Top 10 Advantages of ADD in a High Tech Career
I never thought I really had ADD, but after reading a lot of these I think I might show signs of it. I think I posess a lot of these qualities, maybe not all of the time – but according to this, maybe I just get bored with certain qualities and move onto another one!
2. Rapid Fire Mind.
Your brain processes information at hyperspeed. You can do things in 30 minutes on a computer that might take other people hours. Downside if you’re stuck with an old machine and not enough RAM you’ll be frustrated cause it can’t keep up with the speed of your brain.
3. Multitasking at Will.
Able to run 14 apps at a time and effortlessly switch between each without breaking a sweat. Able to do several projects at a time with ease.
And then a little later…
8. Constantly Scanning your Environment.
Allows you to notice more and find information and resource that others miss. Also allows you to see possible problems before they arise, and opportunities that others may not see because they have tunnel vision vs. multiplex vision. An ADDer invented the electronic ticket.
Go read the rest…
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If you look up the criteria for ADD or ADHD or whatever the newest buzzword acronym is for this sort of behavior, the criteria generally includes things like: unable to focus on topics for extended periods of time, or unable to sit still, which pretty much describes 90% of people out there, and the other 10% are probably the abnormal ones. for instance, the DSM IV (used to diagnose mental disorders), lists these as the basics of ADD or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder):Inattention, Hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Under these headings, things such as the following may be found: often has difficulty organising tasks and activities, is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli, is often forgetful in daily activities, often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat, is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”, often blurts out answers before questions have been completed, and often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g. butts into conversations or games). If that isn’t the stereotypical American person, then I must be in Canda, eh? Actually, the DSM criteria are often used to determine whether or not to dump a bunch of drugs into kids, and unfortunately that usually means that otherwise normal kids get chemicalized instead of getting the outlets they need to act and learn in the style that suits them. I would have been a candidate for drugs had anyone suggested, and I think you would have also. Maybe this just means we ought to have more computers and interactive learning for kids in their early classroom experiences. Having said all that, I think there’s also much to be said for strict discipline and training children proper respect and attention to those in authority. So maybe we only drug Joe up a little…
I agree – I think the ADD, or ADHD label is too often given to kids to appease parents and teachers and give the kids an excuse to act a certain way. How else to you explain such a HUGE increase in the number of cases of ADHD in the last 5-10 years. I had a friend in grade school who genuinely had issues with paying attention, and the medication he took was the only way he could remain calm enough. I find it interesting that many of the people who end up labelling kids with ADHD are also those who don’t think discipline is as important in raising a child. I don’t think it takes a genius to see that these two situations might be connected. There is a big difference between kids who won’t pay attention and kids who can’t, and it’s usually pretty obvious. The problem is, so many have been labeled with the “can’t” when they should just be labelled with the “won’t.”
Still, the article hit home with me, as I find myself quite often drifting between many, many thoughts in a very short time period when I should be concentrating on something else. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that for my situation, as I can focus quite sharply when I really need to…but it takes a lot more effort in some cases.
As someone who was put through the hells this reaches in the public education system, I couldn’t agree more with the entire mislabeling of children. I’m only glad that I had someone to fight on my side to help me through it. One of the times, I was actually sent to be tested for ADD by a doctor in Dayton that was request by the school. At our expense, I went through the testing routine (surprisingly interesting and I feel that every child should be evaluated similarly to this to determine their learning styles, but that’s another post entirely) and was sent back with a bill of clean health. Still unsatisfied, the school had me do it again with another doctor. Same results. This is just one of those things that in good ‘ol St. Marys Public Schools. It really made me step back and wonder how many other people who just bounced from topic to topic were shut down by the system.
I’d also have to agree with your point about the discipline factor, Joe. All to many times I’ve seen really smart kids drugged down and it seems to be because the parents are too busy or don’t want/know how to discipline their children. A sad picture of the masses that are taking over.