h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's a really charming story. I hope he's going to be OK.

B

Perhaps he'l get his memory back only when he plays a certain tune on teh piano, might trigger his memory off he's my hero now.

I've been distressed about this poor man since reading about him this morning. He reminds me of an autistic savant. If he got separated from his carer, (ie something happened to the carer and he/she got carted off to hospital or he/she dropped dead) then if he is autistic, he'd be like a fish out of water (pardon the pun)

My son has a best friend who is autistic - he can speak but he just copies others speech, it's not *his* speech. There are others at his school who can't speak, and one of them is a whizz at maths.

That sketch doesn't show the "inner workings" of the piano, and - if he's autistic - he wouldn't need to be an engineer (or whatever Orcus said) if his obsession is the piano then he will have studied it in great detail, and drawn it from memory because he loves it..

The man's language *is* music, the piano is his mouth. It's tragic that no-one knew what music he was playing, even though they heard the music, they didn't understand him.

He was probably turned over into care at an early age and never known a family. His family were probably told he would "never amount to much"
I won't sleep tonight worrying, this would happen to my son if WE were out and I dropped dead. He'd run away, distressed. No-one would report him missing, no-one would miss him.

GB, I hadn't seen the picture when I made that post, what I was trying to do was cast doubt on the accuracy of the reporting in a lighthearted way.

Anyone identified him yet? I had a look about but couldn't find anything. Let's hope they find his home or family.

Sorry to bring a note of cynicism to the conversation but why would our man have cut all the labels out of his clothes?

The report says:

"She said that the labels had been removed from every item of clothing the man was wearing when he was found on The Broadway in Minster, Sheerness."

That sounds like bad reporting to me. The implication is that he had labels with his name on them on all his clothes, and that he had removed them. Who except schoolchildren have name labels on their clothes? If he had removed all the manufacturer's labels from the clothes (perhaps for comfort sake) it would hardly be worth commenting on, would it? More likely, she said "He doesn't have any labels on his clothes giving his name".

50p on him turning out to be an attempted illegal immigrant.

The country needs pianists

I wasn't accusing you of anything, Orcus.



It's hard to keep up an act 24/7, and he's been at that centre for 5/7 weeks.

p.s. I have had to cut manufacturer's labels out of Andrew's clothes (only his schoolwear has name labels, not touching his skin) he is hyper-sensitive to touch, and labels are very scratchy.

Is there anyone else who knows anything about autism onsite? I really wish I could talk to someone who knows what I'm talking about.

50p? I'll take that bet, WanderingAlbatross.

I think you're right, GB. The report in the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1484698,00.html

says that "he appeared terrified of any new face, sometimes rolling himself into a ball and edging into a corner". I don't know much about autism, but that sounds like one of the symptoms to me.

I've probably got my terminology wrong, too. I don't think you talk about "symptoms" of autism, as if it were a disease. Sorry.

Your on GB

It's ok Gnomon. I saw last night on the news the worker assigned to him said he was getting more comfortable (with him) as he was getting used to him.

You should see how my son reacts to strangers. It took him 2 years to speak to his escort and driver for the journeys to school and home again. But once he spoke to them, he never shut up.

Autistics depend on routine so much, it's their life. Throw that routine and it's a train wreck.

My nephew has aspergers, which isn't really autism, but has some similar traits. I certainly recognise the need for strict routine, and a total absorbtion into a single thing - in this case music.

I wouldn't be at all suprised if he had to have the labels removed from his clothes.

I too was thinking along the same lines GB. It is an intriguing story. Look out for the TV movie..."Has anybody lost a pianist?"

Aspergers IS in the autistic spectrum psycho chicken. My nephew also has this. He hates any labels in his clothes and my sister has to cut them out before he puts them on.

I'll be watching this story 'til its conclusion.

<>

One of Our Pianists is Missing would be a better title.

Or even "Has anybody seen my Pianist?"

Oh...on a roll here..."Whoops! There goes my Pianist!"

and one for the kiddies..."One of our Pianists is missing"

(getting )

oooh - spooky simulpost there!

Its just a shame that Peter Ustinov won't be around to reprise his role from One of Our Dinosaurs...