Am I autistic?

[Hairydude]

That guy in the Video is outstanding- I've often wondered if some Autistic people could be great poker players. As they have very analytical minds yet seem to be detached from "normal" emotions.

[WYSINWYG]

That guy in the Video is outstanding- I've often wondered if some Autistic people could be great poker players. As they have very analytical minds yet seem to be detached from "normal" emotions.

Yeah I was thinking that too. I guess online better than live. Tells totally lost on them, and bloody hard for them to put a player on a hand (if they have full-on autism).
If they raise, and someone reraises, they are still stuck only with the value of their own hand, there is no association between the other guy reraising and him maybe thinking his hand is good. I sometimes do this also but in my case we call this 'Alcoholism'.

[kinboshi]

just measured it and its 600mm or 60cm or in old money 2ft=(24")

I don't have a measure handy but I think mine is quite big also. We should have a blonde 'Who has the biggest bonce' challenge.

wonder if there is any bearing as to the physical size of individual as to there head size?

Good question, I'm guessing some correlation.

ps Does anyone know a quick fix for snapped rulers? The selotape is not holding.

Grab a pot of paint, stick a big dollop on your forehead, press your head against the wall and and then spin round with your head against the wall until your forehead reaches the wall again.  Measure the distance between the two spots of paint.

[suzanne]

just measured it and its 600mm or 60cm or in old money 2ft=(24")

I don't have a measure handy but I think mine is quite big also. We should have a blonde 'Who has the biggest bonce' challenge.

wonder if there is any bearing as to the physical size of individual as to there head size?

Good question, I'm guessing some correlation.

ps Does anyone know a quick fix for snapped rulers? The selotape is not holding.

Grab a pot of paint, stick a big dollop on your forehead, press your head against the wall and and then spin round with your head against the wall until your forehead reaches the wall again.  Measure the distance between the two spots of paint.

 

[WYSINWYG]

just measured it and its 600mm or 60cm or in old money 2ft=(24")

I don't have a measure handy but I think mine is quite big also. We should have a blonde 'Who has the biggest bonce' challenge.

wonder if there is any bearing as to the physical size of individual as to there head size?

Good question, I'm guessing some correlation.

ps Does anyone know a quick fix for snapped rulers? The selotape is not holding.

Grab a pot of paint, stick a big dollop on your forehead, press your head against the wall and and then spin round with your head against the wall until your forehead reaches the wall again.  Measure the distance between the two spots of paint.

 

I knew there was a way.

[FuglyBaz]

I have autism, Aspergers Syndrome to be exact, and after months and months of play i can tell you that people with Autism generally will not be good poker players. It is unfair to say that everyone with Autism is like me, because it isnt true BUT there are certain traits in certain forms of Autism from the 'spectrum' which would prevent poker players from reaching the success they could potentially reach. A lot of this is from my own personal experience and if anybody can relate then fine, but if you can't, please challenge or question with sound arguments, rather than show arrgant ignorance like so many people do.

The first thing I must mention is that I do not consider having Aspergers as a disability, I see it as a gift. But having a gift doesn't translate to success in everything that you do.

There are many things that I have had obsessions with in my life. I feel sad for having them at times, because other people do not understand, but I realise that specialised interest will eventually make me successful in something. VERY successful. Things i can remember doing, I could do alphabet backwards before I did it forwards, I was able to recite the list of Kings and queens of England in the order of when they ruled, along with the years they ruled to and from. I then got interested in geography, and more specifically knowing the flags and capital cities for every country in the world - Things as an 8 year old that dont earn you any friends, just respect and amazement from teachers (which led to bullying from students).

My obsessions when reaching age of 14 was playing snooker, within 6 months of play I had hit a 50 break, while hitting 30 breaks with regular consistency. That was until some nasty tosspot broke my cue in half, leaving it unusable. I couldnt reach the same level again as I was heartbroken. So I turned to music, and playing the guitar and drums. I did that until I hit 20, then i got into darts after watching Raymond van Barneveld lose his World Crown to Jelle Klaasen. I just totally ditched 6 years of hard work learning to play different instruments, for a game played down the pub. Lo and behold, I was that obsessed that i had to try the professional circuit after 6 months of play, to satisfy my curiosity. I got fortunate enough to beat a player called Andy 'Rocky' Jenkins who was ranked #6 in the PDC world rankings at the time. Too much pressure/expectation etc led to massive downfall in what was a not very good game in the first place, and I lost all interest.

