Comments on: Could Autism Be the Next Stage of Human Evolution? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/ Sat, 11 May 2013 22:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: bertvan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-26579 bertvan Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:36:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-26579 The web site is the story of my autistic son diagnosed at a time when maternal rejection was regarded as the cause, and psychotherapy was the treatment. And the website address is 30145.myauthorsite.com The web site is the story of my autistic son diagnosed at a time when maternal rejection was regarded as the cause, and psychotherapy was the treatment. And the website address is
30145.myauthorsite.com

]]> By: bertvan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-26578 bertvan Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:33:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-26578 If you believe the human race is becoming less conforming and more creative, then we are becoming more autistic-like. Not all attempted adaptations are equally successful, and some autistic children lack the resources to compensate for their lack of intuitive ability, and appear retarded. http://30245.myauthorsite.com/ If you believe the human race is becoming less conforming and more creative, then we are becoming more autistic-like. Not all attempted adaptations are equally successful, and some autistic children lack the resources to compensate for their lack of intuitive ability, and appear retarded.

http://30245.myauthorsite.com/

]]> By: Jack http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-670 Jack Fri, 02 Nov 2012 19:06:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-670 Correct your speaking next time you describe yourself as an autistic. You are not an autistic, but an autistic sociopath. Correct your speaking next time you describe yourself as an autistic. You are not an autistic, but an autistic sociopath.

]]> By: Laura Kincaid http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-666 Laura Kincaid Wed, 03 Oct 2012 01:02:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-666 So then by that logic, would you say that Mexicans are the more highly evolved race? So then by that logic, would you say that Mexicans are the more highly evolved race?

]]> By: Barbara Finlay http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-663 Barbara Finlay Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:14:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-663 Also, I am autistic and we didn't use plastic when I was a child...even milk came in a glass bottle. Also, I am autistic and we didn’t use plastic when I was a child…even milk came in a glass bottle.

]]> By: Barbara Finlay http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-662 Barbara Finlay Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:13:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-662 Female autistic children are equiped to handle 'emotional' and 'sensory' over loads genetically better than males due to estrogene fluctuations...men don't do well with anything of it's nature. Hence, even though the numbers indicate males are higher in numbers, females cope better with the same situation. Female autistic children are equiped to handle ‘emotional’ and ‘sensory’ over loads genetically better than males due to estrogene fluctuations…men don’t do well with anything of it’s nature. Hence, even though the numbers indicate males are higher in numbers, females cope better with the same situation.

]]> By: Barbara Finlay http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-661 Barbara Finlay Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:07:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-661 The red car thing may be something a typical mind may see...I'm not sure. But as for myself, being autistic, I, the last 40 years, have noticed a marked increase in autistic kids. There are a lot of kids that are autistic, but not going to doctors for diagnosis because they're on the high end in regard to functioning. Also, their parents show signs albeit more mild. But quite a number of kids are learning to cope the increase in sensory sensitivities as they have friends just as 'weird' as they are. They are slowly becoming the new norm. Take a serious look around...watch kids at parks or school playgrounds (provided you have kids or someone may question your need to be there :) ). Why do you think they are capable of learning at accelerated rates? Lower functioning autistic kids are just as intelligent, they just got caught in the sensory overload area to the point of screaming and closing down. People are people and evolution affects everyone differently. The red car thing may be something a typical mind may see…I’m not sure. But as for myself, being autistic, I, the last 40 years, have noticed a marked increase in autistic kids. There are a lot of kids that are autistic, but not going to doctors for diagnosis because they’re on the high end in regard to functioning. Also, their parents show signs albeit more mild. But quite a number of kids are learning to cope the increase in sensory sensitivities as they have friends just as ‘weird’ as they are. They are slowly becoming the new norm. Take a serious look around…watch kids at parks or school playgrounds (provided you have kids or someone may question your need to be there :) ). Why do you think they are capable of learning at accelerated rates? Lower functioning autistic kids are just as intelligent, they just got caught in the sensory overload area to the point of screaming and closing down. People are people and evolution affects everyone differently.

]]> By: Barbara Finlay http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-660 Barbara Finlay Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:50:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-660 Kids on the lower functioning end of the spectrum are quite capable of being intellectually and high functioning. The reason they are doing self stimulating activities is that they have sensory over load. I suggest that you, being a teacher, put each individual student in a room with nothing on the walls, paint them white and let them have what they self stimulate to focus on. Make sure the room is sound proofed. Then reach them through pictures. Offer 2. Make sure the picture of the object has a white back ground. And for heavens sake don't talk. Have another picture with just lines on white paper with a happy face~2 eyes and a mouth...keep it simple. And don't look directly at them unless they want you to. We are evolution even when on the low end of the spectrum. We are just overwhelmed. Typical minds can try to experience some of what we know by practicing meditation...the concept of 'one hand clapping' comes to mind. Keep that meditation while going to a mall and observe. That's only a fraction of what we see, smell, feel, hear,... etc. You may wish to come out of the meditation because it will be too much. ...the diffence for us is ... we can't come out...we learn to 'deal' with it all. We are evolved. We are intelligent. We are just overwhelmed and baby steps help us catorize everything. Lots of rules to get by here...lots of rules. Kids on the lower functioning end of the spectrum are quite capable of being intellectually and high functioning. The reason they are doing self stimulating activities is that they have sensory over load. I suggest that you, being a teacher, put each individual student in a room with nothing on the walls, paint them white and let them have what they self stimulate to focus on. Make sure the room is sound proofed. Then reach them through pictures. Offer 2. Make sure the picture of the object has a white back ground. And for heavens sake don’t talk. Have another picture with just lines on white paper with a happy face~2 eyes and a mouth…keep it simple. And don’t look directly at them unless they want you to. We are evolution even when on the low end of the spectrum. We are just overwhelmed. Typical minds can try to experience some of what we know by practicing meditation…the concept of ‘one hand clapping’ comes to mind. Keep that meditation while going to a mall and observe. That’s only a fraction of what we see, smell, feel, hear,… etc. You may wish to come out of the meditation because it will be too much. …the diffence for us is … we can’t come out…we learn to ‘deal’ with it all. We are evolved. We are intelligent. We are just overwhelmed and baby steps help us catorize everything. Lots of rules to get by here…lots of rules.

]]> By: shayne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-655 shayne Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:39:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-655 As an autistic, I agree with Lucy. As an autistic, I have a signifigantly increased intelect and eidetic memory and, unlike most people, I'm not bound by things such as morals, emotions, social protocols, or a need for human companionship. In my personal opinion, the need to socialize and adhere to social protocols has ruined the human race. As an autistic, I agree with Lucy. As an autistic, I have a signifigantly increased intelect and eidetic memory and, unlike most people, I’m not bound by things such as morals, emotions, social protocols, or a need for human companionship. In my personal opinion, the need to socialize and adhere to social protocols has ruined the human race.

]]> By: someguyimet http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-653 someguyimet Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:23:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/11/06/could-autism-be-the-next-stage-of-human-evolution/#comment-653 It's an interesting thought, I mean alot of the social norms that society has come to adopt are deeply irrational and only serve to complicate our already pretty complicated lives. I'm not saying a world where most people have autism would necessarily be some kind of utopia, but it would most likely get rid of some of the problems we face in society. It's likely to never happen of course, but the thought IS pretty interesting. It’s an interesting thought, I mean alot of the social norms that society has come to adopt are deeply irrational and only serve to complicate our already pretty complicated lives. I’m not saying a world where most people have autism would necessarily be some kind of utopia, but it would most likely get rid of some of the problems we face in society.
It’s likely to never happen of course, but the thought IS pretty interesting.

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