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Aspie Abilities ... What's your's ?

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I always try to focus on the positive, don't always manage it but I try

 

Just wondering what abilities you have that many neurotypicals lack.?

 

Firstly, I have an incredible focus for many hours on whatever I'm doing/interested in and learn pretty quickly.

At 51 I still have to assimilate as much information/knowledge as possible if something piques my interest, bordering on obsession

but I'm more in control now.

 

Secondly, my hearing even at this age is acute, I can hear high frequencies that even some younger than I miss.

When I was younger, around 20-25 I remember putting my head against my brothers dogs head, a Border Collie, I could hear a constant high pitched whistle.

This only seemed to be when she was very happy, a form of communication between dogs I wonder? ....... No one else could pick it up.

Also while out in the woods with my best mate I knew if there was an animal close by. I would say "over there" and 8 times out of 10 an animal would emerge, he could never work it out.

I was not concious of any sound or sight that I remember, I must have picked something up. Even today I seem to know if something is close by, I spend many hours or even days in the forest, I feel at ease there.

Sense of smell is lacking so it can't be that. ... Oh and I don't believe in the supernatural, I'm more of a scientist if anything.

 

I have hyper sensitive touch/skin .... Dermatologists words not mine. That can be a pain in the proverbial though, I can feel the hairs slightest movements and constantly feel the need to sooth one itch or another. :angry:

 

Positive abilities preferably but feel free to moan about one that irritates, lets keep it positive if we can. :)

 

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What an excellent idea for a thread well done and thanks for the idea. :notworthy:

 

I have what you might call autie/aspiedar. I can tell someone is on the spectrum just be being around them and talking to them.

I have a tendency to ask the wrong people 'are you an aspie?' and forget who would prefer they didn't know. I have a BPhil in

autism which helps me with my role on here.

 

If im out or even watching tv within seconds I can tell you the track and sing the 1st or next line of the track in tune. I think this

stems from having 2 conductors in my family history.

 

I'm quite a techie except with computer programming and internet searching, this ability is wearing off though.

 

I can make allowances for people especially those with 'more obvious' disabilities.

 

I have managed to get 2 peoples benefits appealed where 'experts' have failed to help them. I would love to do this as a job one

day but unsure if I could mentally manage.

 

No matter what life has thrown at me I have managed to come back fighting and to keep going.

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Hi again trekster.

 

I'm hoping folks will join in, it is very important I feel for Aspies to recognise the positive side of Aspergers.

 

There is so much negativity on many of these forums. ( I do of course understand why ). I'm like you, if I'm knocked down regardless of how hard I've eventually get up to join the fight again.

I have no letters after my name, no qualifications, but life and my experience has taught me so much. I went to college to study social sciences, my interest being mainly psychology and philosophy. Unfortunately when it came to giving presentations I just couldn't handle that and left. Shame really because one of the tutors wanted me to go to Cambridge, may be in the future when I've learned to manage and fully understand my Aspergers.

 

I've noticed that many people who've suffered / struggled through life have abilities that surpass those of people that haven't. Stigma blinds many to these abilities, in fact, I'd go as far to say that folks who've suffered are "better people" as a result.

Like you I can tell pretty quickly if someone has had major issues throughout their life, not specifically Aspergers as this of course is new to me.

They have a certain way about them, very broad minded, understanding and tolerant, something I can't quite put my finger on that sets them apart.

 

I may get involved with Aspie groups at some point. The closest group is 1 1/2 hrs run away in Llandudno, one around here I'm sure would be of benefit to many.

I'm also interested in genetic research on Aspergers/ASD

For now though I'm doing/concentrating on what makes me feel good!

 

I have a similar ability when it comes to music. I'm no musician ( I do play the Bodhran though ) but if I've listened to an album many times, even from 30 years ago, at the end of the last track I know exactly what track is next.

