RE: My Actifit Report Card: March 22 2022

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Hi @galenkp, I think you and I don't always see eye to eye, which is fine because, in my opinion, differences are what make the world a stronger place. Regardless, you seem like a person with integrity. On the one hand, I do understand what you did here and why. You explained it, and, anyhow, it was obvious.

However, I feel that you might have missed a dimension of the situation, and maybe you didn't. In case you did, though, I thought I would point it out from my perspective.

@xplosive has mentioned on several occasions that he is on the autistic spectrum, so I don't think that is a secret. Do you know much about that spectrum of conditions? I ask because I have both training and experience with this. I had a friend who had Asperger's syndrome, for example (which is no longer called Asperger's because psychiatry loves to change things).

On the one hand, my friend was highly intelligent. He had a Masters in Statistics. His vocabulary exceeded mine (and mine is reasonable). He remembered literally everything. So, no one can accuse him of stupidity. However, my friend was socially extremely unintelligent, and it was absolutely not his fault. I am not saying this is who @xplosive is. I am saying that if you are on the spectrum, being socially appropriate and noticing and accepting social cues is extremely challenging.

For me, university physics is extremely challenging. I really have difficulty understanding it. I took some courses in it, and I am pretty sure the Prof thought I was an idiot. However, I tried because I was interested in learning and expanding my horizons.

I think it is laudable that @xplosive makes such an effort in a medium (social media) that cannot possibly be his element because it is not the element of anyone on the spectrum. It is, I believe, easier than face to face interaction, but still.

I think it is good that you took time out of your life to explain the problem. There was probably a shock value to removing the rewards for this post even if it does seem very mean-spirited. Maybe it is a sort of "tough love" that will have value in the long run. You have probably noticed that I am soft hearted and such gestures are not in my nature. It is probably good that you were so blunt.

Nonetheless, I think it is also important that there is room on the blockchain for diversity. We have room on the blockchain for people stating their beliefs, some of which we disagree with. I think it is great that you pinpointed the exact things that are causing @xplosive problems. I hope it will help. I hope you remove the downvote because I think the message was received. That is just my opinion.

Either way, I think it was counteracted by others. I just wanted to offer a perspective because I think it is easy to judge.

I found it remarkably easy to get annoyed by my friend who had Asperger's. I got irritated with him constantly. I had to remind myself that he did not decide to repeat himself. He did not decide not to understand my facial expressions or my sarcasm. At last, I just was brutally honest with him. If he made me mad, I said, "You are making me mad." That seemed to work well.

My friend's girlfriend was not so understanding. She was constantly furious at him for reasons that would be obvious to anyone. Except him. I had to explain it to him. When I explained it, I had to prove it using examples he provided to me. If you have not had a friend who is on the spectrum, it is hard to understand. Repetition, frustration, and a bit of obsession -- these are part of the territory. If you really can't handle that, wouldn't it be kinder to mute @xplosive than to downvote?

I get that you might think he has a negative impact on the blockchain, but there are positive and negative things on Hive. @xplosive is not even in the ballpark of the most negative things, and I think we would all do better to just focus on the positive.

That being said, maybe this downvote (which I still hope you will remove) did help @xplosive to understand how to fine tune his posts so as not to irritate people. I think many of us, like @savvyplayer, tend to read "around" the negativity and repetition. If @xplosive can edit those out, it would definitely improve his writing. If he can take your suggestion to write on new and different topics, that is a good idea also.

I notice @xplosive's post about amateur radio last week, for example, was very successful.

Wishing you the best regardless of your decision,

Harlow



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Wow. Thank you so much for writing such a long, meaningful and understanding comment.

I think it is laudable that @xplosive makes such an effort in a medium (social media) that cannot possibly be his element because it is not the element of anyone on the spectrum. It is, I believe, easier than face to face interaction, but still.

And English is not even my mother tongue. My mother tongue is Hungarian, which is very far from English, but I still try to do my best.

I improved in face-to-face communications over the years. Nowadays it is not as hard as it was for example 10 years ago. I feel like that I do not even have difficulties, but I still notice that my communication is different from the communication of the most of the people.

Repetition, frustration, and a bit of obsession -- these are part of the territory.

You are right about this. At least in my case. And once I also had dysthimia, which is a chronic form of depression. But I am indeed trying to improve, and be better.

I think many of us, like @savvyplayer, tend to read "around" the negativity and repetition. If @xplosive can edit those out, it would definitely improve his writing. If he can take your suggestion to write on new and different topics, that is a good idea also.

Usually there is one repetition I intentionally do, which is the greetings part at the end of my posts/comments. I also noticed similar repetitions from other users, but of course I am trying to improve my writing, and I am trying not to be repetitive, nor negative.

I notice @xplosive's post about amateur radio last week, for example, was very successful.

Speaking of amateur radio, recently I reached 70 subscribers on my (HA5KZO) YouTube channel. I uploaded 85 videos so far since 2012.04.19 (in the previous almost 10 years), so I have not uploaded videos regularly, but maybe I will in the future.

Thank you so much again for taking the time and the effort to write down this comment.

!PIZZA.
!LUV.

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(Edited)

Thank you. To be clear, the repetition at the end of your comments is pleasant in my opinion. It is when you mention multiple disabilities, being low income, and being on the brink of homelessness that it appears negative. Despite being true and quite desperate, it gets repetitive and negative.

I struggle with similar things. For example, I am severely depressed and hormonal much of the time. I do mention these things quite frequently, but I try to balance this with other things. What I mean is that I might write an essay about the experience I am going through, and there may even be a week or two where it is all quite bleak.

However, I try to notice that and think, "What else could I write that people might be interested in?" I think the latter question is more challenging if you are on the spectrum because considering what might be of interest to others tends to be a challenge for some.

Maybe you have opinions or ideas about world events or local happenings. Those can make good essays. I find the ecoTrain question of the week thought provoking. Even if it is the wrong week, you can use the topic as an idea for a post.

I hope that is a little helpful. I can see that you struggle. I think many others see it also.

!PIZZA

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My downvotes (or upvotes) are cast on the content, nothing more.

I have known for a long time about this users situation, and spoke at length to someone (who used to support him) before casting my downvote in a bid to arrest his self-caused backslide into oblivion.

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Well, fair enough, @galenkp . I don't know your history with @xplosive. Judging all written work solely on its own merit is certainly a criterion no one can fault you for. I think you used your downvote for shock value to help @xplosive improve.

Ultimately, if that happens, that will lead to a profound increase in income for @xplosive and may be life-changing. I am not blind to the fact that kindness comes wrapped in many guises.

I hope @xplosive takes some of the advice here because I think it truly can lead to a real improvement in his life.

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