glider18's Wonderful World of Autism

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Hi Batz---I think your post makes a lot of sense. It definitely makes one think. No, I haven't seen that movie, but it sounds like an interesting and worthwhile one to see. It is great to have something to turn to when you feel down. I often get lazy too, but I try not to think of failure---but that is a challenge. The Bible is a wonderfully uplifting book---for I am a Christian too. Keep positive .

Good luck on your story---that is definitely a unique method you have.

I do that too Batz. I even dress like them. It's always the main character of my story.

Batz, have you ever used a tachistoscope (for those who don't know, a device or computer program that allows one to read print or electronic books hands-free)?

When I was in elementary school, the school had a boxy tachistoscope device which automatically projected one line at a time of a book for a set period of time before the next line was displayed. The benefit was not only that students could read hands-free, but it would also train them to move their eyes more quickly while they read, helping to naturally increase reading speed (even for those for whom it's not an overt goal).

If you're interested, you can find freeware/shareware tachistoscopes on the net. I use a PC and the one I use is a freeware program called Reading Acceleration Machine.

Intense Interest:



Pattern recognition is very satisfying to me. As person motivated by creativity, I've found the ability to associate things and patternize makes it easier to quickly brainstorm, explore, and enact new ideas. It seems that everything is connected to everything else, we just have to find out what the glue is.

For me, once one finds out what the "glue" is, it's easy to come up with a conceptual system so one can intuitively prototype and test the idea (as well as ideas sparked by the original idea) in one's mind. My interest in finding the glue in life and connecting various ideas together is the underpinning of everything I enjoy and am intellectually/artistically passionate about. Finding the glue and building idea spires is my special interest. Everything else I've ever done has been the natural outcome of that driving force.

A Few Benefits I've Noticed From AS:

1. I Can Concentrate For Many Hours at a Time When I'm Working on My Interests Or Learning Something

The first video I ever edited was done years before I could afford to buy even an analog video camera. I ended up digitally editing hundreds of scanned in images to make an animation for what became the video for my poem, Correspondences. 14 hours after I started, my first video was done. Then I ate and went to bed.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YYy5fvnc30&feature=PlayList&p=256858D9E4BFF91D&index=0&playnext=1[/youtube]

Another labor intensive project; a paper and wood sculpture named Chysalis that required many hours of bending, tying, and creating the elaborate interior branch infrastructure, followed by more hours of forming and sculpting tissue paper around the frame:

Mixed Media Sculpture: Chysalis (paper, wood)

I would like to make room sized versions of these kind of sculptures so that people could react to them in a more holistic way, paired with ambient sounds and variable lighting to make a nice interplay of light and shadow.

In 1995, I moved the print literary magazine my husband and I had edited since 1991 exclusively to the web after teaching myself HTML by reverse engineering the code of pages I liked on the web. (Back in the days of the NCSA Mosaic web browser).

Keeping my overall goal for the site in mind (I wanted it to be a literary resource that writers and other creative people could use, not just a a magazine). I designed the graphics, organized the information and navigation scheme, then FTPed 300 html pages to my server to launch the website. A few years ago when I ended the project, it was a little above 2000 pages.

2. I Enjoy Thinking Out of the Box to Find Solutions That Make My Life Work Better

Since housing is the most expensive part of most people's budgets, and neither of us want to live a life where we have to work extremely long hours for others just to survive, we've lived in a nice vintage camper for the past few years in a beachside town with a fairly low cost of living.

As a result, instead of paying rent on an apartment, we pay a much smaller parking/electrical hookup fee. Plus, if we need to go anywhere, we can always drive our motorhome there and stay in campgrounds along the way. Even better, the time it takes to do housework/maintenence related tasks in a camper is very short. Right now, we're working on a project that temporaily means we need extra storage space, so we also rent a storage unit. Even so, it's still a lot cheaper than traditional rent. (We do hope to own a small and inexpensive to maintain house one day, though, then retro-fit it to be solar.)

Since there aren't enough hours in the day and life is all too finite, my husband and I haven't owned a TV for many years, a decision that allows us to get more done each day than we otherwise would (especially explore our interests). Once every week or so, we'll either borrow movie DVDs from the library or watch one we own for fun, or we'll go to a discount movie theater.

In the end, it's all about finding flexibility so we can live our real project oriented lives instead of having to rent the bulk of our days out to our corporate overlords in exchange for bits of green paper (which then goes into the hands of landlords, etc.).

