Robson Street is a major southeast-northwest thoroughfare in downtown and West End of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Its core commercial blocks from Burrard Street to Jervis were also known as Robsonstrasse. Its name honours John Robson, a major figure in British Columbia’s entry into the Canadian Confederation, and Premier of the province from 1889 to 1892. Robson Street starts at BC Place Stadium near the north shore of False Creek, then runs northwest past Vancouver Library Square, Robson Square and the Vancouver Art Gallery, coming to an end at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park.
As of 2006, the city of Vancouver overall had the fifth most expensive retail rental rates in the world, averaging US$135 per square foot per year, citywide. Robson Street tops Vancouver with its most expensive locations renting for up to US$200 per square foot per year. In 2006, both Robson Street and the Mink Mile on Bloor Street in Toronto were the 22nd most expensive streets in the world, with rents of $208 per square feet. In 2007, the Mink Mile and Robson slipped to 25th in the world with an average of $198 per square feet. The price of each continues to grow with Vancouver being Burberry’s first Canadian location and Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood (which is bounded on the south side by Bloor) now commanding rents of $300 per square foot.
In 1895, train tracks were laid down the street, supporting a concentration of shops and restaurants. From the early to middle-late 20th century, and especially after significant immigration from postwar Germany, the northwest end of Robson Street was known as a centre of German culture and commerce in Vancouver, earning the nickname Robsonstrasse, even among non-Germans (this name lives on in the Robsonstrasse Hotel on the street). At one time, the city had placed streetsigns reading “Robsonstrasse” though these were placed after the German presence in the area had largely vanished.
Robson Street was featured on an old edition of the Canadian Monopoly board as one of the two most expensive properties.
Autism and ADHD very often co-exist. Research suggests that 50 to 70% of autistic people also have ADHD (Hours et al., 2022), though figures vary between studies. Similarly, it is estimated that two-thirds of those with ADHD have at least one co-existing condition such as autism. In other words, autism and ADHD very frequently present together.
Despite this, autism and ADHD could not be diagnosed together until 2013. The fourth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual listed autism as an exclusion criterion for ADHD (Murphy et al., 2016), and only when the fifth edition was released in 2013 were they recognised as co-existing conditions.
It’s not surprising that people used to think Autism and ADHD couldn’t occur together, because a lot of the traits appear to contradict each other. ADHD likes NEW, Autism likes the SAME. ADHD is IMPULSIVE and spontaneous, Autism likes PLANNING. (A massive over-generalisation of course, but you get the picture). Imagine how disorienting it is to have your brain constantly pulled in two opposite directions.
This can feel like a tug of war in an AuDHD-er’s mind, and it can feel impossible trying to balance two completely opposing needs. Because of this, AuDHD can appear like a different presentation altogether. An individual may feel they don’t relate wholly to autism or to ADHD. The two can mask each other, either compensating for each other’s difficulties or making those challenges even harder. For example, the organisation and focus from the autistic brain may compensate for the disorganisation and chaos of the ADHD brain. Or, the mess and chaos from the ADHD may leave the person in a constant state of overwhelm, feeling unable to function because there is no order.
One vital ingredient for any ADHDer is dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and the regulation of attention – there’s never enough and we are always craving it. Much of ADHD’s impulsive and risky behaviour can be attributed to the hunt for more dopamine. It can also make ADHDers crave sugar and carbohydrates and this can be hard to fight no matter how much we know and understand about healthy eating. Added to the autistic tendency to restrict food this can add to difficulties around food intake.
Because AuDHD-ers may not present as typically autistic or typically ADHD, they may be less likely to be recognised or diagnosed. It is worthwhile considering what an AuDHD presentation could look like.
Though there are an infinite number of possibilities, here are some common examples:
The individual may regularly come up with new routines to try to stick to.
They may come up with new ways of doing the same thing or follow a particular process when trying something new. They try to satisfy their craving for new whilst managing their anxiety around change.
They may impulsively choose change, then experience anxiety due to the change.
They may regularly seek out new things, but only with familiar people and want to complete things in a particular way or following a familiar process.
They may regularly burn out from being too busy and overwhelmed socially, but struggle to slow down to recharge.
Their environment might become messy and chaotic easily, leading to overwhelm and difficulty functioning.
They may be hyper-organised to compensate for their disorganised brain.
They may feel anxious every day about running late or not being early.
They may have an exceptional long-term memory but a poor working/short-term memory.
Their intense/special interests may regularly change theme or topic.
Life as an AuDHD-er is constantly trying to find a balance to satisfy opposing needs. And those needs are changing all the time, depending on the environment, the day and the chapter of life.
AuDHD is exhausting, but also exhilarating. It is intense and chaotic, but vivid and filled with opportunities. Some days feel impossible; other days feel like anything is possible. With the right support and developing strategies to manage, the latter is certainly true.
