Spin-Off: Mentally Unstable People with Advanced Degrees

[carnation]

Having several students with Asperger's, I recently read a great book about the condition that was written by a woman who has it. She felt that many academics had it and I believe this was confirmed by other people involved in writing the book.

We've had several really odd people on the faculties of colleges where I've taught and they were probably affected. Of course, Asperger's isn't a form of mental illness per se but if a victim is odd enough, it could certainly look like it.

BTW, has anyone mentioned serial murderer Ted Bundy? He had a JD.

[Tippiechick]

Ooooh, I know one...

Yes, I would say bipolar is a mental illness that makes people unstable.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by carnation

Having several students with Asperger's, I recently read a great book about the condition that was written by a woman who has it. She felt that many academics had it and I believe this was confirmed by other people involved in writing the book.

We've had several really odd people on the faculties of colleges where I've taught and they were probably affected. Of course, Asperger's isn't a form of mental illness per se but if a victim is odd enough, it could certainly look like it.

BTW, has anyone mentioned serial murderer Ted Bundy? He had a JD.

You hit the nail on the head. My brother's nephew has Aspergers and is highly functional. He received an Associates Degree in computers where he can concentrate (ok, more like obsess) over something that would drive someone else crazy. He can write a paper on anything you ask him, but if you want him to communicate orally he sounds like Rainman!


For years, I worked with a guy who was a Fulbright Scholar and never could quite figure him out. Highly intelligent, but socially awkward and speaks in a monotone voice. One day, we had someone come to speak at a Brown Bag Lunch on Autism and I brought up the quirky things that my brother's nephew does. Then it dawned on me. My co-worker has Aspergers.