Hit Man

[amity_blu]

'can you be who you think you are, described and understood, in a language you don't speak?' - Imp

I don't understand the question. What do you mean by a 'language you don't speak'?

when you tell yourself (or anyone else) who you think you are, you do so in language you understand.

you are limited to the extent of said language

if you understand more than one language, are you who you are in language A as well as who you are in language B?

the meanings may overlap, but they are not identical- same is true for the audiences

you may be who you think you are (and described and communicated as such) in English or French, but maybe not in Mandarin...

-Imp

We can be who we think (or know) we are in any context or circumstance. We can be whoever others want us to be. Or whatever description fits the purpose of the communication. Especially, online.

It is more difficult to fit into the skin or role of another in real-life. It is not only language that limits how we project or present to an 'audience'.

I can imagine Gary being or acting out various selves in any language. A specific audience would see and hear what they expect to.

As a philosophy or psychology professor teaching students or speaking at a conference, he would use the language and concepts of that field. If there is a chance of misunderstanding, then he might simplify. He is unlikely to describe himself as an undercover cop and killer. Parts of our self are not always revealed. We can even fool ourselves if we adopt the role of victim.

Interesting to discover that the film is based on a true story. Gary existed in real life.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamerc ... y-johnson/

When we learn a foreign language, we first describe ourselves in basic biographical terms. Fairly easy to be that single dimension figure. Meaning can be checked by questions. Then we might get to the point where we not only speak the language but think and dream in it. That might result from full immersion in a foreign culture. Multi-dimensional.

If you stay in Italy long enough, do you become Italian?

[Impenitent]

'can you be who you think you are, described and understood, in a language you don't speak?' - Imp

I don't understand the question. What do you mean by a 'language you don't speak'?

when you tell yourself (or anyone else) who you think you are, you do so in language you understand.

you are limited to the extent of said language

if you understand more than one language, are you who you are in language A as well as who you are in language B?

the meanings may overlap, but they are not identical- same is true for the audiences

you may be who you think you are (and described and communicated as such) in English or French, but maybe not in Mandarin...

-Imp

We can be who we think (or know) we are in any context or circumstance. We can be whoever others want us to be. Or whatever description fits the purpose of the communication. Especially, online.

It is more difficult to fit into the skin or role of another in real-life. It is not only language that limits how we project or present to an 'audience'.

I can imagine Gary being or acting out various selves in any language. A specific audience would see and hear what they expect to.

As a philosophy or psychology professor teaching students or speaking at a conference, he would use the language and concepts of that field. If there is a chance of misunderstanding, then he might simplify. He is unlikely to describe himself as an undercover cop and killer. Parts of our self are not always revealed. We can even fool ourselves if we adopt the role of victim.

Interesting to discover that the film is based on a true story. Gary existed in real life.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamerc ... y-johnson/

When we learn a foreign language, we first describe ourselves in basic biographical terms. Fairly easy to be that single dimension figure. Meaning can be checked by questions. Then we might get to the point where we not only speak the language but think and dream in it. That might result from full immersion in a foreign culture. Multi-dimensional.

If you stay in Italy long enough, do you become Italian?

another rub...

you may identify as Italian, but do the Italians accept you as one of theirs?

which makes it so?

-Imp

[amity_blu]

you may identify as Italian, but do the Italians accept you as one of theirs?

which makes it so?

People can identify as Italian across a wide spectrum of backgrounds. No matter the social construct of race or ethnicity. What makes an Italian an Italian? Is it the sharing of culture, history and language alone - or does it matter which part of Italy you live in. How people differ in their attitudes to incomers or strangers...their perspective or values of friendship or open hostility.

Is it helpful or harmful to generalise about the entire population of Italy? Of America. Of any country?
Labels categorising people into demographics - is this what the 'algorithmic self' is about? [*]
How change evolves or is manipulated according to how we are played, or play the game of "Who am I?".
Our identities shaped by AI...or is it a loop...

[*] Another read. https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/too-m ... thmic-self
I'm intrigued by the authors promotion of their model, the concept of 'identity algorithm'.

[Belinda]

you may identify as Italian, but do the Italians accept you as one of theirs?

which makes it so?

People can identify as Italian across a wide spectrum of backgrounds. No matter the social construct of race or ethnicity. What makes an Italian an Italian? Is it the sharing of culture, history and language alone - or does it matter which part of Italy you live in. How people differ in their attitudes to incomers or strangers...their perspective or values of friendship or open hostility.

