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Geek Culture / The Geek Syndrome

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David T
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Posted: 12th May 2005 23:33
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Quote: "Quote: "Tell you what gets on my nerves is how some people use disorders as an excuse"
What do you mean an excuse?"


*puts of flame retardant suit. Stands out of way*

Facts are meaningless.
You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true.
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Dave J
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Posted: 12th May 2005 23:35 Edited at: 12th May 2005 23:37
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Quote: "And because I have Asperger Syndrome I get disability checks in the mail and I'm going to use that money to get started in college.."


I'd like to know what part of this syndrome impairs your ability in such a way that hard-working tax payers need to fund your college education, especially when one such sympton is that you grasp mathematical concepts easier and are more 'inventive'.

I can understand disability pensions for people in wheel chairs or who are physically impaired because that means it's harder for them to obtain work and generally life would be more difficult. However, when you get paid for being anti-social (and I use the term loosely, I'm not trying to offend ), then I really think something's wrong with the world.

Btw, this is a serious question, if there is a legitimate reason then my comments will be hastily withdrawn.


"Computers are useless, they can only give you answers."
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soadjason
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Posted: 12th May 2005 23:40
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Quote: "It's more likely most people here actually suffer from A.D.D. . It has similar symtoms."

If you can sit and look at a computer screen for hours I doubt that you have A.D.D.
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hyrichter
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Posted: 12th May 2005 23:46 Edited at: 12th May 2005 23:49
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You couldn't have said it better, Exeat.

I know a woman who has an absolute holy terror of a child. He's very hyperactive and just a little sugar makes him bounce all over the walls. I won't say he doesn't have any sort of disorder, but a lot of his troubles have to do with bad parenting more than just a disorder. Well, she uses this boy as an excuse to get governement aid, how? She feeds him almost straight sugar for two days before he goes to see a specialist to determine what sort of a disorder he has. Then turns him loose on the specialists.

But what I really hate are people who are perfectly capable of work, have a few minor symptoms of some disorder (pacing the floor or staring into space), and using it as an excuse to make other people work for them, get government aid and so forth. I agree if you're disabled and in a wheelchair or in a situation where it's very hard to find a good job, you ought to seek some government aid. I'm not saying there aren't some of these disorders, just that many people try to use some minor symptoms in themselves or their children to try and get sympathy and help from others instead of trying to help themselves. Also, it bothers me when people make up a new disorder name for every single personality trait. I mean, come on! We're all unique, we have our differences, and that's what helps keep life from being so boring. What do you consider a "normal" person when everyone's a little different?

No offense to anyone; just wanted to have my little rant.


Do not click the red button
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Benjamin
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Posted: 12th May 2005 23:52 Edited at: 12th May 2005 23:55
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Quote: "especially when one such sympton is that you grasp mathematical concepts easier and are more 'inventive'."

I believe that symptom is wrong actually. Some people with AS have above average intelligence, but the odds are something like 1:10 (Is that how you write it?).

I'm quite surprised about the cheque thing myself (never heard of it being done), but some people are worse than others.

Quote: "However, when you get paid for being anti-social (and I use the term loosely, I'm not trying to offend ), then I really think something's wrong with the world. "

I would agree on that thought, although I'm not sure the 'payment' has got anything to do with the social impairment.

Quote: "But what I really hate are people who are perfectly capable of work, have a few minor symptoms of some disorder (pacing the floor or staring into space), and using it as an excuse to make other people work for them, get government aid and so forth"

Believe me I totally agree with you there.


"Lets migrate like bricks" - Me
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Peter H
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Posted: 13th May 2005 00:02
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Quote: "3.Going into deep trances when focusing on one thing for example: I'm programming a game or composing some music.
my mother might say "Hey I'm going to the store I'll be right back." and I would hear her saying it but I wouldn't even understand it until 5 minutes later I would think "Hey where did she go?""

lol...that's exactly what happens to me while i program...my mom always has to be like "So you're SURE you know were i'm going?"

all the other things also describe me perfectly except for the having problems making new friends...that describes me half of the time...but sometimes i have no problem whatsoever

"We make the worst games in the universe."

