Aussies Unite - A forum for any Aussie Aspies

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Welcome Caz77 to the funny farm.

You must bear in mind that I evolved from the days when the definition of a real computer was one you could walk into. The days when we wore half length white coats at work, with a pocket stuffed with pens and the essential 6in guessing stick (slide rule). For more accuracy I had a 10in slide rule in my desk drawer, and a book of five-place logarithm tables. Still got the book but slide rules long gone, and I can still use the log tables.

A proper computer was "Big Iron" and was manufactured by the Itsy Bitsy Machine company or one of the BUNCH. The BUNCH being Burroughs, Univac, NCR, Control Data or Honeywell. Fairchild were making a lot of IC's at the time and there was a suggestion that they were going to merge with Honeywell, with the new company being named Fairwell Honeychild.

Tektronix was the most fun. As a Sales Eng, my people skills (Aspie) were atrocious, but did I know the kit - wow. On one occasion I went out to sea from Sydney in an Oberon class submarine with a Tek Spectrum Analyser to check the vessel for detectable emitted EMF. Also did a lot of development work with the Tek Transient Digitizer R7912 hooked into a PDP/11-05 using FFT's - Fast Fourier Transforms, which ended up being used by MIT.

Back in the early days there were four single chip processors. The Intel 8080, Motorolla 6800, Zilog Z80 and the big beasty the Texas Instuments TMS9900. I got to play with all four at different times. Still think PC's are toys that I get to play with everyday.

Alison

Don't be deterred by the computer geeks... some of us are still connected to Earth.

I had never even seen a computer up close until about 5 years ago. When I first got acquainted with the infernal machine I determined that if I was to get along with it I'd have to go to a neurosurgeon, have the practical part of my brain removed and replaced with something that responds to beeps and flashes

Oh my God, does that bring back memories. "Programming the Z80" was the book I had.

I can still see the cover!

Thank you for the welcome. I am just trying to work out how to "drive" the WP forums. Maybe someone can help this newbie?

How do I quote someone? I just hit the "quote" button but then I wasn't sure how to proceed.

Can I reply to a particular post further up on a topic or will my posting automatically just appear as the next posting at the end of a thread?

I'm not really as computer illiterate as I might appear right now Having said that, I know nothing about coding, gaming etc. I would LIKE to know about coding. I think if I was a generation younger, I would definitely have been a computer geek. As it is, I have received a LOT of bad advice over the years such that I'm now in a bit of a pickle in that I'm finishing off a degree which I will never use. Once it's done, I will be turning my attention to trying to get educated in a field that may actually lead to employment.

Caz

When you hit the Quote button WP copies the whole of the posting to the reply box where you can then delete irrelevant quoted text and add a response. I always "preview" before posting to make sure I haven't inadvertently deleted anything I shouldn't have.

You can respond to any previous comment, and by quoting it readers will know what you are responding to.

As for your previous posting re: loneliness, it's worth noting that all so-called "support" organisations are run by parents of brats with ASD, and who care little for older Aspies.

Hugs Alison

And welcome, Caz.

I also live in Sydney, and so does ImAnAspie.

By my rough reckoning - based on 1% of the population being on the spectrum, and Sydney and Melbourne having at least 4 million inhabitants each - there should be something like 40,000 people of all ages on the spectrum in each of those two cities. In theory, it should be possible for some kind of get together of interested people in one or both of those places - a meeting of Aspies, organised by Aspies, for Aspies (adults and late teens?).

Something fairly ambitious of, by, and for Aspies has been done overseas: http://www.autscape.org/

There was a similar annual event in America (Autreat) but it ran into major difficulties in 2013 - something of a community meltdown.

There are a few groups for Aspie adults around Sydney - some (most??) of them are small groups with a psychologist hovering in the background.

I have been to programming conferences where a lot of other Aspies were present. And I am aware of other activities (like medieval reenactment groups) where quite a few Aspies are involved (fancy being a medieval knight? there are both men and women in armour) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_reenactment_in_Australia. Gatherings involving cosplay are another activity with a significant number of Aspie participants. There are also very informal networks of Aspies based around families with many members on the spectrum - I am know one which I tap into to some extent.

I guess the question is: are there any achievable ways we can make it convenient for Aspies to meet other Aspies? I am working on one such project, but it is targeted at high school students. I also know of a similar project to mine, but on a much larger scale (and not run by Aspies, as far as I am aware): http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/349778,got-it-skills-want-to-help-kids-with-aspergers-and-autism-sign-up-for-the-lab.aspx

I am not an organiser of other people, but I would be prepared to work with others on the spectrum to improve ways that Aspies can meet people like themselves. The stuff that I am currently doing is giving a couple of Aspie students a chance to spend time with an Aspie adult who has the same special interests (e.g. programming). While the student learns programming, they also get the opportunity to interact with someone like themselves - an experience that NTs easily take for granted. The school is very happy with the social benefits, as well as with the coaching in computer skills.