Having both autism and ADHD (referred to as AUdHD) creates a unique experience with overlapping challenges and strengths, which can significantly affect diagnosis, quality of life, and daily functioning. Individuals with AUdHD often face more hurdles in compensating for their neurodivergent traits because both conditions influence executive functioning, emotional regulation, social skills, and sensory processing in distinct yet interconnected ways. Understanding how these two conditions interplay is crucial for grasping the complexities of living with AUdHD.
The Intersection of Autism and ADHD
While autism and ADHD are distinct neurodevelopmental conditions, they share several overlapping traits, which can make it difficult to differentiate between them. Some of these shared traits include:
Executive dysfunction: Difficulty with planning, organizing, and completing tasks on time.
Emotional regulation issues: Struggles with managing and expressing emotions appropriately.
Sensory sensitivities: Over- or under-sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as loud noises, textures, or bright lights.
Social challenges: Trouble understanding social cues, forming relationships, and maintaining social interactions.
However, there are key differences that add complexity to a dual diagnosis. For instance, while ADHD is often characterized by impulsivity and hyperactivity, autism is associated with a strong need for routine and predictability. The co-occurrence of these traits in AUdHD individuals can create an internal tug-of-war, leading to more intense internal conflicts and challenges.
Impact on Diagnosis
Diagnosing AUdHD can be particularly challenging for several reasons:
Overlapping Symptoms: Many traits of ADHD and autism overlap, such as difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and social skills. This can lead to misdiagnosis, where one condition is identified but the other is overlooked. For example, hyperactivity or inattentiveness might be attributed to ADHD, while the underlying autism is missed.
Masking: People with AUdHD often engage in “masking,” a coping mechanism where they hide their neurodivergent traits to fit into societal expectations. Masking can make it harder for clinicians to see the full picture and may delay or complicate the diagnosis.
Delayed Diagnosis: AUdHD individuals, especially those assigned female at birth, are often diagnosed later in life because of societal biases and the internalized pressure to appear “normal.” The interplay of both conditions can obscure the full extent of difficulties, making it hard for professionals to see how deeply both autism and ADHD affect the individual.
Compensatory Strategies and Cognitive Load
Individuals with AUdHD often need to develop more compensatory strategies to manage their daily lives. Compensating for both autism and ADHD can be exhausting because both conditions create different sets of challenges that must be navigated simultaneously.
Compensation for Autism: To cope with the social and sensory demands of daily life, autistic people may engage in extensive planning, develop strict routines, or avoid certain sensory triggers. This requires significant cognitive energy to maintain, even if these strategies appear to make life more manageable.
Compensation for ADHD: ADHD often impacts focus, time management, and emotional regulation, requiring the use of external aids like alarms, reminders, and strict schedules. Staying on task and remaining organized takes extra effort, which can be draining in itself.
For individuals with AUdHD, compensating for both at the same time increases the cognitive load and reduces available mental energy. For example, they might need to stay hyper-aware of social rules due to autism while also fighting constant distractions caused by ADHD. As a result, daily tasks can take much more effort, leading to quicker burnout and a lower threshold for stress.
Reduced Energy and Burnout
Managing both autism and ADHD requires significantly more mental energy than managing either condition alone. This is because:
Executive Dysfunction is Amplified: Both autism and ADHD affect executive functioning, but in different ways. Autistic individuals may struggle with flexibility and changes in routine, while ADHD causes difficulties with focus, organization, and prioritization. Combined, these impairments create a constant challenge in managing daily life, leaving less mental energy for other activities.
Sensory Overload and Distraction: Sensory processing issues are common in autism, where overstimulation can lead to shutdowns or meltdowns. ADHD adds a layer of distraction to this, making it harder to filter out irrelevant stimuli. This constant battle between sensory overload (autism) and a lack of focus (ADHD) can leave individuals feeling mentally drained.
Emotional Regulation: ADHD often causes emotional impulsivity, making it harder to control responses to situations. Autistic individuals, on the other hand, may have difficulty processing and understanding emotions. Together, these traits lead to emotional exhaustion, as individuals with AUdHD may experience heightened reactions to daily stressors.
Compensation Fatigue: Over time, the need to constantly manage both conditions can lead to burnout, a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. This is particularly common in AUdHD individuals because they are often forced to work harder to keep up with societal expectations, leaving them with little energy for self-care or relaxation.
Quality of Life and Daily Challenges
The combination of autism and ADHD affects various aspects of daily life, from relationships to work, school, and personal well-being. Key areas where AUdHD impacts quality of life include:
Social Interactions: While autism can make social situations uncomfortable or confusing, ADHD can add impulsivity, which may result in saying things without considering social norms. This combination can lead to misunderstandings, social rejection, or difficulties in forming close relationships.
Work and School: AUdHD individuals may excel in structured environments where routines and predictability are key, but struggle with multitasking, time management, and shifting focus—common challenges in workplaces and classrooms. Both conditions can make it hard to stay on top of tasks, leading to frustration and a feeling of inadequacy.