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Van B
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Posted: 13th May 2005 00:19
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I'm surprised that the distraction thing made it onto the list, like your in the middle of squasing a killer bug in your code, the kind of thing that most people could'nt comprehend - and we're surprised that we get sucked in and don't notice when people speak to us. I barely know anyone who does'nt do that, and with things like books and TV there's much less excuse.

I have to agree on the ADD point that soadjason brings up, Attention Deficiency Disorder surely conflicts with what coders do, I think a lot of people think ADD is cool because the professor dude from 'The Fast and the Furious' has it (a lot of people assume that's why he's a genius you see - so ADD is cool!). I've always considered ADD to be more of a learning affliction, like impaired concentration levels more than anything.

When someone has a unique or interesting ability, we can't just accept it and let them get on, we have to figure out why we don't have it so we can sleep at night.


Van-B

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Raven
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Posted: 13th May 2005 00:45
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Quote: "If you can sit and look at a computer screen for hours I doubt that you have A.D.D. "


Quote: "I have to agree on the ADD point that soadjason brings up, Attention Deficiency Disorder surely conflicts with what coders do, "


The disorder simply means that you are not able to concentrate on something for long periods of time; well that's highly dumbed down but still roughly accurate.

It doesn't stop them from doing anything for extended periods of time, it stops them from keeping thier mind working on something.

ADD doesn't affect peoples abilities to understand concepts, mearly if they don't get a concept within a few minutes, then they will get very angry and won't sit down to learn it. Instead they give up and want to do something else.

If the understand the concept, then they can quite happily sit down and use what they know to achieve things. Provided nothing stumps them for more than half and hour or in extreme cases like my brother a few minutes, there is nothing stopping them from programming.

Quote: "But what I really hate are people who are perfectly capable of work, have a few minor symptoms of some disorder (pacing the floor or staring into space), and using it as an excuse to make other people work for them, get government aid and so forth"


Thank you, I believe someone understood my point.
Statistically there are apparently around 1:15 people who will show minor symptoms and use it as an excuse in order to claim a benefit that they really could be used to provide better services, or for more benefit to someone who has a sevear case to the point where they are completely unable to support themselves.

Hell I know of some people who have seriously bad cases of Compulsive Disorders, that it truely does affect everyone who works with them.. but they don't claim benefit and they do thier best to work trying to keep thier problems to themselves.

One guy I used to work with everytime he went to the bathroom would have to wash his hands, then turn the light on and off 10x before washing his hands again.. he literally would have to struggle to break the cycle. So a trip to the john that would take me or you a minute or two.. would take him 30-40minutes. Another person I knew everytime she even needed the bathroom would have to drive home and back.. dunno what she was doing but it took her an hour.

Somethings can really affect how you live.
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Mnemonix
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Posted: 13th May 2005 00:56
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Although it may not be obvious to NT`s, it is difficult for aspies to get a job. People who know me will know my inability to take job interviews. Not nessecarily because I cant do the job at hand, or even that I cant anticipate the questions, but because I cannot make eye contact with anybody. I have erratic body language and I can only understand what people are saying if they say it in a loud clear voice. This leads to some embarassment and is severely annoying. Less than 6% of aspies in the UK are in employment, probably for the same reasons.

Try out the controller:-
http://controller.logicstudios.net
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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 13th May 2005 01:06
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I may have mis-represented #5. Yes I do avoid people and crowds but I am not shy, and I CAN talk to someone, again, if I need to. I'm just extremly paranoid about nearly everyone, and very mistrustful. Like a cat.

(And I also sometimes "think" to myself. Am I going insane? )

It's M-E-G-A-T-O-N. NOT MEGATRON.
DON'T MAKE ME GET THE RABBIT.
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vid1987
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Posted: 13th May 2005 01:12
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Quote: "I'd like to know what part of this syndrome impairs your ability in such a way that hard-working tax payers need to fund your college education, especially when one such sympton is that you grasp mathematical concepts easier and are more 'inventive'.

