What I love about this, as an autistic adult: - watching 1 autistic enjoy the other's happy infodumping - demonstration of a full conversation being possible with only like 10% eye contact - mutual lowkey chair swivel stimming - "that's not a specific instruction" "isn't that supposed to be OUR problem?" 😂
I was talking to a psychiatrist recently. He asked me about my co-tenant (a wonderful, interested, considerate guy who made my life at that time - especially when I had some really bad days - so much more bearable) and asked if I see him as a friend. I answered in the affirmative, obviously. His statement was just "well, you can't be autistic if you have a friend".
"Well done, you've found empathy!" LOL! Loved this part. I also really appreciated the insight on high functioning vs low functioning segregation within the spectrum community. At first, I had that kind of perspective too, like it's called a spectrum because each autistic person is on a different place of the spectrum of high vs low functioning. Yet the more I learn the more it becomes apparent that I might be higher functioning in some areas of life, and I'm very low functioning in other areas. So it's not a whole person being high functioning vs low functioning, but more each person faces both areas of challenge and ability within themselves. If that makes sense? I'm not ON the spectrum, I HAVE a spectrum of abilities and issues within me.
How do I engage with people on the spectrum? “Talk… to them?” 😂 I’m dying! I really enjoyed this, thank you! My good days and my bad days are starkly different, I appreciate that comparison.
Thank you for being so articulate, Austin. It's helpful knowing that others have this same sort of "dead time" adjustment to situations. I've found I do this too. I'm doing grocery shopping. I'm all involved in my list. I hear my name or see a face I know and it may take me 2-5 seconds for the gears to literally change in my head to process, "It's X. I know X. It's socially polite to say hello. Don't be an idiot or a snob and not say hello." I don't mean to be rude. I just am not in the "social" mindset at that point. I'm in "shopping list" mindset. Sometimes, even in the switchover, names and faces connections go completely awry. I know the face. I know the name. I know the name I'm wanting to say doesn't match the face I see. I have to try a different name. I know thousands of names and faces each, making a mountain of cognitive processing in seconds. I don't know how other people do it so fast.
Thanks Paul. Another great interview. Austin is such an interesting guy. History is a special interest of mine so I could listen to Austin talk about Russian history for hours/days! Has he written any books, blogs or have a podcast on this subject or does he teach?
I have Autism & physical disability and because I'm happy and do stuff when I can or try my best to work with the life I'm given, people tell me or act like I don't look like I have the personality of someone with a physical disability and ALLOT of stereotypes tend to happen of how one should act if they are physically sick all the time...So, while I see what you are saying in this regard about Autism...Even though if you don't give a flip (and I use to, but not anymore) most people are either going to take who you are or leave it and more often then not people take it cause you don't care if they don't, so it comes out more as a fact they really don't feel like they can dispute much (there are uninformed, mean people who make judgements still, but that's not going to all of a sudden stop me from ACTUALLY and FACTUALLY being physically sick, disabled and Autistic)...So again, I use a cane and walker, but I still try to dance when I can for exercise and I still love it. Rest when you have to and do what you want and can when you can...So, while I see what you are saying regarding Autism and people generalizing...The comparison to physical disabilities is not so cut and dry as you imagine and that's a generality right there in and of itself and if we are trying to say, "Don't generalize Autism!"...Then we can't turn around at the same time and generalize and compare to something that is individualized as well...Most people generalize because they don't quite understand something and or have never had to truly deal with illness of any kind and yes it's rude when it's just mean statements, but if someone genuinely doesn't know, then two things...time to educate that not everyone is the same and I feel good for them because they really don't have to go through being sick, disabled or Autistic...And I can cute most people slack on these missunstandings because I wouldn't wish being sick on anyone and while Autism is stinking hard, there are more good than bad qualities to it and I still wouldn't wish it on them, "just to make them understand better" cause everyone is an individual and if we were born to someone else...we would of been born someone else with a different life and personality...People can either take who you are or leave it (no, it's not fun for people to just be mean if they don't get it) but some people you can help educate and some you can't...Help people understand where you can, but not everyone is going to get it or even care...Just be open and honest if questions arise and if you know it's gonna truly fall on deaf ears, don't bother...Stick with those who care or are just genuinely confused about what it's like and maybe you can change minds in the end and give more clarity. 😎🤗✌️🖖🤘🙏🏽🤗
I am "high-functioning," to go to the shops. I am "low-functioning" with being on the phone. I am probably "moderate-functioning, if there is such a thing," at some parts of work/jobs. Everyone and every single aspect is different with the Spectrum.
Wow! What a great interview!! I liked particularly when Austin was speaking about the little cover ups you have to do in order not to appear like a clown in front of people. I had to do that so much! But I have learned from that and am really good socially now, sometimes I feel uncomfortable if there is no pre planning, but very little now, but it’s all about covering up.
The Napoleonic era is interesting. Napoleon's Russian campaign certainly resulted in a strategic failure that he didn't see comming through completely out of the box thinking by the Russians. The Russian military couldn't stop him from taking Moscow. Since a city is really its people, the Russians evacuated the population off to where Napoleon couldn't effectively find and subjugate it. There was no-one to rule. He waited around in the vacant city and then returned back as winter started arriving. The Russians attacked him as he fled the icebox. The French suffered massive losses. Even if Napoleon had won the Battle of Waterloo, there weren't enough Frenchmen of military age still alive who would have been available from farming, etc. to followup a Waterloo victory. It is a demonstration as to when doom seems to be staring one in the face, an idea occurs which pulls victory out of the jaws of defeat.
11:25 just because Paul mentions Aspergers & it’s been how he’s been able to identify to a degree with others doesn’t in any way mean he thinks low of others on the spectrum. It’s his area of expertise & how he understand things & people & he’s only ever showed compassion & attempted to humanize Autism. Respect to him 100%
Listening to Austin talk about a history story w. the guy who wanted to take the bear into battle ? It reminded me of the Evelyn Waugh book “ Brideshead Revisited “ -and the character Sebastian who carried around a teddy bear & brought him to Oxford. The bear went with him everywhere - and Sebastian would constantly refer to him as a real person. I thought Sebastian was being outrageously controversial ., but recently I found myself wondering if he might have been on the spectrum ..
13:47 that's my face when i catch myself a lil too enthused to dive into an explanation. trying to just let it go the never ending endeavor to marry *effective* & *efficient* lol when you have to flip every stone to figure out the least amount of stones required to flip lol
The question posed at around 9 min: being on the spectrum is the reason why one person can function high enough to be successful at work while another on the spectrum has many more challenges being successful at work.
Not being from Australia and never been there, is Austin a native person? I find it interesting that Autism occurs in all people, worldwide. Some people still "believe" it's caused by childhood immunizations, which is wrong.
I think I would like if Paul didn’t always ask - “when were you diagnosed ?” - I don’t see any point in asking that question . Especially since all the experts can do - is once again , point out one’s deficits & defaults. The work is up to me - one way of another. The choice is up to me - as well ! I may not want to dedicate every minute of the rest of my life trying to fit in & help other people feel comfortable around me . It’s exhausting !
I am curious as to why he was diagnosed later than his brother, if that is not getting overly invasive or personal? Just wondering if he masked in certain ways growing up and then the older he got the less he masked?
