My view on the "we are next step of evolution" thi

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I've seen this mentioned a few times and just read a thread about it. Just to make things clear, I'm not sure I believe any of this, but I think it's a interesting and unique (as far as I know, anyway) take on it.

Most people who bring this up think it's true because we are somehow "better". I disagree, but I do think we may become more apt for the world of the future. Why? Well, we are becoming more and more dependent on technology as every day passes, with everything being turned into a gadget with a computer chip in it. The world is undoubtedly heading for a much more technological future.

Now, who are the best at logic and technology (in general)? Who think so logically they can think like computers do? Who can learn pretty much anything and become obsessed with it?

What billionaire who made his fortune in computers is thought to have Asperger's?

Yes, as the world becomes more focused on technology, we will become more useful. We will get more jobs, we will be more successful, so it seems logical to assume that, if that happens, we will eventually at least be the majority of people (even if that does take thousands of years).

What do you think? It's a interesting thought, methinks.

What technology is doing is allow for the polarization of human beings as a species. It's what allows AS people to remain without social skills (because they interact with machines and no longer need to interact face-to-face with other people), and also allows NT people to remain illogical (because they have machines to do the logical processing for them).

While I agree that we seem to be heading towards a highly technological future, is this really a healthy thing? For people to no longer address their weaknesses, with the hope that if they boost their strengths that their weaknesses will hopefully be forgotten? The human being is a collection of systems, not just a logical processing machine but also a biological and emotional machine (even if that emotion is fear), and this collection works in unison to determine your outlook on life, your actions, etc.. And as a collection, you are only as strong as the weakest part of you. As an analogy, you can plug as much RAM into a computer as you want, but the overall enjoyment from a video game is still gonna suck if you continue using a VGA monitor!

The bottom line is that technology is a crutch, no more and no less. Technology can be very enabling especially to those who once had certain abilities but lost them (e.g. prosthetic limbs), but overdependence on technology will make us weaker, as our inherent skills and capabilities will atrophy. The latter is not healthy, and overdependence on something artificial like technology will put human society in a very precarious position. All you'd need to do is shut down the power or make an EMP pulse or something and the world is screwed.

And in a time of extreme crisis and tumult, it's the resilient generalists that survive, not the specialists. You don't want to be caught cold-blooded in an ice storm, do you?

So, at the end of the day--

SkyNet: Boon or Bane?

Sure, but in our world, the generalists are going to be "survival insurance", not the most successful people. They're the people who survive if society collapses, but they're not the ones who drive social progress. In a way, generalists are a kind of specialist simply because they do focus on being as strong as possible in everything. But a society with nothing but generalists will stagnate in the Stone Age.

100% agree, but that's not where our society is headed right now. It's currently headed towards the polarized AS and NT groups, i.e. the opposite extreme.

If you want what's healthiest, you need a mixture of both specialists and generalists, so that you get some progress, but also some insurance that when the inevitable calamity does occur, all that progress made by the specialists doesn't go down the sh*tter. It's not an all-or-nothing deal.

i've come across this theory before, and i find it interesting (though, like the OP, i don't necessarily agree with it.) it could be possible that the world is becoming a little more AS-friendly, because so many now work in technologically-oriented fields and---as technology becomes more visible---so do we.

but i also think that the idea that most if not all with AS are "techies" is a little inflated. not all are visual thinkers. some are primarily auditory (including myself--very NLD), some are very tactile/kinesthetic (artists, sculptors and the like.). it's true, most of us seem to have very skewed strengths in one direction, very-skewed deficits in others; it seems to be the one commonality in terms of learning style. the visual/techies just happen to have more marketable skills---this may be why this trait is so visible.

but i don't think we're the "next step" in evolution. i think it's the opposite side of the same coin that says "autism is an illness, and must be cured." either way, it's a hierarchy. i think we're the neurological "left-handers" of the world. just another genetic difference. on the whole, we process things slightly differently, and this has both great strengths; at times challenges.

the planet seems to love diversity---we're a part of that, imo. we're necessary, important--but not "more than" or "less than" NT's.

The problem with that is that I've experienced the exact opposite over 20 years working in a technology field. The pressure to value social skills over technical skills has increased every year during that time. In IT at least, the technology could be half the price and twice the quality if the pointy haired bosses would get out the way and let those who know how to do the job just get on with it!! !



Yes, but as the pressure to comply with social standards increases, we also become visible for all the *wrong* reasons. Seriously, Einstein wouldn't stand a chance at school today. He'd have been taken off and coerced into becoming a 'team player' at a young age.

The other thing is that technology doesn't *replace* the basic needs that humans have had for millenia. Food, water, air, nurturing social environments etc etc Seems to me that our current use of technology profits a few at the expense of those basic needs for many. eg once upon a time we knew our neighbours. Now we ignore them so we waste time on the internet contacting people the other side of the world. Technology often only restores the unforeseen (or uncared for) problems of a previous technology ...and so on.

So long as we continue to get the technology that somebody can profit from, rather than the technology we need, so long as we continue to deprive future generations of the basics of life to provide our quick techno-fix, there is no tech-utopia ahead. When the masses finally become aware of this, we'll be wanting to hide our 'logical' attitude as much as an aristocracy hides it's wealth during a revolution.

And, much like left-handers have to use everything that was designed for right-handed people...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100106/hl_ ... clusters_5

"The researchers looked at about 2.5 million births recorded in California from 1996 through 2000. About 10,000 of those children were later diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, according to the state's department of developmental services.

Using data from birth records, the team found a strong link between parental education and the high rates of autism.

