Hi James,
Great to hear you've started the book!
To answer your question: No, I don't personally identify as neurodivergent
(with conditions like autism, ADHD, or dyslexia). My own autodidact experiences
and good spelling and results in school felt like it all come a survival
mechanism than a desire to achieve.
That said, I've always connected very well with peers who are neurodivergent,
and I share many of their strengths, like creativity, problem-solving,
attention to detail, and the ability to focus deeply.
The difference is often in the how. For example, I think in systems and value
direct, authentic communication over small talk. But while my deep focus is
more of a controlled "flow state," hyperfocus can be all-consuming. Similarly,
my detail-orientation is intentional, whereas for others it can be more
automatic and overwhelming. Ultimately, these are universal human strengths,
just expressed in wonderfully diverse ways.
It brings me joy that this writing is connecting with you, and beyond
traditional silos and it sounds like you've found your tribe. Welcome to the
Feral Class ;-)
Wishing you well.
Marc
On Wednesday, 29 October 2025 at 17:45, James via NetBehaviour
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi Marc, and anyone else,
> I've started reading your book, the purchase of which was prompted when you
> posted here the Barry's Galeon Ship Disaster chapter.
> As soon as I started reading the book, I immediately made the connection to
> neurodivergency and was curious if you yourself make this connection, or if
> you consider yourself neurodivergent, how you feel about the concept of
> neurodivergency etc.
> I was going to wait until I finished the book to see if you do mention it at
> some point.
> I was a latecomer to discovering I am neurodivergent - autistic - not until
> my children were diagnosed, and I started learning about it and my mind went
> flying into my past busily connecting dots and seeing patterns.
> I went through various phases of denial even after receiving a diagnosis
> toward the end of my forties. I've learnt a lot about it through social media
> and a few books.
> In your book, I identify a lot with much about what ferral class is said to
> be. That's why I ask.
> A book recommendation from me is, very interesting
> Empire of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism By Robert Chapman
> And Devon Price's Unmasking Autism mentions in places about how
> neurodivergent people were connecting with each other in the early days of
> the internet.
> Cheers
> James
_______________________________________________
NetBehaviour mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
