A little lesson in assuming...

[Gawdzillers]

Forgive me if I sound...ignorant, but could someone with autism be extremely talented?
I think a favorite musical artist of mine may be autistic.

[NightAngel]

... but could someone with autism be extremely talented?

They are called Savants. Amazingly talented people.

http://www.autism.org/savant.html

[CrazedClerk]

I bring my Ipod with me most everywhere I go and I have not had a single person take issue with it.

I suppose that's because it would be hell of a trick to go into a store, swipe an Ipod, download music on to it and start listening, all without leaving the store!
My Ipod also has some wear on it too, it's quite clearly NOT new and just out of the box.

That cashier was a royal b***h, I'd have spoken to a manager right after if I'd been treated that way.

[Bliss]

Not necessarily savants. From what I know of a savant it's a person with retardation but which has a incredible ability in some area (memory is a common one). Autists unlike what some people tend to think are very seldomly retarded, and it's not strange to find an autist with a pretty high IQ.

[XCashier]

I suppose that's because it would be hell of a trick to go into a store, swipe an Ipod, download music on to it and start listening, all without leaving the store!

Not to mention, opening that bubble package without slicing your hands to ribbons or having someone notice you!

[BookstoreEscapee]

My dad had my name engraved on the back of my iPod. Came straight from China that way. No question it's mine, since I will pretty much guarantee no one else has my name.

Quickie info about Autistic Savants and Savant Syndrome.

[Chanlin]

Anyone remember the movie Rainman?

That is a classic example of someone with autism who is extremely intelligent in one area.

On a somewhat off topic side note, My mom used to work as a teachers aide at the local Middle School working with the DH/SED (Developmental Handicap and Severe Emotional Disorder) Students. So she always had all sorts of interesting students. One of her students was and Aspie and was always a very pleasant kid, he had a few weird habbits that I won't go into but the kid was a mathmatical genius many many grade levels ahead of his peers, just he was behind in every other subject.

[Gawdzillers]

They are called Savants. Amazingly talented people.

http://www.autism.org/savant.html

Thank God for Savants.
I've never seen anyone else play a guitar like Buckethead.

EDIT: Some information about why I think he's autistic:
Off stage, he acts a bit strange, often playing with toys, and the biggest clue, not speaking. At all.
In one video, he habitually scratches his fingers on the wall before playing.

[reformedwaitress]

I'm not autistic (though my mother works with young autistic children -- she's a pre-k special education teacher) but I do have a mild form of OCD. Not the rituals or the debilitating problems, but I focus on things very intently and see details and hear everything going on around me.

And I count. When it's quiet I count anything and everything and oh it gets bad (if you do it, you know what I mean. If you don't do it, it's hard to explain).

So I get overwhelmed in stores. My mind tries to see and hear everything. The same thing happens in crowds. I get overwhelmed trying to hear everything and my senses get overloaded and I have a panic attack. So my momma got me an Ipod for Christmas a year ago and I just keep it in my purse and use it to distract me, because it gives me something SPECIFIC to focus on.

I'm like you, Mysty, I always pause my music and take my headphones off when I get to a cashier but really, is it any of their business why you or I or anyone has earphones on? Do they say that kind of stuff to people with hands free phone things? There's a lot of reasons to have music when your shopping, all of them very legitimate (even the "I just want to listen to my music when I'm shopping" is legitimate to me).

[tollbaby]

I'm not autistic (though my mother works with young autistic children -- she's a pre-k special education teacher) but I do have a mild form of OCD. Not the rituals or the debilitating problems, but I focus on things very intently and see details and hear everything going on around me.

I know what you mean. With me, it's making lists, repetitive tasks (like data entry, which is why I help run an online book database) and counting stuff. *sigh*

[moekosowl]

Hi, my name is MoekosOwl, and I have Aspergers Syndrome. I've been reading this thread, and just nodding.
*relurk*

[Gawdzillers]

I know what you mean. With me, it's making lists, repetitive tasks (like data entry, which is why I help run an online book database) and counting stuff. *sigh*

Heh. I've always wondered if someone with severe OCD could keep a library or something in tip-top shape.

[HYHYBT]

I also have used my iPod in Wal-Mart many times and it never even occurred to me that someone might think I was stealing it. Of course, as has already been pointed out, they're useless until you've gotten them home and loaded... but still.

Definitely a Sucky Employee.

[tollbaby]

Heh. I've always wondered if someone with severe OCD could keep a library or something in tip-top shape.

Well..... I am a library technician LMAO

[reformedwaitress]

Heh. I've always wondered if someone with severe OCD could keep a library or something in tip-top shape.

Probably. It's why I'm really good with the files I deal with at work -- because I keep them in darn good shape (they really bug me if they're messy!) and because of the paying attention to details thing? If I see something, I remember it. So I know what's come in, what's gone out, where EVERYTHING is. It's crazy.

And my boss loves it (c:

(until he moves things and I have to "fuss" at him )