When I came to California I am just a variant of normal and I found I suddently fit in a Mexican Neighborhood in Central Coast town. This happened right after I showed up. It was pretty amazing.

When I read about the “Geek Syndrome” I giggled. It seems most of these people are just people who had not found a social group to fit in until they found fellow geeks.

Speaking of “normals” have you ever watched intense football fans? They know the plays, the players and the trivia behind Friday Night Lights. They just do this in a “normal area” so it never gets labeled compulsive or strange because they know lots of football facts.

I have know doubt thst there are a good number of “real aspies” out there, but there are lots of others for whom it is just a short hand for “I never fit in…” I dunno if this is a disease that needs cured. If geeks have found girlfriends then they already have worked a lot of things out.

Note the SF and Monterey Bay Area is very positive and tolerant and sympathetic of people and their problems especially mental. Therefore I can see how many more people have sought treatment than they would in other areas and at other times. Remember in normal politics;) just the mention that someone went to a psychiatrist was?/is? enought to destroy a candidacy for high office.

So I think all these things have to be taken into consideration, but I thing the concept of the dark secret of Silicon Valley Autism is kind of a bit overblown.

Have Fun,
Sends Steve