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KillerPicklez



Registered: 12/13/07
Posts: 16,920
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Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders?
#7830259 - 01/03/08 11:22 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Man I had to struggle with finding some bad news today. Over the past 5 years I had noticed my brother becoming very different and very odd however I never really read into it, especially since we havent lived together.
Well I reccently moved back home and my mom talked to me today and explained that my brother was diagnosed as being Autistic with a certain disorder however I dont remember the name for it. I really felt bad for him and cant help but to be a little depressed for the future ahead of him, he is just turning 17 in about a month.
Growing up he was perfectly normal, had friends, played outside, played sports, whatever else. But ever since he got his head stuck into a computer, hes fucking changed.
This all got me thinking, Do any of you believe that technology mostly computers are to blame for some of the social problems that seem to be very frequent these days. It seems like computers breed people to think inside their heads more and use less and less actual verbal communication.
Its honestly gotten to the point with him where he cant even really talk to strangers at all. (people who visit the house, family friends ect) He will hide his head in a pillow and go into a room, turn off the light, and get on his computer.
Man this shit is fucking sad. Im beside myself on what I can do to help. I try everything, when I go out hiking I invite him to come, since I figure that will be an easy situation, just the two of us. But its almost like he has a fear of living.
Anyone care to share their thoughts and/or suggestions on what I can do to help him.
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RonaldFuckingPaul
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: KillerPicklez]
#7830284 - 01/03/08 11:33 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Yea man, jizz on his computer and call it a day
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igwna
The Cap'n


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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: RonaldFuckingPaul]
#7830291 - 01/03/08 11:35 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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get his ass off the computer. play games with him, talk to him, have him talk back. care, or at least show him you care. maybe he'll open up?
-------------------- I don't believe in cops, bosses, or politicians. Some call that anarchism. I call it having a fucking heart that beats.
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RonaldFuckingPaul
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: igwna]
#7830299 - 01/03/08 11:37 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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For real though man, does your bro have a job? I find getting a job involving dealing w/ alot of people helped me LOADS!
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KillerPicklez



Registered: 12/13/07
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: igwna]
#7830301 - 01/03/08 11:38 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
skcorrelyt said: get his ass off the computer. play games with him, talk to him, have him talk back. care, or at least show him you care. maybe he'll open up?
Unfortunately, Im his brother, I really dont feel I have the authority to take his computer away from him.
I can try talking to him more. Maybe that will help. The problem isnt with me and the family, Hes fine with talking with us. Its more about him interacting with other people.
He even does his schooling online now.
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Tangerines




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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: KillerPicklez]
#7830307 - 01/03/08 11:40 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Does he smoke? Try smoking with him maybe it will open him up. Then invite a friend of yours over who is real chill and try that.
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PDU
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: igwna]
#7830310 - 01/03/08 11:44 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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I have trouble finding it possible to blame autism on technology.
However, technology is certainly an easy escape for those of us who are troubled by social situations.
I am not very bad now, and very social if the situation presents itself. However, where im at now - id rather read about things im interested in, on the computer, than sit in smokey rooms yelling/bantering and drinking with immature people.
Perhaps your brother see's it similarily?
Seems like technology has increased into the point where it is a "suitable" (to the victim) but "unsuitable" (to the observer.) alternative to direct experiential reality. _____________________________________________
That said, i fully agree - force him into "real life" situations. - take him out.. and get inside his head, and let him get inside yours.
If you can find a way to assure his and your comfort, you will begin to understand each other, even if it is through silence.
Its sad to see someone struggling with social adjustment.. in such a viceral way. (yet.. you might call people that vote liberal, dumpsterdive, live radically, or sky dive.. those who never adjusted "properly." - and what i mean by this is... If your brother is Happy and can live independently in the future, in his own ways, then there is no problem. TRY not to get stuck in the context of medicine and societies definitions of "maladjusted" or "abnormal."
Goodluck!
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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KillerPicklez



