What was autism called in ancient times?
There you go talking about me again!
Prof_Pretorius
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I'm sure before autism was discovered, people probably either thought they were insane, mentally ill, or really eccentric. Some were probably considered witches in the 1600s. Probably a lot were thrown into asylums needlessly as well. I'm so glad I wasn't around during those times.
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Prof_Pretorius
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Well, in some societies those who might have been Autistic were regarded as seers. I guess the thinking was that they were so different, they must be in touch with the divine.
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I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I feel my fate in what I cannot fear. I learn by going where I have to go. ~Theodore Roethke
I think I may of hit on it, why is there so much folklore about demonically possessed children illustrated well last century by such block buster movies such as the Exorcist and the Omen?. Probably not only with epilepsy by also other childhood conditions such as autism were treated through trepanation If this theory is correct there should be evidence of a high proportion of children's skulls with holes cut in them.
I found a more modern day case of one here . Not trapanation but for one of those so called excorcism rituals on an autistic child.
Paul
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I think it depends on which ancient time we're referring to, and which culture.
Maybe the culture is the more important factor.
I'm sure that there were and are just as many that have seen their autistic and aspie people as prophets, wise men/women, teachers, priests, and oracles as those which have seen them as possessed, witches or ret*ds to be shunned by society.
I bet Jesus was an Aspie. He knew a lot of cool s**t and couldn't get a date...
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There are no stupid questions?
As far as ancient history, I do not know. But, this I do know: My paternal uncle (born in the 1920's) was profoundly autistic, institutionalized his entire life with no contact, and never spoke a word. At that time, he was classified as "childhood schizophrenia," which was, in that era, synonymous with autism!! !
And, my grandfather (a botanical chemist, MD) said (of those in my family afflicted with autism, especially the women): Hysteria. I think he said this since he was influenced by Freud's pioneering work.
Still, I think many Aspies may just be considered eccentric.
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The ones who say “You can’t” and “You won’t” are probably the ones scared that you will. - Unknown
In many northern countries there was a belief that the faeries, landspirits, wee folk or whatever would take away children and replace them with their own. The descriptions of some of these children tally with autism or aspergers- some were mute, some appeared to posess knowledge far beyond their years or had strange fears or habits. Others had some other form of disability, sickness or deformity. In some places and at some times it was permissable to drown or burn the children alive (folk belief dictated that the mothers' real child would be returned if she performed the correct rituals) and the medieval church deemed these children to be "massae carnis" literally lumps of (souless) flesh animated by demons, and condoned their destruction. There are, however, many stories in Scottish folklore (probably in other contries as well) about these children or their descendants becoming great seers, healers or smiths.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/britchange.html
Really they should approach autism without applying any of their values, as it seems their blinded that we are disabled Extroverted people, most people don't accept that their is such a thing as Introverted, if one can not remove they value system you will always be blinded by your own values, own kind, & own dilution of everyone using the same system, 1 thing might mean something to you than another person might not care, they always want to protect their value system, you either throw information out, don't listen at all, only take in what you want to hear or take action to prove its true while it would be true with the lack of effort put in or closed as they can't find anything else and apply it to they own value system as been right... This can happen in the same group under the false of everyone having the same right and wrong, this is where the term remove yourself & place yourself in someone else’s shoes (you can't do it if you apply your value system to them and not just approach it with a open ended super gate of possible outcomes than apply your own and then approach as the person will always disagree with you or correct you then they will insult you as you think your always right...
An extroverted person explaining an introvert
An AS persons view on a biased contrary perspective:
1. atheist/agnostic tendencies
SO? NTs make it EASY with hypocrisy, etc...
2. unconcerned with public image
Why should we be concerned with how they percieve us? They obviously aren't fair with US
3. lower energy level
YEAH RIGHT!(sarc) Have they really seen an AS person at their best?
4. does not value tradition
Why should WE value THEIRS ANYWAY? Frankly, I value tradition a LOT! I like the idea of marriages, respect, personal space, etc... Maybe THEY should learn what the word TRADITION means!
5. avoidant
And we should just stand and take it? NO THANKS!
6. does not put the welfare of others above self
Actually, I DO, if they aren't selfish, etc...!
7. not punctual
YEAH, I used to get to places too early, and leave work too late. SO???
8. unproductive
See #7!
9. does not believe in human goodness
Well, I once DID! They say AS people are supposed to be innocent and gullible. I guess that was a symptom.
10. not easily moved to tears
So what purpose does THAT serve?
11. seldom bothered by the suffering of strangers, insensitive to the needs of others
Well, I USED to be! I still am to a degree.
12. relaxed, quiet around strangers
YEAH! These are GOOD things!
13. tendency to believe only in self
Wasn't it an NT that said "If you want something done right, do it yourself"?
14. people have trouble reading them but they don't care
And what right do they have to even ATTEMPT that? The last person to "try" nearly got me fired. NEXT time, I'll get the A.D.A on them!
15. late finishing work
YEAH RIGHT!(sarc) I'm usually the FIRST done!
16. acts without planning
I don't even go to the store without planning which shelf I will go to!
17. withdrawn
OK, you got me there! 8-(
18. rarely too busy
And that's a BAD thing?
19. not a perfectionist
I USED to be! NTs broke me of that habit.
20. uncooperative
See above!
21. not prone to complimenting people
I DO, when they deserve it!
22. does not believe in life after death
See #1
23. avoids crowds
WOW, that's a BAD thing?
24. prefers unpredictable to organized
YEAH right! (sarc)
25. not passionate about bettering the world's condition
I'd LOVE to! I EVEN almost wrote a letter to carter to tell him how to solve a lot of problems, and it would have gotten him a second term AND prevented 9/11!! !! !! ! I figured he wasn't serious, and aborted the attempt!
BTW I credit CARTER with making me a republican, and my first political action was to try to PREVENT carters reelection! I guess others felt the same way!
26. does not second guess self
HEY, I'm open to accpting new info!
27. able to control cravings, calm in crisis
HEY, more GOOD stuff!
28. ambivalent to the feelings of others
See above!
29. believes in the importance of art
Where do they get THIS from?
30. dislikes small talk, socially uncomfortable, private
YEP, that makes us introverts. 8-(
31. not known for generosity
Actually, I HAVE been. After paying THOUSANDS personally, and 10s of thousands to charities, I'm THROUGH!
32. acts without consulting others
Actually, I consult with others too much.
33. hard to get to know
TRY HARDER!! !! !
34. not easily frustrated, interested in intellectual pursuits, not open about feelings
WOW, MORE good stuff!
35. loner
See thirty!
36. asks many questions, open to change
HUH? You contradict 32!
37. influenced more by self than others
ANOTHER good thing!
38. bored at work
Most NTs ARE, and most AS people AREN'T if they love their job!
Steve
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