I am aware, though, that there are a lot of Aspies who have left school and have no network for connecting with other people, especially with fellow Aspies - people who think and socialise and express emotions in the same way that they do.

Hi,

I have built and operate a "social media" kind of website which is slowly gathering support in Melbourne for the Oz Aspie community, at http://www.aspergies.com. It enables the formation of both public and private groups with all the functionality of facebook/twitter. Groups can run their own forums, polls, organise events and note attendance, share documents, etc.

Currently it runs on a Linux webserver in my lounge using Annex M, which is adequate for low traffic. If it takes off I will move it to a commercial host.

The real problem though is getting visibility within the "Aspie community" - marketing it to people who could use it. The site is currently supporting a small group of Melbourne Aspie women who meet regularly in the city via a private group - not visible to non-group members.

Any of you Sydney types are more than welcome to give it a whirl. Just mention in reasons for joining this post. Just register on the site, have a look around and let me know if it might help.

Alison

Yes - it is a circular problem. The people who are isolated, who most need such a network, cannot be easily identified and contacted to join one.

I was able to connect up with one or two Aspie students because I knew a couple of special ed teachers. After Aspie students leave school, though, they would mostly lose contact with special ed teachers I think. Schools don't connect them up to the Aspie community online, for example, or other community resources. It is - I assume - "sink or swim" after they leave school - or drift. I remember that time of life, which is why I would like to see something better happen.

As far as I can tell, the only places where Aspies are contactable as Aspies, outside of forums like this, are clinics (psychologists and psychiatrists) and schools. Getting a lot of those institutions (almost always run by NTs) to urge their Aspies to be involved in supportive, Aspie-based networks sounds like an uphill job.

My own plan - a sort of transition to retirement career - is gradually to expand my school-based activities. Maybe set up a computer club at the school (lunchtime or after hours) and such a club eventually might even be able to get Aspie students from nearby schools through the special ed grapevine. This is a mid-range plan, though - over a few years. At the moment I am transitioning from working with one student to working with two - and that is going to be quite an experiment on its own. I work part time (transition to retirement) and do the school stuff one day a week at the moment. The school itself has been very supportive and appreciative.

Hello all, (Welcome, Caz77!)

I'm also new to this forum, but have been reading posts for a while. I'm 24 and from Perth and my partner encouraged to speak on here because I often complain that I'm feeling "lonely but overstimulated". Do any of you know what I mean? You'd really like to be-in-the-world-with-others, but every time they spontaneously scratch their leg, you want to tell them to be quiet because the noise rips through you? After a while, you start to feel like you're not very nice company for others

I'm a psychology student, but while I'm on holidays, I'm mostly watching Test Cricket and playing Sims 4. Waiting impatiently for my favourite TV shows to start again after the Christmas break, and lamenting the Perth heat.

I'm not a particularly social person (because it's bloody tiring and NTs are too unpredictable), but I spend tonnes of time with my partner, Ben. I'm also part of a very closely-knit family. Sometimes you just want to talk with other Aspies though!! As I am getting my diagnosis quite late in life (same old story for most girls), my family and friends are getting used to the side of my personality that I kept hidden. The other day when Mum asked me if I liked her new shoes, and I said they were okay, but I don't really like circles (they have a circle detail). She laughed. I also claimed to my partner that "allen keys are the insects of the tool world". He also laughed. I love being able to express myself more genuinely/authentically, but am still getting used to the responses

If anyone would like to chat, I don't have Facebook (was too obsessed with MySpace, and couldn't trust myself in the anti-social network) but I'm more than happy to use email.

Take care,
Sophie.

Hi all,
It is very nice to meet you all and thanks for the guidance in how to use the WP forums. It is good to know I'm not alone in my struggle to find social contacts. I don't feel I want to at this stage, have a lot of face-to-face contact with people. I enjoy online communication. In my current FB group, I have met up with a few people just for coffee or lunch when they have happened to be in my area or vice-versa. I find that that has worked really well. It is nice to put a face to the name, but isn't an ongoing thing. I'm not sure that I would actively seek out a face-to-face aspie group. To be honest, I'm not sure WHAT I want right now. But I am enjoying connecting on WP
Caz

Hi I'm in Newcastle

Geez, Clari, sorry to hear that. <giggle>

Welcome to WP.

Lived there (Merewether) for six months during the Sydney Olympics - had just returned from the UK and too expensive to rent in Sydney.

Hugs Alison (Now a Melbournite)

Townsville !

Melbourne Age headline "Woman shot at Hungry Jack's had Asperger's syndrome".

I don't see the relevance of her having Asperger's. Hopefully none of those here go around waving kitchen knives at the police. As for the police shooting her, I shake my head in disgust. The one who did it must have felt very brave taking on a 22 year old girl with his gun.

Hi all.
Sydney here!
22 yo and diagnosed with Aspergers last year.
I'm looking for services that could provide social skills training, making friends...does anyone know a professional that provides this? That's at least not costly?

Get past it, fella. 'Sperger's is a gift not a curse. Social skills and all that is just a mind-trap. But! if that's what you want............................................