Why Can Someone With Aspergers Come Across As Rude

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SaveFerris
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30 Jul 2017, 1:35 pm

I am trying to work out the reasons why some people with Aspergers can come across as rude ( or so I've read ).

I can understand the honesty bit as in 'Does my bum look big in this' but what other reasons are Aspies often accused of being rude.

I have never been accused of being rude unless I meant it but I'm starting to wonder if a lot of misunderstandings I've had with people ( mostly partners ) are due to being thought of as rude because they think I'm angry or cross when I'm not - as if the words I'm saying don't match my facial expressions or tone of voice?


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StampySquiddyFan
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30 Jul 2017, 1:44 pm

I think some aspies can also come across as being rude when they are more social, since they are liable to not follow the "social rules." This happened to me when I was younger. I had two friends in elementary school, and I would repeatedly call their name over and over, but they were embarrassed by me (I guess?) so they didn't respond. I just called louder and louder until they just walked away. I came across as rude because I was too "in your face" and I couldn't read social cues. I thought they just couldn't hear me (even though they were standing right next to me). There is another aspie at my school that does the same thing. Thankfully, I kind of realized I was annoying them, so now I try to not be as annoying. But I still am sometimes :D . I think more talkative aspies will come across as rude because they just talk too much. I'm either really talkative or mute, basically.


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SaveFerris
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30 Jul 2017, 2:47 pm

So its all about not knowing social rules then ?


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StampySquiddyFan
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30 Jul 2017, 2:52 pm

SaveFerris wrote:
So its all about not knowing social rules then ?


No, I wouldn't say that, but that is just one way aspies can come across as rude.


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will@rd
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30 Jul 2017, 3:02 pm

Aside from the facts that:

A) we're socially clueless and simply don't pick up on what other people's emotional needs or expectations are, and don't know how to handle the situation even when we do (lack of empathy)

B) Are generally uncomfortable with dishonesty, because our brains don't process fast enough to keep up with all the deception and remember what lies we need to tell now, to cover for the lies we've already told - so, as a result, we tend to be brutally honest, even when it may not be what others want to hear.

C) Because our brains are wired differently than the norm, common social consensus may simply strike us as illogical or pointless, so we may reach a conclusion that to the NT mind is socially taboo.

Add to that the "Aspie Expression," which is to say that people with HFA tend to have a general facial expression that indicates a high level of stress and anxiety - we rarely smile, and often speak in a flat, matter-of-fact, almost monotone (until we get excited talking about an obsessive interest).

All these things combine to make smiley, friendly, chatty-Cathy neurotypicals think we're being rude, when we're just being ourselves.


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30 Jul 2017, 3:59 pm

Atypical body language has a lot to do with it. In addition to the "flat effect", lack of eye contact.


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30 Jul 2017, 4:32 pm

SaveFerris wrote:
I am trying to work out the reasons why some people with Aspergers can come across as rude ( or so I've read ).

I can understand the honesty bit as in 'Does my bum look big in this' but what other reasons are Aspies often accused of being rude.


This part isn't a AS problem, it's a human problem. Even NTs have troubles with this too. I found out online that people who ask this have issues with being insecured with themselves so they are looking for reassurance and even NTs hate this game they play. Sometimes it's a genuine question when someone asks it because they want to look good in their outfit and sometimes they are just fishing for compliments and people hate it. I think not everything aspies complain about is even an autistic issue.


But to answer your question, aspis appear rude because of lack of social graces or and not knowing how to act in a social situation. Walking away in the middle of the conversation is rude, lacking tact can make you appear rude and hostile and unfriendly, not responding when you talk to them or say their name is rude, saying the wrong things, body language, lack of eye contact, lack of facial expressions, only talking about what they want to talk about and not let anyone else talk about what they want to talk about or even letting them speak or even answer their questions.


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League_Girl
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30 Jul 2017, 4:36 pm

StampySquiddyFan wrote:
I think some aspies can also come across as being rude when they are more social, since they are liable to not follow the "social rules." This happened to me when I was younger. I had two friends in elementary school, and I would repeatedly call their name over and over, but they were embarrassed by me (I guess?) so they didn't respond. I just called louder and louder until they just walked away. I came across as rude because I was too "in your face" and I couldn't read social cues. I thought they just couldn't hear me (even though they were standing right next to me). There is another aspie at my school that does the same thing. Thankfully, I kind of realized I was annoying them, so now I try to not be as annoying. But I still am sometimes :D . I think more talkative aspies will come across as rude because they just talk too much. I'm either really talkative or mute, basically.



LOL I used to do that. I would ask you the same question over and over until you answered or say the same thing over and over until you answered thinking you didn't hear me. I learned to give up though because I started to assume they were just ignoring me and how rude. My mom says I was just innocent. I also used to ask you a question and keep on asking until you answered because I didn't know you were just thinking of a response and trying to process it or otherwise you would be going "mmm mmmm" or "uhh uhhh" to let me know you're thinking and you heard me. Now I just wait a few minutes before asking again.


