Herding Cats?

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While talking to a clinical psychologist last week I mentioned the local AS group I'm setting up, she immediately replied "that's all very well but you'll find it like HERDING CATS". Am I a fool to think that aspies can work co-operatively for a common goal? Am I going to get a nasty scratch? How can I avoid a visit from the RSPCA? Fair comment or MeowMeow?

Hi Snowy,

Just do it, what do you have to lose? I do find aspie-to-aspie clashes, but I have found ways around it. Your psycho person obviously doesn't know much about cats

Last edited by Weirdobird on 27 Oct 2007, 2:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Hmm, just remembering some group projects I've been involved in with probably a couple of aspies at least in too! And if not killed off by procrastination,people changing their minds , and paralysing conflict between almost everybody about minute questions of detail, before even starting anything , then yes I think it's possibly going to be "interesting"! ! In the past the only groups of aspies types that i saw stick together we consumed a lot of alcohol and mj!!

Good luck , though!! Sounds fun!! If I was in England would love to come!!

Anyone who says cats can't be herded isn't speaking the truth. It can be done - I've done it. I know others who have trained cats to obey via whistle and command and given the trust and bond that must exist between human and feline - the cat ~will~ gather in formation.

This guy is my hero btw - he's got the gift - [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLEA1BgJ6YQ[/youtube]

Well, there we go, alcohol,mj and trust (and a whistle). should be interesting. I have noticed though quite heated arguments developing on WP and AFF, seemingly leading people falling out & even threatening libel actions. Anyone got any perspectives on this?

I think the main ingredient is believing in yourself and your talent - in this case *herding the seemingly unherdable*and just going out there and showing the world what you've got.

how is that like herding cats? it'd be great to herd cats,especially if it meant being able to herd them all home.


jjstar,
great cats in that video.

Cats can work cooperatively for a common goal - you'll see that with barn cats alot.

There is a local group in my city and it does seem that while very unorganized, everyone still seems to enjoy it.

Hehe, I told someone the exact same thing on here :]. Starting an AS group is like herding cats.

Actually, she's a bit wrong. Aspergians are notorious for being able to relate almost normally with other Aspergians. It is nuanced, though. You'll have to get used to that. For example, expecting Aspies to understand the idea of "pecking order" is unlikely to do you any good. Aspies are more likely to bow to procedure than to human, I think. We don't socialize extensively under normal circumstances, so we need to have a technique, a method, to replace this. An intellectual tool that allows for socialization. Just as NTs need special techniques for keeping track of numbers, we may need special techniques for keeping track of social functions. To get your fellow Aspies to swallow this, they'll have to be made to understand the practical value of being able to work in concert.

Perhaps pass around some object, a fetish, to keep track of whom is supposed to be speaking and when. Instate time limits for speech, enforced using a stopwatch. Whatever social deficits are likely in autism, compensate for them using tools, physical or abstract. This capability is what sets us apart from rodents.

Last edited by Griff on 27 Oct 2007, 3:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Oh... I thought you meant "hoarding cats", as in how some people compulsively collect cats.

Next time you see him, tell him you've got a lot of tuna cans and the herding has begun ^_~

That's pretty short sighted of her.

Huh. Herding cats... never thought of it that way...

I have A HERD of cats, much to the dismay of my BF.

We have a little AS group thats just starting here in Vegas. I missed the first meeting, but I am going to this one. I've not met other aspies before, so I'm hoping that since we all think somewhat alike, they will comprehend my dislike of eye contact and my insane sensitivity to loud popping noises.

And I just remembered we're going bowling. Balls hitting pins... not a happy sound to me, but not really lethal either. I'll let you know how this cat herding goes though!

That was blinking fascinating, fantastic, cool and wonderful all at the same time.