[ExI] are we not just one race, the human race?

[John Grigg]

Anne Corwin wrote:
Additionally, I am ALWAYS working to improve skills and learn new things, to
become adept with new tools, to work on picking up at least small bits of
other languages, etc.  If I wanted to limit myself, why would I be doing
that?  Please do not tell me I am limiting myself *merely* by saying I don't
think I need to be nonautistic in order to be happy and/or successful.  That
is seriously one of my major pet peeves and it's also a generally
destructive attitude I see coming from far too many people whom I'd think
should know better.
>>>

This autism discussion reminds me of the discourse regarding deafness, as
shown in the famous documentary, "Sound and Fury."

Anne Corwin wrote:
I don't consider autism to be a "flaw" any more than I consider, say, being
female to be a "flaw".  I most certainly do NOT "limit myself" or "determine
myself" in totality by it.

In fact, I find such a suggestion extremely smarmy and ignorant.  It is not
up to anyone else to decide on my behalf whether or not I am "limiting
myself".
You have to understand that when I use "labels" I am not using them in a
manner as a person might who *wanted* to "define herself" totally by them.
All they are is useful short-hand for constellations of tendencies and/or
traits.  I have plenty of actual flaws (as all humans do) -- I just don't
consider the low-level perceptual/cognitive attributes that have been
identified as "autistic" to indicate intrinsic broken-ness.  You have
revealed a bias that I think many people should actually be more aware of,
which is to say that you seem to assume right off that something is a "flaw"
just because social norms currently identify it as such.
>>>

I am learning disabled/dyslexic and definitely consider that a flaw.  My
sense of direction is bad (though it has improved quite a bit over the
years) and it generally takes me longer than most people to master new
tasks.  I actually learn better from a book (its patience does not run out)
than a human being who is teaching me "hands on."  I have some very bitter
memories of an ex-military stepdad whose explosive temper, vicious words and
lack of natural affection greatly magnified my challenges. lol  I think to a
limited extent he still lives in my head.

I used to tutor a severely autistic little boy (he had the attention span of
a ferret with ADD) and I do realize, depending on the intensity of the
autism, it may or may not be a problem for the person who has it.  I
sometimes wonder how the boy I worked with is doing now.  He
would be entering his teens at this point.

A huge part of the reason I am pro-Transhumanism is because of my learning
disabilities.  I yearn for a world where such conditions can be
treated/prevented and we can have a more level playing field.  When people
say it's God's will that I have this problem or the kid down the street
should be suffering from some incurable ailment I want to pick up something
very heavy and drop it on their toes...


John  : )
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