Do you think that people with autism don't have emotions? I'm trying to understand your comment but I'm having a hard time coming up with a generous interpretation.
Just to clarify, here's a little more detail about what he's like during a friendly debate (usually with family members):
- He doesn't lose track of the underlying logic, despite any emotionalism that the other party might be exhibiting.
- He doesn't get flustered nearly as quickly as most of his opponents.
- He has more endurance for the debate than most of his opponents do. Usually he's willing to keep on banging away at the argument long after his opponent has lost the will to debate. (No idea if this is a common trait for people with Asperger syndrome, or just something unique to him as an individual.)
Also, I think there are two versions of "flat" speech in this context:
(1) Simply not getting worked up to the same extent as the other person in the debate, like I describe above. I imagine this is what the ancestor comment was referring to.
(2) Speaking with abnormally small variations in tone, volume, and cadence. I.e., what some people refer to "robotic" speech. I think some people associate this with Asperger syndrome.
Interestingly, although my son is shows more telltale Asperger signs than I do, I'm more prone to "flat" speech. Especially when I'm tired, and doubly so if I'm on Adderall.