Couldn't tell you the name of it and couldn't tell you in the middle of the previous track, only as it ends, those last few chords trigger the memory and I can sing the start. Probably out of key! lol

 

Well done getting folks the help they need my friend, as in my case so many are missed and failed to some degree by the system. Don't get me wrong I'm not bitter, I had wonderful counsellors that prevented me from stepping over the precipice again and I'll be for ever grateful. It's just a pity that my Aspergers was not picked up on earlier, much earlier when I was a child, I feel I've not fulfilled my potential. I'm a young 51 so I've loads of time to do that. :)

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Its difficult to answer objectively because I think the moment you start listing off your talents and achievements etc you feel like you're showing off - or at least, there's a sense of that element. But hell I like this forum so here goes:

 

Years ago I was a performing classical musician, at quite a high standard, but I had to give up because of preconcert nerves. I could tell you any note on a piano when I was 12 just from the sound. Lost that now. I still play for pleasure, but without any improvement its difficult to stay motivated

 

I'm very gifted at maths and computer programming - I've been called a "supercoder" in the past. When motivated and with all the right kit and knowledge, I can write systems in a few days that could take a team of 10 many weeks. Its hard to replicate that on demand though, and I see it less as I get older, but I still see the spark sometimes. I can remember writing 1000 lines of C++ code per day for several weeks consecutively, and it went straight to production and stayed there no problems. They wanted to employ me for longer to support it ! nothing to do except throw data at it, so I left :) (and that was without the internet to help me write it)

 

I was a national junior champ at my sport. A lot of hard work went into that.

 

Going through early life without any understanding of why I was different was tough. Devastating at times. And that made me tough I think. But not tough on the outside, just inside. I think that helped me have the resilience needed to achieve these things. And also the aspie/nvld kind of traits give you that one track minded determination and obsession needed to succeed at things - that sheer level of hard work.

 

I hope you all can also break free and just post all your supertalents.. go on... its really interesting to me :)

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Hello

I'm new so I hope it is ok to write here. I don't have any super talent but I believe my son may have. My son is now 5 but was diagnosed with autism in March 2013, though we still feel he has many traits of aspergers.

I believe his gift is his memory and spatial skills. As mentioned in Paul1234's post we don't really talk of any ability outside the family as it may seem to others that it's showing off. He struggles with so many things that other children can do naturally that we would love to celebrate the things he's good at with others.

 

From a toddler he's been very interested in gadgets and computers. On his 4th birthday we bought him a Kindle tablet. He never really bothered with toddlers games but loved jigsaws, tangrams and quizzes. He completes jigsaws and tangrams faster than we could and he needs no thinking time at all.

 

Then he got into football badges, car badges, logos and flags. Before long he knew every football club badge of the Premier and Champions league. We put this down to him being football mad. It wasn't until May last year on a visit to London we realised just how much of all this he was taking in. He loves buses, so we took him on the sightseeing bus tour. Travelling past the foreign embassies he shouted out the flag of each country. People started turning round, staring and were amazed, as were we.

 

We realised it was something he loved so we bought him a world map, flag posters and more apps. His favourite app involved a flag appearing and a voice saying the country to whcih the flag belongs. At this point he could not yet read and had only just started to learn phonics at nursey school. Within a few weeks he knew every flag of the world by sight alone.

 

One of his other apps involved a map of the world as a jigsaw. You have to place the missing country into the right shape. He now sees the countries by their shape alone, even if its only an outline and will name any country you point to.

 

He gets very anxious when in a new environment so everywhere we go we carry a poster of flags with us. It helps to calm him by going through them and naming them. There are not many places we go because of his anxieties but if he sees a map somewhere, he's completely at ease and will start to name the countries. He is also fantastic at logos and car badges. We can't walk through a car park without him naming every make of car.

 

At school he struggles socially and it took the teachers over 7 months to get him to set foot into the small playground. However his reading has started to flourish. After reading a book he memorises the words and recognises them in other books. His love of countries comes out in his spelling and he frequently writes Australia, Kyrgystan etc on anything and everything. He loves numbers and maths and is starting to add and subtract everything in the house.