Self-Esteem: AUdHD individuals are often highly aware of their difficulties, which can negatively impact their self-esteem. Constantly comparing themselves to neurotypical peers, or even to autistic or ADHD peers who may only have one condition, can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth.
Emotional Overload and Burnout: The emotional toll of managing both conditions can be significant. Burnout is common in individuals with AUdHD, as the constant need to balance both ADHD and autism-related challenges leads to physical and emotional exhaustion.
The Importance of Tailored Support
Individuals with AUdHD require support that is tailored to the unique interplay of both conditions. Some key strategies include:
Energy Management: Recognizing the importance of conserving mental energy is crucial. This means setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and creating a balance between activity and rest. Developing self-compassion is also essential, as individuals with AUdHD may need more time to complete tasks than others.
Sensory Accommodations: Because of the sensory sensitivities caused by autism, it’s important to create sensory-friendly environments. Noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, or low-stimulation areas can help.
Executive Functioning Aids: External support systems such as reminders, calendars, visual schedules, and alarms can assist with time management and task organization, helping to alleviate some of the cognitive burden.
Emotional Regulation Strategies: Mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can provide tools for managing impulsivity and emotional dysregulation, which are common in ADHD. Tailoring these therapies for both autism and ADHD is important to address the dual impact.
Conclusion
Living with both autism and ADHD (AUdHD) creates a unique set of challenges that can complicate diagnosis, increase the need for compensatory strategies, and contribute to energy depletion and burnout. Understanding the complex interplay between these two conditions is essential for creating tailored support systems that improve the quality of life for those navigating this dual diagnosis. With the right accommodations and understanding, individuals with AUdHD can better manage their daily lives and thrive, despite the added challenges they face.
AuDHD – the combination of the autism (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) neurotypes has seen a startling rise over the past decade. But what is AuDHD? This article covers any questions you may have on ADHD and autism comorbidity.
Not so long ago, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were widely viewed as mutually exclusive disorders. After all, each has its own specific symptoms and life-affecting characteristics.
However, in recent years, the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD is so commonly recognized in the general population that it spawned its own term – “AuDHD.” But it’s not just a social media trend; AuDHD has also been unequivocally confirmed in research.
So, if you or someone you love has wondered why social communication difficulties frequently accompany feelings of hyperactivity and difficulties focusing, AuDHD may be present.
AuDHD Meaning and Implications
Simply put, AuDHD is a combination of the word “autism” and the acronym “ADHD.” Therefore, someone with AuDHD has both neurotypes. Although studies vary according to how frequently the conditions co-occur, the most recent estimates are that approximately 70% of people with ASD also have ADHD. Yet, despite this high percentage, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) didn’t include a diagnosis of AuDHD until as recently as 2013.
For people with AuDHD, life can feel like a constant contradiction. Their brains are hardwired to both want routine and fight against it. Therefore, catering to the needs of both conditions often means accounting for opposing needs.
For instance, the ASD side of someone’s brain may require them to set a strict schedule to cater to sensory challenges and feelings of overload. However, if they make a schedule that’s too rigid, the ADHD elements of their brain may battle to stay focused. Of course, such contrasting needs can create daily struggles and feelings of “not being good enough” – potentially leading to psychological distress.
Plus, considering how distinct the symptoms of both ASD and ADHD can be, receiving an AuDHD diagnosis can be difficult. We’ll discuss the process of AuDHD diagnosis later in this article.
As an extra note, a little-known piece of information is that an individual’s attachment style can influence the outcomes of their ASD and ADHD prognosis.
Main AuDHD symptoms
ASD and ADHD are quite paradoxical in nature: How can someone be both rigid in regards to routine and social structures, yet also find such routines and structures extremely difficult to follow? This paradox is due to how the symptoms of each disorder tend to be polar opposites.
For example, The American Psychological Association (APA) defines ASD as “a group of disorders…characterized by difficulties with social communication and social interaction along with restricted and repetitive patterns in behaviors, interests, and activities.”
As a note, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) aren’t considered to be distinct diagnoses anymore – they are diagnosed under the umbrella term of ASD.
In contrast, the APA defines ADHD as a “behavioral condition that makes focusing on everyday requests and routines challenging.” This definition goes on to explain how individuals with ADHD experience organizational, planning, and focusing difficulties.
So, considering how disparate both of these neurotypes are, exactly what is AuDHD? And how can the symptoms of both of these neurotypes combine to create an AuDHD diagnosis?
The main symptoms of AuDHD combine the predominant ones of both ASD and ADHD – so they demonstrate a strong need for routine, but also a susceptibility to disruptions.
The Symptoms of AuDHD
AuDHD can manifest differently in each individual, demonstrating distinct patterns of behaviors, emotions, and executive functioning. However, the following are considered to be the main symptoms of AuDHD.
