Aspergers & the Geek Syndrome (podcast)

Listen to Aspergers & The Geek Syndrome, with Chelfyn, MsBehaviour & Wammo on Kiwi FM >>

The recent case of teen Hacker Owen Thor Wilson caught running an illegal botnet, has highlighted Asperger's Syndrome in the IT Industry and geek community. I think the New Zealand judge did the right thing giving him a second chance, as he is the product of enforced social isolation, bullying and misunderstanding.

Aspergers Syndrome is considered to be on the milder end of what is now called the Autistic Spectrum, and I am a strong supporter of autism advocacy for three reasons. Firstly some of the brightest and best geeks I have worked with have been aspies. Secondly I am married to an amazing clever, creative geek  who is an aspie boy, and finally in a rare quirk of genetic fate - I myself am an aspie girl.

Living with Aspergers Syndrome is a bit like being born into a foreign country without a travel guide, map or dictionary. The customs, language and systems are all very alien and the inhabitants tend to be rather Xenophobic towards those different to them. The only way to get by is to learn to act like the natives, or retreat into the world of computers like young Owen Wilson.

Those born with more 'Neuro-typical' (NT) brains can find it almost impossible to understand an autistic perspective. We don't care about money or status or the trappings of success, fashion, trends or what 'the neighbours think'. Computerworld published a piece recently on Asperger's and IT: Dark secret or open secret? I would say it's an open secret, but only recently have we had a name for what WIRED Magazine calls the Geek Syndrome.

I think the Leonardo Syndrome is a better term for us, as I firmly believe that my ability to think creatively and understand technology come from being austistic and living on the spectrum. Aspie girls are rare though I suspect that there are more of us than most people realise. Boys tend to act out whereas girls more often withdraw, so many can fly under the radar. Thankfully we are starting to live in more enlightened times but we can do a lot more for adults with Aspergers Syndrome to help them find fulfilling work and have successful careers.

I saw a quote in the NZ Hacker case where a psychologist talked about his Aspergers symptoms as having 'disappeared', but this is just wishful thinking. The symptoms never disappear - you just learn to mask them more easily, but they are only an issue in the wrong environment or with the wrong people. Since I started teleworking over a decade ago I have had very few issues, I have been running my own business for over five years and have a successful media career.

After all every 21st Century business needs IT & Geeks to manage their global communications, so it's worth learning how to get along with us, rather than be frustrated and annoyed by our quirks. Telling us to 'just try harder to fit in' or  to 'stop being so sensitive' is like telling someone who can't spell to 'stop being so dyslexic'.

We have a neurogical difference to most people, but it doesn't mean that we have a disorder or are disabled. In the right environments we canreally thrive. Don't expect us to look you in the eye or be interested in your baby,  but if you want an honest answer about anything, then just ask an aspie.

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