 

He's very much a typical little boy and loves to play with (and line up ;-) ) cars, trains etc. He loves angry birds and mario kart but he often puts these to one side to stare intently at a world map, lol. He adores to sing and listen to songs so I'm hoping that he develops a lifelong love of music. If anyone can offer some advice on how we can help and support him further it would be much appreciated.

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Hi Paul1234, good to meet you.

 

There's nowt wrong with a little showing off IMO. I don't think this thread will develop in to an abilities/talent battle, at least I hope not.

From what I've read and it certainly applies to me, Aspies are quite pragmatic so major showing off would serve no practical purpose what so ever.

Of course many of these talents will no doubt be quite subjective. It will be interesting to see if a common trait links us all, other than the known shared traits like focus, pragmatism, logical approach, ability to think “outside the box”, ability to remember long string of data, emotional sensitivity (or confusion in my case), strong moral base, etc etc.

Your ability to recognise a heard note, your no doubt deserved “Supercoder” title, your “junior chap” at sport are possibly a result of your Aspergers. I say possibly because all of these abilities/talents can be shared by some so called “neurotypicals” also. Not sure what empirical data exists proving greater instance of these abilities in Aspies. Someone here may know?

 

Interesting to note that you have a reduction some of these talents as you've got older?

Is it due to a reduction in motivation or a reduction in the hearing frequency range? Which of course is natural. Or something else I wonder?

 

My hearing is still excellent, I can still hear high frequencies at 51yo that my brother of similar age cannot. My hearing is better than some 20yo's.

Would be interesting to know if others are experiencing a reduction in these talents as years go by and why they think that is?

 

I don't think my confusion and troubles growing up has hardened me “inside” as with you. I'm extremely emotional, don't understand emotions at all tbh. I can go from fury if I'm aggressively challenged or insulted morally to terrible teary sadness in minutes. However, having said that, if someone dear to me needs help/support be it from a bully, an injustice or whatever I can hold myself together. I do crash afterwards, I've been known to sleep for almost a day due to the effort of controlling my emotions.

Contrary to your good self, may be that is why I haven't achieved/reached my full potential, yet!

Now I know why I might be able to. :)

 

Please excuse my grammar etc, unlike many of you academically I'm weak and getting my thoughts/ideas across clearly to folks is a struggle at times.

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Hi Mummy2astar, good to meet you. Yes of course join in, all are very welcome. :)

 

I think we should be careful calling these abilities “super talents” …. ;) For exactly the reason paul1234 is concerned about.

“Hightened ablities” may be sounds a little less? … I don't know, I can't find the word so I'll make one up, will showoffy do?

 

Those higtened talents certainly point to high functioning Autism IMO, please correct me if I have that wrong folks, I'm “fresh meat”, much to learn.

 

From what my psychologist said to me, high functioning autistic's can't be doing with simple mundane tasks, they need to know how, why, all the little details, in order to stimulate the mind, also it must have a point, a reason, a practical function. …. That is certainly true for me.

 

Before my diagnoses my old counsellor used to say, “why on earth don't you study something like flower arranging, spoon bending, whatever, instead of stuff that's hard work like philosophy, physics, psychology” ... Nah, boring, It's of no use/interest to me.

 

When I was a child I was far more interested in some of the same stuff as your little one. My Granddad had a room full of interesting bits an bobs …. boards with switches on, old radio's, old TV's etc. I was in my element, I'd take things apart and try to put them back together (Didn't manage that all the time I'm sure) but I had to know how it worked. Or I was in his shed checking out his tools etc. my old Nan used to say “ he's brevetting again”

I can't remember if I obsessively assimilated information, unfortunately my folks wouldn't have encouraged anything they spotted tbh.