Executive functioning challenges (a skill set that includes factors such as working memory, self-control, and cognitive flexibility)
Sensory challenges (such as difficulties with touch, taste, and sound)
Repetitive body movements (known as “stimming”)
Learning difficulties
Social challenges
Emotional dysregulation (such as angry outbursts)
Impulsivity
Inattention
The first three symptoms would typically be associated solely with ASD, whereas the bottom two would be considered purely ADHD symptoms. Yet, the three middle symptoms (learning difficulties, social challenges, and emotional dysregulation) would commonly be seen in both neurotypes.
The overlap of symptoms between both neurotypes to create the dual condition of AuDHD demonstrates the need for specific and tailored intervention strategies. These strategies should be dynamic to fit the changing needs of the individual.
Plus, although the main symptoms of AuDHD may sound damning, there is a bright side that is important to highlight: People with AuDHD often report high levels of creativity. Therefore, tapping into this creativity may help such individuals manage and cope with the stress of their comorbid disorders.
Before we discuss these strategies, let’s consider the differences between AuDHD and “pure” ADHD.
AuDHD vs ADHD: What Are the Differences?
As mentioned previously, the symptoms of ASD and ADHD are typically at odds with each other. Therefore, there are some stark differences between “pure” ADHD and AuDHD.
People with ADHD have challenges with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In contrast, AuDHD introduces additional complexities by amalgamating the traits of autism with ADHD. The traits of autism include rigidity around routine, sensory difficulties, and self-stimulating behaviors such as stimming.
Therefore, the main difference between AuDHD and pure ADHD is that those with AuDHD have comorbid symptoms of autism along with their ADHD symptoms. The cognitive patterns associated with both neurotypes are linked. However, the neurological and developmental reasons for this are still not fully understood.
So, while people with ADHD have difficulties with routines, people with AuDHD simultaneously need routines but have difficulties adhering to them. This can create an extra layer of frustration and psychological distress – especially as AuDHD went unrecognized for a considerable amount of time.
AuDHD and Autism Comorbidity
As reported previously in this article, it’s thought that the prevalence of AuDHD and autism comorbidity could be as high as 70%. Meaning that this percentage of people with ASD have co-occurring ADHD.
Furthermore, despite a relative lack of recognition, it is widely believed that ASD is also frequently comorbid with conditions other than ADHD. Other autism comorbidities include developmental conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, and epilepsy. Plus, according to research, although ASD is generally reported more in males than in females, females with ASD may be more likely to have comorbid disorders.
Similarly, it’s thought that “pure” cases of ADHD are also uncommon. Aside from ASD, ADHD is also commonly comorbid with developmental language and motor issues.
Furthermore, the neurotypes of both ASD and ADHD are comorbid with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder.
Of course, such high levels of comorbidity for both ASD and ADHD means that people with AuDHD could also potentially have other developmental or mental health issues. This suggests that interventions should take this high level of comorbidity into account, and factor in appropriate psychosocial, behavioral, and potential pharmacological elements.
AuDHD Test: What Is the Diagnostic Process?
There’s no such thing as an “AuDHD test.” This is because AuDHD is not, as of yet, recognized as a singular diagnosis in clinical settings.
However, if you’re concerned that you may have AuDHD, you can speak to your GP regarding a referral to appropriate professionals for separate ASD and ADHD diagnoses. Alternatively, if you’re concerned about your child, you can either speak to your GP or – if your child is school-aged – you can ask for a referral through their school.
Once referred, the diagnostic process for comorbid ASD and ADHD involves more than just taking an assessment or observing behaviors. It’s typically a multidisciplinary process – and is also dependent on the age of the individual.
Clinicians, including medical and mental health professionals, utilize standardized questionnaires, behavior rating scales, and environmental observations to collect information. This way, “snapshots” are gathered from as many domains of the individual’s life as possible to facilitate an overall impression and accurate diagnoses of both ASD and ADHD.
During the diagnostic processes, assessments and observations such as the following will be used to test for the presence of comorbid autism and ADHD. The assessments and methods used will depend on the region and age of the individual.
Testing for ASD may include measures such as:
The Autism Spectrum Rating Scales. As a purely observational assessment, information is collected from caregivers, teachers, and other caregiving professionals to determine if a child’s behaviors align with those of ASD.
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). This measure involves the individual completing a series of tasks designed to assess cognitive functioning, behavior, and communication. A trained assessor observes their performance according to the criteria for ASD diagnosis.
Testing for ADHD may include measures such as:
The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF). The BRIEF assesses the ability to sustain attention, break down tasks into smaller components, and complete a target of focus. Different versions of the assessment are available for different ages.
Conners Rating Scales. Used to assess social, behavioral, and academic functioning, this test includes both self-report and observational methods to assess for symptoms that align with those of ADHD.
