Optimism and Reality: Goldfish21 Response to me

Post Reply New Topic

Kraftie, when I read the data again I see an issue with it. It tells us what but it doesn't tell us how those who are employed became employed. We have this data missing.

I think I may have a cognitive bias with this data. Confirmation bias. GF, I do value logic and reasoning which is why I admit my bias and need more info for this data.

When I see the "80%" figure, I am thinking that this is "80% of autistic people," rather than "80% of people with Asperger's/High-Functioning autism." Often within studies which use autistic subjects, the "functioning level" of these subjects are not referred to. The only commonality stated for these subjects is that they have been officially diagnosed with autism.

It has been stated in multiple publications that at least a third of people diagnosed with autism do not acquire any functional speech. This creates a serious barrier to employment, even with all the Augmentative/Alternative communication devices in use.

There's at least one person on WP who communicates at his job through one of those devices. He is a customer service representative. In the future, it is probable that the barriers to employment will lessen; but, as of now, lack of verbal speech is still a great barrier to employment and self-sufficiency.

Kraftie, so what do you think my friend? Think I should try some of GF's solutions including probiotics and the epsom salt foot soaks? What if he is telling the truth and what if these things really, really work?

Oh, didn't you say those personality tests are for retail jobs?

I would research all these things carefully and thoroughly before I try any of these.

It worked for Goldfish. It might not work for you. But if it does work for you----that would be grand!

And, if I choose to adopt these things, I would't go full-throttle until I've had a least a few months "trial period."

I would transition to these things slowly.

If there's any allergic reaction ANY TIME, discontinue it immediately.

Here is another question. How many parents went through the mainstreaming process with their kids and in the end it didn't work and those kids have to claim SSDI anyway? And, what should those parents do if mainstreaming fails? What backup plan should they have? Institutionalize them or group home them?

There is no thought or consideration in our society to what happens something fails because we're all expected to be positive and have confidence that we won't. Maybe instead of optimism why not have Defensive Pessimism instead? Look at the differing negatives and attempt to mitigate them.

What happens if something does go wrong? Then what?

No one’s life goes perfectly as planned. Everyone just rolls with the punches and adapts to change. If things don’t work out, people do something different. It’s as simple as that.

Some people have well thought out contingency or backup plans, possibly even more than one. Others do not and just go with the flow as they’re comfortable winging it and not having a solid plan A let alone B or C.

Just because things might not work out as planned is no justification for not even trying.

Even if it affects one mental and/or physical health?

Even if.

Nothin worth doing is easy.

I’m not the most accomplished man alive by any stretch of the imagination, but do you think I’ve achieved what I have with zero mental or physical stress?

I’ve been stressed to my breaking point - especially when my capacity to cope with stress was far lower than it is now. I’ve been tired, sore, physically exhausted.. but yet I persist & carry on because whatever doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger.

People don’t succeed at accomplishing their goals by staying inside their cushy comfort zones. IMO, most of us don’t even know what our limits are, as once we push ourselves beyond them we realize we can push ourselves even further than that and so many more possibilities and so much more potential open up.

Sometimes it takes being very uncomfortable, mentally and/or physically, to have a breakthrough & succeed at something. That’s just the way goals work. If it didn’t require work & discomfort to achieve something it probably wasn’t that good of a goal to pursue in the first place.

Ok, when I mean affecting one's mental or physical health I mean having a nervous breakdown and/or it gets so bad one is put into insane asylum. For physical, I mean keeping going until one has a stroke or heart attack. If one runs oneself to that then how can one run anymore. Your way kills the golden goose.

What a bunch of ridiculous hyperbole!

How many people work at something until they go nuts and get locked up in an asylum?

How many people work at something until they drop dead of a heart attack?

Answer to both: Almost zero.

Since you love stats: The statistical probability of either happening is approaching zero. It’s technically possible but so far fetched it’s an absurd justification not to try.

My way accomplishes objectives and successfully achieves goals. It doesn’t put people in the looney bin or 6 feet under.

I was using figurative language to make a point. Should one continue to play the same game no matter how detrimental it is to him even if it gets to the point that person wants to put a gun to his head and pull the trigger? (I'm not saying I want to do that) That's the point. When is enough enough?

