Aspie = Evolutionary Leap Forward? Two Questions!

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The reality is that it's probably insignificant. So far as evolution goes there's no "supreme," there's no "advanced" - such notions are self-centered - there is no goal in evolution - only adaptation, via descent with modification. Evolution is a matter of population dynamics - pools of genetic information being molded by their environment through long spans of time. There are plenty of traits - mental and physical - that can spread into the population, but which provide little to no real advantage (like attached earlobes, blue eyes, smaller toes). Such traits propagate through the gene pools nonetheless, only because it's an active, living system and the information has to go somewhere - the extent to which it is successful has entirely to do with how much reproductive distribution is going on. In order for a "difference" to become something widespread, it has to provide some kind of reproductive advantage - meaning it has to broadcast widely. If it provides an advantage that results in more offspring, it eventually becomes predominant. So, evolution is all about population mechanics. Evolution is not a ladder we're climbing - there aren't next "stages" or anything like that.

It could be a divergence. It's difficult to say if it's a leap.

In order to be a leap (and successful leap at that) it would have to present characteristics that increase the odds of survival and reproduction.

Taking a look at other forums here, I'm not really seeing that.

The assumption underlying the original question is that difference equates to lesser than.

Simply put and for lack of better defining terms, NTs aren't better than ASDs and ASDs aren't better than NTs. Just as we are each unique human beings, we are also different from a norm that has been quantified and codified.

Okay, so what? The practical aspect of this categorizing has to do with being able to survive in our society--basic survival, like paying bills and putting a roof over our heads. This is where difficulties arise for many of us. In this regard, we are at a disadvantage, so it may be natural to feel less than.

But it is up to me to accept or reject this feeling, so I try not to put a lot of energy into why I am ASD and focus more on accepting the fact that this is who I am and this is how I was born. I can't change it any more than I can change my height.

Other than that, as the saying goes, eff 'em if they can't take a joke.

As to hypothesizing about human civilizations, it's fun to do but I always run into the same problem: we humans are so problematic that it's like an Escher painting that loops back on itself, like his picture of hands:

http://uploads3.wikipaintings.org/image ... -hands.jpg

This makes a lot of sense to me. I don't think there's "superior" so much as there's going to be someone who is better able to handle a particular environment.

I think of myself as a throwback in that regard, considering my environment is the current culture, living in the US where certain personality aspects are considered strengths - that I don't have.

But ... this


and this

make sense to me as well. We need both! Life continually throws situations at us that call for other talents, whether we're Aspie or NT. I was different than my coworkers, and that made it difficult for me to fit in, but there were times when we faced situations in which my particular talents were exactly what was needed.

But mostly, this...


I've read theories that we could be carriers of some of that DNA, and it also makes sense to me. Even some of the physical problems - Celiac for instance. Neanderthals were forest dwellers, whereas Cro-Magnon man gained prominence in the less forested places that were turned into steppes and prairie by receding glaciers, places where it was necessary to run, and where grasses (wheat, grains) would be predominant.

People get upset by that possibility, as if someone is saying we must be ape-people. But remember that geneticists are finding that many humans carry Neanderthal DNA. Especially those of European ancestry, which is where Neanderthals thrived. There was a huge diversity of early humans, and many of them interbred.

Your bunny signature is the cutest. I think it's even more adorable with the fullstop underlined to make a little mouth! (Sorry to veer off topic!)

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The World they design in this movie (Zeitgeist 3):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex8U_4rJn4s

I don't know about anybody else, but in my experiences, us Aspies get along swimmingly with one another, much better than an aspie and an NT, or two NTs. I think that if the world was more aspie, there would be less conflict, less war, less economic disparity, etc. I think that as a general group (I'm not saying we're all like this.) aspies are more straightforward, more honest, and more forgiving. Now I'm also not saying that we are smarter than NTs, but among ourselves we get along better.

Interestingly autism has a higher diagnostic rate in richer parts of the world, there are two possible reasons for the higher rates. The obvious explanation for the higher rates is that richer parents are more likely to seek out a diagnosis however I would like to suggest that the social conditions of richer areas may have some influence on the social development of children. Aspies just happen to be an extreme response to social conditions in richer areas whether that is evolution is another question entirely

I kinda get what you're saying here, but I would say that your first suggestion is correct; parents with better access to professionals in the field are more likely to seek out help, and by extension, a diagnosis. But as for your second theory, I don't really see that working the way you suggest. First off, if the social conditions of a wealthier society would influence the development of the genetic structure, I for one think that that would create a "Super NT" instead of an Aspie. Also, evolution supports the genetic traits that are most likely to reproduce. While that is a simplification, it is in my opinion that, unless there where man more aspies in the world, we aren't exactly more likely to make babies then NTs. I swear, those guys multiply like rabbits. Personally, as to why Aspies and our like our becoming more common in the world is explained, to me, in a religious way. But this is neither the time nor the place to engage in such a conversation.