Hi james,
>Yes the book is causing me to think a bit about my past from a slightly
>different
>angle to how neurodivergency has.
I'm glad that reading Feral Class is doing something interesting, in a positive
way I hope.
>It reminded me of my disdain for a career when I was young, and how I literally
>thought it was stupid to want one! Several years later, after experimenting
>with
>various substances (in the baby pool compared to some people) I found myself
>where feared my own thoughts and my body felt alien...
I don't think it's natural for humans to work. However, from my own
perspective, I've always had work in some form or other. Surviving in a world
not built for us is a skill, especially if one is conscious of it in that way,
because such questioning can make life quite painful.
>I had a very strong fear of being forced to work in factories (where I
>invariably
>ended up years later but with an Art degree under my belt).
I know that one. I didn't officially go to university until I was 48 ;-)
>Sorry to hear about the cancer, and glad to hear you're out the other side.
I'm glad also. Although it completely changes you. Hence the book, two more
Feral Class books to come by the way.
>I'm very fortunate to be in the position to have stayed well away from
>hospitals
>most of my adult life. Reading experiences like yours, as well as just how the
>general population often has poor health, I feel grateful that I'm still
>physically able.
>Re tribes, and finding them, yes and no, maybe, ... the perpetual outsider :-D
Well, at least you belong to an dysfunctional group of disparate outsiders. Not
a bad place to be. At least its real.
Wishing you well
Marc
On Wednesday, 29 October 2025 at 23:36, James via NetBehaviour
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Thanks Marc for your reply. Yes the book is causing me to think a bit about
> my past from a slightly different angle to how neurodivergency has. It
> reminded me of my disdain for a career when I was young, and how I literally
> thought it was stupid to want one! Several years later, after experimenting
> with various substances (in the baby pool compared to some people) I found
> myself where feared my own thoughts and my body felt alien... I had a very
> strong fear of being forced to work in factories (where I invariably ended up
> years later but with an Art degree under my belt). Anyway...
> Sorry to hear about the cancer, and glad to hear you're out the other side.
> I'm very fortunate to be in the position to have stayed well away from
> hospitals most of my adult life. Reading experiences like yours, as well as
> just how the general population often has poor health, I feel grateful that
> I'm still physically able.
> Re tribes, and finding them, yes and no, maybe, ... the perpetual outsider :-D
>
> On Wed, 29 Oct 2025 at 21:30, marc.garrett via NetBehaviour
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
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