Article-Undiagnosing Einstein, Gates, Jefferson by J Mitchel

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This is exactly the point. Fitzgerald diagnosed me and I have read some of his books and I naturally see a professor who is respected by many as being a better authority than some miserable autistic who has clearly "failed" at life. Temple Grandin and Donna Williams are two people who I would listen to and respect because they have succeeded despite their autism and they aren't inherently negative about the condition as a result. And I apologise to those who think "failed" might be too harsh.

Last edited by corroonb on 24 Aug 2008, 6:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mitchell's failure is to have given-up. He needs some happy pills, a course of CBT, a job and a wife.

I certainly agree with the "undiagnosis" of Albert Einstein. He was obsessive and absent-minded, but he was also very social, seemed to have good social intuition, and was rather smooth with women.

It's not that I don't think people with Asperger's can't (or haven't) done absolutely great things, but I don't think Einstein was one of them (though Newton seems like a very likely candidate).

The authors anecdote about Einstein deciding at the age of two to forgo speech until he had mastered it points to Einstein BEING autistic.

Maybe the author should gain some familiarity with babies. Normal two year olds are impulse driven, not known for rational long term planning.

The author is questioning whether that anecdote is true at all, based on what Einstein's family said. Personally I'm rather skeptic that anybody would have such distinct memories of such a young age, Dali's claim to remember his mother's womb notwithstanding.




Yeah, contrary to the stereotype of physicists, some have been very good with women, like Schrodinger and Feynman, even by NT standards. From what little I know of his biography, I agree that Newton sounds more plausible (or maybe social anxiety?), but it's impossible to tell for sure.

Who is this "Dali?" I have a similar memory. I've never mentioned it, 'cause I figured everyone would think I'm crazy...

I remember back to 2 and even a bit before then, and I always find it weird that people are skeptical of that. It is what it is. I remember things nobody ever told me about, and I remember thoughts that went through my head, I remember my dreams, and other things that nobody but me would have any way of knowing.

I think the article is spot on.

It's understandable that ASDers want to claim celebrities in their favoured fields (Einstein, Gates) as one of their own.

It's just as he contends : that ASDers claim these people as their own because it makes them feel better about the way they are.
It's simple recruitment of AS role models.
Nothing wrong with that - but it's so massively conjectural.

It's hard enough to ascertain the Aspidity of many people seeking diagnosis.

How much harder to remotely diagnose the dead and those who seek no diagnosis ?

What he says makes a LOT of sense.
Aspergics really AREN'T salesmen - so how could Gates have been so successful as one ?

I know someone autistic who worked in sales, and was very good at it. She memorized the entire content of the store she worked in, and went out of her way to match people with exactly the items they wanted.

Store ?
That's great - but not really the definition of a salesman.

Salesmen have to charm their prospective clients.
Shop assistants don't - the customer's already in the store and there to buy something on offer.

Not the same job.

I'm skeptcal, even about my own memories. It just seems so unlikely. But who is this "Dali?" Someone from WP?

That is not my motive at all. I don't want or need a role model. History is always re-written by the victors and is biased. I want a re-write, for practical reasons and for PR reasons. The popular perception is that that Autism is always some terrible disability, and this is the excuse for the genocide.

Salesmen need to sell. The method is not the point. Whether they choose to be slimy and dishonest is secondary. The slimyness is often unnecessary and even counterproductive.

You honestly believe that NT's want to commit genocide on the LIVING autistic population ?

No, what I meant was that being a salesman would be a much greater stretch for an Aspie than being a shop assistant.

"Genetic counseling" = abortion = genocide. Not good for the future of the world.
Can you say "The Marching Morons"?
(1951 Sci-Fi Cyril M. Kornbluth. I always thought it was by Ray Bradbury, but I just looked it up.)

Last edited by Tahitiii on 25 Aug 2008, 6:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

Dali is Salvador Dali a well known, if odd and dead, artist. Google is your friend.

Why not ?

What has Autism contributed to the lives of those afflicted and their families ?

A very great deal of misery and suffering.

Funny, I thought the world already had enough of that.
But clearly not enough for you and your like.

Have some consideration for human suffering why not ?
Instead of letting warped pride get in the way.

My "suffering" comes mainly in the form of NT being w*kers. I don't think this would be justification for me to have been murdered while in the womb. If we use my "suffering" as a justifcation for extermination, perhaps jews, blacks, gays and the just plain ugly will be next in line. Perhaps anyone that is victimised by the majority should be culled to save their suffering.