I spent most of my younger years in the little bit of green belt / woods we had locally, I now know why I had great trouble socially. I just preferred to be on my own in some wood or another, I seeked solitude and still do.

Interestingly, my eldest son when he was only 18months or so shocked us with his ability to fill up one of these shape boards. .... Similar to your child knowing the shapes of countries I guess.

It was a white board with cut-outs in which to pop the shape, sure you know the ones I'm talking about. These shapes had pictures on them but the shape did not follow the outline of the picture at all, no way you could tell what the picture was from the shape, just irregular outline. The board they fitted was just plain white, no pics or writing.

 

After one day of playing with him, I don't know, one or two hours in total I guess, showing him where the shapes fitted, he went to bed.

The following evening after tea we gave it to him again. As fast as we could give him the shapes he popped them in the board without hessitation, WOW! I said to my now ex-wife “I'm going to try and fool him” I gave him the board again after about half an hour break, but this time I gave it to him upside down, he frowned turned the board the right way up and seemed to look at me with disgust! ….. It was really funny! …. Again just popped em in with no hesitation. No guide to correct orientation of this board, just irregular holes in a random order, we were stunned.

Now as far as I know he's not ASD …. Also he's not my biological son, known him from birth so he IS my son.

 

Just to add to my abilities list.

 

I can retain very long sequences of data in my memory, I have alfa-numeric passwords of quite some length. But strangely I couldn't tell you what number/character is at position 5, 10, 17, 33, 52 etc. The obvious beginning and end and next to them yes, but most others I'd have to count it through. Its like it fit's into a rhythm in my head.

 

(Hmmm thinking, I wonder if we're seeing a connection here, rhythm, musical abilities mentioned in posts above) ??

 

One girl friend tried to test me. Have you heard of “When I went to market I put in my basket” you start at A and continue through the alphabet ??

First attempted at playing me she won easily, then she said "come on try", it bored me tbh but I said ok.

She did well I feel, got one and half way through the alphabet before she lost track. She kept continuing with me and trying herself just for the hell of it. I got through the alphabet 4 times before she said “ok that's enough I give up” ….. Again it's like a rhythm in my head.

 

Sorry I'm going on, hope I've not bored the hell out of the reader.

Also an Aspie trait I think, the need to impart as much info as poss :) …. Until I pull myself up that is! .... STOP !!

Edited by styks

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I understand what you mean about super talents. To me even my son pretending his cars are having races and flying off ramps, and playing trains, going 'choo choo' are a super talent as his pediatrician told me he would not be able to do pretend play as his imagination may never develop. I value and appreciate the small things he can do just as much as any heightened ability. ;-)

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Mummy2astar : I would not make any assumptions about your boy's future and neither should anyone else. When I was in school lots of people thought I was "thick", including my brother who was a year older. He wondered if I belonged in the "remedial class" - thanks bud. I slowly improved and got a handful of B's and C's at "O level". then at "A level" - 3 straight "A" grades and two distinctions at S level - looks like I found my feet ! I'm not saying this to show off but I'm saying the pathway to success can be surprising and unexpected in terms of magnitude and timing. All you can do is help him find the things that float his boat by opening lots of doors, and from there he will do the rest for himself :)

 

To say his imagination may never develop, well it might not, but it might !! in a way I was kind of uncomfortable about that sentence.

 

I remember when I was about 14 there was a kids program on at tea time about a boy who was a supergenius at maths and nuclear physics, I was so inspired by that, I told myself at the time, this is the most important program I've even seen - for me. I was right. By A level age I was working out problems like schrodingers equation and learning all about nuclear physics and quantum mechanics - I'd be in my bedroom until 11pm sometimes and my dad had to peel me off my desk.

 

So please keep an open mind for him :) (I;m sure you would have anyway !)

 

Styks:

 

Interesting to note that you have a reduction some of these talents as you've got older?

Is it due to a reduction in motivation or a reduction in the hearing frequency range? Which of course is natural. Or something else I wonder?

