<p>mathmom, my son would be lost indeed if cargo pants did not exist. There is so much junk hanging off his keychain alone that he can hardly keep his pants up.</p>
<p>I find this thread so interesting! As an artist and art teacher the quote caught me off guard. I have taught many many children and many on the autism spectrum. I don’t think that Asberger Syndrome is a benefit in art making. Most of the students that I have had with Asberger struggle with a rigid approach to the problem solving. Perfectionism is the enemy in art making and art learning and perfectionism can be a hallmark of Asberger. I have had students who are very pattern oriented and detail oriented and this can often result in unique and wonderful results. The problem is that the obsessive quality of the work can prevent the discovery that is intrinsic in the studio experience. It will often stop the child cold.
I also agree with Mythmom in that socializing and networking is so important in the art field. The social aspect of the creative world can make the difference between artistic obscurity and success. Not that this aspect of being an artist defines success as an artist but it is an important part of the picture.</p>
<p>I had to laugh at this, Naturally in #16:
</p>
<p>Here’s Dr. Tony Attwood, probably the world’s leading expert on Asperger’s Syndrome right now:
</p>
<p>Please, Naturally, I invite you to spend a day at MITCaltechCMURoseHulmanHarveyMudd, and look all around. You’re likely to spot hacks or pranks or projects or inventions or exhibits or discoveries or RPGs (like Assassin’s Guild or D&D) done by TEAMS OF STUDENTS, many of whom are on the spectrum.</p>
<p>People misunderstand the essence of the Asperger’s conundrum: there is social interaction aplenty, as long as there’s a context. Just want to hang around, shoot the breeze? Make idle chit-chat? Naw, Awesome Aspies don’t have the patience or interest in that. Build an operating system? Decode the human genome? Catalog species with every detail and get a group together to do it? You bet there’s an Aspie in that group. That’s why they always paste people like Bill Gates (who has a very very nerdy style and rocks in his chair) with the Aspie label, and you know what, say what you want about MS, he made a lot of his colleagues rich, and they all work together.</p>
<p>One Aspie I’m fond of catalogued a relative’s shell collection, using reference books and naming the shells and putting them in groups: “this is a spider conch, and this is a slipper limpet…”. He was wearing a drooler bib. He was 2 years old. On a trip to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum he saw a mural on the wall and shouted out: “LOOK, IT’S A CHAMBERED NAUTILUS” and everybody around him gasped and one person said: “did you hear what that baby SAID?”. And then his mom went to change his diaper. That’s what Aspies are like, they catalog, they sort, they analyze, they drill into their interests to an astonishing degree. They expect you to be as interested as they are. </p>
<p>They thrive in groups that are all interested in the same thing. That’s how science works, I think.</p>
<p>(@mathmom: ‘someone I’m fond of’ went to College Acceptance Students Weekends with a length of cat 5 cable wrapped around his waist to hold his cargo pants up because the electronics were so heavy!)</p>
<p>
I was the last one on the plane from Boston out to the Society for Neuroscience conference this fall, and I was asked by a curious flight attendant why everyone was carrying “those big film canisters” (poster tubes), and why on earth we didn’t just put them in checked luggage.</p>
<p>Though perhaps I was asked because, for a scientist, I happen to have pretty good hair. ;)</p>
<p>LOL. I aways think of Gordon conferences in the west since my husband always seems to be headed to LA in January or February. </p>
<p>DH is definitly not Aspie despite the cargo pants, my older son though shares many traits. That said he’s fine in an office - the computer firms he’s worked for love him. He plays games, he just isn’t that interested in chitchat.</p>
<p>Hm. I think there’s a difference between character trends and a clinical diagnosis. And there’s a spectrum from neuro-typical to aspie. I wish we had a better term than neuro-typical so it seem like one end of the spectrum is a diagnosis and the other normal.</p>
<p>I think to be successful most people need a spectrum of traits. It helps to be able to communicate with others, but for most things it also helps to be able to go off on one’s own and come up with ideas and work independently to implement them.</p>
<p>I think the descriptions of scientists on this thread are endearing and very appealing.</p>
<p>The descriptions of writers usually involve liquid refreshment (though I don’t drink). I think novelists (myself included) tend to be a bit nosy because we’re always asking questions. Some of these answers show up in our books.</p>
<p>Now I understand why DS refuses to wear anything but cargo pants! Doesn’t carry a lot of stuff yet, but he’s likely just in training as a 16 year old. Always did think he was a few steps down the nerd-Asperger path. </p>
<p>Aww, you guys make his ‘quirks’ sound so cute and lovable. Thank you!!</p>
<p>AnuddahMom makes a good point; however, there is a huge difference between being able to work together as peers on a one-time project and being able to lead a scientific team for years to come.</p>
<p>ihs76- bring your DS to the MIT Swap Fest. He’ll load up his cargo pockets in no time and meet fantastic people along the way.
