Narrow mindedness or lack of imagination?
I've heard that some people with autism have narrow minded interests and opinions.
Personally I don't like to think of intelligent people as being narrow minded so I'm doing my best to look beyond this idea.
I also hate to use the empathy word as well because I just think it's a minefield. So I was thinking that maybe some people who seem to have "narrow minded" opinions about other people, cultures, gender etc might actually lack the imagination to see things from other people's positions.
I also don't like the thought of certain people being ignored or pushed out of discussions because even though they may have said or done something that on the surface might be offensive to certain groups, it has been said because the person lacks the imagination to see things that are outside of their own realm.
I'm just wondering what you guys think about this.
Thank you in advance
I think that open-mindedness is not correlated to AS, but to intelligence and genetic predisposition. It takes intelligence to entertain complex ideas. The predisposition is baked in because a successful tribe needed both xenophobes and variety seekers to strike a healthy balance between keeping out threats to the community and letting in traders and genetic variety.
I like that you have given me food for thought there. Its interesting to me that you are looking at this from a historical, sociological and anthropological stance. I mean in modern times we look to find fault with people who want to exclude certain groups but in prehistoric times it was part of an accepted culture and used to protect people. I mean in those times the people from the next village might well have been savages. Who's sole purpose was to make dinner of the people in your village.
This makes complete sense to me.
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But isn't that what most NTs are typically like? Can't cope with people who aren't them? This is what I'm trying to say. It's a double standard.
No, this is a stereotype that’s based on confirmation bias.
Every person is unique. It is common for all people (ND and NT) to struggle with accepting those they perceive as different, though.
Yes, that is what I was trying to say. It is unfair to accuse intolerance to autistic people only when we live in a rather hostile and selfish world full of people that don't understand those with different mindsets to themselves. So I don't see why, just because I'm Aspie, that I have to be obliged to bend over backwards to tolerate everything. I'm only a dumb human after all.
Yes maybe I am a bit biased to the non-binary thing, but not the people personally. I'm entitled to feel differently about some things, surely. Just like some people have strong opinions on me marrying a man 25 years older than me. I understand that there will be some people out there that will be against this. I've even been criticised here about it (although their posts didn't get deleted). Some people just want to get their thoughts out there and it doesn't mean they "lack empathy" or "lack imagination". As long as they're not bullying you personally. But there is a difference between bullying and just giving your personal opinion.
I knew my post about non-binary might ruffle a few feathers but I just don't think the mods should have just deleted it unless it started up a flame war.
There, I think I've clarified that enough.
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Sounds a great deal like the double empathy problem.
NTs not understanding the NDs, but NDs having to understand NTs because they make up the majority ??
There is no way around that as people generally are going to remain ignorant unless it directly effects them.
If you found someone 25 years older that makes you happy, then you go girl
Nonetheless, I 'benefitted' from a grammar school and university education from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, and can appreciate and understand the liberal ideals and trends that emerged from the 60s onwards. I often feel though that my acquaintance with such things is intellectual or academic, rather than something I feel emotionally or in any kind of real sense.
Hence I can relate to reactionary, 'narrow-minded' people and liberal types at the same time, though in different ways. It's also complicated by the fact that many aspects of 'liberalism' have become rather illiberal in recent years....
Altogether a pretty mixed up situation, and I'm a pretty mixed up person. Hope this was useful, though maybe it's not, lol.
Thank you DeepHour. Sorry I didn't respond sooner. My glasses were steamed up.
You're input was very useful and it's good to know you.
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This makes complete sense to me.
Inter-tribal contact was variable, depending upon the terrain. The Neanderthals were much stronger, and had bigger brains, but they never developed trade. Thus, they had to work with local flint, and could not form alliances like humans. On open ground, hunters were at risk if they got too close to the next village, and small battles were a form of population control, but conquest was not usually considered. "Stranger danger" was more about exiles, who might carry disease, or just be too crazy to have around.
The Incan empire was the only one to grow in mountainous terrain, with hard borders vigorously enforced. Having discovered potato cultivation, the Incas would sneak onto adjacent land and leave prepared food, until eventually contact was established and membership in the federation could be offered.
When the tribes on Vancouver Island heard about early Spaniard explorers enslaving a tribe to work a gold mine, messengers were sent ahead of the war canoes and got each village to join in, rather than panic and fight. After that, the tribes knew not to tell white men about gold, and so Captain Cook survived to "discover" their land.
NTs not understanding the NDs, but NDs having to understand NTs because they make up the majority ??
There is no way around that as people generally are going to remain ignorant unless it directly effects them.
If you found someone 25 years older that makes you happy, then you go girl

Yeah I appreciate your input but I can't remember mentioning about NTs in my op.
I was more concerned with how people with aspergers/autism react to other people with aspergers/autism.
I completely understand how you've come to understanding that this thread was about that though as people do seem to like to bring it up quite a lot but that was not the aim of this thread. However if you'd like to make your own thread about double empathy and the ND NT problem then please feel free.
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But isn't that what most NTs are typically like? Can't cope with people who aren't them? This is what I'm trying to say. It's a double standard.
No, this is a stereotype that’s based on confirmation bias.
Every person is unique. It is common for all people (ND and NT) to struggle with accepting those they perceive as different, though.
Yes, that is what I was trying to say. It is unfair to accuse intolerance to autistic people only when we live in a rather hostile and selfish world full of people that don't understand those with different mindsets to themselves. So I don't see why, just because I'm Aspie, that I have to be obliged to bend over backwards to tolerate everything. I'm only a dumb human after all.
I knew my post about non-binary might ruffle a few feathers but I just don't think the mods should have just deleted it unless it started up a flame war.
There, I think I've clarified that enough.
If people are aware that their intolerant posts will ruffle a few feathers about a sensitive topic, then those people are capable of changing their behavior. It demonstrates awareness and insight.
It has nothing to do with being ND or not in this case.
This makes complete sense to me.
Inter-tribal contact was variable, depending upon the terrain. The Neanderthals were much stronger, and had bigger brains, but they never developed trade. Thus, they had to work with local flint, and could not form alliances like humans. On open ground, hunters were at risk if they got too close to the next village, and small battles were a form of population control, but conquest was not usually considered. "Stranger danger" was more about exiles, who might carry disease, or just be too crazy to have around.
The Incan empire was the only one to grow in mountainous terrain, with hard borders vigorously enforced. Having discovered potato cultivation, the Incas would sneak onto adjacent land and leave prepared food, until eventually contact was established and membership in the federation could be offered.
When the tribes on Vancouver Island heard about early Spaniard explorers enslaving a tribe to work a gold mine, messengers were sent ahead of the war canoes and got each village to join in, rather than panic and fight. After that, the tribes knew not to tell white men about gold, and so Captain Cook survived to "discover" their land.
I love this. I'm gonna look at it some more and maybe make a more friendlier thread than this one is about it. It is really interesting. Thank you.
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I feel like "prejudice" is a natural thing----but many things that are uncivilized are "natural things." It is "natural" for some people to be prejudiced against people who are "different" in some ways from themselves.
I am not like that----primarily because I was one who was the victim of "prejudice"--and I can identify with others who are victim of prejudice. Moreover, I found that most of the "reasons" why a person is prejudiced against another person are not true.
I had prejudice against black people----until I started hanging out with black people during my childhood. Then, I realized that the reasons for the prejudice were false, so I stopped being prejudiced, and started hanging out with black people the same as I hung out with white people.
My notion is that: Civilization, to a great degree, involves transcending our base instincts.
I'm not directing this towards any one person. I'm speaking totally in general.