Is it me? My ADHD? That I’m a geek? | ADHD Information

Not a geek. An interesting person. Don't change who you are. I often use phrases that people don't get either. Like "It's not like a peed on Sam Houston's grave!" meaning my offense was not that serious.

I think I mentioned Icarus in a previous post too. Use it when I'm getting too close to danger. Hey, that really could be the sun, couldn't it? What about using Persephone - captured by King Hades. Sometimes I feel like that too. Gives a reason for winter (or depression)

Moby Dick - Call me Ishmael - Just call me for Supper

Huck Finn - There's soo much in that one - Abusive ole' Pappy? Runaway? Nevertheless, be true to yourself and say what you want.

Wow - thanks CG!

Persephone - I love that tale. She survived on pomegranite seeds in the underworld (I think 6 of them). Talk about crash diet!

Huck I use as con man - where the term "huckster" comes from. Wanna help me paint a fence? LOL

I know of Sam Houston (town named after him in Texas bigwig in history there) but never heard that one. I assume he was at the alamo and is revered so as not to pee on him?

I can usually peg together an obscure reference by the pieces I do know and how it's told. I still hate Dennis Miller as he takes only obscure stuff and uses it as if you don't know what he's saying you're a rube. I try to remember him when I get that way and it keeps my humble. Besides he likes bush now so I hate him twice. What a rube!

Yeah doesnt make you a geek, Being a geek makes you a geek!

I have a habit of saying semi obscure things like you mentioned and not alot of people get them, but the ones that do YAY! can make my day.

I have been trying to figure it out. Lately I notice when I talk to people, even those in my age group I use references that they just don't get. Some I understand like "life of riley" as it's an old reference to a radio show that ended before almost anyone I talk to was born.

But things like "put your John Hancock here". What's odd about that? Even here in Canada they should know he signed the constitution of the US and that's why it's used. Maybe I'm just overeducated for the group I'm in.

Does anyone else have to stop conversations to give a history of the phrase before they get it?? Drives me nuts - and the younger ones are the worst. I think that they stopped reading in school and don't watch anything but Rap videos. Like mention icarus, or moby dick, or huck finn (I used that one to talk about someone doing a sucker job - got deer in headlights). Whatever I use that I always thought of as common social cues has ended up on blank stares. Every year it's worse too so either I'm way too old, too geeky or my ADHD is still coming to surface.

Either I'm going to have to genericize my talk or find a better group LOL

ps what the hell is a rube????????????????

well it works both ways.

i was with my nephew the other day (very funny kid) and in response to some caustic remark i had made to him he held up to me the three fingers on his right hand in a sorta vertical postion and then moved them to a horizontal one.

meant nothing to me so i kinda looked at him (deer in headlights perhaps as above) and he explained it is W (hand upright) E (hand horizontal) and stands for "WHATEVER"....

made me laugh anyway.

Reubens is a slang term for farmers, usually shortened to "Rubes".

rube

An unsophisticated or unintelligent person; a sucker; a yokel. Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rube"

Glen,

Figures of speech are a great way to find like minded people to hang out with.

Analysis:

1) Find a new crowd you fit in with or,

2) Enjoy your status as the weird one in the crowd.

I have learned to spot possible friends among people who get it, and possible friends who think I am wierd in an interesting sort of way. The ones who don't get it and don't find it interesting are not people I like talking to anyway.

I am not really a geek - those are for computers and classical literature. I am more of a dork - as in goofy, intelligent and eccentric.

Well as they say "you can pick your clothes, you can pick your nose - you can't pick your friends. Though with effort you CAN wipe your friends on the couch."

I have who I have. Most times my references hit an entire room with blank stares. I've become accustomed just wondered if the roots were cultural, family or ADHD. I think we've gone through it well thank you.

Actually Sam Houston didn't fight at the Alamo. I think it is debated as to whether he was too smart or too drunk. He led the battle at San Jacinto defeating Santa Anna while yelling the battle cry "Remember the Alamo!" winning Texas' independence from Mexico. He was friends with the Cherokee people - had a Cherokee wife and, I guess that makes him ok in my books. Even if he was a drunk.

Everybody else died at the Alamo. William Travis, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, What a masacre.

Now who's a geek?

thanks CG - I knew he had something to do with the alamo but only cursory knew why. Good to know I think.

I never understood our fore-fore-forefather's and mother's tendency to fight battles they knew would fail. We say now that it was pivotal and made a huge difference but there's no way in hell they all knew.