You remind me of a literary character in a famous story called Moby Dick. His name was Captain Ahab. He became so consumed with catching that stupid, giant, white whale that he ended up killing himself and his own crew. Or Wily E. Coyote who comes up with all sorts of elaborate schemes and traps that he constantly orders from ACME Inc. I know it's a cartoon but in real life when does the costs start to outweigh the benefits. And, if I continue how much money will I have to spend to more certifications, classes, job coaches etc etc?

Listen to this song by Kenny Rogers.

You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDwCMxPwJ_4

There comes a point in time that one has to realize one has been dealt a bad hand (some have worse hands), fold, and walk away. And, if one has no idea how to play poker, the rules makes no sense when one tries to look them up online and no one will sit down and explain them then I make the claim that every hand is a bad hand even if it is a good hand. This whole idea of never calling it quits no matter the stakes is completely preposterous and comes from a cult like society in which its values are never open to question and criticism.

I said it already.. stop doing the same things and expecting different results. Try new things. Acknowledge that your health is your constraint & focus on it via diet and exercise. Change yourself and you change everything.

Should I have given up and eaten a shotgun 6 years ago when I was at my worst? My life was a downward spiral for more than a decade.. but you know what? That spiral ended up winding so tight it became a spring & when I hit rock bottom I had nowhere to go but straight f*****g up. No f*****g way I was going to allow that hot mess to be the rest of my life.

Kinda funny that you asked kraftie if doing healthy things is advisable. Epsom salts, probiotics, apple cider vinegar, oregano oil, garlic, tumeric etc all of the things I've used over the years are all commonly sold at grocery stores & pharmacies because they're good for you. It's not like I suggested people make up some bathtub meth & fire up a pipe or something. I posted my story about becoming so imbalanced & how balancing myself w/ herbal remedies, minerals, and probiotics has increased my functioning level big time.

Has it ever snowed in Vancouver in April?

Ok Gf, I think I understand what you mean by giving up. What I mean by giving up is trying to give up getting a job and playing that game. I mean switching to something else as you said.

You know what. I'm going to do more research on the priobiotics and talk to other members of my family and see what they say. I'm eating tons of veggies as well and I do eat bananas and apples. I have made an effort to really cut out bad foods like McDonalds or subway. I do have a bag of epsom salt I bought when I had a cold. It has a mint flavored scent. Is that useless for me or can I get away with it having a cent? I don't want to feel like I wasted my money on it.

I'm game though on what you're saying. I could try the foot soaks, exercise, diet and probiotics and see what happens.

Doubtful. Not in Vancouver proper from 1981-2010, but a dusting across the bridge in North Vancouver:

https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/ ... -april.php

It almost doesn't snow IN Vancouver at all.. it's only a few days or weeks per Winter that there's typically snow on the ground in the city. Snow falls on the Coast Mountains, and almost everywhere else in BC, but very little in the city of Vancouver.

Your long term goal may be to work again still, but my point is that you've got to be prepared and employable by looking after your own health first and foremost. This obviously assumes that I am correct in that your overall health & symptoms are what constrain you from being able to work/get work. That's why I suggest you focus on it. It's also how I enabled myself to get back to work - focusing on self improvement/health first.

Maybe your family know something about probiotics, or maybe like most people they don't really know what they are or what they do and that they just sound somehow related to antibiotics. All I'm saying with that is that maybe your family aren't the best to advise you on probiotic supplements if they don't even know what they are and that they do more than just aid in digestion. There's plenty of info online and you could always ask your doctor.

Mint is high in salicylate acids, the very type of food acids that epsom salts are used to help decrease in the body.. soo, while they won't be useless, they may not be quite as effective as just plain salts if you're also absorbing some acids from the mint at the same time. If that's all I had I'd use it and then next time just get plain epsom salts which cost less than $10 for around 10lbs and last for quite a long time if you're mixing a pinch with water and rubbing it onto your skin vs. putting a few cups at a time into a foot soak.

Worst case scenario is that by trying these things you'll be a bit healthier. Best case is that they also help control symptoms that ail you. It's a no lose situation, IMO.