"In this particular case, we found 10 clusters of autism across the state of California. When we looked further, we discovered virtually all of them were areas where there was a higher level of education among the parents who were giving birth in those years," Hertz-Picciotto said.
"We already know that people with a higher education in the United States are more likely to get a diagnosis of autism for their child. It doesn't necessarily mean that autism occurs more frequently in those families," she said.

"It was also a greater likelihood to be white, non-Hispanic, and for the parents to be a little bit older.""

isnt it ridiculous that we the human race value technological advancement more then fixing the problems we have right here and now. oh yeah were gonna find some miracle cure if we just throw enough time and money around.

The more diversity in any species.......the more genetic variation......the easier it is to adapt and survive to a changing environment......hey presto......evolution!

What lessons we pass on to future generations by action, by thought, by feeling.......improves tolerance, compassion and spiritual intelligence......

Sorry if I am of the topic.......but strangely thought of a similar concept regarding mental illness.......it is through struggle and healing that we learn.......hence, ideals passed on.......

We are products of our environment........coversely we change the environment by interacting with it, observing it.

I think all who traverse this wild terrain are pioneers of a smoother journey for our progeny.......lets hope they do better than we have with our environment.

Just my 2 cents........fascinating topic.

Mics.

i actually agree with most of your points. (although since i don't work in a tech industry, i guess i can't speak to the general work environment there, lol. i'm sorry to hear about the social stressors in your work place.)

i think my words were poorly chosen. instead of saying, "as technology grows... awareness of us grows too, " i should have said, "as awareness of tech-aspies grows, awareness of us may grow in general."

i'm hoping this is true. it isn't perfect, but 20 years ago, we weren't even on the map in terms of diagnosis. now at least people are aware we exist---even if that awareness is still (imo) a little stereotyped.

i wonder if if this awareness of our existence isn't due, in part, to the fact that many aspies excel in tech fields. i would like to see other strengths recognized as well. we are not all visual thinkers, and we're not all techies. (and we're certainly not all white males. i agree that it can be more difficult to be recognized as AS if you're from a community that has experienced much racism, poverty, etc.)

i don't have too many thoughts on whether technology as a whole is a boon or a curse. i do think there's some over-reliance on it, and definitely a good deal of abuse of technology. but other than that---i don't know whether it is an overall advantage or disadvantage.

Very Interesting.

Well I for one hope this kind of thing will get bigger, and I'll certainly try implementing similar things when my company grows.



While I agree this is an issue, it's not as bad as you're making out there. In my experience of school (I'm 15 so it's very recent, in fact I just came out of school a hour or two ago ) that happens for sure, but does school stop people - especially "rebellious" teenagers - from thinking for themselves? Hell no. Does the school telling us to do things mean we'll do it? Again, hell no. I'm told to be a team player and conform to social rules and all sorts of crap, but I'll be in my cold grave before I give in and do it.



Technology has benefited us massively by providing the opportunity to communicate with people around the world, and so many other things. In fact, I'm typing this on my iPhone right now, through the internet, while we are many many miles away from each other.

It dosen't replace "normal" social interaction at all, though. I'm certainly not the most social person in the world, but I talk to my neighbours sometimes and see NTs do so often.



I don't agree with that. Since when were basic needs being replaced by technology? They aren't, we still eat food and do all other things that humans have done for millions and billions of years.

I really think one thing they forget to consider is culture. The white culture is more apt to run to a shrink to solve their problems. My hispanic in-laws from Puerto Rico think I"m crazy with all this talk of Aspergers and psychologists, as well as parenting and the new trends to use psychology to parent as opposed to spankings.

I really think that the technology has opened up new opportunities for Aspies. Yeah, many companies are looking for people with people skills, but because it's so new, many Aspies are creating their own companies. Not all will succeed, but Alex has something cool here, and you might create something cool too. You never know until you try. Either way, from your own home, you can create video games, websites, widgets, applications, etc. You can do all this and still live with mom and dad, and you can do it at age 13 if you have the ability and drive to do it. And, best off, because you are in charge of what you do with your own little company, you can focus it on your skills, and because of the WP, if you need someone whose good at other things, you are sure to find one here.

As far as if the world is better or worse deal? Well, my opinion is that technology is making us lazier and expect easier solutions to our problems. Like everything else, that is both good and bad. I really think it's the reason why someone who might be a little shy or a little emotional expects a pill to treat that, even if the pill has dangerous side effects (such as psychostimulants used to treat ADHD). This can be very bad when people find a pill concoction made of rat poison and such to treat Aspergers and expects us to be on the meds if we want to be a student at your school. Either way, it is the reason people expect things to come easy to them.

I also think it increases the expectations of people. We are all trying to accomplish more in a day, and accomplish things faster, and we expect that from each other. I do a lot of shopping online, and now I almost expect my shopping experiences in a regular store to be as smooth and easy as being online (like where the location of the items make sense, the parking be easy for me to walk in, etc.) I didn't have these expectations before the online experiences. I notice too that more people are just doing more in a day. Once upon a time, laundry took forever to do, and now it's easy. They even have things where you dont' have to measure the soap. You just throw it in with the clothes. That's not technology as much as intelligent design, but still. Because of that, people think, "oh, you should be able to do 7 loads of laundry in a day while cooking 3 meals (since we have microwaves now, you don't have to cook from scratch), working 12 hours at work, picking up kids from school and day care, attending their soccer game, going to a party afterwards, check your email, visit the doctor, etc. etc." 50 years ago, nobody in their right mind would attempt to squeeze what we do in a day. I think this makes it harder for Aspies because we don't always have the best time management skills.