Ron, you gave me a lot to think about for a long while. It's so refreshing to read a commentary about autism, Asperger's Syndrome, etc that doesn't have a political axe to grind. I've been wary of the "my child is gifted with autism" response, but hadn't read anyone who actually has been diagnosed who responds like you just have.
You also briefly mentioned Tik Tok, and other social media, and you mentioned Tourette's Syndrome. I was wondering if you've ever looked into some things that I've heard commentators talk about, like: outbreaks of "Tourette's Syndrome" among high school girls who all watch the same Tik Toks? I've also heard about kids who self-diagnose with "Asymptomatic Tourette's Syndrome." Are these possibly also just the musings of narcissists?
As far as the Tourette's thing, that is super-weird, and it was mostly brought on during COVID when there was an explosion of kids staying home, making (and watching) videos, especially on TikTok. I did read about it, and the answers I found suggest (if I understand it correctly) that a few "influencers" who happen to speak with tics (real or faked) and, in response, the bazillions of kids watching them mimic it back subconsciously.
From Henry Ford Health: "Teen girls are watching TikTok videos featuring influencers who do have tics. Then, because they’re watching these videos so often, their brains start to mimic the tics... We’ve seen this before in children who have parents or siblings with seizures. They’ll develop functional seizures. The brain imitates what it sees.”
So I don't know that it's narcissism per se. If they embrace it, though, and say: "I have Tourette's now," rather than just admitting "I'm talking like this because I watch too many videos online," I think that would be.
Ron, you gave me a lot to think about for a long while. It's so refreshing to read a commentary about autism, Asperger's Syndrome, etc that doesn't have a political axe to grind. I've been wary of the "my child is gifted with autism" response, but hadn't read anyone who actually has been diagnosed who responds like you just have.
You also briefly mentioned Tik Tok, and other social media, and you mentioned Tourette's Syndrome. I was wondering if you've ever looked into some things that I've heard commentators talk about, like: outbreaks of "Tourette's Syndrome" among high school girls who all watch the same Tik Toks? I've also heard about kids who self-diagnose with "Asymptomatic Tourette's Syndrome." Are these possibly also just the musings of narcissists?
I'm glad to hear it. Thanks for reading.
As far as the Tourette's thing, that is super-weird, and it was mostly brought on during COVID when there was an explosion of kids staying home, making (and watching) videos, especially on TikTok. I did read about it, and the answers I found suggest (if I understand it correctly) that a few "influencers" who happen to speak with tics (real or faked) and, in response, the bazillions of kids watching them mimic it back subconsciously.
From Henry Ford Health: "Teen girls are watching TikTok videos featuring influencers who do have tics. Then, because they’re watching these videos so often, their brains start to mimic the tics... We’ve seen this before in children who have parents or siblings with seizures. They’ll develop functional seizures. The brain imitates what it sees.”
So I don't know that it's narcissism per se. If they embrace it, though, and say: "I have Tourette's now," rather than just admitting "I'm talking like this because I watch too many videos online," I think that would be.