That is how I got into poker! I thought I could get good quick, and make easy money. I bought myself Harringtons books and started from there. And while his strategies were good, they are outdated. And this is the first problem with Autistic people - THE FAILURE TO ADAPT TO CHANGE FROM A SET ROUTINE. I have stopped playing poker, because it pains me to go away from a set strategy introduced to me by a very successful player. Beginning of this year I decided I would learn the 2008 way to play poker, but it changes and evolves so much that i cannot cope...I panic all the time when I play poker. the slightest things really make me angry - like people min raising. I am not an angry person in anything else, but the fact people do what they shouldnt does my head in, because I am used to a certain system. I'm one of the most placid people you will meet, and I let people do a lot of shit to me I shouldn't tolerate in the first place, but in poker if you deviate from book just once I panic...thats why i have to stop playing poker.

I am totally obsessive with everything ive ever done in life, and that includes poker. I spent hundreds on books, and depositing online and playing in casinos. I was easily exploited, not just by my failure to change but the fact certain people wanted to be my friends. Im too naive and trusting to think people can do bad to me. Too many things which cost me a hell of a lot of money, people knew how to pull strings, they knew my tells and I just cannot change them no matter how hard I try. Addiction is bad enough in doing anything in life, let alone poker. You might know the feeling of tilt, but you can't understand the feeling of what I can only describe as emotional lockjaw. I just cannot release anything no matter how much i want to, and it is so frustrating, and embarassing at times too.

I started playing poker because I wanted to get in with the dart players on the circuit who played poker. I found it hard enough (and still do) to make proper friends with anyone, so thought if I can have something in common with the next guy, it may make my life easier. Instead it totally screwed up my darts, and lost me what little sanity I had from birth.

There are several things which makes poker hard for me, and the main points are the ones noted above. Online poker doesnt erase my inability to let go obsession and one track mindedness.



I hope some of this made sense to somebody, and you all dont think Im some nutter. Mind you, I have to be a nutter to want to become an International Master in chess one day. At least I can channel my obsession in a problemsolving excercise which doesnt cost the earth like poker has done me.

Sorry for the rambling...I just feel passionately about the subject. About this study that has been proposed, i think its total bull. How can the size of your head have anything to do with certain patterns? Sounds like the playground crap of 'if your heads smaller than your hand then you have cancer" or other similar stuff.

[cia260895]

nice post fuglybaz

the more i look into A.S the more i am convinced that my son has it,

I'll be asking a few questions tonight as i have really been thrown into this without any knowledge of what it really is about,but there have been numerous times when i have thought if i am on the spectrum,

[jakally]

What a super post FuglyBaz - and a great insight into something I knew nothing about.

What does strike me is that a lot of people without Aspergers have got many of the traits (if that is the right description of them) that you have, but not quite to the same extremes.

I doubt many people have such a clear understanding of their own make-up as you seem to.

[gatso]

fugly

1) have you given up chess as well? been waiting 4 days for you to move in our game

2) did you look into playing limit poker? I think that would suit you

[FuglyBaz]

fugly

1) have you given up chess as well? been waiting 4 days for you to move in our game

2) did you look into playing limit poker? I think that would suit you

Hi gatso, havent given up playing chess....ive been studying because I played a tournament the weekend (finished with 1 win 2 draws and 3 losses) and have league games to focus on. Ill make a move in our game though I have another account which im using now, as my grade on old one is shite

Limit poker wont suit me I don't think. Certainly not at the lowest limits where 7 or 8 players regularly call 4 bets. To be honest poker is a poison to me. I'm glad i dont feel the urge to play it any more. I still stick around here because its interesting to see how people are getting on with stuff.

[FuglyBaz]

What a super post FuglyBaz - and a great insight into something I knew nothing about.

What does strike me is that a lot of people without Aspergers have got many of the traits (if that is the right description of them) that you have, but not quite to the same extremes.

