Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Memory_Girl

Karmacat wrote: »

MG, what an amazing link! And what an amazing bloke!

Yeah - don't know many people brave enough to do all the practical research he has done over the last few decades. Imagine having the guts to create a programme like "The Hole in the Wall" and then set up a global resource "The Grandma Cloud" (Interactive video links with elders in many countries teaching the kids) so that kids who have no access to education now do.

Amazing - and slightly scary man, but one I am very proud to now count as one of my friends.

MG

Firewalker

Many valuable and interesting contributions. I love the debate - and as I was telling someone recently there are few people and spaces left for a good debate. So, any thoughts from anyone about not writing here because they provoke debate should be shelved. I have seen nothing to tell me that the rule of civilised debate have been broken - quite the reverse, it has been very diverse but appreciative of this and of provocation (provocation is what leads us to see things differently).

Ani26, I do appreciate the difference; I believe we all do. What I am slightly concerned about is your insistence that your views are set (this comes through the language you use). You are the one who told me to 'chill' and I have listened and am learning to do so. What if I were to say: 'Ani26, open your mind; see life as an ocean and ride on it's waves.' Would you listen?

Time for a run now.

Firewalker

MrsMoo2U

Ani, I too am sure that FW would not want you to stop posting. Whilst I do not agree with everything you state there are some very thought provoking issues that you raise. I like to listen to other view points, mull over them and challenge my own beliefs. Whilst I don't always end up agreeing I have had my horizons widened thanks to some fairly throw away comments or in-depth discussions via the internet.
I understand (really) where you are coming from with regards to some things especially the not being able to do things manually without the aid of the computer (one of my bugbears) but I do also feel that computers are here to stay and, whilst they should never replace humans, they do have very good use at times. Like you I turned to the forums when I moved away and had few friends close by to share a daily interaction with. That doesn't mean that I have stopped enjoying the company of real people.

Firewalker

Thrifty, you know that I have the beginnings of an existential understanding of your ds - I am a high scorer although not a clinical Aspie. But some of the tendencies are strong - I am very big on obsessions and I do find feelings difficult (to do or comprehend; I can understand them but intellectually rather than emotionally). And I love my gadgets.

Ani26, you have not read MG's tread so you don't know some of the background. Some people feel more comfortable with things and their relationships with people are better when going through things - like computers, for instance. But you are right about the rest - the interesting question is whether technology deals away with social isolation or makes it easier to cope with. I know that my life is better since I have been on MSE and making friends here; it is not only that my friendship network has expanded but I also can 'talk' to people I am unlikely to meet otherwise - which is wonderful. All my MSE friends contribute warmth, wisdom and practical advice to my life and I only hope that I make some kind of contribution as well. Contributing different things is what enriches us and makes us happier people.

FW

gilligansyle

All of the above is why I keep coming back to this thread. I don't always post, I often feel that I don't have enough to contribute, but it always leaves me with something to think about.

I am not an academic, have never been to University, went to school in the days when you used a slide rule and log tables. Any qualifications I have were earned either by day release or night school, alongside a job, but I don't feel that prevents me from having a view.

The 'not contributing' is because sometimes the discussions are around areas I have no knowledge of, rather than any feeling that I cannot add anything to a debate, or will be chased if my views are different to others.

I have 'met' many wonderful people on here, and some of them I have also met in real life, so adding to the quality of my life in many different ways.
All this ani is by way of saying, don't just leave, I may not agree with you sometimes, but I will fight with my dying breath for your right to your opinion.

Firewalker

Well said, Gilli. I am just back from my run - opened the door, got in and...the sky opened. It was all perfectly timed. And it was a great run - running is getting not easier but more enjoyable again. When it becomes easy it is time to up the milage, the speed or both.

The only disappointment is that we are going to miss the classic cars show in the local park - suspect that most lovely cars would be gone because of the rain.

FW

ani_26

Firewalker wrote: »

Many valuable and interesting contributions. I love the debate - and as I was telling someone recently there are few people and spaces left for a good debate. So, any thoughts from anyone about not writing here because they provoke debate should be shelved. I have seen nothing to tell me that the rule of civilised debate have been broken - quite the reverse, it has been very diverse but appreciative of this and of provocation (provocation is what leads us to see things differently).

Ani26, I do appreciate the difference; I believe we all do. What I am slightly concerned about is your insistence that your views are set (this comes through the language you use). You are the one who told me to 'chill' and I have listened and am learning to do so. What if I were to say: 'Ani26, open your mind; see life as an ocean and ride on it's waves.' Would you listen?