Here is an updated list for those of us who see wonderful things in our autism:

Glider18
Garyww
SpongeBobRocksMao
Millie
Pensieve
DeLoreanDude
GeomAsp
BobTheMartian
Inventor
Sunshower
Outlier
Poopylungstuffing
Morgana
Fiddlerpianist
WaterWater
AnAutisticMind
Starr
Scorpileo
ProfessorX
Danielismyname (your poetry is a gift whether you think so or not)
CanyonWind
Sora (I think you have described autistic gifts in your life whether you realize it or not)
Itsallrosie
Gaya
Dustintorch
Ghfreak13579
TheDoctor82
Lionesss
ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo (in finding something positive about social aloofness)
Dianitapilla
Lita101 (I added your name because you stated that you want to find the good things in autism---that is positive)
Batz
Joshandspot
Prim8
SteveeVader
Tory_canuck
Alba
Odin
SplinterStar
Willmark (made comments about figuring out life---perhaps trying to look for the positives?)
Southwestforests (noted an interest in HO scale trains that is satisfying)
Seanmw
DarrylZero
LinnaeusCat

Today I looked through my bookshelf full of fiction and books on writing. I always do this because I have to read a writing book every week, even if I've read it before. So I looked and looked, and all of a sudden I spotted Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques no Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore. "Hmm..." I said to myself as I picked the book from my shelf.

Sorry to say it, but I've haven't even finished reading this book (probably still in part one.) But I know it'll help me in college and writing my saga and short stories. It has tons of info I need on revising, and who knows?--maybe I'll apply an advice from this book into my revising, at least I hope so. So I'll read it for now and continue working on my short story.

Until Next Time!

this was a lousy post

so I will try harder and anyway I have learnt alot since then

as I have said I have a veiw outside of humanity which I find to be a good thing.. I will try to explain.. I see the universe as a mass of entangled and interconnected fibers.. the movement of one thead affects the whole mass... I enjoy having this perspective.

I also enjoy my obsessions, my above average interlect and most of all my uniqueness.

Batz---you are having to read a book a week on writing---I suppose you could learn something from that---but please, keep your style of writing. Let those books inspire you to write your best, but I believe that we that are autistic need to create in our own style. I have acquired a lot of books on writing---I use them more for inspiration to keep on writing and perhaps get a tip here and there---but I must keep my method of writing. And you are strong---and I believe you will continue to adhere to your methods that work---Batz---you do have the gift.

Scorpileo---I am so glad to hear from you---your earlier post was fine---I could tell you saw positives. It is interesting how much we learn the longer we hang around the WP, and the longer we spin around this earth. We are always learning and discovering. I believe I do understand your view of the universe. But you see this in a way that is unique to you---and that is wonderful. I made a thread to WP several months ago about a unique view I have of life. I say this because so many of us with autism have unique ways of looking at things. I am glad you enjoy your obsessions and above average intellect, and as you said, most of all, your uniqueness. You know, that is what I so value about me being autistic---my uniqueness. This uniqueness encompasses all of these traits that makes us who we are---autistic individuals that the world sees as a mystery.

thankyou, but if we are a mystoriy poeple will try to understand but they be frastrated as they cant...

Thanks for the comment Scorpileo. I agree, many people get frustrated because they don't understand autism. Even we who have autism debate over its causes, theories of mind, etc. So yes, it is a mystery. But I know, and you know, that there are things about autism that we do understand---these gifts and special intense interests that so many of us have. And we must never get frustrated over those things. But the psychiatric world tries very hard to figure us out. Even the diagnostic criteria is debated. Do we have language delays? Or is our speech on time? Or is our speech represented with little things like unusual rhythm and metering, etc.? And there are other areas on the criteria that are debated. And which criteria is most accurate since there are multiple diganostic criteria that can be used? I think a reason why we are hard to figure out is because, as it has been said, "You've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." No two of us seem to be alike. We are unique. And we should celebrate that. Keep enjoying your gifts.

Hello Glider, I hope that your doing okay in life and all? I'm doing well as, I'll be starting my new jon soon and I feel intensely anxious and all.Anyways, I don't have a great deal to say unless you wish to mention my constant attempts at trying to be successful with using Twitter.. I'll admit that social-networking sites have never been my strongpoint but, neverless I do try even here on WP I do my best to not wind up lost in the shuffle..
I wish you a most peaceful day now..

Hello ProfessorX, always good to hear from you. I can relate to the new job and anxiety (assuming your "intensely anxious" is anxiety). When I changed jobs at school a couple years ago---wow---talk about anxiety. I was a wreck until I started the job. I guess the change of the routine after having taught English for 19 years was almost too much for me. But now, all is well with the new teaching position I have with the gifted kids---going into my third year with that in a few days as our school year begins. I wish you the best of luck with your new job.

You mention the WP for social networking---I have belonged to forums like roller coaster enthusiasts, etc., but I lost interest in them---but not with the WP. For some reason the WP is different---I truly feel like I belong here. I am just happy to have found a group of people like me (autistic).

I wish you a peaceful day too .

glider18

I really enjoy this thread that you've made. I've thought of making a similar thread, a while back, but I feel that certain members might have flamed me off this site, to the point of no return. I think that you're very brave to have a thread like this. If I post something similar, I get flamed because people think that punk rockers have no feelings. I was never flamed that way, as a 60s type Mod. I'm also very proud of my autism, and I see it as something positive. I don't bully others who have any type of disability, because I know how it feels, myself. I'm also comfortable being myself, and I don't feel the need to conform to society. I guess the thing about my particular AS characteristics, is that I favour an earlier era in modern history, and I'm not afraid to let everybody know. Everybody knows that I like the late 70s, and it doesn't bother me that they do. I admit that my really good part-time job is cleaning litter off parking lots, and that's because I'm not willing to give up having hair spiked with green putty, enough to have a job that is more of that status that our western hemisphere is obsessed with.

