[Charles Marsh]

Ya' know, with having ADD it's not incrediably bad, but not as much great, but it's really humbling, and awesome. I mean, yeah, one can't focus, lose track of things, forget what you're doing and find yourself doing something else; much like reading a book; and I like to read books, but o'well books are not for me. I live on the broader range of life rather trying to appease the linear minded folks. I feel that ADD has an advantage for survial, and place where linear way of life lacks and that ADD can make up the deficit. I keep wondering is ADD really a bad thing? I mean, yeah, it's problemmatic for the linear view such as: schools, values, work, Standards, or anything that requires linear thinking really. Why isn't there a marriage between linear thinking and non-linear thinking (ADD thinking)? If the linear way of thinking can stop quantifing everything, put things in order, and stop labeling everything then we can find a way for the ADD brain to function to its full potential in this world. And maybe all those people in prison can be much better understood, because the vast majority of people in prison have ADHD. I also feel that ADHD/ADD isn't the problem so much that it's the thinking and labeling that continues to supress what does need to be supressed, but rather needs be understood, acknowledged, and accepted. I truely don't believe that ADD is a condition as much as it's a scarlet letter, a missrepresentation, a label. Well, anyways I just wanted to get that off my chest, and say what I feel. What are your thoughts?

[Perna]

I think anything that gets in the way of our own lives, by our own standards/measures is a "problem" for us :-)

The world can't change how it is, one learns to add and subtract before learning multiplication and division not because schools/teachers like to see us suffer but because it just kind of works that way.

It's not the thinking that is linear, it's the process itself; seeds sprout and grow "up" toward the light/sun. People do that also. If one is growing toward the light, getting distracted and going after rain or nutrients at the wrong time can cause problems. The phrase "everything in its season" comes to mind. Yes it's hot in summer but sudden snow is not the answer? Think of flowering trees budding in the Spring and a sudden frost that kills them so they don't fruit. No orange juice from Florida that year! LOL

It's fine to have a brain that has ADD. That's part of what helps make one the person they are. That's what one gets to struggle with, a "card" one has been dealt. Some people are born to rich families, some poor, some are orphaned or adopted or physically handicapped or have very flawed parents who don't nurture their child very well so the plant grows sickly. It doesn't matter what the condition one is that one struggles with, Living is the actual struggle itself, the recognizing of the condition(s) and working to be the best one can be in spite of those conditions. What happens "to" us is outside our control; we don't pick parents or conditions we grow up in but we do get to work with ourselves and how we respond to those conditions. We can figure out ways to tell others, "Hey, you're blocking my sun!" or, "Could I have a little of that water over here please?"

[Charles Marsh]

I love your reply very much! Wow! It was also interesting too, because after I ranted my thoughts I suddenly understood what I didn't see before. Your reply added more to the understanding, and it was very helpful to me, and on a personal level too. Thank you so much for giving me great insight. You're awesome.

Can I use your reply to put on my myspace page? I really loved what you said, and it was very herlpful for me, and I would love others to read your words too, because it'll be helpful for them too.

[justasmallpiece]

Interesting thought and true, but those with ADD/ADHD express themselves inappropriately when not repressed either. They are impulsive by nature and will not wait to be repressed. Just a thought