Registered: 12/13/07
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: Tangerines]
#7830313 - 01/03/08 11:44 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
Tangerines said: Does he smoke? Try smoking with him maybe it will open him up. Then invite a friend of yours over who is real chill and try that.
No he doesnt smoke, unfortunately either do I at the moment.
Thats a very good idea though, I will perhaps try that once I get a job and I myself am in a position where I can smoke. I dont know how happy my parents would be about introducing my autistic brother to marijuana.
I just found all this out today and im willing to do whatever I need to in order to help. I know that means doing a lot of research outside of here as well.
all the advice I can get is greatly appreciated
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Tangerines




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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: KillerPicklez]
#7830326 - 01/03/08 11:50 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Yea I am not sure how autism and marijuana work together, but if you ever feel like it you could just bring it up casually and see how he reacts to the idea of smoking. I know my little brother loves smoking with me. He is 17 as well me being 19.
And don't think of him as your autistic brother, he is just your brother. I have met autistic people and honestly, I can understand many of their qualities and ways of thinking. I know it is deeper than that physically though and has to do with the brain.
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KillerPicklez



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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: PDU]
#7830328 - 01/03/08 11:50 PM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
PDU said: I have trouble finding it possible to blame autism on technology.
However, technology is certainly an easy escape for those of us who are troubled by social situations.
I am not very bad now, and very social if the situation presents itself. However, where im at now - id rather read about things im interested in, on the computer, than sit in smokey rooms yelling/bantering and drinking with immature people.
Perhaps your brother see's it similarily?
Seems like technology has increased into the point where it is a "suitable" (to the victim) but "unsuitable" (to the observer.) alternative to direct experiential reality. _____________________________________________
That said, i fully agree - force him into "real life" situations. - take him out.. and get inside his head, and let him get inside yours.
If you can find a way to assure his and your comfort, you will begin to understand each other, even if it is through silence.
Its sad to see someone struggling with social adjustment.. in such a viceral way. (yet.. you might call people that vote liberal, dumpsterdive, live radically, or sky dive.. those who never adjusted "properly." - and what i mean by this is... If your brother is Happy and can live independently in the future, in his own ways, then there is no problem. TRY not to get stuck in the context of medicine and societies definitions of "maladjusted" or "abnormal."
Goodluck!
See that is my biggest fear. Is the fact that he will never become independent. He has never worked, im teaching him how to drive on my own free time.
He seems perfectly happy with what he does, but I know at some point he needs to do something more, if that makes sense.
He honestly doesnt move from in front of his computer screen from the time he wakes until the time he goes to bed. Unless forced to by my parents. We try and take him out to do the littlest shit, stuff as small as getting a haircut, and he just fights it. Its not because it wants his hair long, its because he fears the social interaction of going to a barber.
I'll definetely try maybe taking him somewhere one day and just talking all day. But again, ive offered this many times and its hard to force someone to do something.
I cant just make him come out for the day with me, you know?
This isnt just social anxiety. I have social anxiety, I struggle in social situations, but I can still function and do most of what everyone else does. He just cant. And it really saddens me.
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PDU
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: KillerPicklez]
#7830367 - 01/04/08 12:06 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Ok... well maybe to calm you down a bit:
I was exactly the same when i first did 7g mushrooms by myself in a dark room, when i was 16. Dropped out of school, turned punk, fucked off completely from life. I DID NOT LEAVE MY COMPUTER for a year or 2. (just look at my post count during my early years on the shroomery!)
Seriously, after that.. i felt so troubled. I felt that there was NO where for someone like me (someone who cares about virtue, ethics, nature, truth, etc.) in this world. And damn... when your young, and forced through an instituionalized schooling system and social system (that includes family.) you begin to feel hopeless.. which leads to being withdrawn.
Now.. this sounds different than with your brother. But what im saying.. is maybe he will come around. (i've adjusted well, and experienced much more than many of the peers from the grad class ive dropped out of.) Perhaps he will hit rock bottom lonliness which will drive him to do something..
The worst thing your parents could do, is ALLOW him to leech of them forever. A MAN needs to get up and take responsibility for himself, somewhere along the line...
Also, i think it would be detrimental to get him into smoking. Just like technology.. for someone withdrawn, DRUGS form an easy escape (they did for me.)
Id find out more about his actual disorder, and then decide upon a course of action.
I think its safe to give it some time, if he's doing school on the computer.. his social life has obviously suffered. Let him get done with that.. and then HE HAS to choose a course of action. That action will be the determining force in his future.
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
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Tangerines




