Comments on: Socialness and stuff.

By: AnneC

AnneC — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:53:27 +0000

I’m five foot three (give or take a half inch or so — I’m not sure how to measure height most accurately considering the possibility of unintentional slouching or slight raising-on-one’s-toes). I was sort of surprised at how short Amanda’s second-life avatar seemed, since I have mine on nearly the shortest setting possible, but I’m guessing that different basic skins in SL probably have different scaling associated with them. Mine isn’t all that heavily customized.

By: bullet

bullet — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 13:02:43 +0000

I see what you mean now, thanks for explaining. I am five foot three so you are close in height to me.

By: ballastexistenz

ballastexistenz — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 11:32:00 +0000

bullet (sorry didn’t see your question, I was approving a bunch of stuff without replying), no, I’m actually 5’2″. Muskie is last I heard five feet even (may be shorter by now, her spine makes her shrink, she would be 5’6″ without scoliosis, and she couldn’t stand long enough to be measured the last time someone tried to measure her). I didn’t mean growing to be of average height, I meant growing to be the height that would be expected based on my family’s heights. Somehow from photographs several people have assumed I was tall (not just taller than I am now, but tall in general), hence Natalia’s surprise when she met me. Similarly, I’d assumed somehow that Natalia was short (possibly based on her Second Life avatar), and was mildly surprised when I met her.

By: n.

n. — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:34:27 +0000

Jenny, that comment #26 is NOT about you. Just in case the proximity made you confused at all.

By: ballastexistenz

ballastexistenz — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 06:57:19 +0000

On second thought, I don’t think I need a conversation with a particular person intruding on post about a very pleasant in-person visit with my online friends. She’s caused enough trouble already. ( Someone who knows I want zero contact with her, posted a question here. Since the question, if not its manner of asking, was innocent (even though the person asking already knows the answer), I decided to let it slide, and even answered it, before telling her to stay away from me — everywhere — and that this was the last time I was going to say it explicitly. But then I realized that I don’t need her on my blog, regardless, so I’m editing this comment and removing hers. She, and anyone sent by her, is not welcome around me. Period.)

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 05:08:30 +0000

Wow – thanks so much for this. I’m amazed by how many articulate autistic people are writing online and will definitely look through all of your suggestions.

I wanted to talk to Amanda because her YouTube video has become such a phenomenon – among both autistics and non-autistics alike. She has unique perspective on the crossover between communities. So it would still be great to hear from her!

Either way, I’m very grateful for the help of people on this board. I’ll let you know what happens.

By: n.

n. — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:44:06 +0000

Jenny, also, just for your curiosity, the Neurodiversity acceptance movement, unorganized as it is, has outposts in the UK as well.
Try
http://laurentius-rex.blogspot.com/ (uk autie/activist blogger)
http://mikestanton.wordpress.com/ & http://www.kevinleitch.co.uk/wp/index.php (blogs of family/advocates of autistics)
http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/ (forum of autistic users mostly)
… and i am sure i have missed some…

By: andreashettle

andreashettle — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:02:36 +0000

Jenny

I don’t know if Amanda intends to get back to you (since I don’t know Amanda and am not psychic). But whether or not she does, you might want to do some further exploration on your own.

1. You may want to browse around this blog in general to see what you can learn — you might pick up some things along the way that you hadn’t even thought to ask about. You will note that there are two ways you can browse: by date (this blog goes back to 2005), see the calendar in the left hand column on this page. Or you can browse by category, also in the left hand column on this page.

Also, go to http://ballastexistenz.autistics.org/?p=317 and scroll down to see comments #56, #92, #105, #133, #134, #138, #147, #158, and #161 — all of these comments have a bunch of links that might be of interest to you, and might answer some of your questions. Do especially be sure to explore the links to blogs by other autistic adults. Amanda is not the only intelligent, articulate, insightful autistic adult writing on line (or in print), about neurodiversity or otherwise, so there is a lot you can learn from others too.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:59:34 +0000

Hi Amanda

I’m sorry to leave a message on your blog but I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for a week and don’t know where else to try. I’ve left you a YouTube message and emailed autistics.org, but haven’t had any luck finding you.

I’m a journalist in the UK and I’m writing a piece for the Times about neurodiversity and autistic rights. I’d really value the chance to talk to you about it. Most people in the UK haven’t heard about the movement and I want to introduce it to a wider audience.

I know you are very busy at the moment – but would be great if you could email me back to let me know what you think.

Jenny

By: Misu^Amorpha

Misu^Amorpha — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:55:13 +0000

About that “Southern nice” (as experienced in Texas) – it can be hellish if you have the least bit of trouble with non-verbal/non-literal meaning, especially if you’re female.

Yes, I think overall, the pressure to be ultrasensitive to non-verbal cues, to “be empathic,” to pick up on others’ feelings instantaneously (I’m actually not sure this can be done reliably even between completely typical people; I’ve seen it claimed to exist more often than I ever have actually seen real examples of it), etc, are a lot more intense in most American subcultures if you’re female-bodied. Women are “supposed to” be the peacemakers, the caretakers, the ones who are good in dealing with people. Both men and women come down much harder on women who can’t do those things than men who can’t; a man who can’t live up to those impossible ideals is let off the hook for “just being a typical guy.”