Re: Andromeda's question: how do NT's percieve context?

[Guest guest]

This is an interesting question. It is hard to describe how one is aware or

unaware of the environment. I seem to always be aware of people and animals in

the vicinity. I am aware of who left, who just came in, who did what, etc. My

world seems to revolve around those things. My husband who has AS is not that

way. On the other hand, I do not remember historical facts or what was said in

a movie, etc., but he does. He is also aware of any construction going on

whereas I might suddenly notice a new building and he is amazed I never noticed

it before. I was probably driving by thinking about some person or an

interaction. I am also not mechanically minded. He does not understand how I

could not grasp what seems easily comprehended to him. But I am generally

clueless. He watches others do things, fix things, etc., reads books, etc. and

knows how to follow suit. I can do that about interactions, but he cannot.

Isn't it interesting how our brains work? And aren't we lucky that we are not

all thinking the same exact way?

>

>

> >

> > Since becoming aware of my AS, I have noted that I need to reason

> > through every single event and stimulus that I am exposed to, so as to

> > make sense of my environment. Somehow NT people do not appear to need

> > to do this, certainly not to the same extent. It is as though NT

> > people have a way of dealing with a high number of real time events

> > and stimuli simultaneously, for later processing. A bit like having a

> > mental co-processor to allow the reasoning part of the brain to tackle

> > " higher priority " , real time issues.

>

>

> What you describe seems to be a common trait among Aspies, IMX. Yes,

> NTs do seem to process much more information below the level of

> consciousness, freeing their brains up to attend to other inputs.

> Multitasking is thus less stressful for them (by comparison), as it

> requires less work.

>

>

> >

> > I am fully able to understand context in an office type situation,

> > where events and actions follow a set pattern and rules and I can

> > predict well how things will develop. Put in a busy, less predictable,

> > environment I can misread context badly.

>

>

> While there are set patterns and rules in a workplace situation, the

> necessity of interacting with people still offers plenty of

> unpredictable scenarios, IMX.

>

>

> >

> > I have noted other AS people who believe NT abilities to be related to

> > building up a set of rules, to determine context and guide their

> > actions. This explanation fits how I have to think as an AS person. I

> > can't imagine what it would be like to not have to reason through

> > every little detail and action.

>

>

> If I'm understanding you correctly, the difference here is that once NTs

> develop their own set of rules, they tend to implement them below the

> level of consciousness. It's like riding a bicycle -- once you know how

> to ride, you no longer need to consciously work through the mechanics of

> how it's done. They also tend to be good at generalizing the knowledge

> that they develop, making it easier to apply correctly in other contexts.

>

>

> >

> > I have tried to explain my thoughts on this to my NT wife, who did not

> > understand. She inadvertently explained her take on issue when she

> > remarked on her ability to multi-task. She explained that she doesn't

> > have to think about everything that she does. She just does them and

> > everything makes sense (to her anyway), including conducting task's

> > while watching TV or listening out for something. I do not have her

> > ability to act automatically and so it is not surprising that I don't

> > understand. Explaining to me how she does this is as meaningful as

> > describing the colour green to a blind person.

>

>

> I can relate to what your wife says, even though I'm Aspie. Does that

> make me a " borderline NT " ?

>

> I usually don't need to think about everything that I do... I just do

> it. The only exception would be if I'm learning a new skill, especially

> one that doesn't come naturally to me. But I think that's true for most

> people, regardless of neurotype.

>

>

> Best,

> ~CJ

>