Once a diagnosis of comorbid ASD and ADHD (AuDHD) has been reached, the following options for treatment may be considered depending on the individual’s presenting symptoms.
Treatment for AuDHD
Typically, treatment for AuDHD still predominantly utilizes the interventions and treatments associated with ASD. This may be because treatment measures associated with ADHD have not yet been fully researched for efficacy with individuals with AuDHD.
However, it’s important to take the individual’s specific needs into account when devising AuDHD interventions and treatment; recursiveness may be needed to ensure the “best fit.”
The following methods (or combination of methods) are commonly used in the treatment of AuDHD.
Psychosocial Interventions for AuDHD
Psychosocial measures aim to induce change in psychological, cognitive, behavioral, biological, and social factors that contribute to the symptoms of AuDHD. Psychosocial interventions for AuDHD may include:
Therapy: Therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can help devise strategies for challenging the difficult emotions associated with AuDHD. Moreover, CBT can highlight strengths such as creativity and help the individual use these strengths to improve focus and attention. However, it’s important to account for the individual’s social and communicative abilities when choosing a suitable therapeutic approach.
Psychoeducation: Understanding the reasons behind the symptoms and difficulties associated with AuDHD can help an individual and their families adopt a more empathetic approach. Plus, there are various support groups depending on your region which aim to empower success through knowledge and support.
Executive functioning techniques: Specific therapies (such as EFT) and groups that target executive functioning skills can help alleviate the difficulties associated with ASD and therefore ease AuDHD symptoms. These approaches improve cognitive, time management, organizational, and attentional skills.
Support groups: There are multiple support options available for people who struggle with specific symptoms of AuDHD. For example, vocational support exists where people will assist with CVs or preparing for a job interview. Alternatively, assistance is available for issues such as improving concentration and reducing distress. Make sure to consult your local ASD and ADHD advice groups for further information.
Pharmacological Interventions for AuDHD
Pharmacological interventions for AuDHD, if necessary, should be done in conjunction with psychosocial methods. Strategies that focus on the behavioral, psychological, and social components of AuDHD should be the first line of call. After which, if the individual still struggles to cope, they can speak to their GP about pharmacological approaches. These approaches do not differ much from those used to treat individual ASD and ADHD.
Typically, a GP will choose to put someone on the lowest dose of medication possible for treating AuDHD and track their progress to determine whether it needs to be increased over time. Such medications may include stimulants and non-stimulants for ADHD symptoms. However, treating ASD symptoms with medication may be more complicated as there are no current FDA-approved medications for this neurotype. Instead, medications used to treat emotional dysregulation, such as antipsychotics, may be considered.
Final Thoughts on AuDHD
AuDHD is a comorbidity of the developmental neurotypes ASD and ADHD. People with AuDHD may lead a life of conflicting needs: one in which they require strict routines and schedules, but also struggle to adhere to these. Up until recent years, both ASD and ADHD were seen as distinct conditions, but recent research indicates that approximately 70% of people with ASD have ADHD. As of yet, there is still not a singular AuDHD diagnosis – instead, professionals may give separate diagnoses of ASD and ADHD.
If you’re concerned about whether you have comorbid ASD and ADHD, speak to your GP about referral for appropriate diagnoses. Professionals in the area will be able to cater to your unique needs, as well as help alleviate any distress you may be experiencing around them.
As a final note, remember that you can be an active participant in this process and you don’t have to go the journey alone. Although life might seem like a battle at times, there is help available: professionals, support groups, and social circles can help you develop personalized strategies that focus on your goals, strengths, and creativity.
Granville Street is a major street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and part of Highway 99. Granville Street is most often associated with the Granville Entertainment District and the Granville Mall. This street also cuts through suburban neighborhoods like Shaughnessy, and Marpole via the Granville Street Bridge.
The community was known as “Gastown” (Gassy’s Town) after its first citizen – Jack Deighton, known as “Gassy” Jack. “To gas” is period English slang for “to boast and to exaggerate”. In 1870 the community was laid out as the “township of Granville” but everybody called it Gastown. The name Granville honours Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, who was British Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time of local settlement.
In 1886 it was incorporated as the city of Vancouver, named after Captain George Vancouver, who accompanied James Cook on his voyage to the West Coast and subsequently spent 2 years exploring and charting the West Coast.
During the 1950s, Granville Street attracted many tourists to one of the world’s largest displays of neon signs.
Towards the middle of the twentieth century, the Downtown portion of Granville Street had become a flourishing centre for entertainment, known for its cinemas (built along the “Theatre Row,” from the Granville Bridge to where Granville Street intersects Robson Street), restaurants, clubs, the Vogue and Orpheum theatres, and, later, arcades, pizza parlours, pawn stores, pornography shops and strip clubs.
