BBC 2 now - Chris Packham: Asperger's and Me

[MyBrilliantDisguise]

Anyone watching?

It's old but well worth a listen. We download old ones and listen to them on car journeys 😂

Very interesting. Now I understand why DS’s ideal job is a park ranger far from society.

TBH it made me feel sorry for the women around him who support and love him.

His sister because she was manipulated and obviously cared more for him than he for her (at least in a demonstrative way)

His girlfriend and stepdaughter because they can’t rely on him to go to normal social events with them.

Which means I’m actually feeling sorry for myself because that is my life with DS

I hoped he would somehow manage to go to his step daughters graduation, sometimes everyone has to go outside of their comfort zone for the people they love.

I don't agree. Chris operates outside of his comfort zone all the time, fair play to him that he manages that. But expectations of him attending social events are unfair. He needs to be able to say no.

I hoped he would somehow manage to go to his step daughters graduation, sometimes everyone has to go outside of their comfort zone for the people they love.

I think he's already outside his comfort zone most of the time and knows just how far he can push himself. He briefly mentioned past instances of "going off on one" and behaving badly.
Although its sad for his step daughter that he can't attend her graduation, it would be much worse for her if he went and ended up having a full scale meltdown.

Exactly and people who have aspergers should be supported say no to social invites not made to 'step Outside their comfort zone' to attend. And I imagine it's far more stressful than just being outside a comfortable zone.
His stepdaughter I am sure was under no illusions that he would attend it was for the benefit of the cameras

glad I watched this. CP was very good, kudos to him for being able to use his asd to have the carreer he has.

unforch, my DC is limited verbal physically unable, no awareness of many things. will never be able to manage in society, never has.

interesting thing tha American guy in the car said, something like 'society wants to change/cure the person, but not willing to change societys attitudes''. something along those lines.

the aba was awful to see, that poor little girl was so distressed. thats how my DC gets.

2014newme spot on. exactly.

I thought it was very good in that it showed that it’s often people you would have no idea about that have ASD.
People are very aware nowadays about autism

But they have the image of the extreme savant rain man or the non verbal autistic and so often disbelieve that someone could have a successful career etc and still have autism.
This documentary should hopefully show employers that actuall autistic people can and do have a lot to offer.

BrieAndChilli if you didn't know Chris had ASD would you think he was "normal"? Just wondering because I always found him unusual and interesting. He seemed different, not in a bad way, but I couldn't quite put my finger on why.
He said in the documentary that most people find him a bit odd.

It was a fascinating watch. And like looking inside my own head. DH watched it before me and he kept calling out “Oh my God, that’s exactly what you do!” every few minutes.

I watched this last night. I'd never seen CP in anything but having been diagnosed with aspergers myself this year, I wanted to see it. Thought it was very well done. And yes, definitely good to see that there are people out there who do function in society. I've been thought of as weird and I know some people don't get me and I've been laughed at for my obsessions but I am who I am and if others don't like it then that's their tough shit tbh.

However, only 2 friends know about it and DH. No one else in my family knows and I can't bring myself to tell anyone else for fear of not being taken seriously. My manager also knows and I put it on my college form.

I've always liked CP since the really wild show and agree he always seemed a bit different. I hugely admire him for making this programme, it really laid open all his fears etc. Really brave of him to do it and hopefully helps remove some of the negative stereotypes associated with ASD

I’ve loved CP for a long time, and always knew he was very unusual. No surprise to me that he has AS. I could’ve told you that 10-15 years ago, watching him on TV. I’m only surprised He didn’t get the diagnosis till he was 40.

I thought is very interesting what his sister said about him being manipulative.

I thought he was very unfair on ABA, yes the American school was awful and was difficult watching, but there is lots of good ABA in the UK, as lots of MN’ers will testify.

and I didn’t think his betraying it, as another poster said, as the 60s awfulness, was unfair.

I’m not sure I want a ‘cure’ either. But help? Now, that’s different.

He says his answer is to live in the woods on his own. Really? Best solution? Or just, needs must?

I thought he was too flippant and blase about his step-daughters graduation. I didn’t like that.

Enjoyed the programme though.

I don't think he was flippant. I think he has a good, jokey relationship wth her. I think she understands

Even if she understands it will still hurt, agree I didn't like how he brushed it off and dismissed it as a 'piece of paper.'

He was joking! He jokes a lot

It was an excellent programme. I think CP is incredibly lucky in that he can do a job he loves, can live as he chooses, he has people who love and accept him. As he said, and this is a shocking statistic, that 14% of people on the spectrum work. Also, I know from following him and other conservationist on Twitter, that certain groups who disagree with his conservation work, have used his openness about his autism to ridicule and personally attack him.

How does he cope with all the people when he's working or travelling? Who looks after the dog when he's away?

Watched this on iPlayer this afternoon. What a brilliant insight into his world - think I’m just a little smitten with him. I work with a chap who is quite ‘different’ from the rest of us after watching CPs programme a lot of things make sense about the way he behaves. Thank you Chris for the insight and thank you for the talents it gives you and that you bring to the world.

I thought it was very good too, my ex has Asperger's and I recognised a lot of similar traits, he is also very manipulative too . I think maybe the manipulation is a side effect of a difficulty in asking iyswim. My ex had great problems with simply asking anyone for anything, so would (very unsubtly) try to manipulate to get what he wanted.

I really liked this programme. I actually think the end bit with Megs was to show there is one person he actually does listen to! She knows he doesn’t want to go to her graduation and she knows this is one event he might actually turn up to. They clearly have a very good relationship.

I found it very interesting and I'm really glad he made the programme. My father has (undiagnosed) Asperger's, I have many of the traits and my son was diagnosed 6 years ago. A lot of what CP said really resonated with me.

I watched it and found it very interesting. I had no idea he was autistic and I’ve always liked him on TV - I remember him from
My younger years on The Really Wild Show. I thought he was cool because of his pinky hair.

Watched this this morning on catch up and he made me cry! Someone I'm very fond of has Aspergers and I recognised so much stuff. Just hearing Chris describe it all though reenforces how difficult it must be for my friend. I do think we would have a better relationship if it wasn't for their aspergers.

I have thought for a long time that I may be very slightly on the spectrum. Stuff like unless someone asks me a direct question I don't realise that they're expecting a response. So if someone says "I'm not sure this dress suits me".....I will look up, make my opinion in my mind but not say anything. If someone asks "does this dress suit me" I realise a response is needed.

I'm much better now I've realised the subtleties of such conversations and I have trained myself to think very carefully when someone says something what response they expect from me. So I'm better at small talk now but it's exhausting. It also took me 35 years to get to this point so seriously affected friendships, etc at school, uni, work. Still does I guess. It doesn't come naturally to me and I do tend to switch off after a while, won't go on nights out, don't really have any friends.