Bill Gates states what has long been suspected

Post Reply New Topic

I can say that for myself. I don't know what's the case with Gates or Musk. But judging from my own example it's not part of the deal. You can have strenghts and talents that helps you dealing with obstacles caused by your autism. It seems to me that when autism is discussed you tend to fall back to the same circular reasoning: "Autistic people are severely handicapped. If you are not severely handicapped you are not actually autistic."

Bill Gates knew he was different. So did his parents. So did his teachers. Had he been growing up today, he says he likely would have been diagnosed as autistic. "Well, when I'm concentrating now, I'll actually sometimes start rocking, which bothers people without my even, you know, sort of being aware of it. I haven't even outgrown that type of behavior. It's a habit. I mean, [my parents] did put me on a rocking horse to help me go to sleep, they put me in a cradle. So, it's definitely their fault!"

Whether he is or isn't on the spectrum matters little, he says: "I mean, even today there's not, like, some magic medicine that gets rid of the bad part and lets you keep the good part."

He writes that his parents took him to therapy, sent him to private school, and tried to unglue him from his books by getting him into sports, like skiing and even football. "I was forced to," Gates said. "There were three teams. There was the varsity, the JV, and then even below JV. And so, we were the lowest tier. And amongst that third tier, I was semi-decent! But that's all that can be said."

In the final pages of his new book "Source Code," Bill Gates acknowledges something those around him have long assumed: that, were he being raised today, he would be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Why it matters: Gates tells Axios he hopes that kids like him will benefit from his sharing this part of himself.

"I think kids [on the autism spectrum] should think of it as a strength and something they need to acknowledge to themselves and think about, OK, how do you draw on it as a strength and be proud of what you're good at," Gates said during a wide-ranging interview.

"I think the world is getting a little better about this. Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, it wasn't as good about this, but I think acknowledging that might be.

Zoom in: Gates credits his mom for pushing him to develop his social skills and encouraging him to talk to adults. "I remember not really liking it, but that was what she wanted me to do," Gates said.

"I was lucky I wasn't pushed to the side in any way," Gates said.

"I definitely think my parents, maybe somewhat unintentionally, because there was no diagnosis, but the way they would explain things to me or push me to socialize was very helpful."

Yes, but: Gates said he wasn't thrilled the first time he was asked whether he might have autism.

"I remember the first time somebody said to me, 'Are you on the spectrum?'" Gates said. "It was like 25 years ago, I remember thinking, 'What the hell? What the hell? I run a goddamn company.' (Laughter.) And then I realized, well, actually, it's probably true. I mean, the spectrum thing is confusing”.

I'm glad but think bei obsessed with is useless..

I am interested but not obsessed. This thread as of this writing is on its second page so WP is not obsessed.

Mmmmh, some did... like say "where's X person certificate for being ASD" and THIS is being too much. Don't believe is too much.
I'm not about you but about the person who banned me from asperger subreddit for had say that, yes, Elon Musk IS asperger not a liar.

Maybe you aren't but people went too far. I condamn this.

Yes, both Elon Musk and Bill Gates and Mark Zuckemberg ARE but people are starting to insult them... maybe YOU but trust me 70% of people aren't as us.

As long as I have been here very successful people saying they are autistic are doubted in part because “something would have been picked up”. Here on WP younger members often implied older members are not autistic for that reason. That was very much resented.

How Bill Gates knew he was different


Something was picked up.

Personal Note:
His childhood history has similarities to mine. After 2nd grade my public school told my parents there is nothing we can do for him either home school him or send him to a private school. I believe they were not advised to institutionalize me because my parents were teachers. My mom found a private school. I did see a psychologist. What if anything she diagnosed me with has been lost to history. If it was autism I wonder if my mom was not told because of the stigma surrounding “refrigerator mothers.” No way to find out, notes and records from 60 years ago are probably long gone. My mom did try and socialize me not with sports so much as a klutzy kid who was the shortest kid in class it was obvious that it was a bad idea.

The much smaller classes were a big help. The insurance ran out, my public school took me back for 5th grade. It was too soon, not fun but obviously I survived.

Something was picked up.

I believe they were not advised to institutionalize me because my parents were teachers.