Comments on: Dilbert’s Diagnosis: The Knack http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:33:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Claim of the Autism Epidemic http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-553405 The Claim of the Autism Epidemic Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:27:05 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-553405 [...] diagnosis to apply to a child who might have been termed “quirky” or a sort of “funny-looking kid” (”FLK”) in times past. The diagnostic criteria have changed, as you can see if [...] [...] diagnosis to apply to a child who might have been termed “quirky” or a sort of “funny-looking kid” (”FLK”) in times past. The diagnostic criteria have changed, as you can see if [...]

]]> By: Stuff for Autism: Toothpaste, Vodka……. http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-540813 Stuff for Autism: Toothpaste, Vodka……. Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:14:53 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-540813 [...] in the constant rumors that Bill Gates has Asperger’s Syndrome; see also this video on the diagnosis of Dilbert); when it is “severe, there is a “much more profound isolation.” A sort [...] [...] in the constant rumors that Bill Gates has Asperger’s Syndrome; see also this video on the diagnosis of Dilbert); when it is “severe, there is a “much more profound isolation.” A sort [...]

]]> By: Autism Vox » A Parent’s Right to Represent a Child: Getting the best autism education http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-531213 Autism Vox » A Parent’s Right to Represent a Child: Getting the best autism education Sun, 25 Feb 2007 20:20:47 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-531213 [...] Whatever your position on what causes autism or what treatment you think is best, there are some experiences that most parents of autistic children go through and that are just not easy: Getting the diagnosis and just hearing the word “autism” for the first time. Dealing with the attention (stares) of strangers when one’s child is having an unhappy moment in a public place (even just on the sidewalk in front of your own house). And, dealing with the school district to ensure that one’s child gets their free and appropriate education (FAPE) in the least restricted environment (LRE). [...] [...] Whatever your position on what causes autism or what treatment you think is best, there are some experiences that most parents of autistic children go through and that are just not easy: Getting the diagnosis and just hearing the word “autism” for the first time. Dealing with the attention (stares) of strangers when one’s child is having an unhappy moment in a public place (even just on the sidewalk in front of your own house). And, dealing with the school district to ensure that one’s child gets their free and appropriate education (FAPE) in the least restricted environment (LRE). [...]

]]> By: Brett http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-530991 Brett Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:43:05 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-530991 I would describe "The Knack" as the ability to intuitively understand how something works after spending a minimal amount of time with that something. These days that usually manifests itself in man-made somethings, maybe a piece of hardware or piece of software. Is the Knack hereditary? I know in my son's case, the Knack goes back several generations on both sides of the family. Could the "Knack gene" be a dominant one, a gene that overwhelms other, less forceful genes? Hmmmm.... One possible cause of all these new kids with the Knack? Because Knack-tistic people are now considered cool and desirable, they are getting an increased opportunity to propagate their genes. Knack-tistics are breeding! And the world is better for it (imho). I would describe “The Knack” as the ability to intuitively understand how something works after spending a minimal amount of time with that something. These days that usually manifests itself in man-made somethings, maybe a piece of hardware or piece of software.

Is the Knack hereditary? I know in my son’s case, the Knack goes back several generations on both sides of the family. Could the “Knack gene” be a dominant one, a gene that overwhelms other, less forceful genes? Hmmmm….

One possible cause of all these new kids with the Knack? Because Knack-tistic people are now considered cool and desirable, they are getting an increased opportunity to propagate their genes. Knack-tistics are breeding!

And the world is better for it (imho).

]]> By: Daisy http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-530983 Daisy Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:41:38 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-530983 I've been reading Dilbert for years and I never quite came up with this assessment. Every character in the strip is so dysfunctional the potential for autism is almost irrelevent. However, I'm married to a broadcast engineer and have a child with Asperger's. No pointy-haired boss, though. I’ve been reading Dilbert for years and I never quite came up with this assessment. Every character in the strip is so dysfunctional the potential for autism is almost irrelevent.
However, I’m married to a broadcast engineer and have a child with Asperger’s. No pointy-haired boss, though.

