5 ms·

> I was given a computer with internet access around age 5 and allowed to experiment all I wanted. Most identity experimentation games happen from age 2-3, and

by zpeti 4y ago

> I was given a computer with internet access around age 5 and allowed to experiment all I wanted. Most identity experimentation games happen from age 2-3, and much of it depends on parent and environment feedback. Sitting at your computer "experimenting" is highly unlikely to be what our psychology and evolution needs for us to become fully mature adults. It's much more about direct feedback and interaction with parents, siblings and others.

LoganDark 4y ago
Well, I'm autistic and have ADHD bad enough that my body will not even respond to my attempts to move sometimes. There are a million reasons for me to be unhappy with it, feel trapped and isolated inside my own head, want to escape/avoid reality, and choose to do so through fantasy. But it doesn't change the fact that I honestly identify this way now, no matter how I got here. I think explaining it away as some syndrome or illness is a bit minimizing. My identity is important to me.
- zpeti 4y ago
  Almost everyone finds ways to cope with the issues of life, or the traumas of childhood, whether that's extreme sports, or alcohol, or however you've been able to cope. As I said in my first post, that's fine, everyone has to find a way, and we shouldn't judge each other. Except when your coping mechanism has negative implications for other people. As soon as you are forcing others or damaging them (note: easy to see how that works with alcohol for example), then it's not ok. Find a way to cope, fine. Just don't expect me to play along with it (we have interventions for alcoholics for a reason).
  - LoganDark 4y ago
    > Except when your coping mechanism has negative implications for other people. What are you implying? Does not wanting to link my accounts to a real-life body have negative implications somehow?

5 ms·

> I was given a computer with internet access around age 5 and allowed to experiment all I wanted. Most identity experimentation games happen from age 2-3, and

by zpeti 4y ago

LoganDark 4y ago
Well, I'm autistic and have ADHD bad enough that my body will not even respond to my attempts to move sometimes. There are a million reasons for me to be unhappy with it, feel trapped and isolated inside my own head, want to escape/avoid reality, and choose to do so through fantasy. But it doesn't change the fact that I honestly identify this way now, no matter how I got here. I think explaining it away as some syndrome or illness is a bit minimizing. My identity is important to me.
- zpeti 4y ago
  Almost everyone finds ways to cope with the issues of life, or the traumas of childhood, whether that's extreme sports, or alcohol, or however you've been able to cope. As I said in my first post, that's fine, everyone has to find a way, and we shouldn't judge each other. Except when your coping mechanism has negative implications for other people. As soon as you are forcing others or damaging them (note: easy to see how that works with alcohol for example), then it's not ok. Find a way to cope, fine. Just don't expect me to play along with it (we have interventions for alcoholics for a reason).
  - LoganDark 4y ago
    > Except when your coping mechanism has negative implications for other people. What are you implying? Does not wanting to link my accounts to a real-life body have negative implications somehow?