Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant 2014-02-09

[Brent]

Brent submitted a new resource:

Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant - A journey into one of the most fascinating minds alive today—guided by the owner himself.

Bestselling author Daniel Tammet (Thinking in Numbers) is virtually unique among people who have severe autistic disorders in that he is capable of living a fully independent life and able to explain what is happening inside his head.

He sees numbers as shapes, colors, and textures, and he can perform extraordinary calculations in his head. He can learn to speak new languages fluently, from scratch, in a week. In 2004, he memorized and recited more than 22,000 digits of pi, setting a...

Read more about this resource...

 

[Vanilla]

Brent submitted a new resource:

Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant - A journey into one of the most fascinating minds alive today—guided by the owner himself.



Read more about this resource...

Damn...I'm a little jealous

 

[G-Max]

If the entire species was like this, we'd have conquered the galaxy by now.

 

[Crazi]

I remember seeing a special about this guy. He seemed a little into himself tbh . . .

 

[Vanilla]

I remember seeing a special about this guy. He seemed a little into himself tbh . . .

That seems like it wouldn't be unexpected though. Someone that intelligent would probably spend a lot of time alone, educating themselves.

 

[Crazi]

I know .. . it still bothered me though.

 

[Crazi]

The thing is, I don't have a problem with pride and people think well of themselves as long it is merited and they don't look down on others. I get the feeling for him the latter isn't true. Just cause I attribute Most of people's fortune with forces beyond their control, either biological or external. And this guy seems to just be emphasizing a trait he was born with. No offense but just cause you were born a certain way, isn't grounds for thinking your better than others. NOTHING is a grounds for thinking your better than others. Don't get me wrong you are unique and that is beautiful but (and I'm aware this is an extreme comparison here but hopefully you will see the idea behind it) thinking you are better than others because of something you were just born with and others not is like . . .white people thinking they're better than blacks. Like you were born that way- sure appreciate the beauty with in but attribute it to something outside your own will power cause in actuality, that's where it came form.
In short don't try to capture or own beauty- treat it with the grace and gentleness it deserves.

 

[Crazi]

"The only time you should look down on someone is when you're about to lend them a hand up." -MLK Jr.

 

[Vanilla]

The thing is, I don't have a problem with pride and people think well of themselves as long it is merited and they don't look down on others. I get the feeling for him the latter isn't true. Just cause I attribute Most of people's fortune with forces beyond their control, either biological or external. And this guy seems to just be emphasizing a trait he was born with. No offense but just cause you were born a certain way, isn't grounds for thinking your better than others. NOTHING is a grounds for thinking your better than others. Don't get me wrong you are unique and that is beautiful but (and I'm aware this is an extreme comparison here but hopefully you will see the idea behind it) thinking you are better than others because of something you were just born with and others not is like . . .white people thinking they're better than blacks. Like you were born that way- sure appreciate the beauty with in but attribute it to something outside your own will power cause in actuality, that's where it came form.
In short don't try to capture or own beauty- treat it with the grace and gentleness it deserves.

True, that's a fair call. I do agree that looking down on people is not a very attractive feature at all, and I don't condone that sort of behaviour. I myself have met people with superiority complexes, and it's not a pleasant experience at all. In saying that though, as much as I agree with your opinion, I can also understand the reasoning behind that behaviour; ugly as it may be.

I'm no Einstein myself; far from it, but I imagine there would be a certain level of frustration in being so highly intelligent, and not having others to relate with you on the same level. I imagine it being equivalent to being the only supervising adult, living amoungst kindergardeners. It doesn't matter how patient or civilised adults are with children; occassionally children are going to frustrate them, from lack of knowing any better.

Imagine, if you were to wield that sort of power, and everyone around you expected you to be there to help them, yet were unable to be there for you in return; at least in the way that you needed them, it would leave you feeling so alone. You could easily grow to resent society as a whole.