And for drunks? Canadian history is full of them. Only way to handle the cold winters as englishmen I guess LOL. Our most famous father of Canada Sir John A Macdonald was a notorious drunken scotsman who many days passed out and missed opening of parliament.

The war of 1812 (americans you are forgiven for not knowing it must be embarassing LOL) was fought because a woman patriot Laura Secord reported battle plans from the US to the scottish and english regiments before they could strike. They were (as usual) plastered and took an offensive posture, actually battling down the east coast burning boston, chicago, etc. until stopping in virginia and going home after running out of booze! LOL!! The burned the white house and most official buildings down on the way. Moral of the story?? Don't pick a fight with a drunken canadian soldier if you think you're going to win.

I'm always happy when reading the obituaries and not finding my name

I guess I am a geek cause I am not like others or think like they do. [QUOTE=bepatient]

Nope, I'll be 45 this Friday . Sometimes I'm a "late bloomer" and sometimes very progressive. I refuse to ever get stuck in a decade whether it be fashion, music, technology, language usage, ect. I relate the best with people outside of my age group whether older or younger.

I don't think it's "dumbing down" to not use or limit the use of idioms. It dosen't make a person more intelligent to know them or use them.

I may use them on occasion with an older person, like someone my parents age, but otherwise I don't because they're so dated. [/QUOTE]

If I spent much time w/ people older than me, I'd be hanging around a lot of graveyards!

(Sure no one finds that half as funny as I do! Where's a smilie for laughing at yourself for laughing at yourself, when you need one?)

[/QUOTE]

perhaps they are distracted by productivity, task management, organization, etc..

and dont have time to wonder about all the dumb sh*t

[QUOTE=repairman]I'm always happy when reading the obituaries and not finding my name[/QUOTE]

i do like to scan them for enemies though, kinda like checking the daily lottery #,s

[QUOTE=repairman]I'm always happy when reading the obituaries and not finding my name

[/QUOTE]
I am not a reader of Obituaries... II am alive, enjoying being something new in my life.. Meds have frightened me, driven me to go down into the pit because i wasted my life and talents. Not anymore.. I have never been more aware of what i can do?
Sure there lots of things i cannot do.. so what? Stand Up and be Proud of who U are! the rest is just others trying to feel better about themselves at your expense.. A/Hs exist everywhere..

.. Love the Joke! Repairman

[QUOTE=The Resistance!]

I am miserable and isolated. They usually just are miserable.

The reason we are all here is to live in pain and fear.
[/QUOTE]

Resistance,

I'm sorry you feel that way..really I am. I think you're great. You're intelligent, you say it like it is, and that alone makes you unique. I think you would be a lot of fun to hang out with

Your a geek, I do it as well.

SO I am a geek too. Your not alone.

geeks of a feather, flock together.

Actually I think it is us getting revenge on everyone for the tricks and how stupid they made us feel. So now we are well versed in useless information and now were ready to explode with it. But everyone around us has gotten stupid.. And now were stuck in limbo.

AND all this useless info has made us ansty...

so were hyperactive, hence adhd.

bugzappers38747.8364583333[QUOTE=GlenW]

Well as they say "you can pick your clothes, you can pick your nose - you can't pick your friends. Though with effort you CAN wipe your friends on the couch."

[/QUOTE]

Glen,

Grrrrooooosssssss! That is a saying I could do without for the rest of my life!!! ..........

[QUOTE=GlenW]

Besides I do like that others get lost when I talk. It's handy for insulting as I can do it and they are never totally sure what the heck I say!! One time a telephone collector was on the phone and getting nasty and I wanted to talk to his supervisor. He wouldn't let me and asked me why I wanted to - and I said because I had never talked to a more surly individual... and he said "surly? I've never heard of that word before" to which I replied "I'm sure there are a lot of words you have never heard of before but I'm a gentleman so I'll stay myself". Well I laughed anyway.

[/QUOTE]

You're so bad

To be (a geek) Or not to be (a geek) What was the question?

Well I'm happy in my little geek world LOL I have a lady right now that loves my use of language and is willing to put up with me at least part time. Good enough for me laddos!!

[QUOTE=GlenW]Oh and bepatient? I'll take your advice for what it's worth and try not to let it bother me. Thanks but ouch. Honestly sometimes a little harsh words can be good so I'll mull over it a while.[/QUOTE]

I'm going to stick my neck out (again) and assume that bepatient is under 30. Some things are related to people's age group, although there's no agreement where any specific "age group" begins or ends. It's common that younger people (teenaged through the 20s sometime) tend to be more aware of and concerned about current cultural trends (e.g., fashion, music, technology, language usage, etc.) than are people in different age groups. (My parents, for example, ALWAYS preferred "big band" music because that's what was popular when they were young adults. My Mother still has rotary dialed phones, as she started rejecting new technology once she hit her mid 50s!)