Is it helpful or harmful to generalise about the entire population of Italy? Of America. Of any country?
Labels categorising people into demographics - is this what the 'algorithmic self' is about? [*]
How change evolves or is manipulated according to how we are played, or play the game of "Who am I?".
Our identities shaped by AI...or is it a loop...

[*] Another read. https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/too-m ... thmic-self
I'm intrigued by the authors promotion of their model, the concept of 'identity algorithm'.

I think it's helpful to generalise about influential ideas that are most apparent among specific demographics. Racism is not bad because we differentiate but because we do so based on lies and limited information. For example racism is when we claim that a black or a brown baby is less intelligent than a white baby.

The idea that desirable qualities append to certain inborn physical traits is mostly a false idea. There are exceptions ,such as certain conformation of the feet being necessary for being a ballet dancer, but moral, aesthetic, and mental traits are mostly cultural not biological.

[Impenitent]

categorizing people into groups to better identify them...

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/is-th ... m-epidemic

true, some are in the group for a social security check, but most are not...

some self identifications are better than others...

-Imp

[Walker]

Used to be less autism.
Used to be fewer prenatal sonograms.

Whales will beach themselves because of sonar.
Subwoofers can cause nausea.
Don’t underrate the frequencies.

[amity_blu]

categorizing people into groups to better identify them...

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/is-th ... m-epidemic

Excerpt:
Q: We sometimes hear the phrase “epidemic of autism.” How do you feel about that term?

A: When I hear the word epidemic, I think of a quick, immediate increase in many individuals who have a certain condition. We’re not seeing that with autism. What we are seeing is a gradual rise over the past 20 years due to broadened diagnostic definitions, better screening, and increased awareness.

There are still a large number of people in our community with autism, and our focus should be on getting them the services they need to lead healthy lives and reach their full potential.


Yes. It is important for people to understand and not misinterpret statistics of whatever category of people.

Difficult when there is a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms. Best diagnosis and treatment only come after careful assessment with continual evaluation. It's a process designed to improve wellbeing.

true, some are in the group for a social security check, but most are not...

agreed, some don't even know what support they can receive. It doesn't help when those seeking benefits are labelled as 'scroungers' and have to go through challenging interviews.

some self identifications are better than others...

yes, self-diagnosis depends on capacity, willingness, self-knowledge, confidence, support, resources.

Self-knowledge based on observing own life experiences and personal research via internet and support groups. Not always a good thing if misdiagnosis occurs. There's always the possibility of false perceptions and misinterpretation during informal exchanges.

https://embrace-autism.com/is-self-assessment-enough/

[Belinda]

I agree with you, amity_blu. I only would like to suggest that 'spectrum' is not such a useful image as ' array'. 'Spectrum ' is two dimensional whereas three dimensions fit better with diagnosis of autism

[amity_blu]

'spectrum' is not such a useful image as ' array'. 'Spectrum ' is two dimensional whereas three dimensions fit better with diagnosis of autism

Thanks, Belinda, for further thoughts.

If you envisage a 'spectrum' only as a single line going from left to right, from mild to severe, then, it is limited.

As you know, autism is multi-dimensional. It is generally recognised as a 'spectrum condition'. The symptoms, behaviour and and abilities of people with autism can vary widely. Some suggest the spectrum as being like a rainbow.

https://carelearning.org.uk/qualificati ... condition/

To me, 'array' sounds more poetic, less substantial. Is it 3-dimensional or more? It depends on context of use.
If it means: a wide selection, assortment or variety (of something), then it is synonymous with 'spectrum'.

https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/anoth ... ctrum.html
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/anoth ... array.html

What matters is that there is an awareness, knowledge, acknowledgement of people as individuals facing different sets of circumstances and challenges. They change. Care is personalised where resources are available and accessible.

Who they are and become - self-discovery - is influenced by their experience, interactions and interventions.
As it is for every self. Some need more help than others.

[Belinda]

'spectrum' is not such a useful image as ' array'. 'Spectrum ' is two dimensional whereas three dimensions fit better with diagnosis of autism

Thanks, Belinda, for further thoughts.

If you envisage a 'spectrum' only as a single line going from left to right, from mild to severe, then, it is limited.

As you know, autism is multi-dimensional. It is generally recognised as a 'spectrum condition'. The symptoms, behaviour and and abilities of people with autism can vary widely. Some suggest the spectrum as being like a rainbow.

https://carelearning.org.uk/qualificati ... condition/

To me, 'array' sounds more poetic, less substantial. Is it 3-dimensional or more? It depends on context of use.
If it means: a wide selection, assortment or variety (of something), then it is synonymous with 'spectrum'.

https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/anoth ... ctrum.html
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/anoth ... array.html

What matters is that there is an awareness, knowledge, acknowledgement of people as individuals facing different sets of circumstances and challenges. They change. Care is personalised where resources are available and accessible.