 

Well I never could be a "supercoder" "on demand" - it had to be inspired and driven by the challenge. The name of the game these days is waking up the conditions that brought that about in the past. I think I have one coming up :) I'm just designing it out, and trying to get lots of inspiration by doing lots of studying.

 

But I've had an illness for the past 5 years which severely affects concentration/brain function (it blew my life to pieces, but the important pieces are still there, like I'm still married to the same girl :), same kids, "job" etc) . So I'm slowly breaking out of that at the same time as I'm getting new strengths from understanding about asd/nvld. (I feel its working, but you can't change stuff like that overnight, it has to come naturally over time.)

 

The fact its been less apparent/accessible over time could be down to circumstances - being a parent, lots of responsibility, unable to take so many risks, the nature of projects that are available. And despite the realities that old techies become managers - thats probably age + brain facility related - I'm not prepared to submit to old age any time soon - I want my 20's brain back, working on it :) (dogged determination already kicked in here)

 

I don't suffer severe mood swings as you describe - some history of depression etc but I've never had it really bad or needed meds. I have the potential for a bad temper, but never really a problem as such. Same wife for many years helps :) all the arguments are done with ;) apart from the ones that arent. And I'm hideously objective and reasonable if a bit optimistic when it suits me. I'm even prepared to admit I'm wrong, sometimes lol !

 

 

Great to connect with everyone on here. I'll try to check in more often.

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I have a very open mind for my son Paul. I believe he can do anything he sets his mind to and he's only a very tender age at the moment. His specialist doctor was the one who said he would be limited in what he can do and understand, which made me very angry, it still does when I think about it. He's proving the specialist wrong all the time by progressing in areas the specialist said he wouldn't. ;-)

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Sorry to hear of the negative comment from his pediatrition. "He would not be able to do pretend play as his imagination may never develop" Well from what you've said he's wrong of course.

I have a feeling he will continue to surprise you! ..... You might find he will be able to solve problems imaginatively using the knowledge obtained as he grows.

 

I remember seeing a chimpansie on TV. He was put in a room with a table on which there was a clear tube fixed atop with a peanut pod at the bottom, not big enough for the chimp to get her hand or tounge in. Also on the table was a container of water.

Now of course she wanted that peanut. After a few goes with hand and tongue you saw her stop and look at the water, then she proceeded to suck up the water and put it in the tube. Bingo ... she got the pod.

Now of course she had learnt from somewhere that peanuts float.

 

My point is if an animal with very limited intelligence compared to us can come up with an imaginitive solution to a problem working with the knowledge obtained, .... For Gaia's sake surely your son can!

 

Paul 1234, ........... Tis great to have you here my friend. ......... I too will not succumb to old age, just yet! ;)

Edited by styks

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I don't like to label any special ability as being due to autism personally as without a clone without autism to compare my son to, his abilities are his and not the autism's. If he is good at something, he is good despite his autism not because of it. All 3 of my children have their own strengths and weaknesses, so I'm not going to celebrate one's over the other's just because they are the only one with autism, if that makes sense. My eldest is the artist and the engineer, he has special abilities in working out how things work and has a beauty to his photography that I have never seen before. He is really skilled at archery, has a strong mathematical brain and a wicked sense of humour. He doesn't let his disability hold him back. Before he was 2 he was taking apart complicated battery run toys to figure them out. My middle son is funny and can look out for those less fortunate, he is super loyal, has a knack for teaching and is a whizz at COD (not quite what you meant but hey lol). He has stamina like I've never seen and runs like a gazelle, as well as being a strong leader in outdoor pursuits and climbing like SpiderMan. My youngest, a girl, is the homemaker, artistic and with a dramatic flair (not just the usual teen girl drama lol) and can cook and bake better than (shhh) my Nanna did. I don't know how she got like that because I'm not girly at all and don't encourage stereotypical gender roles, but she is the nurturer. She can plan a budget better than me, she is strong willed and not led away from her individuality. She is the organiser, the one that could probably have run the house at four lol. Only one of them has autism. All 3 have had trials in their life, I don't believe for a second anyone doesn't.