I doubt many people have such a clear understanding of their own make-up as you seem to

Cheers Jakally.

I see a lot of people who demonstrate certain traits, but I think the key difference is the eccentricity levels in different people. Its a bloody tough subject to tackle, and I think that autism needs a lot more research to be carried out. there is so much ignorance to the subject. My dad doesnt understand it, nor does he want to, and this is my own dad! Older people especially do not understand it, they just think people are arseholes! It isnt like that at all.

I think the peaks are higher and the valleys are lower for people with Autism, much in the same way as they would be for people with Bipolar disorders, whereas 'normal' people tend to have more of a linear way of life, they are a little happier than normal or a little more depressed, but never one extreme or the other.

There are days where I still dont understand myself, and while I am happy to have this gift, it doesnt please anybody else around me unless they are interested in chess. My dad keeps telling me to go out and find random women to sleep with, but the truth is that I cant just go out like normal people and converse.....it doesnt happen. Its horrible to know that people can demonstrate such ignorance. I can converse well on internet (well i try) but my verbal communication isnt so good unless it is about a subject I am passionate for or already have a lot of knowledge about. Chess is a language that is understood by all who play, even if they cannot understand language that is spoken, it is my way of communication.

One of the things that sucks really, is going out some place and all i think about is chess openings, and thinking over old games ive played in my head, while my few friends are out seeing women, getting trashed, going to parties and other things i cannot do. At least if I do eventually get a gf in chess, at least she will be smart. Sorry for going off a tangent, I am just typing what im feeling.....the thread isnt about me o apologise for droning on

[cia260895]

You carry on fuglybaz

it is good to actually hear somone with  AS give their views on stuff.

i have got  a few questions for you,

 would you prefer on thread or by pm?

[FuglyBaz]

You carry on fuglybaz

it is good to actually hear somone with  AS give their views on stuff.

i have got  a few questions for you,

 would you prefer on thread or by pm?

What I would say to one i would say to all, so you can ask here if you like mate.

[littlemissC]

really good posts fuglybaz

im one of the parents on blonde with an autistic child and it was interesting to read the way you feel about certain things as im sure my 11 year old son feels the same.

ive never spoken to an adult with autism so it was interesting from that point too.

best of luck with the chess(my son has just started learning at school and loves it)

[kinboshi]

What a super post FuglyBaz - and a great insight into something I knew nothing about.

What does strike me is that a lot of people without Aspergers have got many of the traits (if that is the right description of them) that you have, but not quite to the same extremes.

I doubt many people have such a clear understanding of their own make-up as you seem to

Cheers Jakally.

I see a lot of people who demonstrate certain traits, but I think the key difference is the eccentricity levels in different people. Its a bloody tough subject to tackle, and I think that autism needs a lot more research to be carried out. there is so much ignorance to the subject. My dad doesnt understand it, nor does he want to, and this is my own dad! Older people especially do not understand it, they just think people are arseholes! It isnt like that at all.

I think the peaks are higher and the valleys are lower for people with Autism, much in the same way as they would be for people with Bipolar disorders, whereas 'normal' people tend to have more of a linear way of life, they are a little happier than normal or a little more depressed, but never one extreme or the other.

There are days where I still dont understand myself, and while I am happy to have this gift, it doesnt please anybody else around me unless they are interested in chess. My dad keeps telling me to go out and find random women to sleep with, but the truth is that I cant just go out like normal people and converse.....it doesnt happen. Its horrible to know that people can demonstrate such ignorance. I can converse well on internet (well i try) but my verbal communication isnt so good unless it is about a subject I am passionate for or already have a lot of knowledge about. Chess is a language that is understood by all who play, even if they cannot understand language that is spoken, it is my way of communication.

One of the things that sucks really, is going out some place and all i think about is chess openings, and thinking over old games ive played in my head, while my few friends are out seeing women, getting trashed, going to parties and other things i cannot do. At least if I do eventually get a gf in chess, at least she will be smart. Sorry for going off a tangent, I am just typing what im feeling.....the thread isnt about me o apologise for droning on

If you ever want to bore someone with your thoughts on a chess opening variation or anything like that, go ahead and give me a shout.  I can bore you back!

Is that chess thread still running...?