For a person in this "young adult" group, an expression ("cat's pajamas," "swell" or even "John Hancock") might sound "geeky" because its not comtemporary and consistent with popular jargon and idioms.

While bepatient may be correct in terms of some people's reactions, you may be correct for other people who may not know the reference out of ignorance. There IS a trend of "dumbing down" within western culture, especially. Certainly in the US and I assume, Canada).

Here's a thought. Next time you notice this happening, why don't you ask the other person why they have a blank look. Just tell them you've noticed this with a number of people and are curious about it. I expect most people would tell you where they're coming from. Then you'll know without having to speculate.

sachetm38748.6452662037

[QUOTE=jfla]We actually have a book of the origin of idioms that we read and discuss around the dinner table every night.[/QUOTE]

What a cool idea! I'd copy it if I thought my cats would participate, but would probably just get those blank stares from them if I did!

[QUOTE=sachetm]

[/QUOTE]

I don't think it's "dumbing down" to not use or limit the use of idioms. It dosen't make a person more intelligent to know them or use them.

I may use them on occasion with an older person, like someone my parents age, but otherwise I don't because they're so dated.

bepatient38748.7422453704I use "John Hancock" all the time. I use "big brother is watching" from the book 1984. and Life is like a bowl of cheeries , and a reference to John Henery. but not sure where that comes from. I think it makes a conversation interesting when these references are used.I disagree that "Put you John Hancock here" is dated. What else ya gonna say when you want a signature? "sign here" (boring) "Just put your X on the line hilighted in yellow for you?" (Maybe) Anyway, when one thinks "geek" one thinks "smart" Don't see that as a problem. But, Bepatient may have a point in that there are times to and times not to, I guess. Personally, I have problems with boundries.

I have to work hard at being genuine and have no desire to dumb down or smart up to go with the crowd. I will be myself which is sometimes geeky and sometimes ditzy.

Not geeky at all. I love it! perhaps its partly the environment you were raised in. We don't use them much in our home..mostly puns here but the understanding of idioms can be developed by exposure. You're helping your friends be exposed to more of the world. How boring if they weren't. We've raised our kids by exposing them from the time they were infants to all kinds of experiences for the novelty and enjoyment of life and what is out there. Blank stares can be met by quickly paraphrasing your statement. It may ease the situation for both speaker and listener.

We actually have a book of the origin of idioms that we read and discuss around the dinner table every night.[QUOTE=GlenW]

Oh and bepatient? I'll take your advice for what it's worth and try not to let it bother me. Thanks but ouch. Honestly sometimes a little harsh words can be good so I'll mull over it a while.

[/QUOTE]

Sorry Glen if I was too harsh. You asked and.. I just wanted to give you my honest opionion. I think you're a great guy

thanks bp. At first I admit I went ouch. But I CANNOT ask of you people less than what I expect of myself. You believed what you said, you said it and held back nothing. What more can a friend do for another?

No fears - I think you're great too. Just had one of those boo-boos on my feelings and it's all better now. Thanks for the help.

[QUOTE=oldtimer]I guess I am a geek cause I am not like others or think like they do. [/QUOTE]

Well then, thank God for geeks!

[QUOTE=bepatient]

I don't think it's "dumbing down" to not use or limit the use of idioms. It dosen't make a person more intelligent to know them

[/QUOTE]

Dead on correct. I still feel the need very very often to dumb down. There is such an utter lack of curiosity and common knowlege in some people that I find it difficult to believe they have ever even been alive in the same way as me.

This is not to say I feel superior. I don't. Their lives are theirs and I fully understand they find me uncomprehendable at times. maybe they feel superior to me, heck, maybe they are. I am miserable and isolated. They usually just are miserable.

The reason we are all here is to live in pain and fear.

"I feel like Sisyphus doomed to pushing a large stone uphill."

Great example of how to solve (with some effort, for sure) the problem: include a context ("pushing a large stone uphill") that allows the other person to get the analogy. I wouldn't have thought of that if CG hadn't posted a great example!

I just turned 60 and my parents were born in the first part of the century. Do I ever have some oldies! Mostly, people unfamiliar with them can pick up meaning--for example: "If ______ is true, then my ass is a soda fountain! (Not too hard to get that one!)