Thank you CockneyRebel for your post. It means a lot to me. When I created the thread I really had no idea what kind of responses I would get. I have been very pleased with the number of individuals who have posted that they see positives to their autism. It is great that you are proud of your autism. As it is known at the WP, I am extremely proud of my autism as well. In my new music ministry, I make it known it my personal testimony that I consider my autism as a gift from God. Although I often reveal my Christianity on this site, I respect others' religious beliefs too.

You mentioned an earlier era in modern history. Ohhh---I loved the late 1970s too. I loved the music of that era. The electronic music in the disco music is one of the contributing factors to the obsession I have with synthesizers---resulting in a personal collection of around 30 synthesizers. I respect your punk rocker image---it is important for us to be ourselves.

Here is the new updated list of those of us who see positives in our autism:

Glider18
Garyww
SpongeBobRocksMao
Millie
Pensieve
DeLoreanDude
GeomAsp
BobTheMartian
Inventor
Sunshower
Outlier
Poopylungstuffing
Morgana
Fiddlerpianist
WaterWater
AnAutisticMind
Starr
Scorpileo
ProfessorX
Danielismyname (your poetry is a gift whether you think so or not)
CanyonWind
Sora (I think you have described autistic gifts in your life whether you realize it or not)
Itsallrosie
Gaya
Dustintorch
Ghfreak13579
TheDoctor82
Lionesss
ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo (in finding something positive about social aloofness)
Dianitapilla
Lita101 (I added your name because you stated that you want to find the good things in autism---that is positive)
Batz
Joshandspot
Prim8
SteveeVader
Tory_canuck
Alba
Odin
SplinterStar
Willmark (made comments about figuring out life---perhaps trying to look for the positives?)
Southwestforests (noted an interest in HO scale trains that is satisfying)
Seanmw
DarrylZero
LinnaeusCat
CockneyRebel

An Autful world topic

Have you thought of turning this into a book?

Hi Sartresue, I haven't actually thought about turning this into a book---but that is an interesting suggestion. You have me thinking about that right now. I would have to get everyone's permission that contributed to the thread---but I must admit it does have potential. Thank you for your post.

This weekend is going to be quite a challenge to me that will require bravery on my part. On Saturday, I am playing the organ for a funeral---something I am not that comfortable at doing---but I am capable of doing it well. I have played for one funeral previously, and it came off very well. But still, playing at a funeral is difficult---making sure the volume and balance of the tones is proper. The minister was supposed to send me an intinerary of the funeral, but has yet to do so. Although there are several songs I need to play, I only know of one song so far. So I am a little concerned as to what I am to play. But I am confident all will be fine.

On Sunday, my bravery is really being put to the test. I am performing my music minstry at a larger local area church. The minister will not be there---so I am very much on my own. For the past services I have performed for at other churches---the minister has been present. So this one is a little different. Something else that makes this one different is that the minister has booked me because he wants me to share what autism in my life has done for me. I explained to him about the type of autism I have---Asperger's---and he is quite excited about me talking to the congregation about my life story. In the past services I have done, I have mentioned my autism, but most of the stories involved other people. So now that I am supposed to focus on me---it creates quite an anxious moment. But, I am looking forward to Sunday---I want to do this very much. I have a message to tell and I want to tell it well. I want people to understand that although not all autistic people see/or are aware of gifts in their life, that I have been blessed with gifts, have accepted those gifts, and am using those gifts---and I am trying to use those gifts in the best way that I can.

I believe this is important to those of us who have found gifts in our autistic lives. We should focus on these gifts and find a way to use them. It creates in me a feeling of purpose to use my gifts. Those gifts have come from autism. My childhood was intensely focused on these intense special interests that occupied vast amounts of my time---to the exclusion of potential friendships. But I have no regrets at the lack of a social life then, now, or in the upcoming future. I know what autism has done in my life---and I know what I must do to get through life happy. Yes, it is a challenge, and I have down times, but I must keep on the positive. That is why I try to focus on the positive...on gifts...on special intense interests...on fun things...etc.

Well...anyway, I am in the process of scripting out Sunday's service because I cannot effectively do it without one. I will tell the congregation about how I must script, how social things are a challenge, about my sensory issues, etc., and about gifts. I wish everyone here at the WrongPlanet to discover a purpose in their lives. I know many of you have found purposes as you have told about them. These purposes are often goals that you are trying to meet. But that is good---you have a plan. After years and years, I am finally trying to put a purpose to work in my life---it has taken a lot of courage---but I am making an effort.

Thank you for listening,
glider18