I Am an NT | My Side of the Picture

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That's quite impressive; I once attempted to teach myself HTML, but didn't get very far; couldn't make the interest stick.

nope. I am less ashamed then I use to be but I still don't want anyone knowing I have it.

I completely understand what you mean when you say you want people to announce and and be proud of it. And I welcome you to WP. It is good to have you. But being on the Spectrum can be very complex for some. There are things about being on the Spectrum that are wonderful but there are also challenges which can seem unbearable at times. Also some people have family members or even job situations that cannot accept them being on the Spectrum and that can really mess with people's abilities to feel completely secure in who they are. Some handle it with no problems and others really struggle. And sometimes it's a mix of both. So sometimes the issue has to be handled with strategic delicacy.

And for some people being on the Spectrum can have some emotional trauma associated with it so people really need to be able to accept it as they are able to and be able to feel whatever they need to feel about it. And if they are not comfortable telling others that is fine. But you are right in feeling that the more people are educated about it the better. But we always want to be very sensitive and very respectful to whatever people feel about their situations. This can actually be hard for some to do but we do our best and that's what matters most.

But just like you said we are not unworthy or unequal. And as someone else mentioned before, our brains are not broken, just different like just how someone might have a different skin color than you does not mean that his skin is broken, it's just different. So how we function as people on the Spectrum is not necessarily right or wrong it's just different. Like if one person sees a glass half full of milk and the other person sees it as half empty, neither of them is right or wrong, they are both right and equally both wrong depending on who is asking. They just see and perceive the same thing from an opposite perspective.

But I do commend you for coming here and making efforts to encourage because I believe that is what you meant to do and that is always a good thing.

I am also super impressed by your goal and what you have already accomplished towards it. That is awesome, really, very awesome and I wish you the best to reach it.

Ok, put it this way. I don't do well with people telling me what to do. You sound pushy. They're being pushy right? Because I have this anxiety thing that triggers when people make suggestions and then it turns out I overreacted.

I think Skibum made some good points about how it is not always easy to tell people about your autism or to feel good about it yourself.

It's not as simple as just telling people you have autism. They react. They reject. They deny. Or they start treating you in a different way. They either ignore your symptoms are as disabling as they are or they wrap you up in cotton wool and start to do everything for you. People can even take advantage of you because they think you're weak and an easy target.

For now the only people that know I have autism outside this forum and that ADHD forum are people who read my blog and are on my Facebook friends list, which is practically everyone I know. Maybe I'll tell the postman next time he knocks on my door.

While there are advantages to being on the spectrum I try not to take pride in things I had no say in (like height, hair colour, neurology etc). Incidentally I've never actually been formally diagnosed so it might be the case that I'm just an NT who identifies with people on the spectrum for some reason, like you. Though I have based my self diagnosis/suspicions on things going way back to infancy some of which I can even remember from a really young age. I act on the assumption I have an ASD now but even if I find out I don't one day this is probably the website I've felt most able to share on and I relate to other people's posts here more than anywhere else on line.

Thanks man :')Thank you,trev.Thank you.and how often am i piked on without realising it?

Last edited by LunarOfficial on 28 Apr 2014, 5:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

No no, I am not being pushy. It was just a small request, that no one has to do if they are uncomfortable with it. I understand your position, and how it kinda freaks you out, and I apologize if you feel that I am being rude and demanding things out of your comfort zone.

I think we all need to relax a little. The kid's thirteen, and he's trying to be supportive, can't we simply thank him for that support then do what we will with his advice?

^^^^
THIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktbhw0v186Q

Lunar, you clearly have youthful enthusiasm. And you come across as well meaning. But there are situations where it isn't best to immediately disclose a disability. And some people might not be proud. When you say things like we "need" to do something, and talk about what you "would like", it comes across as not very understanding.

I remeber one time my smart but sometimes stupid said something so stupid it enraged me. She said "Disabled people are proud to be disabled". I think she immediately realized how stupid she sounded because she immediately dismissed the conversation to watch some T.V. show. Still to this day, I can't believe she said that.

You are reminding me of this! But you are only thirteen and she was about 25 when she said that, so I geuss you're not as dim as her.

Your directness and awkwardness certainly seem reminiscent of some autistics.

I should be proud, even if my brain doesn't function right? So, it's okay that I'm a dud...? Very offensive.

Autism is not a processing error, it's a different operating system. The sooner people realize and accept this the better off we'll ALL be, Autistics and Nautistics alike.

I don't really get the idea of being proud of being Autistic, any more than I get the idea of being proud to be Italian or a citizen of the United States. I was born autistic, Italian and born in the US.

It seems among other autistics there is no need to be proud. It's among nautistics that may see autism as negative that we are most likely to identify as being proud to be autistic. A kind of need to push back against something negative that we reject (their attitude, view of autism).

I have no problem discussing being autistic with anyone, as long as they're not being a jerk, mocking me, etc. However, it can be dangerous in a sense. I told my boss I was autistic, wasn't really sure how to explain so I found a site with some info, printed it out and handed it to her but I'm sure she never read it. At least she didn't appear any more knowledgeable and never asked me any questions. A few years later, within 6 months ago I was fired and I think it had to do with being autistic, I was misunderstood and suffered for others mistakes.

I would much prefer to honest and open about being autistic, what challenges I have, etc. but nautistics won't be part of a dialogue. Maybe they think I'm weird, maybe they're afraid of me because I'm different, maybe they just don't like me, but I can't get nautistics to tell me when or if I'm making them uncomfortable and why. The why is important. They just don't want to take the time, make the effort, so instead they just back away figuratively speaking and as usual I'm left wondering what I did and not knowing. It undermines any confidence I have and just aggravates anxiety and depression.

Last edited by limping2victory on 06 May 2014, 12:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

He didi not mean it that way,man.