Demonstration: I had an IQ test in grad school and scored 165. Most primatologists put chimps IQ's around 80. Analogy - Me:Average Person::Average Person:Severely retarded chimpanzee. That's a horribly awkward and untrue thing to say, I know that, it's an example. Humans and chimps are not at all alike, the correct analogy is: me talking to an average person is like an average person talking to someone who is clinically mentally retarded. Right, I'm loving it - my life is a nightmare. In 5th grade we took a test to assess our language skills. My result was 'post-college graduate'. My parents were trilled. I asked, "Well, can I go to college?" ... "Of course you can, when you get older, you can go anything you can imagine," they said. "I'm imagining myself in college." Laughter. There are lots of kinds of intelligence - for example, social intelligence. My social IQ is on par with a brain damaged baboon.
Break - I'm the poster boy for Low Latent Inhibition (caps optional), which is not a disorder, but a personality trait (what does that *mean*?) I have no mental filters - I can't get used to some stimulus and not pay attention any more, it's always new. By and large, this is NOT something to bitch about. I have no desire to change. Random plus - animal camouflage/crypsis doesn't work on me. At all - I astounded my ecology co-nerds. Random soso - compulsive reader. If I go in a room and sit down to talk to some one where there are shelves of books, I will read every title ASAP, relentlessly. Random bad - places like, well, Times Square, shopping malls, where there are lots of thing competing for your attention, clamoring, are hugely dysphoric. Sometimes it's like being a raw nerve, and how do we deal with that? Drugs. Dissociative anesthetics, preferably, which, I think makes sense. Overstimulated, anesthetize. Yeah, that's gonna work.....
On of my coping mechanisms is buddhism. I'm very serious about my religion (no, it's not a religion, nor is it a philosophy, it's a dharma). Not in the talking about it sense, but that it's deeply part of my mentality, how I see everything. Also, it's how I try to be a good person. Obviously, I don't follow the usual path, because I can't find it. Here, look at the Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism
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Break - I'm the poster boy for Low Latent Inhibition (caps optional), which is not a disorder, but a personality trait (what does that *mean*?) I have no mental filters - I can't get used to some stimulus and not pay attention any more, it's always new. By and large, this is NOT something to bitch about. I have no desire to change. Random plus - animal camouflage/crypsis doesn't work on me. At all - I astounded my ecology co-nerds. Random soso - compulsive reader. If I go in a room and sit down to talk to some one where there are shelves of books, I will read every title ASAP, relentlessly. Random bad - places like, well, Times Square, shopping malls, where there are lots of thing competing for your attention, clamoring, are hugely dysphoric. Sometimes it's like being a raw nerve, and how do we deal with that? Drugs. Dissociative anesthetics, preferably, which, I think makes sense. Overstimulated, anesthetize. Yeah, that's gonna work.....
On of my coping mechanisms is buddhism. I'm very serious about my religion (no, it's not a religion, nor is it a philosophy, it's a dharma). Not in the talking about it sense, but that it's deeply part of my mentality, how I see everything. Also, it's how I try to be a good person. Obviously, I don't follow the usual path, because I can't find it. Here, look at the Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism
- Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.
- Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others’ viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.
- Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.
- Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal contact, visits, images, and sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.
- Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of your life Fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.
- Do not maintain anger or hatred. Learn to penetrate and transform them when they are still seeds in your consciousness. As soon as they arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the nature of your hatred.
- Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. Be in touch with what is wondrous, refreshing, and healing both inside and around you. Plant seeds of joy, peace, and understanding in yourself in order to facilitate the work of transformation in the depths of your consciousness.
- Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.
Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people. Do not utter words that cause division and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things of which you are not sure. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.
- Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community, however, should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.
- Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realize your ideal of compassion.
- Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and prevent war.
- Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others, but prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.
- Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only an instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. (For brothers and sisters who are not monks and nuns
Sexual expression should not take place without love and commitment. In sexual relationships, be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.
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