[deleted]
Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
21–30 of 62 posts
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#22[deleted]
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#23So before I dig hard here, I want to say that I respect Dr. Simmons. He struggles with autism and built the wonderful autism simulator[0] to communicate his experience.
That said, I have lived with manic depression for the better part of my career, and I find this incredibly insulting.
(1) Neurodivergence by definition involves broad difference. Its irresponsible to declare anything absolute and categorical about such a "divergent" population. Many of these divergences are bonafide pathologies that need attention. Even many non-"pathological" quirks, deserve the attention for the sake of healthy dynamics with others.
(2) Lot's of the behaviors promoted can cause people to fail dramatically. I have both lost my job and been kicked out of school for precisely the behaviors described. Obsession, rigidity, and impatience are recipes for disaster especially in combination.
(3) The absence of humility in the article is remarkable. I actively work on self-improvement and strive to remain unnoticed. I work to foster healthy dynamics with my coworkers and those I love. While I do appreciate accommodations, I do not expect the world to adapt to me, and I am always open to feedback for growth. I choose to remain hidden because of the attitudes expressed. I want people to associate me with others who are so boldly unapologetic about their shortcomings.
Yes recognizing strengths is important, but it's equally important to know when you're getting high on your own supply.
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#24I wish people would stop talking so much about neurodivergency in this way. I think we just need to be aware of the differences, to help neurodivergent people where they need help, to adapt to what needs adaptation, and to give them the space they require, as is true to all human beings.
Talking about neurodivengency as a general advantage (or disadvantage) brings no benefit and adds nothing but noise to the discussion.
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#25I’m actually neurodivergent. It’s not much of a gift, let me tell you. I fully count on my neurotypical teammates to ensure the company doesn’t go off the rails. If it were just me, cool stuff would definitely happen - randomly. And we would run out of money and fail.
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#26This sounds like my kind of hell. I actively enjoy going to work in a busy office and the primary reason to do so is to chat to my coworkers.
I literally cannot work in silence. The best place I ever worked was at one CCC congress where someone had set up a bunch of desks in the corner of one of the raves.
What even is the point of going in to the office if you're going to sit in silent ranks trying to increase shareholder value as much as possible without any breaks or distractions? Eugh.
Bonus: by the way "Trait 2" is written I know for sure that the author has never experienced real hyperfocus. True hyperfocus is something to be avoided at all costs. Writing code for 6 hours straight is a terrible experience and leaves you drained, physically uncomfortable and sometimes mildly injured if you were in a bad posture during that time.
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#27I've met neurodivergent people who couldn't even stay on track long enough to prepare a regular dinner. Strong "neurogenetic executive failure" is a common trait. It's nowhere near as black and white as the article wants to make it out to be.
Plus, lots of neurodivergent people are acutely unaware of their own shortcomings and blame everything on those awful neurotypicals.
Totally. A prominent feature of ADHD is a staggering lack of awareness of the ADHD, for example. Very little progress can be made when you externalize blame for a condition you aren't aware of and don't understand. Speaking from experience.
My worst features as a software developer have always been byproducts of neurodivergence and that lack of awareness.
There are also good features and I know I'm useful to have around for system design and development. I just wouldn't say I'm better. I'm complimentary to others, not better. That's why we build systems as teams.
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#28What are examples of companies with neurodivergent leadership?
Not sure, but I have worked at places where being genuninely technically capable has had a positive effect one ones career advancement. At other places it was treated with open hatred and scorn, with there being a concentrated effort to keep techies away from the important people and positions.
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#29What are examples of companies with neurodivergent leadership?
Lots of psychopaths and narcissists in C suites all over. They mask pretty well though.
I don't think he means that - but you being in the class of people that has to fix real bugs, and deliver working software puts you at a disadvantage compared to people who just blow hot air and talk in circles, even if you are a charming social butterfly outside of word.
Re: Neurodivergent Brains Build Better Systems (2025)
#30It doesn't talk about neuro divergent people, but about non-brain damaged people, whose brains can still do dimensionality reduction, which allows them to deal with problems efficiently. The so called neuro typical people are people brain damaged from something, who slowly took over the society over the 20th century. Without dimensionality reduction, virtually everything they encounter is an overwhelming, highly dime…
This is a large claim to make without any evidence that is eerily reminiscent of historical arguments in favor of eugenics programs. Society thrives off of diversity and variations in thinking patterns. Dividing all people into either neurodivergent vs neurotypical or in your preferred terms “brain-damaged” vs “non-brain-damaged”is a vast oversimplification of the reality. Your claim about neurotypical people taking over society in the 20th century isn’t supported by evidence that suggests that genetic markers in humans for things like Autism Spectrum Condition are downsampled in humans relative to other species suggesting that human evolution has selected for some of the traits of what we classify as neurodivergence while balancing out the effects of some of those traits [1]. I’m not trying to say there’s anything wrong with neurodivergence (that’s how I’ve been classified) but this dichotomy is dumb. Everybody is neuro-divergent and what we define as neurotypical is societally defined. You’re just trying to flip the idea of what’s assumed to be a “good” person and that need to declare one group as better than the other is the actual problem. Please read more about the wider variability in cognition among humans before claiming that anyone in your preferred definition of “neuro-divergence” is superior to others.
[1] https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/42/9/msaf189/8245036