What's even sadder than younger folks being ignorant of the references (Sam Houston, John Hancock, etc.), is that they don't have enough curiosity to simply ask, "who's that?" Great chance to learn interesting stuff. Heaven knows, we've all missed something. I just learned in this thread that Houston had an Indian wife.

As an educator, this "dumbing down" trend is especially disturbing. It's also nearly impossible to point to one or even a few causes. I'm in a doctoral program and constantly roll my eyes at the lack of ability shown by most of my peers--many of whom can't write a coherent sentence. Forget self-editing or critical thinking. And, of course, these are the same ones who expect to finish comprehensive exams and their dissertation (one they have no clue about) in less than a year. No wonder my instructors think I'm a genius! (Being somewhat OCD about writing and editing sure hasn't hurt, either!)

Want to remind you, Glen, that the upside of AD(H)D is increased intelligence and curiosity. I have to admit that most "normal" people bore me to tears so I tend to avoid them when I can--unless they're strong of heart and character. Then I don't have to try to change my communication style to accommodate them. Seems to happen naturally--as when talking w/ children. The rest, screw 'em!

sachetm38746.6499884259

Oh my gosh, I really feel this subject matter. You know, if people think I'm a geek, so what? I use anachronistic phrases and 10$ words all the time, and I, too, find that I have to "dumb down" my language with some people.

Once I used the term,"Oh that's rich..." in a conversation and I got a "hunh?" Yep....it's a phrase from the mid 20th century. Maybe I watch too many old movies.

One of my favorites is (and I give my hubby credit for this one), "Oh, that'll go over like a turd in a punchbowl."

I'm going to have to remember the "polishing a turd" phrase....hilarious.

So, anyway...I develop deep friendships with like-minded people and I keep non-geeks at a cordial distance.

[QUOTE=GlenW]

Whatever I use that I always thought of as common social cues has ended up on blank stares. Every year it's worse too so either I'm way too old, too geeky or my ADHD is still coming to surface.

Either I'm going to have to genericize my talk or find a better group LOL

[/QUOTE]

IMO Glen, (and I will try to be as tactfull and kind as possible). It's not, I don't beleive, that you're more educated than the one's who give you the blank stares. They very well may understand what you mean, but maybe it just sounds outdated which can make it sound geeky.

I think the former, "I'm going to have to generalize my talk", is probably going to be the best route for you to take. Unless of course you're in a group where your sure these, "common social cues" are just that, common.

Otherwise it will sound geeky.. (very). Of course if you don't care if you sound geeky, then by all means, keep it up

[QUOTE=GlenW]

Auntie I doubt it - frankly I think I'd remember if I'd met you - you are some great lady. Besides I can count my USA trips on one hand - few and far between and limited to Florida and washington state. So nope!

I can sometimes change gears in speech when needed. Like with managers at work - they are university graduates like I am - though they are still stuffed shirts with ties and I am no longer. But I'll switch to "business doublespeak" to get a point over that others fail at. "bottom line" "paradyme" "cutting edge" are just a few phrases they know but others fall asleep hearing. They love it!! And I"m still unsure what the hell a paradyme shift is but it sounds important LOL

[/QUOTE]

Glen, what a wonderful thing to say! I used to go to Canada often to hold seminars but it was only in the Toronto area. I couldn't go in any other Province or Territory because they insisted everything be taught in French. Ever hang out on Toronto?

Reisa, I used to teach classes about the paradigm shift, gosh 10 yrs ago. Guess it was the "learning tool" of the day for managers back then. Corporate dropped it the next year. It was a fun class to teach, though!

No Auntie - never been to Toronto I'm a western kid through and through. You'll find Canada is separated in 4 groups: The west (BC through Manitoba) where we tend to be very much like mid-west USA in that we are easy-going, small-town and live and let live. Then there's Ontario - to them center of the universe and canada stops at their border and there be sea serpents beyond it arrrrr. Quebec also is the center of the universe and everyone must bow down d'accord? eastern canada is easy going too - very much like wales or ireland with small town boys and girls that just want to get along.

I'll let you in on a little secret too - except for government employees and some elitists most of Canada never uses french. We get it shoved down our throat but once you leave Quebec except for some isolated towns there just will not be heard any french ever!! We have no need - it's a dying language and frankly most in the west are sick and tired of the forced bilingualism. It's kind of like Iowans being forced to speak spanish if their town has no culture of it.