I'm not saying that the intelligent person is always in the right, but I believe that everyone is human, and human beings will generally have sound reasons for behaving the way they do, even if we don't like those reasons.

 

[Crazi]

True, that's a fair call. I do agree that looking down on people is not a very attractive feature at all, and I don't condone that sort of behaviour. I myself have met people with superiority complexes, and it's not a pleasant experience at all. In saying that though, as much as I agree with your opinion, I can also understand the reasoning behind that behaviour; ugly as it may be.

I'm no Einstein myself; far from it, but I imagine there would be a certain level of frustration in being so highly intelligent, and not having others to relate with you on the same level. I imagine it being equivalent to being the only supervising adult, living amoungst kindergardeners. It doesn't matter how patient or civilised adults are with children; occassionally children are going to frustrate them, from lack of knowing any better.

Imagine, if you were to wield that sort of power, and everyone around you expected you to be there to help them, yet were unable to be there for you in return; at least in the way that you needed them, it would leave you feeling so alone. You could easily grow to resent society as a whole.

I'm not saying that the intelligent person is always in the right, but I believe that everyone is human, and human beings will generally have sound reasons for behaving the way they do, even if we don't like those reasons.

oh yeah, I agree. What you are saying is basically one might develop a superiority complex as a coping strategy. This I understand and relate to even, seeing it as the possible outcome of those external forces I mentioned which I don't attribute to the fault of the individual.
I have many an issue with the hypothetical you gave though. So much that I'm not even sure where to begin.
I guess my main point is that we learn from others and even someone who couldn't relate to others, is they were smart as you say, they should be smart enough to see that.
"If I have seen farther than other men it is only because I am standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

 

[Vanilla]

oh yeah, I agree. What you are saying is basically one might develop a superiority complex as a coping strategy. This I understand and relate to even, seeing it as the possible outcome of those external forces I mentioned which I don't attribute to the fault of the individual.
I have many an issue with the hypothetical you gave though. So much that I'm not even sure where to begin.
I guess my main point is that we learn from others and even someone who couldn't relate to others, is they were smart as you say, they should be smart enough to see that.
"If I have seen farther than other men it is only because I am standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

I would be happy to hear your opinions; this sort of discussion interests and fascinates me

 

[Crazi]

Well, in short, if the person was really SO highly intelligent, then they would approach their need to relate objectively as a problem which needs to be solved which, I'm mean if they're as smart as your implying, they probably would be able to solve it pritty easily.

 

[Vanilla]

Well, in short, if the person was really SO highly intelligent, then they would approach their need to relate objectively as a problem which needs to be solved which, I'm mean if they're as smart as your implying, they probably would be able to solve it pretty damn easily.

Yes, I understand what you mean. While I haven't read the book yet (though intend to, as it would be quite an interesting read), I have read the summary, which stated that he is able to realise himself, and understand the inner workings of his own mind.

I do agree whole-heartedly with what you are saying, a person of that intelligence would have to find a way to solve this issue beyond a simple coping mechanism; however, he would still be bound to his human body, and all it's emotional needs; this is something he can not escape completely (save attempting to numb himself).

If I were in his position, and was relying on the knowledge of my own emotional needs, I would limit my interactions with people, and spend much of my time withdrawn from society, so as to not allow it to overwhelm me. It would also mean compensating the desires for happiness through human interactions, and replacing it with education, and indulging myself in other delights; such as art, entertainment, and anything that can satisfy my senses.

Much of this I can already relate to, as I already practise in this kind of behaviour, though due to different reasons. The problem with this lifestyle though, is that despite my desire to care for others, my desire to spend much of my time alone has caused others to accuse me of being selfish, which I find quite ironic.

I think in the end, it is the responsibility of said intelligent person to cope with the reality of society, but it is just as much the responsibility of society to acknowledge this person is still human, and understand that they too desire the basic human need to connect with others. It's a two way street, and unfortunately the sad reality is that the only solution may very well be realising that others may not always be willing to put as much thought in to your situation as you are.