Time for a run now.

Firewalker

Ah, but fw, no one rides the ocean waves better than i do, and i see views and chilling, as two seperate entities



grumble, grumble, grumble, mutter, mutter, mutter, tsch, tsch, tsch...................

thriftyscotslass

ani_26 wrote: »

This to me, is so sad.
No, no, it's not, it's a celebration. Computers have opened up my son's world.
I would interact with your son anyday.
Thankyou, he's a lovely lad . You do realise that you would have to brush up on your "geek-speak" though. How are you on "modding" (that's hacking into a games console to make it perform functions that it wasn't designed to do). Alternatively, bring your notepad, you may get a lecture in astro-physics or on Sonic the Hedgehog. I would be on hand to provide a well-earned cup of tea and a plate of biccies :rotfl:.
I suppose there are logistical reasons as to why he does'nt have personal interactions...

No not logistical reasons, ds can have all the personal interactions he wants, we will organise these. Keep with me here, it takes a while to get your head around. It is more to do with 1. Does he want the personal interaction and 2. Can he cope with it. These two points are inextricably linked.

The act of social communication can be very hard work for someone with Autism eg what did that look mean, what does that tone of voice mean, what does that body pose mean, what exactly do those words mean eg tell my son to pull his socks up (as in hurry up) and he will physically pull his socks up. Communication can be a source of extreme anxiety to him as he is always getting it "wrong".

In one fell stroke, a computer erases all these difficulties (apart from non-literal language) and allows him to communicate easily and without anxiety. It has enhanced his quality of life. He has made many neuro-diverse and neuro-typical friends online.

ani_26

thriftyscotslass wrote: »

No not logistical reasons, ds can have all the personal interactions he wants, we will organise these. Keep with me here, it takes a while to get your head around. It is more to do with 1. Does he want the personal interaction and 2. Can he cope with it. These two points are inextricably linked.

The act of social communication can be very hard work for someone with Autism eg what did that look mean, what does that tone of voice mean, what does that body pose mean, what exactly do those words mean eg tell my son to pull his socks up (as in hurry up) and he will physically pull his socks up. Communication can be a source of extreme anxiety to him as he is always getting it "wrong".

In one fell stroke, a computer erases all these difficulties (apart from non-literal language) and allows him to communicate easily and without anxiety. It has enhanced his quality of life. He has made many neuro-diverse and neuro-typical friends online.

Geek speak, i'm sure he would run rings around me. Don't people with autism have very high iq's? You'll have to make sure you have the eg, though..

Edit - i see what you mean about geek speak, now. As i know absolutely nothing about autism, then i'm probably not best placed to enter into a discussion about it. I did'nt even know about things such as online tests. It just shows how naive i am. I have, however, taken the test.

Maybe i'm blinkered in my use of computers, as the only virtually the only ' connection ' i have with my computer, are my emails, ( for work ), and this site, because oif my diary, which, it has to be said, i stumbled across. I don't use the internet for social networking, ( some of you may call this, social networking ),in fact, being social has been the furthermost thing on my mind, other than to make other people in similar situations feel less alone. At the time, it just seemd a good outlet for my feelings, as there are few people who admit or talk about certain issues, in real life, and i found a site where people were experiencing similar situations, ( so you are right in your comments ).

I'm already feeling that maybe the time has come to leave mse, ( or my diary ), as i've got to try and pull it all together, in real life, ( god knows how ), Maybe i've made huge progress, too, through names i've encountered on the internet, ( because thats all they are, names, for the most part ). Maybe some would say this is my fault. But then?

Aesop

Wow interesting reading, both, or all three sides?

I can only skim read and don't have time to digest or think of my own views, as laptop broken, needs a new fan, cannot afford repairs, so will have to stay broken. Means logging on and doing what I need to do quickly and then it shuts down on me.

anyhow, I wanted to post as recently a friend posted a link to a test to me and a few other friends. It was a test for autism and surprising to me, I scored quite high - in the sense I did not think I would score at all, but I am not autistic in the literal sense of thriftyscotlass' DS, I don't have Aspergers, but I had a neighbour who had, and I work with someone who has. Learning more and more about autism as I do, it has made it easier for me to communicate with the lady I work with. Where I would have in the past maybe thought her rude for lack of eye contact, and different way of behaving, I now understand it and make sure I interact with her in a way that is comfortable for her, if that makes sense.

But like FW says, she has tendencies, being high scoring herself. I know of quite a few people who have scored highly on that test. it does not necessarily mean we are autistic, but may have traits.

Think comp is going to conk out, so will leave it here.