The Geek Syndrome

Wired Magazine ^ | December 2001 | Steve Silberman

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Autism - and its milder cousin Asperger's syndrome - is surging among the children of Silicon Valley. Are math-and-tech genes to blame?

Nick is building a universe on his computer. He's already mapped out his first planet: an anvil-shaped world called Denthaim that is home to gnomes and gods, along with a three-gendered race known as kiman. As he tells me about his universe, Nick looks up at the ceiling, humming fragments of a melody over and over. "I'm thinking of making magic a form of quantum physics, but I haven't decided yet, actually," he explains. The music of his speech is pitched high, alternately poetic and pedantic - as if the soul of an Oxford don has been awkwardly reincarnated in the body of a chubby, rosy-cheeked boy from Silicon Valley. Nick is 11 years old.

[babble-on]

"They're reproducing at a much higher rate!" LOL!

Nerds,wimps, geeks, introverts... oh wait: Geniuses!

[ikanakattara]

Actually, Pokemon WAS invented by a guy who sounds very ... interesting. I can't recall his name, but he was far fonder of collecting bugs and reverse-engineering Game Boy games than paying attention to school. I read a bio of him in one of the game developer magazines, and talk about being "on the spectrum."

[Incorrigible]

Bump

[Incorrigible]

Broadening the Autism spectrum the way this article does, is really not that helpful to children and adults who have seriously debilitating Autism.

However, by making it more broad, it becomes a bigger constituency that can lobby for more resources from private foundations and (shudder) the government.

Being the father (and coincidently being an engineer) of a 3 year old Autistic boy, I know first hand the struggles of finding resources.

However, the alternative thinking with respect to Autism certainly doesn't appeal to me either:

When Even the Churches Abandon the Helpless [FreeRepublic activism works]

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This article makes me afraid to have kids.

[CheneyChick]

God bless you and your special son.

CC :)

[Leto]

IT takes all kinds of people and many skill sets to create a functioning society. The description of the functional autistic sounds a bit like Einstein. They world would be a poorer place without the geeks.

[Porath]

-This is the best article I've ever read on the subject. Thanks for posting it.

[dead]

Thanks for the ping. Bump for later reading (off to a meeting)

[rejoicing]

Execellent post! Thank you.

[SlickWillard]

Still an iconoclast, Siegel questions whether a "cure" for autism could ever be found. "The genetics of autism may turn out to be no simpler to unravel than the genetics of personality. I think what we'll end up with is something more like, 'Mrs. Smith, here are the results of your amnio. There's a 1 in 10 chance that you'll have an autistic child, or the next Bill Gates. Would you like to have an abortion?'"

Neatly tucked away at the end of the article...

[Slyfox]

There is a big debate in the world of autistism. Some people seem to think that the onset is due to a reaction to vaccinations and it's effect on the some internal system, can't remember which one it is right now, something like the intestines or something. There was a whole debate in Congress also. Dan Burton I think lead the charge.

Hey, don't be afraid of having kids.

[JMJ333]

Thanks for the flag--and marked for later reading. :)

[JMJ333]

They just don't get it do they? In their narrow God-less world people with any form of disability are in danger of being aborted because they aren't "perfect." Don't you love how they want to determine who gets to live and doesn't? Forget about the worth of each individual! Life has been devalued to the point that humanity has lost its sanctity. Zeig Heil!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Individuals with autism usually exhibit at least half of the traits listed below. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and vary in intensity from symptom to symptom. In addition, the behavior usually occurs across many different situations and is consistently inappropriate for their age.

Difficulty in mixing with other children			Insistence on sameness; resists changes in routine
Inappropriate laughing and giggling			No real fear of dangers
Little or no eye contact			Sustained odd play
Apparent insensitivity to pain			Echolalia (repeating words or phrases in place of normal language)
Prefers to be alone; aloof manner			May not want cuddling or act cuddly
Spins objects			Not responsive to verbal cues; acts as deaf
Inappropriate attachment to objects			Difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words
Noticeable physical overactivity or extreme underactivity			Tantrums - displays extreme distress for no apparent reason
Unresponsive to normal teaching methods			Uneven gross/fine motor skills. (May not want to kick ball but can stack blocks.)

Please note this symptom list is not a substitute for a full-scale diagnostic assessment.

[afraidfortherepublic]

The description of the functional autistic sounds a bit like Einstein.

Many authorities claim that Einstein had Asbergers Disease (high functioning form of autism). Others dispute this finding.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Please include my precious grandson in your blessings...

[afraidfortherepublic]

My grandson exhibits 13 of the symptoms described in varying degrees.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

My grandson exhibits 13 of the symptoms described in varying degrees.

To Heck with your grandson! I think I exhibit ALL of them to varying degrees!!!