Do AS people not use their sub-conscious?

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It seems to me our brains manage life by using both conscious and sub-conscious abilities.

For instance balancing as we walk along is done sub-consciously, but counting out money is done consciously.

Do you think AS tendency people try to do things consciously, that are better left to the sub-conscious?

e.g. when talking with someone, an AS person may be thinking 'what does that expression mean? where have I seen it before?' and 'what should I do or say now?', whereas if he/she didnt think in that way (systemise) then he/she would find they could instead just 'feel' their way through the conversation; 'feeling' what the other person was thinking and feeling, feeling where the fun could be in this conversation, etc..

Yeah , but he would be an NT, not an Aspie

I don't think I know how to separate the two.

Technomonk I guess a conscious one is one you can look back on and say 'yep, my brow was furrowed there, I was trying to work it out', wheras a sub-consious one is where you just let it happen, like riding a bike. I think for AS tendency people they have let most everything become 'furrowed brow'?

SocialParadox, I don't think 'you' are defined by NT or AS; those are just channels you're currently using to interact with the world you find yourself in (see my site).

Thanks guys

Yeah, I use them both a lot.
Filtering through stored data already in this 'system' of mine to "make sense" and conclude things.
Also its a good tool for the 'why's' if you get into the "subconsciously you/he/she/i could be...." explanations.

NT's use a particular part of the brain that is dedicated to social skills, which is why they know 'instinctively' how to respond to social situations.

Aspies do not have this - they have to use the part of the brain dedicated to intellectual abilities (like learning times tables, for examples) so we have no choice by to learn social skills by rote - and even if we can do this successfully, learning by rote means we lack the natural instinct that NTs have. So in order to know which social skills to deploy and when, we have no choice but to analyse and systemise because leaving it to our sub-conscious will be ineffective, and at worst could lead us to behave in a totally inappropriate way.

To quote SocialParadox "Yeah , but he would be an NT, not an Aspie" would also have to by my answer to your question.

This way of seeing the world (AS and NT) (which I think is scientifically based) allows me to:

function in the world and, more important,
enjoy my person
be happy

Concerning the subconsious thing my thought is this: We DON'T have some (social) skills at the subconscious level, so we HAVE TO use the rational sistem.

Forgive my poor english, hope you got my point.

That's what I meant, expressed in a correct english !

And thanks for the quote !

SocialParadox and girl7000
I really think your brain has all the same bits as other brains - it may have had a tilt towards AS functioning, and therefore developed that way - see the research references on my site
- and if you turned off the systemising, I really think there's a chance you'd find you could operate using your mirror neurons etc - see my site - THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE these last 2 months, and it is a joy to be alive - way better communication, empathy, and yet NO DIMUNITION in my analytical etc strengths. - see the Q&A page on my site (address signature below).
I have not 'become an NT', I am just a better me.
Very best, JC

It has been scientifically proven that the brains of people with ASDs are 'wired up' differently (for want of a better term). For an excellent overview of this, read Uta Frith's book 'Autism, Understanding the Enigma'.

Have you considered that perhaps you don't have AS? I've read some of your site and you sound more like an NT who was lacking in social confidence, or who was a bit delayed in acquiring social skills - which is VERY different from AS.

Stop urging people to follow your pompous bullcrap and stop talking scientifically like you have ANY idea what you're talking about. If its worked for you than good but I'm sure you've seen here NO ONE wants to follow you and you FAIL to realize that even NT's 'systematize' not all NT's live life on feeling its like girl7000 said - NT's have it subconsciously, AS however need to learn or use it rationally. We might have the data stored. However, you have this idealistic vision that all NT's are irrational twats that don't systematize or think really ever - just use their instincts while this is NOT TRUE.

If you were a "better you" you wouldn't still be here trying to make everyone else follow your ideal of what the human race is like.



Agreed.
I think he's an NT who's afraid to step up to his own failures.

Last edited by agentcyclosarin on 21 May 2007, 6:37 am, edited 2 times in total.

I like that explanation too, it fits with the systems I've developed over the years.

Autistic people have to understand scientifically what non-autistic people already understand instinctively....

I have read Uta Frith's book, the updated version, but as you know it came out 1989 originally. Since then we have had the Baron-Cohen systemising thesis (2006), and the recent Iacobini et al MRI scanning data etc..

Have you actually read and thought about the research?

Or do you just like listening to sympathetic 'medical specialists' who don't want AS people to think they can get better because then they might actually get better and those medical practices and research centres would cease paying the specialists their salaries.

And before you flame me about saying 'get better' I do mean that; if AS tendency doesn't hurt you you're either very lucky or you're fooling yourself.

You guys are locked in a set of false mental constructs and assumptions about AS tendency that have you totally trapped. Wake up!

Last edited by JCJC777 on 21 May 2007, 6:46 am, edited 2 times in total.

no offence JCJC777, but if you're an aspie then this is probably your obsession of the moment.

You're a funny guy.

Yes I have read and thought about the research. I have communicated with and met Professor Simon Baron Cohen and I know that he certainly would not advocate what you are saying.

As for medical professionals wanting people to have AS - this is rubbish! Just read the various posts on how difficult it is to get a diagnosis - and try getting funding for AS research - I am involved in voluntary work for AS and it is incredibly difficult to get funding so this idea that there is all this money out there waiting to be handed out to AS specialists is not true - certainly not in the UK.

My AS tendency doesn't hurt me - it is the lack of understanding in society and the discrimination that causes me problems, nothing else.

btw - if you are going to be rude, please refrain from posting or specifically directing any comments at me.

I disagree with you. I am allowed to do that. Let's just agree to disagree and cease this conversation because continuing it will have no positive outcome.

WP should be a safe space for people - some of whom are very vulnerable. Whilst it is inevitiable that there are going to be disagreements and controversial comments, it is important that the line into being hurtful, rude and offensive is not crossed.

I'm not saying that you have crossed this line, I don't actually think you have (although I can only speak for this thread - I am not familiar with your other posts).

So let's agree to stop this conversation now before it descends into argument.

Like I said before - let's agree to disagree - other people can do their own research and read your site and form thier own opinions.