Who they are and become - self-discovery - is influenced by their experience, interactions and interventions.
As it is for every self. Some need more help than others.

I agree. However I claim that 'spectrum' and 'array' are images and that 'array' may be too poetic .
“a cluster of characteristics associated with autism”

“the autistic trait profile”

“a pattern of autistic features”

“the autism-related configuration of behaviours and sensitivities”

Are alternatives to 'array' that are not too poetic, but lack the linear quality of 'spectrum' which is more suited to degrees of severity than clusters of signs and symptoms.

[amity_blu]

Are alternatives to 'array' that are not too poetic, but lack the linear quality of 'spectrum' which is more suited to degrees of severity than clusters of signs and symptoms.

If it's an image that is required, then we can return to the previous suggestion of the spectrum being like a rainbow.
Perhaps consider the autism spectrum wheel, a circular rainbow:
https://enna.org/why-is-autism-consider ... ooks-like/

'The different colours represent the different symptoms of autism. The stronger colours on the outside of the circle represent the more severe symptoms, whereas as we move into the centre, the lighter colour represents a diminished or non-existent symptom.'

Does this help or hinder in understanding the complexity? I think it is one way to describe but it misses details.
For me, that would mean listening to personal stories or experiences of autistic individuals. Or reading case histories.
A mix of the subjective and objective telling and showing different perspectives.

And, of course, there is always the mix of fact and fiction in films.

Is the Hitman neurodivergent?
https://blacknerdproblems.com/why-doesn ... -spectrum/

[Belinda]

Are alternatives to 'array' that are not too poetic, but lack the linear quality of 'spectrum' which is more suited to degrees of severity than clusters of signs and symptoms.

If it's an image that is required, then we can return to the previous suggestion of the spectrum being like a rainbow.
Perhaps consider the autism spectrum wheel, a circular rainbow:
https://enna.org/why-is-autism-consider ... ooks-like/

'The different colours represent the different symptoms of autism. The stronger colours on the outside of the circle represent the more severe symptoms, whereas as we move into the centre, the lighter colour represents a diminished or non-existent symptom.'

Does this help or hinder in understanding the complexity? I think it is one way to describe but it misses details.
For me, that would mean listening to personal stories or experiences of autistic individuals. Or reading case histories.
A mix of the subjective and objective telling and showing different perspectives.

And, of course, there is always the mix of fact and fiction in films.

Is the Hitman neurodivergent?
https://blacknerdproblems.com/why-doesn ... -spectrum/

Rainbows are linear. They never diverge from the spectrum.

Fact and fiction in films is levels of interpretation. Capacity for reasoned interpretation is linear , a matter of degree of reasoned interpretation on a spectrum ; not a matter of kind .

Autism.
I do not claim any clinical , educational, or personal experience of autism. My claim as to whether or not 'spectrum' is a useful heuristic device to apply to autism is greatly influenced by an acquaintance a professional who knows a great deal about autism. She disapproves of 'spectrum' and says that 'constellation' is appropriate to signs and symptoms of autism.

[amity_blu]

Rainbows are circular. Film interpretation includes fact as fiction and fiction as fact. People interpret and understand differently. Therein lies the joy of discussion. No matter the kind.
What do you find at the end of a rainbow?

[Belinda]

Rainbows are circular. Film interpretation includes fact as fiction and fiction as fact. People interpret and understand differently. Therein lies the joy of discussion. No matter the kind.
What do you find at the end of a rainbow?

The circumference of a circle is linear.

[Belinda]

you may identify as Italian, but do the Italians accept you as one of theirs?

which makes it so?

People can identify as Italian across a wide spectrum of backgrounds. No matter the social construct of race or ethnicity. What makes an Italian an Italian? Is it the sharing of culture, history and language alone - or does it matter which part of Italy you live in. How people differ in their attitudes to incomers or strangers...their perspective or values of friendship or open hostility.

Is it helpful or harmful to generalise about the entire population of Italy? Of America. Of any country?
Labels categorising people into demographics - is this what the 'algorithmic self' is about? [*]
How change evolves or is manipulated according to how we are played, or play the game of "Who am I?".
Our identities shaped by AI...or is it a loop...

[*] Another read. https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/too-m ... thmic-self
I'm intrigued by the authors promotion of their model, the concept of 'identity algorithm'.

"Ich bin Berliner " said a thoughtful American president.