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StampySquiddyFan
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30 Jul 2017, 4:53 pm

League_Girl wrote:
StampySquiddyFan wrote:
I think some aspies can also come across as being rude when they are more social, since they are liable to not follow the "social rules." This happened to me when I was younger. I had two friends in elementary school, and I would repeatedly call their name over and over, but they were embarrassed by me (I guess?) so they didn't respond. I just called louder and louder until they just walked away. I came across as rude because I was too "in your face" and I couldn't read social cues. I thought they just couldn't hear me (even though they were standing right next to me). There is another aspie at my school that does the same thing. Thankfully, I kind of realized I was annoying them, so now I try to not be as annoying. But I still am sometimes :D . I think more talkative aspies will come across as rude because they just talk too much. I'm either really talkative or mute, basically.



LOL I used to do that. I would ask you the same question over and over until you answered or say the same thing over and over until you answered thinking you didn't hear me. I learned to give up though because I started to assume they were just ignoring me and how rude. My mom says I was just innocent. I also used to ask you a question and keep on asking until you answered because I didn't know you were just thinking of a response and trying to process it or otherwise you would be going "mmm mmmm" or "uhh uhhh" to let me know you're thinking and you heard me. Now I just wait a few minutes before asking again.


My mom says I was just being "cute." That doesn't really explain how I lost my friends, though. Today I now know that when somebody right next to you doesn't respond, they can most likely hear you :D .


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SaveFerris
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30 Jul 2017, 5:12 pm

will@rd wrote:
Aside from the facts that:

A) we're socially clueless and simply don't pick up on what other people's emotional needs or expectations are, and don't know how to handle the situation even when we do (lack of empathy)

B) Are generally uncomfortable with dishonesty, because our brains don't process fast enough to keep up with all the deception and remember what lies we need to tell now, to cover for the lies we've already told - so, as a result, we tend to be brutally honest, even when it may not be what others want to hear.

C) Because our brains are wired differently than the norm, common social consensus may simply strike us as illogical or pointless, so we may reach a conclusion that to the NT mind is socially taboo.

Add to that the "Aspie Expression," which is to say that people with HFA tend to have a general facial expression that indicates a high level of stress and anxiety - we rarely smile, and often speak in a flat, matter-of-fact, almost monotone (until we get excited talking about an obsessive interest).

All these things combine to make smiley, friendly, chatty-Cathy neurotypicals think we're being rude, when we're just being ourselves.


Is this something that never leaves or can it sometimes get better with age , or is it something you can hide better but it occasionally surfaces when stressed or unwell.


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30 Jul 2017, 5:39 pm

SaveFerris wrote:
will@rd wrote:
Aside from the facts that:

A) we're socially clueless and simply don't pick up on what other people's emotional needs or expectations are, and don't know how to handle the situation even when we do (lack of empathy)

B) Are generally uncomfortable with dishonesty, because our brains don't process fast enough to keep up with all the deception and remember what lies we need to tell now, to cover for the lies we've already told - so, as a result, we tend to be brutally honest, even when it may not be what others want to hear.

C) Because our brains are wired differently than the norm, common social consensus may simply strike us as illogical or pointless, so we may reach a conclusion that to the NT mind is socially taboo.

Add to that the "Aspie Expression," which is to say that people with HFA tend to have a general facial expression that indicates a high level of stress and anxiety - we rarely smile, and often speak in a flat, matter-of-fact, almost monotone (until we get excited talking about an obsessive interest).

All these things combine to make smiley, friendly, chatty-Cathy neurotypicals think we're being rude, when we're just being ourselves.


Is this something that never leaves or can it sometimes get better with age , or is it something you can hide better but it occasionally surfaces when stressed or unwell.


It got better with age for me. So did my ability to read social cues.


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DataB4
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30 Jul 2017, 5:54 pm

This is by no means an exclusively aspie trait, but one way to potentially appear rude would be to not follow the give-and-take of most everyday conversations. Examples might be jumping in too soon, or sharing lots of detailed information without gauging the other person's interest level or giving them a chance to process/ask questions/change the subject.



shortfatbalduglyman
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30 Jul 2017, 9:12 pm

sometimes, AS come across as "rude" to NTs.

sometimes NTs come across as "rude" to other NTs.

sometimes NTs come across as "rude" to AS.

sometimes AS come across as "rude" to AS.

big deal. the word "rude" is subjective and vague. anyone can label anything as "rude". just b/c they do not like it.



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30 Jul 2017, 9:23 pm

Why can someone with Aspergers come across as rude?

Well duhhh... because theyre aspies. That's why.

Just about every distinctive trait that defines aspergers can cause an aspie come off as rude if the aspie isn't careful.

Lack of TOM, lack of a filter, excessive honesty/bluntness, not knowing social rules.



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31 Jul 2017, 12:08 am

SaveFerris wrote:
I am trying to work out the reasons why some people with Aspergers can come across as rude ( or so I've read ).

I can understand the honesty bit as in 'Does my bum look big in this' but what other reasons are Aspies often accused of being rude.

I have never been accused of being rude unless I meant it but I'm starting to wonder if a lot of misunderstandings I've had with people ( mostly partners ) are due to being thought of as rude because they think I'm angry or cross when I'm not - as if the words I'm saying don't match my facial expressions or tone of voice?


Because NTs misunderstand and have unreasonable expectations of people on the spectrum to read their facial expressions.



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31 Jul 2017, 8:40 am

Not empathizing in conversation. Not getting into the other person's head, and seeing how the other person would interpret what the aspie is saying. That's a big issue that causes aspies to seem rude.