I can understand disability pensions for people in wheel chairs or who are physically impaired because that means it's harder for them to obtain work and generally life would be more difficult. However, when you get paid for being anti-social (and I use the term loosely, I'm not trying to offend ), then I really think something's wrong with the world.

Btw, this is a serious question, if there is a legitimate reason then my comments will be hastily withdrawn."


Well... I don't get paid for being anti-social I get paid because i had most of the symptoms of Asperger Syndrome...

And I don't know why Asperger Syndrome qualifies for disability checks I simply don't make the rules.. but heck... If I have a chance to get money in the mail every month then why not..

Anyways I'm just using that money to get started in a career.

Peace

Hello
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soadjason
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Posted: 13th May 2005 01:15 Edited at: 13th May 2005 01:17
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http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=adhd_guest_consumers&s=1
this should explain why people who have ADD/ADHD will not be looking at a computer screen for hours.
look @ symptons 1,2,4,5,and 6
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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 13th May 2005 01:17
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Let me get this straight, you're getting paid?

It's M-E-G-A-T-O-N. NOT MEGATRON.
DON'T MAKE ME GET THE RABBIT.
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David T
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Posted: 13th May 2005 01:39
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Anybody in higher education in the UK can get paid, even if they're disability free.

Although only if your household income is below £30,000 a year which discounts most people in my school, which is annoying. I suppose coming from an underpriveledged background is a disability in the UK these days

Facts are meaningless.
You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true.
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David R
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Posted: 13th May 2005 01:45 Edited at: 13th May 2005 01:46
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Quote: "The problem is that by the time the information filters down, you have people assuming they have conditions because it sounds familiar - like ohh, I stared into space for 10 minutes today, I could just be tired or I could have a disorder.
"


I support Van B's point on this entirely - Looking at the ADHD thing, parts 1,4,6,6,7,8 & 9 kind of apply to me, yet as far as I know; I dont have ADHD.

I also believe that (ADHD espeically) is used as an excuse - children are controlled by their parents, and this is where all of natural behaviour comes from. Have you ever seen ADHD in nature? Did they have ADHD in the 1800's?

I was very impulsive and loud right until I was about 6/7 - this wasnt because I was on any meducation, its because my Dad started coming down on me like a ton of bricks

Although research into these areas is very interesting, I am still failing to see the point of this thread - why is it here?

[url=www.lightningstudios.co.uk][/url]
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Jeku
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Posted: 13th May 2005 12:38
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Damn, I was gone all day today and catching up.

Quote: " Autism? - does anyone actually know what that is though?"


Seriously, you must not know anyone with autism. It is definitely not "normal" and yes, they can't function normally. And no, it's not just a character trait, something that many have. It's an actual brain condition.


--[R.O.B.O.I. and FireTris Coming Soon]--
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Van B
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Posted: 13th May 2005 17:15
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At what point did I say that Autism is a character trait?

I was talking about the symptoms of this disease being character traits that very many people have but most likely don't have the disease.

I never implied that autism is just part of your character! - I'm perfectly aware of what autism is. The last thing I would do is make light of a condition like that on these forums.


Van-B

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Douglass
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Posted: 15th May 2005 13:45
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hi guys. just wanted to say that the definiton of the sydrome you have here is inaccurate. some people might get a little scared.
try reading this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger%27s_syndrome

watch out for the government,
douglasss
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Eric T
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Posted: 15th May 2005 14:08
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1. My computer and women are obsession... then again, its what i'm good with (actually, I should take that back, I'm good with the first one ).

2. I never feel the need to invent something thats already been done well, but if something that had the possibility to be great came out as a peice of sh*t, I do attempt to reinvent it, if even only in my head.

3. I don't exactly go into deep trances. I'm ADD so my mind is only focused on the one item I am working on at that time, and if someone tells me something like "dinner is ready" its as if i didn't hear it.