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Been a while since I posted on here, but I can now report something interesting - that is, starting a business that much to my own surprise, has had considerable success both financially and personally. I have had to turn down work several times too, which is a strange thing for anyone, let alone an Aspie like me.

 

That old song comes to mind - and this time it is not a figure of speech :

 

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz ? My friends all have Porsches, I must make amends . . .

 

Perhaps my Aspie characteristics are at long last a net positive. In my line of business, accuracy really does matter.

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Well done DM.. great news.

 

I think running a business is absolutely the right thing to do for many aspie-esque people. You don't have some twerp bossing you around, you can make sure you have the right tools for the job, and you can use your supertalents to make the business a success.. I'd never go back (hopefully ;) )

 

:)

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A very intersting thread.

 

I have a total focus as you said.

 

Recently i had a go on a formula 1 simulator (as used by lewis hamilton), i am not a gamer, i do not own a play station or similar and never use simulators. Cutting a long story short i managed at first attempt 0.5 of a second of hamiltons time on the same simulator.

 

I have an excellent memory and a very good IQ (164 at its peak).

 

Able to work until absolute exhaustion, far longer than people with me.

 

I understand extremely quickly and have good reactions.

 

I used to when i was young have a strange for want of a better word 6th sense / deju vous quite alot.

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Hi nicciandsteve.

I'm a Steve also :)

Not been here for a while, I do tend to switch from one thing to another for a while to keep my interest, I need to do this.

So if I break off for a while, I've not dumped the forum.

I also took an IQ test with a score of 160 when I could be bothered to give it my full attention eventually. I really do have to be interested in something to spend valuable thinking time on it.

Some folks think I'm a bit thick, uninterested in what is said, I hate wasting words verbally that is, different when I'm typing I tend to be a bit of a waffler! :)

 

You mention reaction times, I'm not as quick now but can still whip a coin out of most peoples hand to thier amasement. It's quite strange I let a feeling build up, it's like a strange bussy/tingly feeling, hard to explain but once it reaches a peak my arm shoots out like releasing a streatched elastic band. I used to win the odd pint with that trick!

If an accident happens I was there dealing with it before some had even thought about it.

Whether these are connected/shared traits I have no idea.

 

I'm very interested in sharded traits and abilities, I feel it could help isolate what genetic differences there are between us and neurotypicals.

 

Keep em comming, even something you may consider not worth mentioning. Some very interesting stuff that could link us all may develop. The more we share the more we understand.

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Ah! styks,

 

You went and said the 'Genetic' word and 'neurotypicals'.

 

My conclusions after fifty odd years is ...

 

Yes it is genetic.

 

Yes we are different.

 

'Neanderthal' in a good way?

 

and.....

 

The universe and so called reality are so weirder than we can imagine.....or The Universe is only as weird as.....?

 

Or.

 

Illusion and mis-understanding of your immediate environment could be a sign of collective DELUSION.(Apologies for shouting that one).

 

My personal view is that so called Humanity lives in a state of self-induced delusion, because that makes them feel better about the damage that they inflict on each other and the co-habitants of our precious Mother Earth.

 

If you are standing on a Driftwood life raft adrift on a vast ocean would you chop it from under you? (Have you seen Life of Pi)?

 

There are many brilliant brains applying themselves to this Forum, I Just wish that they could collectivise and put this perceived world to rights.

 

Best wishes

 

A

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My biggest talent is my music - I'm a singer songwriter and I'm very quick to recognise songs (usually within the first bar if it's one I know well) and very quick to learn them too.

