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Well, sounds like the only people you know to be autistic are low functional... Traits that may be beneficial in milder versions can often be detrimental if to
by poizan42 9y ago
Well, sounds like the only people you know to be autistic are low functional...
Traits that may be beneficial in milder versions can often be detrimental if too expressed. If you are working with software developers then there's a good chance that some of your colleagues falls on the spectrum. It's probably not something they go around telling people about, assuming they are even themselves aware.
- douche 9y agoI sometimes wonder if we sometimes self-label ourselves, in general, as being "on the spectrum" just so we can justify getting pissy when uninteresting people interrupt and harass us while we are trying to concentrate on interesting problems.
- wbl 9y agoI had an IEP because of autism and work in the industry.
- briholt 9y agoI think this is the DSM's criteria for high functioning autism.
- poizan42 9y agoHaving difficulty getting back on track after an interruption is part of ADHD (well, more difficulty than the average person, interruptions disrupts everybody's concentration to some degree). There is a high level of comorbidity between Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD-PI (formerly known as ADD).
- watwut 9y agoOk, but some people are jerks or without being autistic. No one likes being interrupted, not just autistic. They just make it while another level. If you act angrily after being interrupted, then people will interrupt you less. People with high social skills do that intentionally for exactly that reason. The difference is in inability to control the bad reaction. Merely being rude and self centered is not enough (autistic come across like self centered, but that is oftentimes unfair).
- bad_user 9y agoI think claims about "the spectrum" are often overblown. Most software developers do not exhibit any traits linked to autism.
- TheDong 9y agoI appreciate this carefully cited informative comment where you state your own biased opinion/observations as fact.
- watwut 9y agoAre you claiming that most developers are on the spectrum? That would be quite strong claim.
- TheDong 9y agoNo. I don't have enough information to make any such claim. I'm merely asserting that the parent comment also likely isn't backed by enough information to make their claim either. I'll happily be proved wrong by citations in either direction.
- RhysU 9y agoAnyone know a study of for on spectrum programmer vs on spectrum other profession?
- enraged_camel 9y agoNo, the claim is "most software developers do not exhibit autism symptoms". It was made without supporting evidence.
- sheepmullet 9y agoThe default position a logical person without evidence to the contrary should take is most software developers are not on the spectrum. General population for men is approx 1 in 42 boys are on the autism spectrum (https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/faq https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/faq) There are roughly 2 million Americans on the autism spectrum and roughly 3.6 million software developers. So for the counter claim to be true pretty much every single person with autism in the US must work in Software development.
- watwut 9y agoPeople like to overstate amount of people on the spectrum in programming - and it likely went down as it gained popularity. High functioning autistic are easy bullying target for "alfa geeks" and can't really cope well in companies where culture fit is important. They also have harder time coping with time pressure, working in open space (noise, disruptions), tight agile cooperation (this is two sided hell), have hard time controlling emotions (go into rage), have hard time deal with changes of plans, unexpected and plenty of other situations currently present. I guess it is less bad for them to be in programming then in marketing, but normals still have it better. Also, they are good in some thigs - great with routine, rarely make mistake, rarely inattentive, great memory. Then again, as a rule, they have less good abstract thinking which limits them a lot, goes into rage because programmer on unrelated project used slightly different code style. If we are talking about people who are normally diagnosable, diagnosis is not exactly shock for people who work with them. You may not be able to guess diagnosis, but you are aware that the person is off.
- lapsock 9y agoThat's why it's called a spectrum. The people you call "alfa geeks" are probably on the spectrum themselves, but are even higher functioning.
- watwut 9y agoNo, they are not. They are highly socially successful and know exactly what gives them praise. They know how to do politics well. They eagerly form cooperating packs. That is opposite of autistic. People on the spectrum are clumsy systematically - agains bosses, against customers, and time it hurts them. Alpha geeks act like jerks to get ahed - put down opposition without needing to argue, protect their social status or raiser popularity by being fun. People on the spectrum are not fun. They act like jerks unintentionally - they don't understand what they are doing.
- y_u_no_rust 9y agoCuck