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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: PDU]
#7830373 - 01/04/08 12:09 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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weed can be a mind opener and possibly help him sift through his thoughts. Not to be used as a crutch, just medicine. I would try that first before any meds prescribed that is for sure.
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KillerPicklez



Registered: 12/13/07
Posts: 16,920
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: PDU]
#7830383 - 01/04/08 12:11 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Thank you very much for your advice. I have been reading about this ever since I made this thread a little bit ago.
Yeah Im not sure if introducing him to marijuana is the best course of action either, Thats what ive actually been googling is the links between Autism and marijuana, and I havent found anything to suggest that it is a possible "cure."
I might talk to my mom tomorrow and see if she would allow him to smoke for 1 day and just see what the affects are.
Urgh, I really hope you are right and its just a phase and something he will grow out of.
Im just worried he will hit rock bottom and resort to hurting himself as he has threatened several times in the past.
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KillerPicklez



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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: Tangerines]
#7830394 - 01/04/08 12:14 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
Tangerines said: weed can be a mind opener and possibly help him sift through his thoughts. Not to be used as a crutch, just medicine. I would try that first before any meds prescribed that is for sure.
My only fear is that he might become pychologically addicted very easily giving his mental state and that could lead to another set of problems.
I dont want to set him back anymore than he already is, you know?
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Tangerines




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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: KillerPicklez]
#7830395 - 01/04/08 12:15 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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yea that is true. I am just pullin ideas outta my head so take them all with a grain of salt.
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mathewww
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: KillerPicklez]
#7830407 - 01/04/08 12:20 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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I don't know, my cousin is bi-polar and autistic and she used to take about 9 medications.
Now that she's out of her parents she just smokes a few bowls a day and is normal as ever. It's freakin' weird, man.
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KillerPicklez



Registered: 12/13/07
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: Tangerines]
#7830416 - 01/04/08 12:23 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
Tangerines said: yea that is true. I am just pullin ideas outta my head so take them all with a grain of salt.
No man its greatly appreciated. Im just trying to help someone I care about, Im open to anything. Since your suggestion, I have come across this ( http://www.autism.org/marijuana.html ) with other promising links inside of it.
I think I might be willing to atleast try this 1 time. And see what the affects are.
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g00ru
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: KillerPicklez]
#7830437 - 01/04/08 12:33 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Your brother will probably never be an extremely social person, but I'm sure there are things you could do to open him up.
Does he have any friends? I'm guessing not (he probably has some online ones but I don't think that helps much in this situation).
Maybe you should have some of your friends be nice to him so he can talk to people outside of his immediate family and see that strangers aren't really that scary. Your parents should get him out of the house whenever possible, even if its just going to get groceries or something.
Call me crazy but I think the weed might not be a bad idea. Either way, I would say people on the drug side of the world would be much more likely to accept your brother than our strait edge cousins.
I'm just throwing some suggestions out, obviously take this all with a big ol grain of salt.
-------------------- check out my music! drowse in prison and your waking will be but loss
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KillerPicklez



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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: g00ru]
#7830460 - 01/04/08 12:42 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Yeah he has a couple people he talks to online but thats about it. We actively get him out of the house as much as possible. But it truly is a battle.
I think im going to maybe smoke with him a couple of times and actually do my own independent research and document the affects and maybe I can help other people in a similar situation
Im actually in a shit situation where I dont have any friends here, In my original post I mentioned that I just moved home after being away from 5 years. Im from Michigan and I just moved to Arizona about 2 weeks ago.
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RonaldFuckingPaul
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Re: Is the Technology Age to blame for Social Disorders? [Re: KillerPicklez]
#7830463 - 01/04/08 12:44 AM (16 years, 29 days ago) |
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Don't expect him to change overnight tho, it's an ongoing process
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