Geeks Don’t Touch June 19, 2007
Have you noticed? Geeks don’t touch. I noticed this in myself a while ago, and
have since been watching other geeks to confirm my theory. I was at the
Boston
Ruby User’s Group a week ago and essentially no-one touched. When two geeks
are introduced, unless it’s a somewhat formal introduction like an interview, we
don’t shake. When we encounter each other, or go our separate ways, there’s no
casual touching. Many will actually wave at each other in greeting from a few
feet apart so as to avoid the simple touch that normal people would expect. I
think it’s the touch of
Asperger’s
that the best of us seem to have inadvertently exposing
itself.
…Some may even be
pathologically
sensitive to loud noises (as some people with AS have
hyperacusis),
strong smells, or dislike being touched; for example, certain children with AS
exhibit a strong dislike of having their head touched or their hair disturbed
while others like to be touched but dislike loud noises.
I wouldn’t say that most geeks are “pathalogically sensitive” to touch but
please don’t think that the geek in your life is being antisocial, or
intentionally rude, or anything like that if they eschew the common social
touches. I think that most of us just don’t like to touch anyone who isn’t
particularly close to us emotionally.
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noew behdi