I’m getting up there in age, and it is beginning to show. I would not call myself resistant to technical advancements or overall progress. But some things are better, the way I know them from childhood and being a young adult. Call me old fashioned? Perhaps. And if so, is that truly negative? I don’t think so, to be honest with you. Is it wrong to evaluate for yourself, whether or not the newest craze is everything it promises to be? And if indeed it isn’t, to steer clear of it? Is it wrong, if you choose not to “follow the herd” blindly? I think not.
To everyone, who prefers Netflix to DVDs, or Spotify to CDs and digital news formats to an actual newspaper [to name a few examples], both is fine and acceptable.
However, in my humble opinion, there is one disappointing “trend” on the horizon. More and more people have quite strong and increasingly negative reactions towards everyone, who is not going with the flow on every tired, boring new thing that tries to push its way into our lives and homes. That is, where the line needs to be drawn if you ask me. It’s not about being called old fashioned. Have at it, I don’t mind. But if the “old way” is becoming a frowned upon option, and you are criticized or even worse excluded, then I would call that a problem in need of address.
The current standard as well as modern advancements can peacefully co-exist, to service and include everyone according to preferences and needs. Perhaps it would be smart, to keep a close eye on how all of this develops from here onward.
And while I do try to find the positive in all these new technical advancements, it needs to be acceptable for everyone to evaluate, to pick and choose what’s right for them and what isn’t.
Old fashioned, the way I appear to be, I will continue to watch DVDs, and turn the pages of my paperback books. Even if they collect a little dust on the shelves, there’s just something satisfying and comforting about having the physical copy of the items you like. Am I wrong?
Tag: Reactions
A-Z Challenge: Imitator
To begin with it is important to mention, that every autistic person has their individual set of challenges. If I understand correctly, however, quite a few of them imitate reactions and behaviors they see displayed by their peers, in an effort to learn. Count me in. Now some folks may label this as “seriously creepy conduct”. If you are one of them, do tell me how you would learn how to fit in with regard to social situations? What would be your strategy instead?
Since childhood, I’ve been watching people closely, without ever knowing, that doing so is not “standard practice”. My parents prepared me for life to the best of their abilities, always wondering about certain behaviors and reactions. I am not sure, how well known autism was in the 70’s, but no one ever thought to “shove me into that drawer” back then. Was this a blessing or a curse? In hindsight, life might have been easier in more ways than one, if I could have had therapy or some form of training to help me learn, what neurotypicals “just know”, or understand without effort. Especially social situations were an overwhelming mystery to me. And I started watching and imitating behaviors of others. Everything I learned was “filed away for future reference”, whenever needed and “hopefully” appropriate. To this day, I watch and imitate other people. Fortunately, I’m at that point in my life now [that old age], that I can judge unavoidable social situations better, and how to react properly. The stored away behaviors I choose to utilize, will now have my own spin and personality added. But it was a long way of getting there.
Trivialities & Intricacies 