4. Never thinking of a new invention, but improving on one, yes I do.

5. Never. I talk to people too much actually . I'm always the person to have the last word in the arguement, i'm always going to greet a person when they enter a room (not in IRC)... of course its rarely a good greeting (EX: "Who the F*** are you C*********?), but its a greeting none the less. I've never had a problem making friends, but I prefer to stick around people like me (Either Gamers or Metal Heads). Of course this in real life, online i'm alot more tolerant of the people I will associate with. Such the case, In real life, I won't hang around people younger or older. But online, I don't have a problem talking to those older or younger. Maybe its cause I'm not actually interacting with someone... who knows. Not me.

I have a few OBC things, like whenever I mow the lawn, I have to start from the place I ended last time. And I must End it where I started. I also must keep my room a mess. I have tried cleaning it before, but I need it a mess. Why? Cause its the thing i get to bitch about.

Maybe that last one wasn't OBC, but who cares? He cares? Well to hell with him, whoever he is. I hope he dies.

42 - The meaning of life.
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Killswitch
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Posted: 16th May 2005 06:23
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"Geek Syndrome" is a form of autism.

~It's a common mistake to make, the rules of the English langauge do not apply to insanity~
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Advancement Games
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Posted: 18th May 2005 03:06
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Yeah, basicly. Except I do socialize with others and have some sense of humor. I also do not get caught up with geeky things. I am in the Math Club and all those other "geek things", but I do not enjoy hanging out with the kids there since they are SICKOS! I usually socialize with the normal people. Where do you get tested.

C. Nom De Plum
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Advancement Games
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Posted: 18th May 2005 03:11
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EDIT: I do have some troubles with friends and I like to do stuff alone. I hate group projects. I do always forget stuff that others say if I am doing something of interest.

C. Nom De Plum
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MikeyP
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Posted: 18th May 2005 03:45
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Quote: "I usually socialize with the normal people."


That's not very nice... You'll probably find a few people on here, are the type of person you're calling 'SICKOS'...

You can bet I'm in IRC right now...
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vid1987
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Posted: 18th May 2005 08:57 Edited at: 18th May 2005 09:14
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edit: Sorry I shouldn't have went on that rant... I just realized a lot of people are going to flame the crap out of me...

Peace

Hello
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Gil Galvanti
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Posted: 18th May 2005 10:00
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1. Obsessions. Being very (and by very i mean VERY) obsessed with things such as:
Computers
Video games
Techno music
Art
etc.
-Video Games, Art, Computers=Yes, couldnt live without em (actually if the career of "video game producer" wasnt an option i would be a movie producer or an author )

2.A love for art of almost any kind. Feeling the need to invent new things (such as games) or improve old inventions. and sometimes refusing to use things invented by someone else for example:
"I don't need an alarm clock I'll program my own alarm clock on DBP!!"

I do like inventing on things, sometimes making improvements, not not using inventions though, hehe.

3.Going into deep trances when focusing on one thing for example: I'm programming a game or composing some music.
my mother might say "Hey I'm going to the store I'll be right back." and I would hear her saying it but I wouldn't even understand it until 5 minutes later I would think "Hey where did she go?"
YES!!! Sometimes my mom will say something like that and my automatic response is "K" and then, like you said, i realize it 5 minutes later, lol.

4. Pacing the floors while thinking of a new invention.
No, hehe

5. Being very shy and finding it very hard to make friends.
im kinda shy, until u get to know me, but its not VERY hard for me to make new friends, im not very outgoing though .


So i guess you could say i have half-geek syndrome, lol, if theres such thing

Video games…they take you places unreachable, unfeasible. Putting you in the book...putting you in the movie...putting you in a world, that before could only be imagined. expage.com/piratesmainpage.
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Advancement Games
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Posted: 19th May 2005 00:42
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I do not think that there is really such a thing. I did not mean SICKOs in an offending way. Just some kids who are like that do not clean and they hunch and do strange things around you. Sometimes inappropriate to some others. Anyways... it cannot really be a form of autism. When you are gifted (which most are here), you are using parts of the brain that are not usually activated until later in life. I think that this "Geek Syndrome" does not exist.

C. Nom De Plum
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Mnemonix
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Posted: 19th May 2005 03:32
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Asperger syndrome exists, people here only seem to mention its positive effects and not the negative effects.

Try out the controller:-
http://controller.logicstudios.net
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