Is the humble honeybee trying to tell us something?

[Mmori]

I'm not a beekeeper, but I've come across some articles about new scientific discoveries about different genetic differences in bees that really made me wonder about our own ADD personality, and our place in society.

If you search for "scout bees" on the web, you'll be able to read about how scientists have discovered that these types of bees have a different genetic makeup than their "worker" sisters.  They have found that these scout bees are wired for novelty seeking behavior (sounds familiar?).  What these bees do with this novelty seeking behavior is actually what allows their colonies to thrive.  You see, these insects will fly out of the beehive and scout the land within a 2 mile radius.  They use their pattern seeking skills to look for a new home for the hive, or for new sources of food, but not just any source of food, they find the sources of food that will provide the colony with the most resources for the least amount of energy spent.  Once they find this new source of food, they will bring that nectar back to the colony and "inform" them where it is located.  Then it goes back out to do some more scouting.

Now the similarities between these scouts' behavior and us ADDers is amazing!  But the similarities end when we start comparing the two societies: human society and bee society.  Bee society rewards these scout bees with honey, the fruit of the workers' labor.  Human society shames and punishes this same behavior in human scouts (ADDers).  Instead of sharing the fruit of the workers' labor, like the honeybees do, humans try to chemically and psychologically alter the scout behavior and turn them into workers, just like the majority of the population.

Again, I'm not a beekeeper or scientist or any expert whatsoever, but I do like to think deeply about some things.  What scares me when I read these things and I look back on my own life wasted trying to be worker instead of a scout is, what is going to happen to us as a society when all of us scouts are drugged into submission?  This is a serious question because we are not able to "scout" as God meant for us to do.  This means that society in general will get stagnant as it runs out of current resources.  What do you guys think about this?

[Bryan Hutchinson]

Excellent way to present this argument, Mmori. I agree that ADHD is not necessarily a 'bad' thing and it may actually be part of human nature, but there is a very strong counter to this belief because it doesn't work in today's world for modern needs (School, factory work etc). But that doesn't make it wrong.

[Mmori]

Thank you very much for your reply.  I totally agree that, unfortunately, our true natural state does not work well in modern settings such as school and work.  My whole life has been a testament to that.  I would eagerly start a new job, learn the basics, and suddenly start making suggestions and finding new ways to do things (the scout bee behavior).  Obviously, this behavior did not go well with managers that have adapted very well to a strict corporate structure.  Another job lost and another loss of self-esteem because it is hard to understand why you get rejected for behavior that is completely natural.

I guess I should add that in almost every job I've had, during the training and learning phase of the job, the add symptoms are barely visible.  It is when the routine and monotony start setting in that our add symptoms flare up.  If there are any jobs out there where we can be in constant "scout mode", please let me know, I haven't found any yet.  Even the creative jobs require some routine work nowadays.

[Liz♥]

I would think a job like a travel writer might be good.  You could travel to exciting new unexplored places and write articles about them.  You seem to be a good writer to me :)  Not sure on how to get a job like this but I know I would love one as I love to travel and see new things.

[Mmori]

That is such a great suggestion, thank you Liz!  I've always enjoyed writing but I never thought about turning it into a career.  Maybe it will be a good outlet for all the things I want to say, and with a life filled with frustrations, there is a lot to say!

[doug puryear]

i think that's fascinating, and that its good to be able to focus enough to function as a  scout or anything else.  i do feel sorry for the scout bees that are so novelty seeking and distracted by everything that they never make it back to the hive to share their information. we ADDers tend to be creative, and if we can focus enough to put our creativity into effect then we can be awesome.  and your point is great that we have to understand who we are, and what our particular gifts are.

thanks for the interesting post

doug

[Debbie Treadwell]

Having ADHD God gave it to people to make other laugh and at times for us to step back and laugh, Because I'am very creative and have five hobbies started now I just wish I can reimmber how to do them. Or set long enough to get one done. The Bible says people entertain angles unaware. That my Job I guess but it is am lonely world. People do not want to reach into our world I guess it might be like sticking your hand into a bee hive. Debbie

[doug puryear]

i hope people will laff but at of times they seem more frustrated with me.  it is good if i can remember to laff.   and to exercise.   and to spend time outdoors.  after learning strategies for coping that work, i need to actually do them