edit: an explainer as I can see how this sounds insensitive without context (note that I am not Japanese, this is only from what I have come to understand as an outsider looking in)
Japanese folklore, as Shinto, puts forth the idea that inanimate objects can have (or develop?) their own (personified) spirits. This has carried over to modern behaviour and beliefs, where personification of objects is quite common.
Even if most Japanese don’t identify as being of Shinto faith/spirituality, and probably don’t believe that random inanimate object X has a living spirit within it, items are often treated with great care as though they were to have a spirit. (theory time: maybe this plays a part in why you can often find used items in such good condition in Japan…)
Oh I agree there’s probably no relation. Reading this I just found the overlap between autistic tendencies and Japanese cultural tendencies to be interesting, not indicative of anything else.
I’ve noticed a lot of things that are considered autistic in the states specifically may be normal practice in various cultures, having worked with people in Germany, and from a large swath of Asia.
It interests me a bit, but I think the takeaway is that autism tends to manifest in a number of quirks, and the ones that don’t align with the current culture the autistic person is in are the ones that are paid attention to. That and there tends to be a bit more obsession over said quirks than in those cultures, sometimes to the detriment of the autistic person or their social life.
Wait, other people don’t do that? Well, that explains a lot… Since I was a kid, I never understood how people treated their stuff so badly and throw stuff away without a second thought. I take care of my stuff for as long as I can, and almost never throw anything away. They’re like companions who walk with me in my life, and I’m never giving up on an old friend.
I don’t think that’s exactly the same situation though. Your comment reads as utilitarian, is that your reasoning for it? The object personification lends to an association of empathy for the object itself. Meaning that maybe the object is a human too and acts as we do
No it’s definitely empathy. I feel bad for the object if it’s been discarded before it’s time (and even when it is time sometimes if it’s something I’ve had for a while)
Sometimes objects im using have like, a personality and desire? Like they won’t want to get thrown out or there’s some kind of relationship between two forks.
Its kind of subconscious - I’m only somewhat aware of it. Its weird.
Also when in recalling things Ive learned recently I’ll sometimes recall a place I’ve been to as well. This happens most frequently with code for some reason. Programs I’ve written or functions will be strongly tied to places in some way? I don’t get it.
Thats probably just an accidental association/linking by your brain. When we learn new things our brain creates neural pathways and these become ‘memory’. If there is something that you learn and at the same time it happened to be when you moved to a new house, were on holiday at a different place or perhaps when you met a new person, your brain may go 'you learned this new thing and that place/person/smell/emotion was also there so i will ‘save this’ together as part of the same memory.
Its like playing a game from your childhood reminding you of the music you were listening to at the time you played it, or a skill you learned reminding you of that awesome dinner you grandma cooked because she was staying with your family at the time.
Also when there is strong emotion involved with a memory (excitement, sadness, anger, the first time you kissed someone, etc) then you brain says ‘this is very important’ and you remember a lot more detail, like the smell of someones perfume and the red car that was parked on the street.
Let me sum up the concept for you. People who are on the spectrum see the entire world around them as alive. Many often feel a connection to much of their environment. Now as to how the paper see’s that ether a positive or a negative I couldn’t say because I certainly don’t care.
You can feel about it however you want but I see it the way I see it. My son who also has the tisms see’s it much the same way I do. We are all different and I know people who don’t have that connection at all who are also autistic. If you don’t have that feeling you wont get it.
I don’t have it as much as I used to but I can be in a place and feel a deep connection to things. Objects I’ve had for a long time that get broken will cause me grief. More so for people and pets but there is always that feeling with things in my environment. I would say it all in my head buy several times in my life wild animals have just came up to me like I was familiar to them. Crows especially will interact with me from time to time. Rarely do I encounter a dog or cat that doesn’t immediately like me.
the paper is almost definitely going to be sad given the fact that people can’t read it, since it’s behind a pay wall.
and just for the record in case you don’t know what a shitpost is, it’s often a half joking statement, not intended to make an incredibly serious point.
I personified numbers all the time, 8 and 9 were based off of Smithers and Burns, 4 and 7 were female 4 was more the girl next door, and 7 was more the “Good bad girl”
Scientific papers are often titled “What it’s actually about: something witty.” This one is about object personification and so after the colon they personify the paper itself by giving it an emotion.
Same for me except my number genders are different. 1,3,5,6,9 are male and 2,4,7,8 are female. 0 is still nb. I’d have to really think about the letters since they are more nuanced. Numbers definitely have hard gender though.
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