Page 1 of 1 [ 4 posts ] 

C2V
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 7 Apr 2015
Posts: 2,666

27 Aug 2016, 8:56 am

Now, usually I'm tolerably ok with an element of unpredictability if I have a general projected understanding of what to expect, and the action or event makes sense logically. I don't require a repetitive, rigid routine and can adapt within reason.
But I can't deal with unpredictability in people. Probably because they're the most highly unpredictable element. People have to behave in a very scripted way with me or I will perceive them as a threat and avoid or hide from them, even if their behaviour is not traditionally threatening. It's that I cannot predict, cannot compute, don't understand what to expect or what I will do if they behave in unpredictable ways.
Someone here got drunk earlier, then started opening and closing the door and letting the cold in, then going outside into the street in the middle of the night in nothing but underwear without a thought as to the inappropriateness of this (and the argument that they were drunk doesn't negate it, either - I used to be a drunk and never behaved in this fashion) with his wife yelling "what are you doing? Get back in here!"
Neither if them made any aggressive movements toward me, but I instantly perceive threat. They may try to interact with me in disordered ways, ways that will not make sense and are not governed by generally understood rules, their emotions are likely to be out of control, and I know that interacting with drunks is rarely pleasant. It's the same with loud people - even if the noise is not aggressive, I can't predict what will eventuate from that noise and perceive it as a threat and have to get away from it.
In that way, I don't deal as well with unpredictability as I assumed. Because people must come at me in very formulaic ways or not at all. I thought I was ok it with it because I can interact in many superficial settings - but really, all of them have a structure I can rely on.
Thoughts? Do you deal well with unpredictability in the human element, or have to restrict your interactions with them to formulaic ways? How do you respond to unpredictability?


_________________
Alexithymia - 147 points.
Low-Verbal.


The_Dark_Citadel
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

Joined: 20 Jul 2016
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 339

27 Aug 2016, 9:26 am

Aside from my keepers and the few people they bring to play with me and read to me, I have next to no human interaction. I don't like the inability to predict their actions. The people who do interact with me know that they have to tell me what they are going to do if it involves touching me, going somewhere or entering into an unknown situation.


_________________
If I were a knight, my name would be Sir Stimsalot.


BirdInFlight
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 8 Jun 2013
Age: 63
Gender: Female
Posts: 4,501
Location: If not here, then where?

27 Aug 2016, 9:39 am

I have problems with the unpredictability of even being spoken to unexpectedly, like when you pass someone who knows you. I live in an apartment building and much of the time I pass in and out of it through deserted halls and stairways, and just go on out into my day. Same with the local streets, I'm just walking along minding my own business.

But I get really thrown for a loop when I figuratively bump into a neighbor from my building, while entering/leaving, or worse is when in the local stores or walking down the nearby streets.

I realize anyone reading that must be thinking, well, just switch to the understanding that this IS going to inevitably happen, and prepare for it.

And logically I understand that completely. And I try to. But it still jars me. It's because I tend to go around very deeply in my own little world -- I'm nearly always lost in my own thoughts or even just in my own sensory issues! I'm always kind of "busy" internally, in my mind.

And when someone breaks in on that, it's actually really jarring to me.

I deal with it -- outwardly. I mostly manage to do and say most of the supposedly right things to respond in an acceptable manner socially. But I also often fail miserably and wind up saying something weird, or not coming up with the right response, then feeling weird about it for the rest of the day. It freaks me out. I don't think anybody knows that, but it really is something I hate. Also, because, it's energy-using for me to even come up with those social scripts.

I know there will be also others thinking, well just don't. But I cant stop feeling conditioned to feel obliged to do so. that' goes into the whole other territory of the "passing for NT" issue and I don't want to derail your topic.

But yes, for me that's an unpredictability in other people that really throws me. I don't like when randomly I'm finding myself in an encounter I hadn't prepared for.



slw1990
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 9 Jan 2014
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,406

27 Aug 2016, 5:18 pm

When people who seemed nice before suddenly start acting different towards me or other people I usually become more distant from them. There are also some people who act differently on purpose to try and mess with you.