Mathmom-tell DH not to worry when he can’t get cargo pants, ham radio operators have gadgetry accommodating clothing down to a science. For starters, there’s the vests with a zillion pockets to wear over tee shirts, I bet he would love one for a Christmas present.
FYI-at my local club, the preferred cargo pants have elastic waists. Gotta love ham radio chic.</p>
<p>Much art and theoretical science tend to involve into your studio or office by yourself for a day. Both typically take big blocks of time for the ideas to sink in and then for creativity to emerge. Dealing with people, whether gallery directors or other artists on the one hand or students or deans on the other, tends to be a distraction from real work and to break up the big blocks of time. This requires comfort or at least a willingness to spend big blocks of time alone. As such, people with Aspergers would find that part of art/science theory work comfortable. But, artists who are successful tend to have to hustle a lot. They have to create an external image, go to openings, be a good self-promoter and generally schmooze well. There are probably fewer such requirements for theoretical scientists, though from what I’ve seen, being a great self-promoter really helps. Aspergers probably is inconsistent with that part of the job (although that part may only be the difference between NAS and Nobel more and not something that prevents success). </p>
<p>Lab science, on the other hand, may be different. [I know more about art and theoretical science]. My sense is that some labs are very cooperative/collaborative and some more solo but to be successful, a scientist has to manage a lab to get results and thus will need the skills to work with people.</p>
<p>And one needs grants, too.</p>
<p>The wider the skill set, the wider the success. Let’s say that Aspergerians can find a home in some very creative solitary pursuits.</p>
<p>second spring –</p>
<p>heeeey, do I know you? Bet I do!</p>
<p>You forgot of course the backpack with a plug and/or solar panel and optional antenna. Oh, and the shoes with elastic laces, because…who has time to tie shoes?</p>
<p>AnudduhMom- oh, of course the laces. And I thought they were used because who can bend over while wearing all the gear! Let’s not forget the full wardrobe of teeshirts that read Walk For(—whatever charity event on the front) and Volunteer on the back. And then of course, the hats…</p>
<p>second spring: This is the shirt the Aspies I love are getting this year:</p>
<p>[ThinkGeek</a> :: Enough Social Interaction](<a href=“http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/a69c]ThinkGeek”>http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/a69c)</p>
<p>And the ones who are really hermetic are getting this:</p>
<p>[ThinkGeek</a> :: Enough Social Interaction Doormat / Floormat](<a href=“http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/b27d]ThinkGeek”>http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/b27d)</p>
<p>Hugs for you! (I mean, only if you want one, and on your terms, and if I won’t get electrocuted :))</p>
<p>I feel that way a lot, and I’m not Asperger’s!</p>
<p>This is the shirt I’ve been tempted to ge t my son: [Warn</a> them wearing I’m Not User Friendly T-shirt](<a href=“http://computergear.com/notusfrients.html]Warn”>http://computergear.com/notusfrients.html)</p>