InHouseAutistic

#AskingAutistics - Do you find it hard to answer questions about your *favourite* xyz? (Unless the question happens to be your #AutisticAreaOfExpertise, of course!)

I have to fill out a sheet of 'fun facts' about myself, to be shared with all colleagues at my new job. 6 questions, which are likely to take me as many hours to answer šŸ¤¦ā€ā™€ļø

Nov 7, 2022 at 9:46pmWeb
Show threadCassandraNov 7, 2022
@EverAutistic Yes. "Favourite" requires an exhausting ranking / justification exercise. I would prefer an easier prompt.
Show threadWinter_breaksNov 7, 2022
@Cassandra @EverAutistic usually just put pets and relatives. Or was that the true/false exercise? I forget
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 8, 2022

@mhelarn @Cassandra

They're asking things like favourite TV show ever. TOO HARD!

Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 8, 2022

@Cassandra
Yes, exactly! The whole concept would still cause me stress, but it would take a lot less time if the prompts were rephrased.

They're trying a new type of induction with me, and I've been asked to feed back at the end, so I'm going to mention this.

Show threadCassandraNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic Nice! I hope they listen.
Show threadSebastian MarschingNov 7, 2022
@EverAutistic The short answer is: Yes, I find this hard, too.
The long answer is: For me, the problem with ā€œfun factsā€ is that I often donā€™t consider them ā€œfunā€, and it takes me a lot of time to figure out what people might expect.
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 8, 2022

@SMarsching
It has been much harder than the actual work tasks I've been set. Ugh. I hate how I can't respond positively to it, but, it's just not in me!

I think I'm going to suggest that for the next newbie, they consider providing more prompts from which the person can choose 6.

Show threadSebastian MarschingNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic I think that providing more prompts to choose from wouldnā€™t help me, because it would mean that I would first have to decide which ones to take, and for me, making such decisions is probably even harder than answering strange questions. šŸ˜‚
Show thread@VailaNov 7, 2022

@EverAutistic Yes definitely. What criteria should I use? Different moods/days would produce different answers so what is the truth? And I feel guilt towards my other favourites that I left out.

The fun facts sounds an absolute chore.

Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 8, 2022

@Vaila
Yes, yes and yes. I can't even convince myself of my answers to myself, let alone feel authentic sharing them.

And yes again! I'm trying to think of an alliterative alternate for them but am stuck. Probably because my spoons are too taken-up with their questions.

Show threadVictoria DuncanNov 7, 2022
@EverAutistic I do not have a "favourite" anything. I love all my special interests equally & if it's not a special interest I don't have an opinion šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļø
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 8, 2022
@SaveTheNeurotypicals
Exactly, it just feels impossible! The questions either feel so dull or not relevant that I can't answer, or matter too much so I won't possibly be able to choose one answer.
Show threadBadass Britt Nov 7, 2022
@EverAutistic yes. Absolutely yes. Itā€™s nearly impossible and I always felt weird being unable to answer. Great question.
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 9, 2022
@Brittca
I had tried to get my brother to empathise but was getting very little - I knew online Autistica was where I needed to come! Thank you. The days are passing and I just can't get the task finished. Yesterday I decided to write what I really thought about each question, but I haven't been brave enough to send it.
Show threadNotSoWeirdNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic yessss!!! Food is my autistic area of expertise and Iā€™ve never been able to answer ā€œwhatā€™s your favourite foodā€ ever.
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 9, 2022
@Shreya512
Yes, sometimes a passion makes it impossible to choose favourites. Hate these ruddy questions! 'What's a food you love?' is a small change but makes it much easier.
Show threadZack is on mastodon.cloudNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic Yes. Iā€™m details/context oriented so picking favs requires a lot of thought. Iā€™m also ADHD on top of being autistic, so what Iā€™m really into tends to shift fairly frequently.
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 9, 2022
@JustGrist
I started considering ADHD for the first time after hearing AuDHD people's experiences. And the pyschologist brought it up in my autism assessment - know it's something I really need to look into. My interests shift so quickly and strongly too. Sometimes I can barely identify with the version of myself who liked or did x all the time when a few weeks later, y is my life
Show threadZack is on mastodon.cloudNov 9, 2022
@EverAutistic Iā€™ve come to an understanding of myself where I recognize which interests are lasting ones that Iā€™ll come back around to eventually but it can definitely still be jarring, even distressing when my interest shifts very quickly and suddenly I canā€™t bring myself to do anything related to that thing I was super into a few days ago.
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 14, 2022
@JustGrist
Yes, exactly. I have that problem with foods as well, and I constantly feel insecure as I don't know how long I will like something. With interests, I can find it really hard to even identify with the version of me from shortly before, who loved xyz. I like that I'm not stuck on one thing, but I'd like to have more control!
Show threadLatchkeycodesNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic I donā€™t have a favorite to answer most (whats my favorite color ā€”i donā€™t have one; whats my favorite foodā€”uhā€¦too complicated for a simple answer and also I donā€™t have one; favorite movieā€”no; favorite bookā€”no why would i choose because favorite book in what genre and at what age?ā€”requires more explanation and reflection;) and I also never thought those were fun facts because who cares and whats fun about random information about a person without context?
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 9, 2022
@Latchkeycodes
Yeah it really isn't fun. I've now written some honest answers, which would help people learn about me (if I find enough bravery to send it as is) but not in the 'fun' way HR intended.
Show threadHi-Fi Jump RopesNov 12, 2022

@Latchkeycodes @EverAutistic

You might be autistic.

šŸ˜‰

Show threadLatchkeycodesNov 12, 2022
@robdye1960 @EverAutistic šŸ˜‚
Show threadJohn HNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic Wait is struggling with this type of question an autism thing? Because I always have.
Show threadrauhe_schale_harter_kernNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic Oh yes, I do and always did. Even in kindergarden, being asked what my favorite color was, I was like: 'Um, ich sort of like blue, but then green is also nice and when considering my mood (or the time of day or the subject that is colored that way) I like red as well.
Show threadjobaNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic Absolutely! I find it so difficult because I don't want to be defined by- or judged because of- my answers. I know people might not be needing the most definitive answer, but I still freeze up...
Show threadNewrulesnewlifeNov 8, 2022

@EverAutistic I was asked at the Canadian Border who my favourite superhero was* and decided that a quick answer was better than a considered answer.

*Purpose of visit?" See a friend
"How do you know your friend?" We moderated a comics book forum together
"Favourite superhero" Err...Iron Man

Show threadAlex HarpinNov 8, 2022
@EverAutistic absolutely, I find it almost impossible to give a favourite. I might have several things that I love equally. Fun factsā€¦I find these incredibly difficult! I had to do something similar before, and I spent so long analysing the whole thing, it was stressful.
Show threadDude CanƔraƭNov 9, 2022
@EverAutistic
Absolutely impossible to nail any down.
Life is my neverending discovery of favourite #AutisticAreaOfExpertise
Show threadInHouseAutisticNov 14, 2022
@Canarin
Torture!
I ended up sending it on Friday, because I couldn't bear another weekend agonising over it. In the end, I went with being honest, answering similarly to what you said here.
I didn't get replies from many people, but the big boss liked that I didn't want to 'conform' or 'be put in a box' so it's worked out a lot better than anticipated!