site banner
PaperclipPerfector  10mo ago (text post)   2936 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 9, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

5
Top Bottom Old Controversial Comments
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

I’m currently reading NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity. One thing the book mentions is that historically there were some people that thought certain supplements (specifically vitamins B and C) could help reduce the symptoms of Autism, but that the research was not done scientifically at all.

Are you aware of any research or clinical trials that use supplements/drugs to reduce autism symptoms?

In theory I think anxiolytic drugs would help a lot of the anxiety symptoms caused by having trouble with social cues, and the anxiety caused by uncertainty in the environment. However, my theory is that these drugs can’t be used routinely due to addiction/tolerance issues.

I could see how MDMA (or other entactogens) could cause autistic people to enjoy the company of people more and realize that they have social skills they aren’t usually aware of when sober.

I also think psychedelics combined with a guide could help. Someone could rewrite the story of themselves. They could come to accept that the downsides of autism are the price to pay for having very narrow extraordinary/special skills. Some inventors were likely on the autism spectrum and lived great lives despite being socially reclusive. Many people on the autism spectrum could be destined to make great discoveries or rise to the top of a profession if they focus on their special interests and overcome the disappointments that autism causes in other areas of their lives.

I also have a theory that some people on the autism spectrum do not feel many of the subjective effects of psychedelics.

I know that Abilify is used to reduce feelings of irritation in Autistic people. But this is a general anti-psychotic drug and is also used by those with schizophrenia, BPD, depression, etc.

What is this place?

This website is a place for people who want to move past shady thinking and test their ideas in a court of people who don't all share the same biases. Our goal is to optimize for light, not heat; this is a group effort, and all commentators are asked to do their part.

The weekly Culture War threads host the most controversial topics and are the most visible aspect of The Motte. However, many other topics are appropriate here. We encourage people to post anything related to science, politics, or philosophy; if in doubt, post!

Check out The Vault for an archive of old quality posts. You are encouraged to crosspost these elsewhere.


Why are you called The Motte?

A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently, it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey", originally identified by philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed."

On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.


New post guidelines

If you're posting something that isn't related to the culture war, we encourage you to post a thread for it. A submission statement is highly appreciated, but isn't necessary for text posts or links to largely-text posts such as blogs or news articles; if we're unsure of the value of your post, we might remove it until you add a submission statement. A submission statement is required for non-text sources (videos, podcasts, images).

Culture war posts go in the culture war thread; all links must either include a submission statement or significant commentary. Bare links without those will be removed.

If in doubt, please post it!


Rules


Recommended Posts And Communities

Recommended Realtime Chats