 

I also have very fast reflexes - I remember one time I was at a friend of mine's gig at a local pub, and they had set their amplifier on the table at the side of the stage because there was nowhere else for it. This meant that the vibrations from made it skid off the table during the loud part of a song, and I ran over and picked it up before anyone else had even noticed it had moved. The guitarist was pretty grateful seeing as I'd rescued about £500 worth of equipment XD

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My talent is photography, I see what others don't. I hate being stuck at home on a fine day when i could be outside taking picture's. Does anyonme else like photography?

 

Coast_zps98e46d29.jpg

 

If the link doesn't work above.

 

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My talent is photography, I see what others don't. I hate being stuck at home on a fine day when i could be outside taking picture's. Does anyonme else like photography?

 

Coast_zps98e46d29.jpg

 

If the link doesn't work above.

 

 

So very beautiful! Did you take this?

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Yes I did on Teignmouth beach at sunrise when I had insomnia. Will post a link to my blog. Anyone know how to use moonfruit?

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I can smell a leak in a gas pipe even when it is buried 4ft underground, and I know 697 hymn tunes (the average church attender knows less than 100).

I THINK the latter skill has been more useful to me in my working life.

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the gas leak rung a bell with me. a while ago I was sure there was a gas leak in the hall. I tried to persuade my parents, yet because they couldn't smell it, they dismissed it. anyway I went on, until they called out the gas peeps. the man said there he couldn't smell anything, yet would get his gas detector out. there was a small pin prick of a hole, he was amazed that anyone could of smelt it. to me the whole hall carried the scent of gas.

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My husband can recite almost every line spoken from the early 1980's Transformers cartoon. :) And just generally remembering stories and jokes from shows he likes. He's also really good at writing cheesy (in a good way!) fiction stories, especially when there's fighting/action scenes involved.

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Think one of my talents must be playing guitar. And if I hear a song on the radio I usually work out the key and chords within ten second.

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I can't think of any talent I have which isn't found in NTs.

 

I think running a business is absolutely the right thing to do for many Aspie-esque people. You don't have some twerp bossing you around, you can make sure you have the right tools for the job, and you can use your supertalents to make the business a success.. I'd never go back (hopefully ;) )

Maybe I'm just too unimaginative, but I can't really see how my work experience to date would lend itself to something self-employed. My longest job to date (at the Met Office) was focussed on internal systems and quality controls, so no direct application to the outside world. If I try to think outside the box, the only thing that springs to mind would be to some kind of freelance computing languages tutor or programmer (assuming that there are people who use the same applications as the Met Office and are prepared to pay someone to teach them as opposed to learning on the job), but frankly that doesn't interest me. As far as I'm concerned computers are a means to an end, not the most interesting things in and of themselves.

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My talent is photography, I see what others don't. I hate being stuck at home on a fine day when i could be outside taking picture's. Does anyonme else like photography?

 

Coast_zps98e46d29.jpg

 

If the link doesn't work above.

 

That is a beautiful seascape, I also love photography but I don't have your eye unfortunately :( ......... I have to really think about it, composition, colour balance etc. I tend to do a lot of work in photoshop before I'm happy, but's that me never 100% happy with what I've produced even though others say they're great.

 

Do you have a flickr account? I'd like to see more of your work.

 

Styks.

Edited by styks

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Like I said in one of my posts, in the words of Arnie "I'll be back" :) ...... It's good to see some interest in the positive side of Aspergers.

I have many hobbies and one takes my focus for a while, then another and another. I've come to accept my Aspie side and that I need to do this.

One thing that has not improved as I thought it might is my social awkwardness, I still seek solitude, I supose one can't change one's nature.

 

We don't have enough yet to see if there is a common thread or for a real unusual (that I've not heard about) gift to emerge, however, having said that any gift or ability is special!

I'd like to throw something else in to the mix. .......... I read somewhere that folks with Aspergers / ASD can live in a bit of a fantasy world.

Is it possible that these abilities are sometimes exagerated a little ?

