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Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

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Re: Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

#261

Post by TeaBrain »

throwawaymaths wrote: post #255
ghushn3 wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most athletes I'm aware of allow their heels to touch the ground. Unless you are aware of a bunch of athletes that walk around like velociraptors, and if you are, please share!

weightlifting yes, but not most track and field. It's pretty common for dancers to say "you should be able to slip a sheet of paper under the heel" for example. Pretty sure that's the case in tennis too. here's a stock photo of a runner: https://images.stockcake.com/public/7/1/2/7124d219-0531-40c1... and here's one of volleyball: https://www.games-eshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/web.s...

As a former competitive tennis player, moving the weight to the balls of the foot is recommended when in a ready stance, or when actively shuffling. It isn't something that would be expected when walking.

Re: Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

#262

Post by ModernMech »

imp0cat wrote: post #137
ModernMech wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most autistic people I know wear sandals all year round. People laugh about sandals and socks but you're right -- shoes are evil! I'll take looking like a dork over having sore feet all the time.

I am sorry if this comes as and ad, but you need to experience some modern cushioned sneakers, ie: https://runrepeat.com/asics-gel-nimbus-27 You can walk, run, stomp around in them all day and your feet will thank you. They do have some cons though. They are expensive and not very eco-friendly (hard to recycle).

I wear a pair of these in size extra wide: https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/mens/shoes/road-running-...

But you're right, I wasn't introduced to something like these until very recently, when a particularly knowledgeable shoe nerd touched my feet and instantly was like "oh, I know what your problem is, your feet are all weird, you can't be wearing standard sized shoes." Then he went to the back and brought me the above shoes and I had a legit Cinderella moment.

Before I became aware of extra wide, I would typically be caught wearing shoes a size too big, which is why I had so many problems.

Re: Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

#263

Post by burnt-resistor »

munificent wrote: post #246
burnt-resistor wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tip-toeing around mechanically makes sense when one wants to be quiet. I find walking on concrete is more comfortable when using the whole foot, so just barely tip-toeing rather than my usual heel striking. In general, it's not a good idea to walk on hard surfaces barefoot or in sandals excessively, no matter what the FiveFingers crowd might believe. I discovered plantar fasciitis the hard way [pun not intended].

> In general, it's not a good idea to walk on hard surfaces barefoot or in sandals excessively I think cultures where going barefoot is the norm also tend to have fewer hard concrete and stone floors. We've engineered a whole alien environment for ourselves that then require augmenting our body to deal with.

Yup. We haven't had dense hair/fur for eons because we and other hominids made clothes from the skins of animals. It makes me think we'll just keep evolving ever more gracile and requiring almost armored exoskeletons to do anything.

Re: Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

#264

Post by burnt-resistor »

yapyap wrote: post #193
burnt-resistor wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I forget to wear shoes outdoors unless I'm getting in a car, and I invariably step on sharp things. The bottoms of my feet are literally like leather though.

You must live in a great green region I imagine

Nawh, it's an unwalkable tract development around hill country. Concrete everywhere. I'm merely yet another human settler pushing bugs, birds, and snakes off their former meadow farmland habitat.

Re: Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

#265

Post by seec »

john01dav wrote: post #155
klipt wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess the question is why did we start labeling slightly socially awkward people as the same category as the people you describe in the first place?

The social protocol that low support needs autistic people use is similar to the social protocol that some higher (meaning those who can communicate) support needs autistic people use. The fundamental difference in my opinion (which is primarily formed from fairly extensive personal experience and thinking about it) is that autistic communication is fundamentally collaborative, while allistic communication is fundame…

I believe autism is stigmatized and presented as something wrong because most people do not want to engage in honest/candid conversation because it might hurt their feelings.

People are always looking for plausible deniability and weaponized vagueness in order to get away with things. They don't like it when others don't behave that way because it puts them in situations where they would have to assume the risks of their behaviors.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not the so-called autists that are in the wrong but everyone else that is basically engaged in deceptive behavior. I think this behavior is the most prevalent because of evolutionary pressure, in order to avoid conflict and potentially bad outcomes.

It makes sense in a violent world were looking at someone wrong may get you killed but is very unproductive in a society that is supposed to be orderly and high trust.

That being said it seems like the world is becoming much more low trust and autistic behavior can indeed become risky/problematic.

Re: Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

#266

Post by rixed »

Shaanie wrote: post #260
rixed wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The baseline for human behavior is set by expectations. Some tens of thousand years ago we also had the instinct to savagely kill whoever lived in the nearby village.

Did we though, or did we make a calculated decision that in a place with limited resources it'd be better for us to eliminate the competition?

My point was about the mutual influence between instincts and expected behaviours. But you seem to swap instincts for conscious interest. That would be another discussion, but I don't believe homo economicus ever walked on this planet.

Re: Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

#267

Post by shafyy »

sokoloff wrote: post #200
shafyy wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it's also being 15 in today's modern society that sucks.

Being 15 four decades ago wasn’t a live-action Disney movie either.

I think being 15 a couple of generations ago was better than being 15 today. If only for the lack of social media.

Re: Signs of autism could be encoded in the way you walk

#270

Post by thrawa8387336 »

ModernMech wrote: post #24
blamestross wrote: post #15

Cool time to show off my gait/foot scan https://my.volumental.com/en/fleet_feet_rics/5128511c-cd88-4... Shoes are evil. Barefoot all the things. I think I might be a bit autistic...

The most autistic people I know wear sandals all year round. People laugh about sandals and socks but you're right -- shoes are evil! I'll take looking like a dork over having sore feet all the time.

The comfort of high quality worn leather shoes is next level. I have some 10y boots that feel better than slippers. Not to mention way more breathable. Leather is nature's goretex
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