]]> By: Jez Rourke http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-530980 Jez Rourke Wed, 14 Feb 2007 07:31:06 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-530980 Read Simon Baron Cohen's researc on engineering and autism. It's interesting as is a lot of his work. Autism is a severe childhood neuropsychiatric condition with a substantial genetic component. At the cognitive level children with autism are impaired in the development of their folk psychology, seict while they are normal or even superior in the development of their folk physics. We predicted that if their parent shared this cognitive phenotype, then they should be over-represented in engineering as an occupation. This prediction was confirmed. Both fathers and grand-fathers of children with autism were found more than twice as often in the field of engineering, compared with fathers and grandfathers of other children. This link between autism and engineering may throw light not only on autism itself, but ultimately on the genetic basis of two essential human abilities: folk psychology and folk physics. Google search engineering and autism, you can download a pdf of the whole paper. Read Simon Baron Cohen’s researc on engineering and autism. It’s interesting as is a lot of his work.

Autism is a severe childhood neuropsychiatric condition with a substantial genetic component. At the cognitive level children with autism are impaired in the development of their folk psychology, seict while they are normal or even superior in the development of their folk physics. We predicted that if their parent shared this cognitive phenotype, then they should be over-represented in engineering as an occupation. This prediction was confirmed. Both fathers and grand-fathers of children with autism were found more than twice as often in the field of engineering, compared with fathers and grandfathers of other children. This link between autism and engineering may throw light not only on autism itself, but ultimately on the genetic basis of two essential human abilities: folk psychology and folk physics.

Google search engineering and autism, you can download a pdf of the whole paper.

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-530979 Kristina Chew, PhD Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:46:00 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-530979 Engineers on both sides here too........ Engineers on both sides here too……..

]]> By: Julia http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-530978 Julia Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:37:35 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-530978 There's a family history of engineers on both sides. :) Sam is interested in comparing parts. T. is interested in how the parts work together. C. is interested in using whatever it is either of her brothers may put together. Train tracks: Sam & T.: Put tracks together T. & C.: Run toy trains on tracks Amusing to watch, as long as Sam doesn't object to Catherine using his track. (He tolerates her fairly well for the most part, which is pretty good, considering what a sonic assault she can be at times!) There’s a family history of engineers on both sides. :) Sam is interested in comparing parts. T. is interested in how the parts work together. C. is interested in using whatever it is either of her brothers may put together.

Train tracks:

Sam & T.: Put tracks together

T. & C.: Run toy trains on tracks

Amusing to watch, as long as Sam doesn’t object to Catherine using his track. (He tolerates her fairly well for the most part, which is pretty good, considering what a sonic assault she can be at times!)

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-530977 Kristina Chew, PhD Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:30:53 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-530977 Engineering runs in my family (not exactly in me, though......). Charlie himself is not mechanically oriented! Engineering runs in my family (not exactly in me, though……). Charlie himself is not mechanically oriented!

]]> By: Julia http://www.blisstree.com/articles/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/comment-page-1/#comment-530976 Julia Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:29:05 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/dilberts-diagnosis-the-knack/#comment-530976 Dunno, but I think T. may have it.... (And he's getting over his gravitational insecurities, which is going to make things very interesting very soon.) Except T. at an early age displayed good enough social skills that I have very high hopes for him -- that he will become an engineering manager, an engineer that can actually herd catsmanage other engineers. Pipe dream, probably. :) Dunno, but I think T. may have it….

(And he’s getting over his gravitational insecurities, which is going to make things very interesting very soon.)

Except T. at an early age displayed good enough social skills that I have very high hopes for him — that he will become an engineering manager, an engineer that can actually herd catsmanage other engineers. Pipe dream, probably. :)

]]>