We all have our temporary interests that devour most (all?) of our free time for a few months. Then we quit that temporary hobby and move on to something else. But where do these intense interests come from? I made a list of the interests I had during the past 2 years or so and found a pattern. On every instance, my interest was triggered because I felt I was being taken for a fool and I wanted to find out. Now, I'm not saying that people tried to take me for a fool directly (tho it happens a lot too). But most of the time I found myself being part of a group where we are all being fools.
There's nothing in the world that could make me feel more uncomfortable that being the fool. NOTHING.
One example that even non Aspies could relate to is learning to fix your own car so that mechanics don't take you for a fool. With the mechanic being a person, or a shop, or a chain. I started with simple things like oil changes. Now days I think there's not a single part in my car that I haven't mingle with, struts, axles, you name it. And I had to fight peer pressure too. With my car being a 12 years old rusty bucket, people always say I should "just get a new one". And that triggers it. Why get a new one? Who's trying to take me for a fool here? The mechanics? The car dealerships? Is the people just brainwashed into being consumers? I have to find out. And there goes Rube, spending a few weeks with the car in jack-stands.
A few things from my list:
- Learning mechanics (as explained above)
- Learning how to make antennas (cable company bill be dammed)
- Learning how to insulate the home (energy company bill be dammed)
- Learning about Hunting and Shooting sports (somebody told me I could not learn on my own, that it was too complicated, etc etc)
- Learning about home electrical wiring (again, somebody told me I could not do it, better "pay the man" to do it for you)
- Becoming a long distance cyclist (trying to loose weight, people said could not be done... I lost 100 pounds in a year!)
- A plethora of computer related projects (again, trying to save money and/or proving that it can be done... Like making my own IVR)
- Installing home automation devices (because there had to be a way to keep people from living the lights on, X-10 modules to the rescue)
- Learning about flashlights (because bicycle specific lights were crazy expensive)
Over the years I've become a "Do It Yourself-er". I'll admit, many of the projects were silly and on "some" situations, it is better to "pay the man to do it". But more often than not, finding out how to do it pays off. Sometimes people say I get carried away and travel to the land on tin-foil-hatery and conspiracy theories. Like when I tell the following Rube(TM) original statement:
"Propane heating is safe enough is done correctly. Energy companies and other institutions have been promoting electric heating because they make more money out if it."
And there come the social situations. Who lied to me and why. That's more difficult, and probably a thread on it's own. Like the pretty girl trying to trick me into making her homework. Was it really a trick? Those cases are really confusing. Often I never find out.
There's nothing in the world that could make me feel more uncomfortable that being the fool. NOTHING.
One example that even non Aspies could relate to is learning to fix your own car so that mechanics don't take you for a fool. With the mechanic being a person, or a shop, or a chain. I started with simple things like oil changes. Now days I think there's not a single part in my car that I haven't mingle with, struts, axles, you name it. And I had to fight peer pressure too. With my car being a 12 years old rusty bucket, people always say I should "just get a new one". And that triggers it. Why get a new one? Who's trying to take me for a fool here? The mechanics? The car dealerships? Is the people just brainwashed into being consumers? I have to find out. And there goes Rube, spending a few weeks with the car in jack-stands.
A few things from my list:
- Learning mechanics (as explained above)
- Learning how to make antennas (cable company bill be dammed)
- Learning how to insulate the home (energy company bill be dammed)
- Learning about Hunting and Shooting sports (somebody told me I could not learn on my own, that it was too complicated, etc etc)
- Learning about home electrical wiring (again, somebody told me I could not do it, better "pay the man" to do it for you)
- Becoming a long distance cyclist (trying to loose weight, people said could not be done... I lost 100 pounds in a year!)
- A plethora of computer related projects (again, trying to save money and/or proving that it can be done... Like making my own IVR)
- Installing home automation devices (because there had to be a way to keep people from living the lights on, X-10 modules to the rescue)
- Learning about flashlights (because bicycle specific lights were crazy expensive)
Over the years I've become a "Do It Yourself-er". I'll admit, many of the projects were silly and on "some" situations, it is better to "pay the man to do it". But more often than not, finding out how to do it pays off. Sometimes people say I get carried away and travel to the land on tin-foil-hatery and conspiracy theories. Like when I tell the following Rube(TM) original statement:
"Propane heating is safe enough is done correctly. Energy companies and other institutions have been promoting electric heating because they make more money out if it."
And there come the social situations. Who lied to me and why. That's more difficult, and probably a thread on it's own. Like the pretty girl trying to trick me into making her homework. Was it really a trick? Those cases are really confusing. Often I never find out.
