On Human Emotion

It may seem like a breach of privacy between a couple to post something like this, but I honestly think it sheds light on a point of view that may be common to Aspies. Early on Scott gave me his permission to write anything about him from my perspective. I've received emails from people who feel helped by the posts concerning my take on Scott's outlook. Both Scott and I agree that if a post alleviates someone's pain or provides a path to understanding, it's worth the slight discomfort it may cause the two of us.

This one gives some insight into Scott's opinion on the utility of human emotion. He emailed me the following after he read the posts I've written about him on this blog:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Bryan" 

To: "Allyn Bryan" 

Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 12:01 AM

Subject: a thought after reading all your blogs about me.

> my emotional pool is as broad as an ocean, but nowhere deep enough to drown even a cat.


>>> On Sep 7, 2009, at 6:37 AM, Allyn Bryan wrote:
>>>
>>>> Good visual...is that how you really feel or is it how it feels to you after reading my perspective?
>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone


----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Scott Bryan" 
>> To: "Allyn Bryan"
>> Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 7:58 AM
>> Subject: Re: a thought after reading all your blogs about me.
>>
>>> The latter.  But maybe the former too.  I don't think about emotions much because they seem so artificial. An ancient technology for providing guidance before an internal model of reality can be developed to replace them with genuine understanding. Emotions are always plan B.


>> On Sep 7, 2009, at 8:10 AM, Allyn Bryan wrote:
>>
>> When you say it like that, I can understand your perspective clearly. I think that's the best summary ever. It explains so much about how you and the world interact. When the knee-jerk reaction from 95% of skinware (people) is to use emotion and or intuition as plan A, you diligently discount its utility and replace their flawed perspective with sound logic and reality that takes into account the broadest, long-term perspective. They resist...they resist...as you continue to add building blocks to create a foundation of understanding for even the most emotionally-based human. It's a big job you have in this life...


Even if you say you don't think about emotions much, you certainly feel deeply about things....is there something else to call that feeling?

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Scott Bryan"
> To: "Allyn Bryan"
> Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 8:14 AM
> Subject: Re: a thought after reading all your blogs about me.
>
>> Aw shucks...I do miss you.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Allyn Bryan" 

To: "Scott Bryan" 

Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 8:15 AM

Subject: Re: a thought after reading all your blogs about me.

>

> That's sweet, and made me laugh...


Is it just me, or did that exchange evolve into what amounts to a "romantic" email? You wouldn't expect that when his opener evokes the image of a drowning cat. (I've got more questions about that analogy. It's as though if he did get hit by something like a "deep emotion," it would definitely need to be held underwater until it expired.)

I've been on the mainland for quite a stretch now, with infrequent and/or brief visits to the island...I think he noticed. No worries, soon I'll be a full-time islander.