Level 1, more questions than answers

[BatUtilityBelt]

Hi, I'm new here, but nowhere else. I'm an early-retired R&D techie with no actual diagnosis but a very strong indication from experiences and an online test. I've always been a seemingly natural critical thinker and analyst, which I think comes from being Aspie/ASD-1. It was only problematic for me in terms of socialization skills (the lack thereof), which I've somewhat overcome as a necessity of my career. Tons of meetings, presentations, and networking helped me get much better at relating, but that's always been my shortcoming. But lately with a lot of time on my hands, I've been thinking about how it works. I'm starting to think my case stems back to a bias developed as an infant to learn more by taking in information myself than wait for people to teach things to me. I have a lot of related situational aspects that support the idea, and would love to explore it.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Welcome!

 

[FayetheADHDsquirrel]

Welcome!

 

[the_tortoise]

 

[Grondhammar]

Hi BatUtilityBelt, welcome There's a lot of info here in many threads over the years. I hope you find some answers.

 

[Aspychata]

That is an interesting post. Welcome to the forum. I started my daughter at an early age on learning to keep her mind busy. I recalled being bored in school quite often. My emphasis was always learning and critical thinking, and good grades were up to her.

 

[Tuffsy]

G'Day and welcome. We have similar experiences, you will get a lot out of this group.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Hi, I'm new here, but nowhere else. I'm an early-retired R&D techie with no actual diagnosis but a very strong indication from experiences and an online test. I've always been a seemingly natural critical thinker and analyst, which I think comes from being Aspie/ASD-1. It was only problematic for me in terms of socialization skills (the lack thereof), which I've somewhat overcome as a necessity of my career. Tons of meetings, presentations, and networking helped me get much better at relating, but that's always been my shortcoming. But lately with a lot of time on my hands, I've been thinking about how it works. I'm starting to think my case stems back to a bias developed as an infant to learn more by taking in information myself than wait for people to teach things to me. I have a lot of related situational aspects that support the idea, and would love to explore it.

Welcome.

Early in my journey with this, before my diagnosis, I often wondered about this whole "nurture vs nature" situation and how it applied to me. You're about the same age as me... gen X... and likely had a childhood in which we were outside exploring, goofing off, getting into trouble, playing hard, off on our bikes to places unknown. We had a good foundation in "how things work"... from ant hills to fort building to swinging off of ropes in trees to taking our bikes and radios apart. Our parents were just people "at home" and we were almost never "at home". We learned on our own and depended upon no one. There were no "2-person" jobs... you improvised, made your mistakes, but you got it done yourself.

After my diagnosis and after I took the "deep dive" into "all things autism" is when I realized my perspective on the world was both nurture and nature. Autistic brains are a mix of really interesting and cool differences... we are not "them"... we are our own version of human... in part, it is why we struggle to connect with many people. We all have our aptitudes, we play to our strengths, and we find things that we are really good at... and things we suck at. Self-awareness is a good thing.

 

[BatUtilityBelt]

Thanks for all that! I seem to have found some very like-minded people to discuss these things. While I don't feel a need for any support, I appreciate knowing many of my experiences with it are not unique. And in fact, many of the people I most admire are in the same league. So again, thanks.

 

[tree]

 

[Crossbreed]

Hello & welcome @BatUtilityBelt!

(Would your nickname be BUB...?

)

 

[BatUtilityBelt]

Hello & welcome @BatUtilityBelt!

(Would your nickname be BUB...?

)

Never has been, but that's funny.

 

[Dagan]

I can probably relate to you on several levels. How many years did you play in a band, you did well on stage because it's being expressive but also so dire and focused on every note or lyric to the next (so much that it literally was WORK because it's that serious to you)...and then after the show, you are not like others in the band off mingling comfortably....or if you were, perhaps you had to have some drinks, first. ???

I don't drink, so I was never fully comfortable after shows. I went right back to being in the shadows of the room and basically critiquing my own performance the whole time, etc.

If way off in this assumption, apologies.

 

[BatUtilityBelt]

I can probably relate to you on several levels. How many years did you play in a band, you did well on stage because it's being expressive but also so dire and focused on every note or lyric to the next (so much that it literally was WORK because it's that serious to you)...and then after the show, you are not like others in the band off mingling comfortably....or if you were, perhaps you had to have some drinks, first. ???

I don't drink, so I was never fully comfortable after shows. I went right back to being in the shadows of the room and basically critiquing my own performance the whole time, etc.

If way off in this assumption, apologies.

Ah, you're picking up on the guitar. Music was usually just a 2nd income for me. I hated live performance, too many people. I love composing though, so every gig that hasn't resulted in live performance has been downright therapeutic for me. I did music for decades but eventually had to quit it to concentrate on my tech business.

 

[Rodafina]

Welcome, @BatUtilityBelt. I hope you have a good experience here.