 

Oh, and not an ability but something I noticed during my time with the psychologist that now makes me laugh. If someone passes me and pops a hand up in recognition and I reply, I have to repeat the action at least twice after they have passed. I thought it was when I was driving only but now noticed I do it when walking also. My brother just say's I'm weird! …. lol

I tried to stop it once but imeadiately started feeling very anxious, so now I just let myself do it.

When I mentioned it to the psychologist she said that action repeating / looping is normally gone in adults. Anything like that lingering in others ?

Styks.

Edited by styks

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My stitching and ability to recognise music tracks within seconds of hearing them.

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My stitching and ability to recognise music tracks within seconds of hearing them.

 

Hi, musical abilities are running top at the mo. .... I'm not that way, I do play the Bodhran but from what I've heard that doesn't count! lol

 

I see one of your interests is Star Trek, I'm also a Trekkie. I love science fiction books and films.

 

Just out of interest, what are your favourite characters in Star Trek .......... It will be interesting to see if my thoughts / ideas regarding your possible answer are correct.

Edited by styks

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I can't think of any talent I have which isn't found in NTs.

 

Maybe I'm just too unimaginative, but I can't really see how my work experience to date would lend itself to something self-employed. My longest job to date (at the Met Office) was focussed on internal systems and quality controls, so no direct application to the outside world. If I try to think outside the box, the only thing that springs to mind would be to some kind of freelance computing languages tutor or programmer (assuming that there are people who use the same applications as the Met Office and are prepared to pay someone to teach them as opposed to learning on the job), but frankly that doesn't interest me. As far as I'm concerned computers are a means to an end, not the most interesting things in and of themselves.

And self-employment is hardly the utopia it's made out to be... Guardian commentary

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my ability is knowing,

 

they will disagree with me, today,

 

cause they are doing something that is unfair...

 

but in a few years, when they no longer need to do that thing,

 

they will agree with me?

 

the trouble is.. us aspergers, say no now! normals don't say no until their use for what ever/ who ever they are using is no longer needed?

 

i'd value the input of a normal to say otherwise?)

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nice photo styks,

 

you have a gift & a skill there.

 

I could just imagine myself with my thermos of coffee, sitting there looking at that view, and feeling all is well with the world :-)

 

all the best

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I agree, it's a beautiful photo. (I've saved it!) I take a lot of photos but I'm no expert - only have a cheap camera. However, I do obsessively collect images - nowadays from the internet, both photos and paintings. My walls are covered with paintings - mainly repros but I don't care for they're beautiful. (My father was an artist)

I feel the same about music, but get frustrated as I can't improve my playing due to dyspraxia, but I do collect music videos from Youtube in vast numbers. My likes in music are very wide, but it's the slower rather melancholy types that move me the most.

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I don't know if this is an aspie ability, but children tend to stare at me on the tube or on the street (mainly because I wear a bowler hat most of the time)

 

Also I remember the weirdest things.

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lol floobyfloob.

 

you sound like a right character. I like you already :-)

 

anyone who is odd is cool in my books (because I'm odd myself :-)

 

I might go out and buy a bowler hat myself now you've given me the idea.

 

re: your reply mihaela

 

it's cool you only collect repo's.

 

I don't understand people who keep the significant original art works hoarded at home.

 

such things should be available to all to enjoy in a public art gallery.

 

i.e. what's the point in a fantastic piece of art, if no one can see it? :-)

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"anyone who is odd is cool in my books (because I'm odd myself)"

LOL Same here. 'Normal' people soon tire me, and I find them boring. I like to see individualism (eccentricity), passion and deep thinking in people.

 

"what's the point in a fantastic piece of art, if no one can see it?" - precisely!

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it's good you know what I mean nehaela. re: fantastic art.

 

if i was lucky enough to be able to afford really good original art,

 

I'd get a really good repo done to hang in my house,

 

but give the original to a museum who was in the best position to display it, to folks who we most likely to want to see it?

 

(one would always have the kudos of knowing one owned the original?)

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