By the late 1990s, Granville Street suffered gradual deterioration and many movie theatres, such as “The Plaza, Caprice, Paradise, [and] Granville Centre […] have all closed for good,” writes Dmitrios Otis in his article “The Last Peep Show.” In the early 2000s, the news of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic Games, to be hosted in Whistler, a series of gentrification projects, still undergoing as of 2006, had caused the shutdown of many more businesses that had heretofore become landmarks of the street and of the city.
Also, Otis writes that “once dominated by movie theatres, pinball arcades, and sex shops [Downtown Granville is being replaced] by nightclubs and bars, as […it] transforms into a booze-based ‘Entertainment District’.” In April 2005, Capitol 6, a beloved 1920s-era movie theatre complex (built in 1921 and restored and reopened in 1977) closed its doors (Chapman). By August 2005, Movieland Arcade, located at 906 Granville Street became “the last home of authentic, 8 mm ‘peep show’ film booths in the world” (Otis). On July 7, 2005, the Granville Book Company, a popular and independently owned bookstore was forced to close (Tupper) due to the rising rents and regulations the city began imposing in the early 2000s in order to “clean up” the street by the 2010 Olympics and combat Vancouver’s “No Fun City” image. (Note the “Fun City” red banners put up by the city on the lamp-posts in the pizza-shop photograph). Landlords have been unable to find replacement tenants for many of these closed locations; for example, the Granville Book Company site was still boarded up and vacant as of July 12, 2006.
While proponents of the Granville gentrification project in general (and the 2010 Olympics in specific) claim that the improvements made to the street will only benefit its residents, the customers frequenting the clubs and the remaining theatres and cinemas, maintain that the project is a temporary solution, since the closing down of the less “classy” businesses, and the build-up of Yaletown-style condominiums in their place, will not eliminate the unwanted pizzerias, corner-stores and pornography shops – and their patrons – but will simply displace them elsewhere (an issue reminiscent of the city’s long-standing inability to solve the problems of the DTES).
Another one of the books that I’m reading now is ‘Caesar’s Messiah: The Roman Conspiracy to Invent Jesus’ (2005) by Joseph Atwill. I must admit that I’m further along in slowly reading some other informative books that I haven’t yet mentioned or reviewed than in reading this book, but I will still quote from it now because I’ve already come across some interesting parts. “However, the New Testament and the histories of Josephus each imply that the Messiah was not this nationalist leader who had been foreseen, but rather a pacifist who encouraged cooperation with Rome. For example, consider Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 5:41: “when anyone conscripts you for one mile, go along two.” Roman military law permitted its soldiers to conscript, which is to demand that civilians carry their 65-pound packs for a length of one mile. Roman roads had mile markers (milestones), so that there would be no dispute over whether or not this requirement had been met. Why would the Messiah foreseen by Judaism’s xenophobic world-ruler prophecies urge Jews to “go the extra mile” for the Roman army? When one compares the militaristic Messiah described in the Dead Sea Scrolls and other early Judaic literature with the pacifistic Messiah described in the New Testament and Josephus’ Testimonium, one aspect of the lost history of Judea seems visible. An intellectual battle was waged over the nature of the Messiah. The New Testament and Josephus stood together on one side of this struggle, claiming that a pacifistic Messiah had appeared who advocated cooperation with Rome. On the other side of this theological divide stood the Jewish Zealots who awaited a militaristic Messiah to lead them against Rome. It would explain how a Judean cult eventually became the state religion of the Roman Empire. A Roman origin would also explain why so many members of a Roman imperial family, the Flavians, were recorded as being among the first Christians. The Flavians would have been among the first Christians because, having invented the religion, they were, in fact, the first Christians. When considering a Flavian invention of Christianity, one should bear in mind that the Flavian emperors were considered to be divine and often created religions. The oath that they swore when being ordained emperor began with the instruction that they would do “all things divine… in the interests of the empire.” But how did the church’s authority structure come into existence resembling the Roman military? Who established it and who gave the bishops such absolute control? Cyrpian wrote… “The bishop is in the Church and the Church is in the bishop… and if anyone is not with the bishop, that person is not in the Church.” And why was Rome, supposedly the center of Christian persecution, chosen as the church’s headquarters? Sophisticated Romans like those Juvenal wrote about did not believe in the gods but rather in fortune and fate. The prevailing ethos of the patrician class was that the world was either ruled by blind chance or immutable destiny: “Fortune has no divinity, could we but see it: it’s we, we ourselves, who make her a goddess, and set her in the heavens.” Judging from the works of Juvenal, many Romans saw all religious belief, including their own, as ridiculous. Juvenal was also cynical toward Judaism. His attitude regarding the religion suggests that many within the patrician class saw the religion and, no doubt, its offspring Christianity, as barbaric cults. “A palsied Jewess, parking her haybox outside, comes begging in a breathy whisper. She interprets Jerusalem’s laws; she’s the tree’s high priestess… She likewise fills her palm but more sparingly: Jews will sell you whatever dreams you like for a few coppers.” Given this