So, in the past week I?ve been out a remarkable amount. Well... for my standards that is. And I?ve come across an interesting observation.
Mind you; this isn?t an observation from the US, however I found it interesting enough to share. Maybe I?m being seen as a madman rambling from a small orange box on marketsqure? well, I surely have the looks with my beard and all
So, I?ve went on an adventuring quest, since that?s why I call going to the mall nowadays and observed how there?s quirky ?old? people, but no quirky ?young? people. Define quirky however you will, but in time I developed a decent ?aspieradar?, and while I?m not saying these were all people on the spectrum, I can surely identify people acting weirder (or at least ?out of the norm?) especially when talking store clerks.
This got my gears grinding and thinking why this is. I can?t give an exact answer to it all, since I?ve put no actual research to it. But here?s something I could think about, which actually sounds plausible.
People older than me? so say; 40 year olds, were a group that actually grew up before DSM IV, and therefore grew up before there was this distinct notion of ?be normal or otherwise we?ll label you clinically weird?. Now, the DSM 3 was around, but that was nowhere as extensive as the 4th edition. For anyone who isn?t familiar with it; Asperger?s wasn?t a recognized form of autism in DSM 3. And mostly only ?severe? cases were diagnosed.
So anyway; older people, DSM 3, no major notions of ?people being weird?, no actual diagnosis, but also; ?a different society?. Society has changed in the past few years, let alone in the past 10 years, past 20.. .and so on. I?m not saying people weren?t social in the 90?s or 80?s even, but I think there was a different notion of social behavior and what was acceptable. (I mean, now you?re being seen as antisocial if you?re not on facebook. Somehow I think people in the 80?s or 90?s would?ve laughed and just called you ?uncool? if you didn?t go with the latest trend)
This leads me to believe that when norms where different, and dare I say ?more humane?, these people that actually were slightly ?out of the norm?, were able to work their career.
10 to 20 years later, where the social norm has changed, these people have adapted slightly, but key is, in this day and age ?job experience? is still a big thing (it?s also why some people despite having no degree, but X years at a company stay under contract), and thus if these people were able to be a trusted and good employee in the past (good credentials/referrals), no matter their quirkiness, hence they keep their jobs despite shortcomings.
This in turn shows up in numbers of youth unemployment, especially if you look at the ones on disability, applying disability and those who see themselves (and maybe even seen by specialists) as ?unfit? for employment.
In a sense this creates a new norm for the future as well where everyone not ?perfect? does not get a job, despite this so called crisis where governments push everyone out to actually get a job. In a sense, there?s only part of the blame to take when society as a whole creates a new norm. Ironically enough, people who can?t handle change do in fact become ?victims? (oh? dangerous word, don?t want to victimize us aspies, but I?ll go with ?let?s call a spade, a spade?) of change.
Add in changing laws that make it easier for people to get fired and you?re weeding out anyone with any imperfection no matter how mild it is. Currently it?s still discrimination to refuse someone a job based on race, religion, eye color, hair color, and another list of things. And while it happens, it?s not as prevalent as people that will not get hired because of the stigma of being a ?nutcase?, even if you?re not that much of a nutcase. Mileage on the term nutcase varies, just like the mileage on the term quirky. But these laws will change in the future if you ask me. Especially with decreasing jobs (due to automation and increasing population to name a few) and an artificial demand of quality employees (keep in mind, quality employees are good, but truth be told, you do not need assembly line worker with a degree in Swahili literature).
Perhaps I?m still sounding like a rambling madman? ask me how much I care?
It?s just something I had on my mind and thought was an interesting observation and thought to share.
Mind you; this isn?t an observation from the US, however I found it interesting enough to share. Maybe I?m being seen as a madman rambling from a small orange box on marketsqure? well, I surely have the looks with my beard and all
So, I?ve went on an adventuring quest, since that?s why I call going to the mall nowadays and observed how there?s quirky ?old? people, but no quirky ?young? people. Define quirky however you will, but in time I developed a decent ?aspieradar?, and while I?m not saying these were all people on the spectrum, I can surely identify people acting weirder (or at least ?out of the norm?) especially when talking store clerks.
This got my gears grinding and thinking why this is. I can?t give an exact answer to it all, since I?ve put no actual research to it. But here?s something I could think about, which actually sounds plausible.
People older than me? so say; 40 year olds, were a group that actually grew up before DSM IV, and therefore grew up before there was this distinct notion of ?be normal or otherwise we?ll label you clinically weird?. Now, the DSM 3 was around, but that was nowhere as extensive as the 4th edition. For anyone who isn?t familiar with it; Asperger?s wasn?t a recognized form of autism in DSM 3. And mostly only ?severe? cases were diagnosed.
So anyway; older people, DSM 3, no major notions of ?people being weird?, no actual diagnosis, but also; ?a different society?. Society has changed in the past few years, let alone in the past 10 years, past 20.. .and so on. I?m not saying people weren?t social in the 90?s or 80?s even, but I think there was a different notion of social behavior and what was acceptable. (I mean, now you?re being seen as antisocial if you?re not on facebook. Somehow I think people in the 80?s or 90?s would?ve laughed and just called you ?uncool? if you didn?t go with the latest trend)
This leads me to believe that when norms where different, and dare I say ?more humane?, these people that actually were slightly ?out of the norm?, were able to work their career.
10 to 20 years later, where the social norm has changed, these people have adapted slightly, but key is, in this day and age ?job experience? is still a big thing (it?s also why some people despite having no degree, but X years at a company stay under contract), and thus if these people were able to be a trusted and good employee in the past (good credentials/referrals), no matter their quirkiness, hence they keep their jobs despite shortcomings.
This in turn shows up in numbers of youth unemployment, especially if you look at the ones on disability, applying disability and those who see themselves (and maybe even seen by specialists) as ?unfit? for employment.
In a sense this creates a new norm for the future as well where everyone not ?perfect? does not get a job, despite this so called crisis where governments push everyone out to actually get a job. In a sense, there?s only part of the blame to take when society as a whole creates a new norm. Ironically enough, people who can?t handle change do in fact become ?victims? (oh? dangerous word, don?t want to victimize us aspies, but I?ll go with ?let?s call a spade, a spade?) of change.
Add in changing laws that make it easier for people to get fired and you?re weeding out anyone with any imperfection no matter how mild it is. Currently it?s still discrimination to refuse someone a job based on race, religion, eye color, hair color, and another list of things. And while it happens, it?s not as prevalent as people that will not get hired because of the stigma of being a ?nutcase?, even if you?re not that much of a nutcase. Mileage on the term nutcase varies, just like the mileage on the term quirky. But these laws will change in the future if you ask me. Especially with decreasing jobs (due to automation and increasing population to name a few) and an artificial demand of quality employees (keep in mind, quality employees are good, but truth be told, you do not need assembly line worker with a degree in Swahili literature).
Perhaps I?m still sounding like a rambling madman? ask me how much I care?
It?s just something I had on my mind and thought was an interesting observation and thought to share.
