
consider myself to have Aspergus traits. I consider myself to be
undiplomatic and socially inept at times…like everyone else!

:slight_smile:

Alan Burlison

14

Wow, bit more of a response than I expected.

I got 33 on the test.
Im wanting to find out if having an early diagnosis (pre-teen) helped or if
there was any kind of stigma that came with it?

I’m 34, I found out about 3 months ago.

15

aaaaannnnyyyywwaaayyyy,

What I was aiming at, more than anything, was to reassure Kevin that he
would find a welcome at HacMan and that no one would find him strange. At
least, no more strange than the rest of us.

Andrew.On Thursday, 10 July 2014 19:47:47 UTC+1, Alan Burlison wrote:

On 10/07/2014 19:27, Andrew Gladwell wrote:

Your score was 34 out of a possible 50.
Scores in the 33 - 50 range indicate significant Austistic traits
(Autism)

And I got 12, which indicates little or no Autistic traits.

I personally see it as normal for people in the industry to have some
traits of being autistic/aspergic. Therefore it does concern or
surprise
me when I meet someone who evidences strong traits of these conditions
and
I can still work with/for them.

I’m not surprised, I just don’t agree it’s the norm. It certainly hasn’t
been the case for the majority of people I’ve worked with over the last
30 years. Quirky? often, yes. Aspergic? No.

–
Alan Burlison

16

I didnt mean to come across as needing help.

I’m interested more for my own “idea” of how early diagnosis helps or
hinders based on social standing and the level of education of the parents.

17

I should probably mention ive got it

I was diagnosed a year or two back by the same dr that diagnosed Gary (The guy who hacked the Pentagon)
I tend to joke ive got the celebrity variety

theres not much advise I can give
the 2 points that tend to stand out are the anxiety disorder that can go with it in dome cases
and SPD which makes the brain more sensitive to things like colour or sound