 

[Crazi]

Hey, sorry for the long delay. I was busy doing things. (specific I know) Ummm ok so basically if this kid was as smart as you say, I"m thinking they would have a lot of control but use it to control themselves not others. They would know what to do to make themselves happy etc etc. Instead of trying to back burner or numb their emotions they would cherish them and try to fin doubt to fulfill their needs instead of going against human nature. So my idea was like, of an autistic learning to be social. Um, . .. yea.
(sorry if that is a terrible reply I'll edit. I just don't want to prolong the wait any further)

Hmm. Ok after reading your post better I see where you are coming from. processing response one moment please.

I see what you are saying but I think they would somehow just succeed, at working with society instead of apart from it. I can see how we each are projecting our own experiences into our hypotheticals though; I'm on the spectrum mildly enough that I learned to be social but now it's like I'm obsessed where as you didn't become social but managed to foster different skills.

I guess the truth is . .. neither of us are smart enough to even IMAGINE how this- ultra high functioning autistic would be. I know being social to be important to ones social needs but it also leaves one more vulnerable.

I guess what I'm arguing is that intelligence finds wisdom and would be able to navigate all sorts of waters with learned ease but that may or may not be right. I think in a perfect hypothetical world it would though it's possible at least right?

 

[Vanilla]

Hey, sorry for the long delay. I was busy doing things. (specific I know) Ummm ok so basically if this kid was as smart as you say, I"m thinking they would have a lot of control but use it to control themselves not others. They would know what to do to make themselves happy etc etc. Instead of trying to back burner or numb their emotions they would cherish them and try to fin doubt to fulfill their needs instead of going against human nature. So my idea was like, of an autistic learning to be social. Um, . .. yea.
(sorry if that is a terrible reply I'll edit. I just don't want to prolong the wait any further)

Hmm. Ok after reading your post better I see where you are coming from. processing response one moment please.

I see what you are saying but I think they would somehow just succeed, at working with society instead of apart from it. I can see how we each are projecting our own experiences into our hypotheticals though; I'm on the spectrum mildly enough that I learned to be social but now it's like I'm obsessed where as you didn't become social but managed to foster different skills.

I guess the truth is . .. neither of us are smart enough to even IMAGINE how this- ultra high functioning autistic would be. I know being social to be important to ones social needs but it also leaves one more vulnerable.

I guess what I'm arguing is that intelligence finds wisdom and would be able to navigate all sorts of waters with learned ease but that may or may not be right. I think in a perfect hypothetical world it would though it's possible at least right?

Ha, fair enough...I suppose we should leave it at that, and simply agree that perhaps the way that a person would deal with this situation would depend on their current circumstances, past-experiences, and will power. In the end, personality does come in to the equation, and I can't assume his personality without meeting the man, or at least first reading his book.

On another note though, just to clarify, I too have adapted socially, and understand the importance of socialising with others. I was merely sharing opinions based on my many experiences, which unfortunatley have not always been good ones. These experiences have however taught me to understand my own thoughts, and reasonings, so I have in fact adapted the ability to review my own mind in an unbiased fashion.

I understand that my previous post may sound pessimistic, but I assure you that my opinions are based largely on facts, and my own understanding of my own emotional growth. It is merely based on a combination of the difficulties I've had to face, in order to learn to understand people, and the world around me, and my unfortunate bad luck in having to learn those experiences with a few unsavoury individuals. I assure you, that while I may hold some resentments towards those particular individuals who have wronged me in the past, I am not deluded to believe that all people are bad, and openly try to engage with new social experiences as much as I can. I also understand that life is a learning curve, and am constantly learning more about the human experience on a daily basis.

I must say though that I have enjoyed our conversation so far; it's not often I am able to have such conversations in such an interesting topic, and in such an analytical fashion