You come onto a forum and make a sweeping generalization that would insult a plurality of the forum members and don't think it will strike a nerve? What are you, some kind of troll?
Your "point" is a sweeping generalization that covers me and a number of my friends, none of whom are socially inept, at least to the degree that would justify the term "socially retarded." Therefore, your point is wrong.
Moreover, the "point," especially with the wording "retarded," seems deliberately inflammatory. Combined with other remarks you have made, (cf. thread on "dating") I believe I can classify you as a troll.
And yes, it does make me feel better, because thinking that you're just trolling mitigates some of my anger when you say something that irritates or insults me.
Your "point" is a sweeping generalization that covers me and a number of my friends, none of whom are socially inept, at least to the degree that would justify the term "socially retarded." Therefore, your point is wrong.
Would any degree of ineptitude not qualify as retardation? Using the word literally, of course.
I think Kaptain K is only partly a troll, if that. However, he is definitely somewhat bigoted.
I am sincerely bigoted. I take great exception to being called a troll because that implies I'm not being genuine.
Your "point" is a sweeping generalization that covers me and a number of my friends, none of whom are socially inept, at least to the degree that would justify the term "socially retarded." Therefore, your point is wrong.
Would any degree of ineptitude not qualify as retardation? Using the word literally, of course.
Then everyone is socially retarded, and your point is moot.
If there has been any instance in your life when your choices in social interaction weren't entirely 100% perfect, then I'd call that a "degree of social ineptitude". I rather doubt that there hasn't.
If there has been any instance in your life when your choices in social interaction weren't entirely 100% perfect, then I'd call that a "degree of social ineptitude". I rather doubt that there hasn't.
You're doing some kind of logical fallacy here but I don't know which one to call you on.
Being nervous meeting new people once in awhile isn't the same thing as the neckbearded aspie engineers I've known personally.
If there has been any instance in your life when your choices in social interaction weren't entirely 100% perfect, then I'd call that a "degree of social ineptitude". I rather doubt that there hasn't.
Example: this thread. Trolling is a sign of socially ineptness.
that would insult a plurality of the forum members
I'd just like to point out that there have been studies conducted about rates of ASD in various populations, and there does appear to be an association between the very analytical professions and ASD.
It makes sense, when you think about it. Any kind of science or engineering requires a very systematic approach to virtually everything, and given the very time-consuming nature of these professions, those behaviors are bound to bleed out into other aspects of your life. Then, these professions have a tendency to attract people who are already disposed towards systematic behavior anyhow, so you wind up with a cycle of reinforcement.
I've met, quite literally, thousands of scientists, and I would say that absolutely none of them function in a manner that I would consider "normal." This includes myself. The nature of the work requires intense dedication, which creates a tendency towards a sort of social hyper-focus; your vocabulary and interactions become predominantly focused on work-related topics. Thus, it becomes difficult to associate with people not in your field, because you no longer understand them. They are not a part of the systems that you understand so well. They're untested and uncontrolled variables that screw with most of the hypotheses and theories you've internalized over time.
This doesn't mean that every scientist or engineer is completely socially inept, though. It means that we all have particular social challenges which tend towards keeping us isolated. We don't think like most people do, so why should anyone expect us to act or socialize the same way that most people do? That just wouldn't make sense. Scientists and engineers also tend to have very strong personalities. They can be difficult to interact with on almost any level because they're simply too much.
It's only a problem when, well, it becomes a problem. If you become so entrenched in your particular system that you can't interact with the other humans with whom you need to interact, you might have a problem. But that's rare. More often than not, scientists and engineers don't socialize well with most people because we don't get you.
We don't work on the same level or think about the same things as do most people, and because so much of who we are is defined by what we do, we become incredibly unsure around people who don't at least sort of get what we do. It becomes very frustrating, and we often give up instead of trying to help you figure out how we think.
Thank TWS, you're the only one here who doesn't knee jerk.
Well, I do think "socially retarded" is a bit too far-reaching. For the most part, we're not socially retarded, we're socially specialized. I can be a really quiet guy, but if you talk to me about beer, metal, science, or RPG's, I will never ever ever shut up. But the Grammy awards? Fuck 'em.
Comments
Wait, nevermind.
Moreover, the "point," especially with the wording "retarded," seems deliberately inflammatory. Combined with other remarks you have made, (cf. thread on "dating") I believe I can classify you as a troll.
And yes, it does make me feel better, because thinking that you're just trolling mitigates some of my anger when you say something that irritates or insults me.
Being nervous meeting new people once in awhile isn't the same thing as the neckbearded aspie engineers I've known personally.
It makes sense, when you think about it. Any kind of science or engineering requires a very systematic approach to virtually everything, and given the very time-consuming nature of these professions, those behaviors are bound to bleed out into other aspects of your life. Then, these professions have a tendency to attract people who are already disposed towards systematic behavior anyhow, so you wind up with a cycle of reinforcement.
I've met, quite literally, thousands of scientists, and I would say that absolutely none of them function in a manner that I would consider "normal." This includes myself. The nature of the work requires intense dedication, which creates a tendency towards a sort of social hyper-focus; your vocabulary and interactions become predominantly focused on work-related topics. Thus, it becomes difficult to associate with people not in your field, because you no longer understand them. They are not a part of the systems that you understand so well. They're untested and uncontrolled variables that screw with most of the hypotheses and theories you've internalized over time.
This doesn't mean that every scientist or engineer is completely socially inept, though. It means that we all have particular social challenges which tend towards keeping us isolated. We don't think like most people do, so why should anyone expect us to act or socialize the same way that most people do? That just wouldn't make sense. Scientists and engineers also tend to have very strong personalities. They can be difficult to interact with on almost any level because they're simply too much.
It's only a problem when, well, it becomes a problem. If you become so entrenched in your particular system that you can't interact with the other humans with whom you need to interact, you might have a problem. But that's rare. More often than not, scientists and engineers don't socialize well with most people because we don't get you.
We don't work on the same level or think about the same things as do most people, and because so much of who we are is defined by what we do, we become incredibly unsure around people who don't at least sort of get what we do. It becomes very frustrating, and we often give up instead of trying to help you figure out how we think.