3 ms·

RMS himself has rejected the suggestion that he is on the spectrum, so I’m not sure why you are casually suggesting that he is.

skissane 6y ago
As I've pointed out before [0], his "self-undiagnosis" appears to be based on misconceptions; given that, how much weight should we put on it? [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26537802 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26537802
- pseudalopex 6y ago
  Stallman said he didn't have most of the characteristics of Asperger's. Rhythm was just an example.
  - skissane 6y ago
    If you read the comment I linked, I explained why I don't think that is relevant–you don't need to have problems with rhythm to meet the diagnostic criteria for Aspergers syndrome (or ASD under the current DSM-5). Stallman's comments reveal that he has a poor understanding of the diagnostic criteria (or at least he did when he made those comments, many years ago–he may have improved his understanding since), which is why I don't think one should put much weight on them.
    - pseudalopex 6y ago
      I read your comment already. You talked about part of what the journalist quoted like it was all Stallman said. He went on to say he has some of the characteristics. He described how they affected his life. He discussed a book about subclinical mental disorders by Harvard psychiatry professor John Ratey. He suggested he might have what's called broader autism phenotype now. The strongest plausible interpretation of what he said is he understood the distinction between clinical and subclinical presentations and the part about rhythm was incidental. It's clear he had some understanding at least. Insisting he must have thought rhythm was a diagnostic criterion and that completely invalidates his understanding is the weakest plausible interpretation at best.
      - skissane 6y ago
        The boundary between ASD and BAP isn't always clear even to experienced clinicians. Someone who isn't an experienced clinician, their judgement of which side of that line a person lies on is much more likely to be wrong. That's true even when the person in question is their own self. Given that, how much weight should we give to Stallman's opinion on the issue? And, this isn't directed at you personally, but I think a lot of people who bring "Stallman says he doesn't have it" into the argument don't display any awareness of the concept of BAP.

skissane 6y ago

As I've pointed out before [0], his "self-undiagnosis" appears to be based on misconceptions; given that, how much weight should we put on it? [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26537802 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26537802

pseudalopex 6y ago
Stallman said he didn't have most of the characteristics of Asperger's. Rhythm was just an example.
- skissane 6y ago
  If you read the comment I linked, I explained why I don't think that is relevant–you don't need to have problems with rhythm to meet the diagnostic criteria for Aspergers syndrome (or ASD under the current DSM-5). Stallman's comments reveal that he has a poor understanding of the diagnostic criteria (or at least he did when he made those comments, many years ago–he may have improved his understanding since), which is why I don't think one should put much weight on them.
  - pseudalopex 6y ago
    I read your comment already. You talked about part of what the journalist quoted like it was all Stallman said. He went on to say he has some of the characteristics. He described how they affected his life. He discussed a book about subclinical mental disorders by Harvard psychiatry professor John Ratey. He suggested he might have what's called broader autism phenotype now. The strongest plausible interpretation of what he said is he understood the distinction between clinical and subclinical presentations and the part about rhythm was incidental. It's clear he had some understanding at least. Insisting he must have thought rhythm was a diagnostic criterion and that completely invalidates his understanding is the weakest plausible interpretation at best.
    - skissane 6y ago
      The boundary between ASD and BAP isn't always clear even to experienced clinicians. Someone who isn't an experienced clinician, their judgement of which side of that line a person lies on is much more likely to be wrong. That's true even when the person in question is their own self. Given that, how much weight should we give to Stallman's opinion on the issue? And, this isn't directed at you personally, but I think a lot of people who bring "Stallman says he doesn't have it" into the argument don't display any awareness of the concept of BAP.