He also stated that he could downplay his Tourette's in situations where he was meeting new people, so as not to make them feel completely uncomfortable. This ability to control the disease leaves me wondering if it is in part an actual neurological disconnect and in part the desire of the Tourette's patient to continue on in this disinbited form. Let me explain. Self-control and discipline are hard to maintain. I suppose that is why we admire those who have a great deal of either.
Human nature is, to put it mildly, difficult to reign in.
But Tourette's sufferers are essentially free to do whatever they want or need to do, all on account of their disease. Once people they work or live with become accustomed to their outbursts, even that emotional and social strain seems to disappear. So they are free to say whatever it is that comes to their minds, throw pots and pans, punch holes in walls, etc. And to them, Tourette's is such an integral part of who they are, they cannot imagine themselves without it. The article on externality had many interesting ideas, not all of whom I agreed with, but one in particular stuck in my mind.