patrician cynicism, it is odd that so many members of the Flavian family were recorded as having been among Christianity’s first members. Why was a Judaic cult that advocated meekness and poverty so attractive to a family that practiced neither? The tradition connecting early Christianity and the Flavian family is based on solid evidence but has received little comment from scholars. Circulating tales that suggested they were gods was no doubt thought by the Flavians to be a good tonic for hoi polloi. The more an emperor was seen by his subjects to be divine, the easier it was for him to maintain his control over them. The Flavians certainly focused on manipulating the masses. To promote the policy of “bread and circuses” they built the Coliseum, where they staged shows with gladiators and wild beasts that involved mass slaughter. Imperial cults that portrayed Roman emperors as gods and workers of miracles appear to have been created solely because they were politically useful. The cults seem to have evoked no religious emotion. No evidence of any spontaneous offerings attesting to the sincerity of the worshipers has ever been discovered. The advantage of converting one’s family into a succession of gods appealed to many Roman emperors: 36 of the 60 emperors from Augustus to Constantine and 27 members of their families were apotheosized and received the title dius. Of course, inventors of fictitious religions must have a certain cynicism in regard to the sacred. Vespasian is quoted on his deathbed as saying, “Oh my, I must be turning into a god!” The cynicism that the patrician class felt toward religion was a subject of the satires of the Roman poet Juvenal. While the exact dates of Juvenal’s birth and death are unknown, it is believed that he lived during the era of the Flavians. One of his satires concerns Agrippa and Bernice, the mistress of Titus. Tradition has it that Juvenal was banished from Rome by Domitian. As Pontifex Maximus, Titus was responsible for a large collection of prophecies (annales maximi) every year, and officially recorded celestial and other signs, as well as the events that had followed these omens, so that future generations would be able to better understand the divine will. Titus was unusually literate. He claimed to take shorthand faster than any secretary and to be able to “forge any man’s signature” and stated that under different circumstances he could have become “the greatest forger in history.” Suetonius records that Titus possessed “conspicuous mental gifts,” and “made speeches and wrote verses in Latin and Greek” and that his “memory was extraordinary.” Titus’ brother Domitian, who succeeded him as emperor, also used religion to his advantage. In addition to deifying his brother, Domitian attempted to link himself to Jupiter, the supreme god of the Roman Empire, by having the Senate decree that the god had mandated his rule. Not only did the Flavians create religions, they performed miracles. In the following passage from Tacitus, Vespasian is recorded as curing one man’s blindness and another’s withered limb, miracles also performed by Jesus: “One of the common people of Alexandria, well known for his blindness… begged Vespasian that he would deign to moisten his cheeks and eyeballs with his spittle. Another with a diseased hand prayed that the limb might feel the print of a Caesar’s foot. And so Vespasian… accomplished what was required. The hand was instantly restored to its use, and the light of day again shone upon the blind.” The Gospels record that Jesus also used this method of curing blindness, that is by placing spittle on a blind man’s eyelids. “After thus speaking, He spat on the ground, and then, kneading the dust and spittle into clay, He smeared the clay over the man’s eyes and said to him, “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam” – the name means “sent.” So he went and washed his eyes, and returned able to see.” Roman emperors appointed all the high priests recorded within the New Testament from a restricted circle of families who were allied to Rome. By selecting the individual who would determine any issue of “Jewish customs,” the Caesars were managing Jewish theology for their own self-interest. Of course, what other way would a Caesar have managed a religion? Rome exercised control over the religion in a way that was unique in the history of its provincial governments. Rome micromanaged Second Temple Judaism to the extent of even determining when its priests could wear their holy vestments. In spite of these efforts, Rome’s normal policy of absorbing the gods of its provinces did not succeed in Judea. Judaism would not permit its God to be just one among many, and Rome was forced to battle one Jewish insurrection after another. Having failed to control Judaism by naming its high priests, the imperial family would next attempt to control the religion by rewriting its Torah. I believe they took this step and created the Gospels to initiate a version of Judaism more acceptable to the Empire, a religion that instead of waging war against its enemies would “turn the other cheek.” The theory of a Roman invention of Christianity does not originate with this work. Bruno Bauer, a 19th-century German scholar, believed that Christianity was Rome’s attempt to create a mass religion that encouraged slaves to accept their station in life. In our era, Robert Eisenman concluded that the New Testament was the literature of a Judaic messianic movement rewritten with a pro-Roman perspective. Rome attempted not to replace the gods of its provinces but to absorb them. By the end of the first century Rome had accumulated so many foreign gods that virtually every day of the year celebrated some divinity. The Romans also used religion as a tool to assist them in conquest. The leader of the Roman army, the consul, was a religious leader capable of communicating with the gods. Thus, when Rome went to war with the Zealots in Judea it had a long tradition of absorbing the religions of its opponents. If Romans did invent Christianity, it