Poem: "Frob, Twiddle, and Tweak"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is today's freebie, inspired by redsixwing. It also fills the "vindication" square in my 8-1-16 card for the Survival Bingo fest. It belongs to the series An Army of One.


"Frob, Twiddle, and Tweak"


"I love the society you people
are building," Darmid said as he
watched a bucket chain forming
to unload the supply ship, with
a very synchronized pattern
developing within minutes as
the workers copied each other.

"It's just frob, twiddle, and tweak,"
said Crank. "First you move things around
to see what they do. Then you guess at settings
for each of the parts. Then you fine-tune them
in relation to each other. I was surprised to find
how well mechanical concepts can apply to
social sciences, but I guess I just needed
to meet the right group of people."

"I'm impressed by how much you have
already accomplished here," said Darmid.
It makes me so excited for my son's future!
I've known plenty of social scientists and
mechanics, but none of them think
outside the box the way you do."

"Maybe it's just because we put
extra handles on our thought patterns,"
he said, flipping the frobs on his necklace
up and down. "I move this thing, and
my brain changes gears."

"Now I want one of those," Darmid said.

* * *

Notes:

Here's a basic description of "frob." I've always used this set of definitions:
Frob -- to move the parts or controls of an unfamiliar device very broadly to identify their functions/range.
Twiddle -- to move parts in smaller ways so as to estimate likely settings, usually one at a time.
Tweak -- to make fine adjustments in the settings, usually in relation to each other, to derive a final configuration.

Fidgeting is any pleasant, repetitive motions. It improves concentration, memory, and creativity especially for neurovariant people.

Stimming is an important part of neurovariant thought, identity, and culture. Unfortunately neurotypical people often disapprove and suppress stimming, sometimes to the point of abuse, even though neurotypical people do it too. Here are tips on how to stim.

Stim jewelry is designed to facilitate safe, effective fidgeting. There's even a blog for it. This chewable gem necklace has one or more silicone prisms to manipulate. Crank has this version.

Comments

[chanter1944]

Re: fidgeting and creativity/concentration: OOOOOHHH that explains so much! Rocking chairs and swings are creativity-enhancing catnip to this lady here, and now I understand at least part of why. :)

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Re: fidgeting and creativity/concentration: OOOOOHHH that explains so much! <<

I'm glad I could help. :D

>> Rocking chairs and swings are creativity-enhancing catnip to this lady here, and now I understand at least part of why. :) <<

Those are in the category of vestibular stimulation along with spinning, bouncing, and walking. People need this to keep their balance in good working order. Without such input, they tend to develop neurological problems.

Re: Yes...

[chanter1944]

I know there's some sort of correlation between my particular disability (blindness) and rocking (and, to a lesser extent, spinning), but I've never been brave enough to research it. Part of me worries I'll run up against a whole lot of able-normative negative reactions, and those aren't likely to pop up around here. Not in a space that's openly acknowledged stimming as both valid and necessary. :)

Re: Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yes, people are shitty about it. Some will bitch. Ignore them. It's your body, use it and maintain it as you please.

But the connection is simple:

Humans typically use vision to coordinate their motion, like a robot with a camera-based tilt sensor. They also have a liquid-based tilt sensor inside their ears. It's why they get seasick if the boat and horizon send different signals, and why a stack of acrobats will fall over if you turn off the light.

Blind people have less of that visual input, or none at all, depending on degree of impairment. (Some deaf people lack the ear version.) This can make balancing more difficult for them. But, brains are plastic! :D Blind people learn to orient by touch. The vestibular system is part of the many senses we lump together as touch. It tells you how your body is moving.

When you rock, spin, or otherwise move around then you are practicing how to use your vestibular sense to maintain a local vertical in relation to the wall called "floor." You're just using a different skillset to do it than some other people do. It is a valuable activity.

There are many tools for this. Among the most useful is a yoga ball or balance chair. However, a plain old rocker is good too.

Re: Yes...

[chanter1944]

Hmmmm. This may sound strange and unscientific, but for me, walking or bouncing doesn't seem to have the same effect that rocking and, to a much lesser extent, spinning does. Walking is nice on its own, don't get me wrong, but rocking especially seems to meet some sort of need I can't articulate that's greater than sensory/spatial orientation practice alone would indicate.

When I have room for one, I am metaphorically pouncing on a sturdy, well-made rocking chair of my own. :)

Re: Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Hmmmm. This may sound strange and unscientific, but for me, walking or bouncing doesn't seem to have the same effect that rocking and, to a much lesser extent, spinning does.<<

Not really. People have different responses to things based on their own needs. If rocking is what works best for you, then do that.

>> Walking is nice on its own, don't get me wrong, but rocking especially seems to meet some sort of need I can't articulate that's greater than sensory/spatial orientation practice alone would indicate. <<

Rocking also relates to comfort because it soothes babies. Many adults continue to find it relaxing.

>> When I have room for one, I am metaphorically pouncing on a sturdy, well-made rocking chair of my own. :) <<

Good idea! We have an Amish-style glide rocker.

Re: Yes...

[chanter1944]

Hmmmm again. It isn't a relaxation thing for me, but it's definitely a creativity aid. I wonder if I should just chalk this one up to being something integral to my wetwear and leave it at that.

Re: Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Some people find rocking to enhance thought or creativity. That's another reason for office chairs that rock, or ball chairs.

Me, I find walking better for creativity. It varies.