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Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

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Re: Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

#21

Post by cjblomqvist »

the_clarence wrote: post #15
cjblomqvist wrote: post #7

The title is not a question, but a statement. There are no evidence more than this anecdote to support this statement, and it's a very harsh one, putting all autistic people in one basket - despite the likely chance this has more to do with the person than autism. Please be more careful when putting out/framing your personal thoughts than this. It's the same category as racism.

I agree but this doesn’t help gamma-male. I’ve dealt with people who were producing more than everyone else and must have been on the autism spectrum. It’s not a bad thing per se, but it makes you wonder “can non-autistic people achieve as much and compete with their asperger coworkers?”

Gamma-male should probably learn to frame/ask his (?) questions (statements...) better, and not jump to baseless generalizing conclusions. In that light I actually think my comment could've helped him, by highlighting that problem.

Didn't help with his specific situation though. But it seems like he needs to learn the other part more.

Re: Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

#22

Post by orwin »

This is weird, because i know two good engineers on the autistic spectrum (one visibly Asperger, who literally can't lie and have difficulties with irony, the other a bit more subtle) and they are really detail-oriented and love to document everything because this is good practice and also a ritual.

I don't know what "bad code" is (undocumented?), one of them really like his tricks (especially obscure ones), but each time document what the line does. Also, and i think this has to be because we were taught that at the school, they really like small functions (more than 20 lines of code and they start sweating) and modular code, so i guess to me it is really good code (i was at the same school)

Re: Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

#23

Post by the_clarence »

terminalcommand wrote: post #4

I suspect writing bad code with poor documentation has nothing to do with autism. I'd suggest don't treat him different than any other employee. If he steals work he steals work, less to be done by you. If he crashes and burns, so be it.

Not sure why you’re being downvoted

Re: Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

#24

Post by orwin »

terminalcommand wrote: post #19
the_clarence wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree but this doesn’t help gamma-male. I’ve dealt with people who were producing more than everyone else and must have been on the autism spectrum. It’s not a bad thing per se, but it makes you wonder “can non-autistic people achieve as much and compete with their asperger coworkers?”

Coding capability is not everything, the asperger programmer probably has serious problems in social skills, social life. Let people be. If you're neurotypical aim for management, earn more code less.

You can have big social skills issues and a really good social life. Aspergers i know have trouble lying, and they're a blast to be around, especially if you do something stupid/bad, and ask them what they think about it. Setting them up for a date can lead to hilarious situations (ask them if they're okay first), but they can find people who appreciate their bluntness (which is still hilarious). And above all that, the honesty is really refreshing.

I think your social life doesn't depends on your social skills, but on who you met and how functional is your family.

Re: Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

#25

Post by dang »

As the commenters have pointed out, you're creating lots of negative reactions by asking your question in this way. I'd add that you don't need the word 'autistic' here at all - your question would be clearer without it. Also, your text implies ("most likely") that you don't actually know if he's autistic, or why that would be relevant. You'd be better off sticking to what you do know—i.e. reporting your own experience and direct observations. Then you'll be able to give people more information.

Actually, your title would be better off without "thinks they're better than everyone", too, since (unless you have a mind reader) that's not a direct observation either. If you describe your situation more factually and neutrally, you might get a better response from the community. Just a thought.

Re: Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

#26

Post by throwaway0asd »

Your coworker may or may not be autistic but the behaviors you describe are fully unrelated to autism. Perhaps a better term, according to your descriptions, is narcissistic. You cannot reason with an extreme narcissist in a meaningful way because the intent is always self serving at expense to everyone else.

Re: Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

#27

Post by Overtonwindow »

I think this is very shortsighted, but also not unexpected. As far as I understand, someone who is autistic often does not consider themselves to be autistic. But also autism is a problem of social cues. Maybe this person is in capable of self regulation and monitoring, and so he thinks he’s great, it’s everyone else who is bad. That’s just a classic defense mechanism.

Bottom line, working with someone who is autistic can be extremely difficult, but it’s not their fault, it’s mostly their defense mechanisms in response to the way people are treating them.

Re: Ask HN: Autistic employees think they’re better than everyone

#30

Post by terminalcommand »

orwin wrote: post #24
terminalcommand wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coding capability is not everything, the asperger programmer probably has serious problems in social skills, social life. Let people be. If you're neurotypical aim for management, earn more code less.

You can have big social skills issues and a really good social life. Aspergers i know have trouble lying, and they're a blast to be around, especially if you do something stupid/bad, and ask them what they think about it. Setting them up for a date can lead to hilarious situations (ask them if they're okay first), but they can find people who appreciate their bluntness (which is still hilarious). And above all that,…

I'm not saying thet can't have a good social life, but it is harder and later in life. Aspergers you met probably spent years learning social cues.
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