Aspergers, a path to species differentiation?

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Many of the traits of Aspies, high intelligence, creativity, low emotionalism, etc, are/could be usefull traits in the next evolutionary leap. Homo Sapiens is failing at effectively dealing with the complexities of our rapidly evolving technologies and population densities. Many resort to emotionalism, especially group emotialism. (riots, mass fads etc) rather than applying reason to the solution of our problems.

It is plain to see that humanity is entering a state of crisis. This is when new mutations have a chance.

We see in nature that closely related species of birds diverge with differing plumage and mating behaviors, often while still closely related enough to hybridise.

Could such a thing be starting with Humans? Could our difficulty reading their social signalling be the start of this process? Aspergers seems on the increase, could we be the next big thing?

no, because aspies are less likely to breed.

Ape like, knuckle grinding sports jocks are our evolutionary destiny. Sad but true.

Not another one threads that appears to view Autism/Aspergers as a evolutionary leap to the future!

Aarrggghhhhh!

In evolution, those traits that are selected are those that increase your probability of reproducing. As far as I can see, Autism and Aspergers decrease that probability rather than increase it.

So the answer is a clear no. Autism and Aspergers is not an evolutionary advancement.

Species separation implies the existence of an effective barrier between two populations that initially had the same distribution of genes. That is how bonobos evolved somewhat separately from chimpanzees.

If there were Aspie Island and it could support a population over many generations eventually the humans on Aspie Island would differ markedly from humans in NT-topia.

ruveyn

Being a spectrum "disorder" there is likely a sweet spot where the positive traits outweigh the difficulties.
I see that there are many who have children, often with aspergers. Why so quick to dismiss?

It may be fantastical, but it's an uplifting fantasy, better than seeing oneself as a flawed and damaged version of NT's.

Time will tell of course, and you and I will most probably not be around to see it if it comes to pass.

aspies are emotional and sexual dunces.

Thats why we are an evolutionary cul de sac.

Often differing diet seems sufficient in birds to drive seperation.

The point is we have trouble with social signalling, could this not BE the process of differentiation?

This.

Mutations happen, and those that increase the chance of reproduction stay, those that don't die out. That's natural selection. Autism is a mutation, but since we are less likely to reproduce, we'll continue as a population within the species, until we die out. Even if every one of us bred, it would take generations of breeding amongst autistics and only autistics to lead to a separate species.

Also, there's what I call the "X-men fallacy." There is no "next step in human evolution". Evolution doesn't work in steps. It's a gradual, constant preference for certain traits, not a population appearing out of nowhere. For a sudden "burst" of evolution, you'd need something like a population separated into two different habitats. As time goes on, one group will adapt to its habitat, and the other will adapt to theirs.

^

this, pretty much. Some have this fallacious idea that evolution is some sort of conscious entity that is steering us towards a 'better tomorrow'. Its not. Evolution is completely organic, it 'just is'. It may even be leading us towards a more vulnerable position.

Unfortunately mysticists, neo darwinists and nazis think it is something else.

Why has no one considered the option that maybe it's a good thing we don't reproduce as much?
Overpopulation is a real issue, coming up fairly quickly.
Not to mention all the dumbass kids out there (sorry, every child isn't really special)

I, for one, welcome our new aspie overlords.

As for the people saying that the jock types get all the ladies and reproduce blah blah. That's total BS. Young girls want to sleep with those guys, that doesn't mean they want to have kids or a family with them... what a terrible idea

Not as long as Auties and Aspies live together with the Normals. Some kind of barrier to separate people on the Spectrum from the Normals is required to produce differentiation.

ruveyn

No.

There is no evolutionary advantage to having Asperger's Syndrome. If anything, our lack of social interaction will actually inhibit our opportunities to pass along our genes to the next generation ... IF A.S. is purely genetic in origin ...

... which is extremely doubtful.

Autistics are the only ones that can solve the worlds problems.

Got any evidence for that?

It's absolute bollocks. NTs are just as smart and creative as we are. The simply relate to others differently. If anything, NTs are more adaptable than most autistics that I know. Aspie superiority is just as wrongheaded as white superiority, or male superiority, or any idea of superiority.

Is it okay for the medical establishment to call us inferior?

No advantage to aspergers?

High intelligence, creativity, not so emotional etc, whats not advantageous with these traits?

If we see ourselves as dud NTs, sure it doesn't look that brilliant, if we look to our strengths and come to terms with some of the other stuff, it looks , to me anyway, to be quite advantageous.

We don't have two heads, we still get some breeding opportunities, and by the prevalence of aspie kids it could be a dominant, either that or common recessive