Oh and bepatient? I'll take your advice for what it's worth and try not to let it bother me. Thanks but ouch. Honestly sometimes a little harsh words can be good so I'll mull over it a while.

See Glen? It is really great conversation. The other guys are missing out. Maybe we should start a history and literature trivia thread??

Today I am so overwhelmed with housework that I feel like Sisyphus doomed to pushing a large stone uphill.

Really makes a picture, doesn't it?

I dumb down all the time. Always have. University grads, doctors, lawyers, PHDs.
Most are not intelligent in areas that matter to me, which most of them probably also feel about me.

I love to be age specific with children which is NOT dumbing down.
Glen, I always thought it was "You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose!"

Anyway, this has been a very interesting conversation above.

'Life with Riley'

(From what I remember, I believe Riley was definitely AD/HD!

)I teach school and in my school we are trying to follow the Core Curriculum. They even have a book out for each grade that is called "What Every Fourth Grader Should Know," "What Every Third Grader Should Know," etc. The curriculum I believe was created from the frustration that people are not educated in these areas you are mentioning Glen, history, literature, etc. If you watch, Jay walking with Jay Leno, it is quite apparent that we all need more of this type of education and enlightening!

Not geeky, well read and cultured.

My age group can be sadly lacking in both areas. Maybe its upbringing. My parents always took us to art galleries, museums, the theatre etc. Didnt realise at the time but my parents were constantly filling our minds with important information that would enable us to be confident talking with others on many different topics.

That sound like real snobbery when I read it back, but its true

Kuhn used the duck-rabbit optical illusion to demonstrate the way in which a paradigm shift could cause one to see the same information in an entirely different way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm_shift

LOL sorry, I am on a wikipedia kick tonight.

I instinctively change my vocabulary and turns of phrase based on who I am speaking with. I learned to do that because my job requires me to talk to illiterate, deaf, mentally ill, brain damaged people. Then I have to turn around and be persuasive to doctors using medical terminology. Most of the blank looks I get are for the ones that I made up.

Intelligence, literacy, curiosity.
I bet you even read books.
Quaint old-fogey traits at best.
Ridiculous behavior that may require professional counseling.
Get with it man!
Enjoy the rocketsled ride to hell our "culture" is taking!

[QUOTE=GlenW]

Either I'm going to have to genericize my talk or find a better group LOL

[/QUOTE]I have heard it was claimed that the Lewis and Clark expedition almost faltered and turned back in failure when the booze ran out.

[QUOTE=GlenW]

thanks CG - I knew he had something to do with the alamo but only cursory knew why. Good to know I think.

[/QUOTE]

and the expedition down the colorado river led by major powell almost gave up when they lost the boat with most of the whiskey in it, breaching it on rocks in the rapids.

btw- hancock is famous for his signature on the declaration of independence. he wanted to make sure king george (the III, not the W) could plainly see it.

as for turns of phrase- i do that too. i guess i don't know how to use them in the common context, or i make them up.

like 'polishing a turd'.

Polishing a turd? Yes heard that one before. My mother probably. She's a total library of obsolete and obscure sayings.

If I might add....It is smart people who do this. Really, really smart people can know when to bring it down a notch or two and can do so flawlessly. I have a nephew who has a photographic memory and an IQ in the genius level and is not ADHD. He knows EVERYTHING and uses "age appropriate/inteligence appropriate phrases. In other words he can talk to anybody without making them feel stupid.

Me, I can't do that. If a good phrase comes to mind, I use it and get blank stares all the time. And then there are people who do it to me and I give them a blank stares. Hey, maybe it was you Glen!!

[QUOTE=rayray812]

perhaps they are distracted by productivity, task management, organization, etc..

and dont have time to wonder about all the dumb sh*t

[/QUOTE]

And perhaps they're distracted from throwing up from riding the roller coaster too much. As good a "perhaps" as any.

If something perturbed you, rayray, why not just say so? This came across to me as snarky w/ no reason for it. What's going on?

I'm kind of being cryptic and sarcastic with that fear and pain remark.

It is John Lennon

Why in the world are we all here?
Surely not to live in pain and fear.

I should have said 'Maybe we ARE all here just to live in pain and fear.'

AND, despite the depression that you see here often, despite the fact I may come off as sort of postal (which someone recently told me), I am a barrell of firecrackers to do crazy stimulating stuff with. :-)

And I'm NOT postal a'tall.

I'm a dad, husband, father and have a dog who owns me.

The people above, the dog above, and my friends never ever have to spend time wondering "Will Resistance help me out when I need it?"