communication and relationships: is this a bad title for a dating guide or a post on Autism? You decide.

ever been at a dinner/party/social gathering and realize you have absolutely NOTHING to add to the conversation you have somehow walked into?

You feel trapped, you feel silly... perhaps you reach for a drink, perhaps you try to tiptoe away without being noticed or perhaps you just run to the fire escape (yes, i live in a city)

ever wonder what it would be like if you had no langauge abilities at all? How does that effect your social development as you grow.

here's an interesting look at just that http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5503688&ps=rs

people with Autism not only have " problems understanding an action like reaching for a peanut," he says, "but also a metaphor like reaching for the stars."

How does language play a role in our everyday social interactions? it might be an interesting excercise to spend tomorrow taking everything people say to you literally and devoid of emotional context. how much harder it would be to communicate! How much more effort would need to be exerted and how frustrating it might become!