I'm starting to view Special Interests as a Need

[Ronald Zeeman]

My physics stuff is too personal, not interested in getting debates with NT's who would have trivialize it. having two very bright brothers, learned fast, so now very bright people do not intimidate me, this is the first forum I felt comfortable discussing.it. Shocked with how many views it's gotten, Even found a few peer, fellow Aspies sharing this interest. Years ago, I put a few thoughts on an alternative physics forum lots of flaky physics, thought someone would say your full of it here's why rather, I got who are you?

 

[Kalinychta]

My physics stuff is too personal, not interested in getting debates with NT's who would have trivialize it. having two very bright brothers, learned fast, so now very bright people do not intimidate me, this is the first forum I felt comfortable discussing.it. Shocked with how many views it's gotten, Even found a few peer, fellow Aspies sharing this interest. Years ago, I put a few thoughts on an alternative physics forum lots of flaky physics, thought someone would say your full of it here's why rather, I got who are you?

That’s cool. I’ve always admired physicists. Wish I knew more about it, but I don’t think I really have “that kind of brain.”

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

You may like my physics thread the original premise on absolute length, is easy to visualize, basically high school math. Low hanging fruit many very bright people missed, but now hard to ignore one you see it. So you do not need that kind of brain, just the ability to visualize a bit. My stroke brought out the other stuff pops up out of nowhere,
usually while sleeping, no heavy-duty math. I can just see all the pieces connected, maybe every few weeks another piece comes to me.

 

[Kalinychta]

You may like my physics thread the original premise on absolute length, is easy to visualize, basically high school math. Low hanging fruit many very bright people missed, but now hard to ignore one you see it. So you do not need that kind of brain, just the ability to visualize a bit. My stroke brought out the other stuff pops up out of nowhere,
usually while sleeping, no heavy-duty math. I can just see all the pieces connected, maybe every few weeks another piece comes to me.

I’ll take a look. Math is another thing I’m really interested in and wish I had studied more in school. In fact it’s the math aspect of physics that I’m intrigued by. I’ve read a few biographies of mathematicians, and I had a stupidly huge crush on one of my math professors in college because I thought math and mathematicians were sexy. Ha!

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I got an interesting thought last night after watching Chris the brains video how can a universe of mater disappear.
unless it is hiding in plain sight, magicians trick a universe of antimatter hiding behind the very thin fourth dimension tion in which time is concurrently going backwards. After all Richard feyman stated years ago anti mater is just matter going backwards

I’ll take a look. Math is another thing I’m really interested in and wish I had studied more in school. In fact it’s the math aspect of physics that I’m intrigued by. I’ve read a few biographies of mathematicians, and I had a stupidly huge crush on one of my math professors in college because I thought math and mathematicians were sexy. Ha!

My math is very simple just set theory. Did not do the actual proof just visualized it in my head. very trivial.

 

[Nervous Rex]

As long as even a perceived "need" does not wander into the realm of a pathological obsession I figure it's a good thing. A foundation of sorts to build upon and be creative. So be it.

That's such a hard balancing act.

I am working on one math/programming problem right now and it is occupying all of my spare thought. I still have to go to work, do chores around the house, go to holiday and social events, etc. In this week that I've had off work, I've only had a few hours to work on the problem, but I'm thinking about the problem in all my spare time every day.

I have to keep reminding myself that no one has asked for the solution to this problem and no one else cares about it but me, so there's no deadline. I have to remember that I am doing it for fun and that it's okay if I make no progress for a week - the problem's real use is for it to give me something to think about. It's like my Special Interest motor wants to rev out of control and I have to keep pumping the brakes to keep it in check.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My main special interest tends get into my thinking while sleeping keeps my mind active at night, so relaxing.
being retired info pours in during the day digested during rem sleep.

 

[Ken]

I'm still trying to understand myself and I'm starting to think that having a special interest is more of a need than just a want or a like.

For a long time, I thought my anxiety was tied to my own perception of my performance. If I felt like I Accomplished something on any particular day, then I could go to bed satisfied and happy. When I didn't feel like I accomplished anything significant, I would feel anxious and worthless at the end of the day.

Then I started supplementing my job work or my house work with projects related to my special interest (math). I would always have some math problem or mathematical curiosity to think about. When my work didn't provide that sense of accomplishment, I would look for it in my special interest.

Eventually, I came to realize that:

1) I got good reviews at work, even when I didn't feel like I accomplished much. This means that what I was calling "accomplishment" isn't what others would call "accomplishment."

2) My enjoyment from math came from working on the problems, not necessarily from solving them. I have worked on so many open math problems (unsolved problems) and haven't solved a single one - but I've enjoyed learning about them and seeing how far I could get. In fact, if I chose a problem that was too easy, and I solved it, I would feel disappointment because that meant that I would have to look for another problem to think about.

Putting those two things together, my anxiety (when not not doing my special interest) and satisfaction (when doing my special interest) have nothing to do with accomplishment or achievement. It's the activity itself that drives the anxiety away.

I'm beginning to think that, yes, math is very interesting to me, but there's more to it than that. I need time with my special interest as much as I need quiet time to recharge after social events, or as much as I need food and sleep. There is some need for stability, certainty, and a comfort-zone that my special interest provides.

It's not just an interest, it's a need.

I consider my special interest not just a need, but it is what I am. It is who I am. It is a requirement. I have thought about and practiced my special interest since childhood throughout the entirety of my life. I can't live without it.