“Severe Autism” Is a Label that Tells You Nothing about an Autistic Person

Louis Rossmann takes aspergers quiz

https://peertube.gravitywell.xyz/w/pX6c8h5Znpt7da9cgBgq96

#asperger #aspergers #introvert

Advice 4 the Socially Clumsy:

Do NOT ask if they liked your gift! Just don't!

(Coming up: Don't ask if they had fun New Yrs Eve; they might ask you if you did!)

I think, after 20 years since my diagnosis as an #Aspie, I'm finally able to "pass" as a #neurotypical successfully if I choose.

I just had an epiphany that, to me at least, might be the "key" to unlocking this secret - small talk's banality IS important! #Gossip MATTERS! It's mandatory! We're about to get all #philosophy up in here!

See, you know how we all have two faces - the one that we show to the world, and the one that we keep to ourselves or our closest companions? The Outer Self and the Inner Self?

That's what's called the "#Human Condition", also known as the "Hedgehog's Dilemma" (reference - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog%27s_dilemma ).

So summarize all of that for you, the long and short of it is this:

We are individuals that want to "join" with others (think "relationships" of all sorts).

That creates two concepts - The #Self, and The #Other

We want and desire for The Self and The Other to be one, to be merged, joined, ultimately. But, there's a couple of problems with that.

There's the fear of LOSING The Self when joining with The Other.

And, there's the fear of rejection from The Other. From being cast aside, forgotten, ignored.

So The Self, in defense of itself, creates The Wall. The Wall divides us, keeps us separated, but safe.

It's a translucent wall - and we control the opacity. Through it, we choose how much of The Self to show to The Other, how much we risk rejection, or fear of being absorbed and losing our individuality.

And that's where "small talk" comes into play. By using "small talk", #neurotypical people clear the opacity of their wall; risking vulnerability (just a little!) to The Other. Showing just a LITTLE bit more of The Self.

Every "small talk" conversation should be thought of in these terms:

The Self: "Oh Hi, Other! I'm a person! A real human with needs, desires, feelings, emotions. Are you?"

The Other: "Hey there Self, yeah I too am a real human with needs, desires, feelings, emotions! We should totally chill more often!"

The Self: "A'ight, lets hang, my man!"

The Other: "True Dawg, True. For sho!"

I have no idea why that turned into a #racist remake of the movie Friday at the end, but the point is this.

Every bit of small talk, every communication between you and another person about the minuscule happenings in your life, in their life... it's tiny peeks through The Wall. It allows for a collection of "mini-risks", that allow neurotypicals to "gel" and learn to start to trust each other, to build stronger bonds.

To really start to merge... just a little closer to each other.

Now that I know that... I don't think I'll see any public gatherings, informal meetings, get-togethers the same way again.

Or, to sum it all up in a horribly culturally-appropriating way:

"Chillin' wit yer homies makes you a pack, yo!

Family."

#aspergers #actuallyautistic #racism #monkeysphere

@arcadetoken oh no, it's not unusual and it's not toxic, just the opposite.

What you're talking about is open communication.

What you're talking about is the same thing I always try to do during interpersonal conflict.

See, I'm a computer #programmer by trade, an engineer.

And, like #Hemmer from #StarTrek: #StrangeNewWorlds, I see it as my role in life, my "calling", if you will, to "Fix that which is broken".

That applies to both myself inside and problems external to me, including other people.

The world is filled with problems to solve.

When I see a problem presented before me, I am COMPELLED to solve it, much like an #OCD person is compelled to do... whatever it is that they are compelled to do.

The problem is that while, yes, other people ARE problems to solve... we all have our own internal histories and traumas that have shaped who we are.

For many of us, and perhaps it's just a part of the #humancondition, every part of us wants to FIGHT change, to even fight improvement.

It might possibly be a part of our mental #homeostasis, it might be #identity self-preservation, but some part of us wants us to stay the same, to make no changes. Even for the better.

So, when I reach out to try to help "fix" people, the same way I try to improve myself EVERY damn day of my life, they often and usually respond with hesitance, suspicion, and sometimes outright hostility.

I've learned that people can only change when they WANT to change. So all you can do is hold out the olive branch of your unique perspective, and let them know that you are there IF they want to talk and help sort out their issues, and improve themselves.

But you can't force it on people. They have to want it for themselves.

And that's the biggest and toughest thing that I've had to learn since I was diagnosed with #aspergers twenty years ago, is that you can't "fix" everyone... most people don't WANT to be fixed.

So, you just have to show compassion, listen to them, and wait for a moment to give a tiny bit of advice here and there to try to steer in the direction that you think would benefit them the best.

And then... give them space. You can only show them the door, THEY are the ones that have to walk through it.

...is that enough hackneyed metaphors for you? 😂

Radical with Amol Rajan
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mpbk?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Good podcast hosted by #AmolRajan #radical #BBCSounds

This weeks guest #chrispackham talking #climate #biodiversity #agriculture #netzero #neurodivergent #autism #aspergers #bullying #activism #resilience

Til Opfinderfestival på Teknisk Museum, Helsingør. Spændende og crazy på én gang. Især nordmanden med en masse små robot-instrumenter 🤪

Sønnen på 17 var dog mere interesseret i den permanente udstilling med flymotorer, som vi ellers har set 100 gange før 🤓😅

Spændende at tale med et passionerede opfindere. Og se de små dimser fra Skramloteket 🤓😇

#TekniskMuseum #opfinderfestival #aspergers

#Autism #AutismSpectrumDisorder
#ASD #Aspergers #AspergersSyndrome

#Language #Languages #Sensory #FWakeAutismD
#FWakeInputOutput #SensoryApparatus

Very relevant comprehension regarding autism and sensory vs. language communications.

#FWakeTimeIndex 218 seconds
https://youtu.be/Ca_RbPXraDE?t=218