would have been yet another example of neutralizing an enemy’s religion by making it their own, rather than fighting against it. Rome would simply have transformed the militant Judaism of first-century Judea into a pacifist religion, to more easily absorb it into the empire. In any event, it is certain that the Caesars did attempt to control Judaism. From Julius Caesar on, the Roman emperor claimed personal authority over the religion and selected its high priests. Perhaps the most unusual connection between Christianity and the Flavians, however, is the fact that Titus Flavius fulfilled all of Jesus’ doomsday prophecies. As mentioned above, the parallels between the description of Titus’ campaign in War of the Jews and Jesus’ prophecies caused early church scholars to believe that Christ had seen into the future. The destruction of the temple, the encircling of Jerusalem with a wall, the towns of Galilee being “brought low,” the destruction of what Jesus described as the “wicked generation,” etc. had all been prophesied by Jesus and then came to pass during Titus’ military campaign through Judea – a campaign that, like Jesus’ ministry, began in Galilee and ended in Jerusalem. Thus the Flavians are linked to Christianity by an unusual number of facts and traditions. Early church documents flatly state that the family produced some of the religion’s first martyrs, as well as the pope who succeeded Peter. The Flavians created much of the literature that provides documentation for the religion, were responsible for its oldest known cemetery and housed individuals named in the New Testament within their imperial court. Further, the family was responsible for Jesus’ apocalyptic prophecies having “come to pass.” If Christianity was invented by the Flavians to assist them in their struggle with Judaism, it would merely have been a variation upon a long-established theme. Using religion for the good of the state was a Roman technique long before the Flavians.”
There are long articles on Wikipedia about the Christ myth theory and Historial Jesus that can be of use. I’m reading Atwill’s book and the books of some other authors in order to see what they have to say because I don’t have a negative or a positive view of Christianity. Another book on the subject that I’m reading now is ‘The Christ Myth’ (1909) by Arthur Drews, and I will quote from it too because I’ve already read a big chunk of it. There is a surprisingly long article about this book on Wikipedia. “Among no people was the longing for redemption so lively and the expectation of a speedy end of the world so strong as among the Jews. Since the Babylonian captivity (586-536 B.C.) the former Jewish outlook upon the world had undergone a great change. Fifty years had been spent by the Israelites in the land of the stranger. For two hundred years after their return to their own land they were under Persian overlordship. As a consequence of this they were in close connection politically and economically with the Achaemenidean Empire, and this did not cease when Alexander overthrew the Persian power and brought the whole Eastern world under Greek influence. During this lengthy period Persian modes of thinking and Persian religious views had influenced in many ways the old Jewish opinions, and had introduced a large number of new ideas. First of all the extreme dualism of the Persians had impressed a distinctly dual character upon Jewish Monotheism. God and the world, which in the old ideas had often mingled with one another, were separated and made to stand in opposition to each other. Following the same train of thought, the old national God Jahwe, in imitation of the Persian Ahuramazda (Ormuzd), had developed from a God of fire, light, and sky into a God of supernatural purity and holiness. Surrounded by light and enthroned in the Beyond, like Ahuramazda, the source of all life, the living God held intercourse with his creatures upon the earth only through the instrumentality of a court of angels. These messengers of God or intermediate beings in countless numbers moved between heaven and earth upon his service. And just as Angromainyu (Ahriman), the evil, was opposed to Ahuramazda, the good, and the struggle between darkness and light, truth and falsehood, life and death, was, according to Persian ideas, reproduced in the course of earthly events, so the Jews too ascribed to Satan the role of an adversary of God, a corrupter of the divine creation, and made him, as Prince of this world and leader of the forces of hell, measure his strength with the King of Heaven. In the struggle of the two opposing worlds, according to Persian ideas, Mithras stood in the foreground, the spirit of light, truth, and justice, the divine “friend” of men, the “mediator,” “deliverer,” and “saviour” of the world. He shared his office with Honover, Ahuramazda’s Word of creation and revelation; and indeed in most things their attributes were mingled. An incarnation of fire or the sun, above all of the struggling, suffering, triumphant light, which presses victoriously through night and darkness, Mithras was also connected with death and immortality, and passed as guide of souls and judge in the under-world. He was the “divine son,” of whom it was said that Ahuramazda had fashioned him as great and worthy of reverence as his own self. Indeed, he was in essence Ahuramazda himself, proceeding from his supernatural light, and given a concrete individuality. As companion in creation and “protector” of the world he kept the universe standing in its struggle against its enemies. At the head of the heavenly host he fought for God, and with his sword of flame he drove the Daemons of Darkness in terror back into the shadows. To take part in this combat on the side of God, to build up the future kingdom of God by the work of a life-giving civilisation, by the rendering fruitful of sterile wastes, the extinction of noxious animals, and by moral self-education, seemed the proper end of human existence.”
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