The-Autism-Spin: Eccentric people

Today I picked up Eccentrics, A Study of Sanity and Strangeness by Dr. David Weeks and Jamie James. I was struck by the possibility that 'eccentrics' as differentiated from those who are 'mad' were most likely also institutionalized (more or less, depending on the cultural climate of the times...) Deliberating this made me think of Uta Frith's book Autism, Explaining the Enigma. She also writes about eccentrics in history (such as Victor, the wild boy of Aveyron and John Howard) who were most likely autistic. And both talk about the helpful effects that being from a privileged background have had on the treatment and perception of 'eccentrics'.

One of the hall marks of an 'eccentric' is being "happily obsessed" with one or more hobbies/interests/pursuits etc. Other hallmarks are being 'non conforming', 'intelligent', 'non competitive, 'not particularly interested in the opinions or company of other people', possessed of a mischievous sense of humor', and being a bad speller.
And this reminds me of...any one of a number of creative kids and adults diagnosed with Aspergers. Innnnter-es-ting.

How convenient that we now have all of these categories to eliminate any misdiagnosis.
And i wonder, as i have wondered many times before, how effective is it to 'diagnose' children, rather than accepting them for being different- 'eccentric' if you may. Today it is proudly proclaimed that we don't have to institutionalize children with autism spectrum disorders. There is talk about the great virtues of inclusive education, children no longer have to be 'shut-ins' as they were in the past. Great.
But what is being done instead? Is the ever sought after diagnosis becoming a new way to marginalize? Under the guise of sensitivity, are we actually just showing a resolute need to have children conform to what we expect a child should do, be, experience, feel, move, behave...? How big is the line between an eccentric and an autistic? And where do our current cultural norms fit in? Who decides? Is it really so important that a child 'fit in'? Especially if the child appears not to be concerned or pained by this experience? Are we really treating our needs rather than the child's needs? How do we know what the child's needs are?

More on the topic of eccentrics, as i continue to read.

Comments

(Are we really treating our needs rather than the child's needs? How do we know what the child's needs are?)

Exactly! Maybe it is better to not intervene and attempt to brainwash the kid! I'd consider myself eccentric, I'm sure I could be diagnosed with several things. Have you ever considered that we may be overcategorising things and that our ideas of what is bad are culturally relative. I think our notion of normal is completely culturally relative and those who are normal/or think they are have been brainwashed by society. Everyone is eccentric, different in some way- but those who are seen as eccentric haven't been compromised by the society. In other words they're real people!

What is more important? Totally fulfilling yourself and being honest with yourself/or living a meaningless existence full of lies. I really think you should reconsider your position on this issue and yourself. I'm sick of mainstream society categorising people (which implies inferiority) and endlessly analysing these people and patronising them by explaining why they are eccentric. When will people realise that they have been brainwashed!?

Hmm...I'm sure that will happen when they're on the brink of death, deluded that they will go to heaven and that all the rapists, criminals. ect. will go to hell. Pyschology is a load of drivel based on nothing but cultural norms. The only thing that can be said to be real is your personal experience. In other words- stop analysing things and get on with your life, since the mind is intangible and theorising about it is equivalent to theorising about why pigeons look funny. Lets face it- human society sucks and always has. Without the so called eccentrics of the world, which I'm sure normal people would love to eliminate- we would be nowhere. You should start to realise now that your status as normal is not a good thing and is meaningless. So is the status of anyone that is eccentric...These categorisations lead nowhere!!!

Normal people are a product of the society we live in.
Eccentric people have shunned society and become meaningful.

Now that society has become so politically correct it isn't funny and people are living comfortable lives with no risks and no heroism, our lives have become meaningless and so we resort to endlessly analysing things from the point of view of maintaining our comfortable lives (and society). Life is serious, not a joke and I'm sure the large unheroic mass of people will never realise this in their comfortable existence.

As radiohead said in Exit Music(For a Film)- "I hope all your rules and wisdom choke you. I hope that you choke. I hope that you choke". The sooner the mainstream choke on their meaningless lives the sooner they will realise trying to be normal will lead to nowhere and that they have to make something heroic of their lives. This need of heroism is compensated for virtually (through TV). Thats why our idea of eccentricity has become more all emcompassing including heroic acts or monologues on existence or life. Perhaps this is a result of the increase of technology and our virtual world, where we have the time to pick everything apart instead of fighting a war or keeping alive. People are more brainwashed now that ever before and suspicious of any subversive activity. Come on, how hollow has life become. We need something to happen or at least we need to make something happen!

p.s. I might seem angry with you, but really I'm happy you have sparked this rambling message. I might have repeated myself, I'm sure its tiresome to read.

Posted by: Luke | March 27, 2007 at 10:11 PM

thanks luke. I appreciate the rambling. Its true that... well, it doesnt really matter does it- just a point of conjecture?
glad i gave you a chance to spark- that always feels satisfying.

Posted by: atlin | September 24, 2007 at 08:04 PM

luke..in todays world ..we learn more than we can unlearn to be happy and relaxed.

to be truely what we are we need to unburden our learing and experiences.we have all lost that innocence that made us happy when we were a child.

anyone who has that kind of quality to unlearn and
forget what burdens his being seemms eccenteric.

we love being the burden of beast and we also love
people who slog, have reached the proverbial mountain of success.

we have been conditiobed ourselves in such a manner.

Posted by: sangeeta | January 14, 2009 at 01:26 AM

Hello, I came across this discussion while looking for a magic cure for my son. He's just started at school and it has become even more apparent that he is not like all the other kids. Sure he looks the same (attractive young lad actually) and is competent at his study's, but in the playground when I drop him off, he doesn't behave like the rest of the boys/girls. He is quiet happy with his own company and doesn't mix at all. Not so bad I know, but put this together with all of his other 'different' mind numbingly strange/eccentric frustrating behaviors at home and his mother and I, brainwashed as we are, just want him to be normal.
There is something to say for being normal, I mean if you fit the mold its very comfortable. If your not normal and you try to conform - i guess its like there's always something jabbing you in the ribs making you squirm. We don't want this for him but as parents of a eccentric kid, we are also squirming, so I think what I'm trying to say is that there needs to be some give and take on both sides of the fence.

My theory is that 'different' people, are seeds in the evolution of the species and therfore need our protection.

Posted by: Dave | May 06, 2009 at 05:47 PM

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