What 'special' interests have you had?

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Mine have been 9/11, historic periods (Victorian, Edwardian, etc), The Grudge horror movies, and Michael Jackson. Right now it is biology particularly parasites (ringworms, tapeworms, etc).

I have a lifelong fascination with mythology. If it is mythology related, I will jump into it without much thought and learn as much as I can. This is a very broad category (despite what many people think), and has evolved into other areas. Because of this one "interest" I tend to be an encyclopedia of facts and trivia on religious topics, philosophy, certain pop culture topics (including comics and video games...more the latter and less the former, just how my interests go), and film (You'd be surprised). It also made me an easy candidate for most "nerd culture" past-times and hobbies, and again...I developed a near encyclopedic knowledge base for things like D&D rules and information.

I had a rather strange fascination with serial killers awhile back, but due to less than stellar access to resource material I only had the ability to focus on two particular ones (Jack the Ripper and Jeffrey Dhalmer). That was more a morbid teenage curiosity though.

I have a really odd fascination with etymology. When I was younger I always got frustrated because I wanted to know what words "mean." And not in the dictionary sense. I wanted to know why certain words were similar, how they were connected, and why people thought to use them. Because of this I have a love of certain authors (Theodore Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss, Edgar Allan Poe, Lewis Caroll, a few others) because of their love of twisting words to fit their stories, or of making words up entirely. Less messy that way when the words are made up by you alone. But actual words? Really frustrated me until I figured out etymology. Then everything made sense (and again, I developed an uncanny knack for unraveling word meanings just by the way it is constructed alone).

The reason I think I managed to get to 38 years without a diagnosis is because my interests make me at least average, or in some places really good, at communication, which is uncommon. But whereas many people on the spectrum apparently prefer to look for patterns in numbers and mathematics, I do the same with words and language. I get really irate when people violate the rules of language. I think it amuses my friends who ask me to help them do their college stuff in English classes (I regularly tell them that their professors are idiots because the course work they are doing makes no sense).

Note, that doesn't mean I enjoy communicating or being sociable. I actually dislike it quite a lot and have difficulties that I am pretty sure are unusual (hence why I am seeking a diagnosis). But I happen to just be better at it than what you might expect from somebody with ASD.

anyway, not sure if that really answers the question. I could name a few others...some are just subsets of a particular category (Like I could go on and on about what the difference between a zombie and a vampire are...there really isn't one tbh). Some are incidental interests that come alongside other interests. I am an artist, so I tend to research a ton on various different art styles and techniques. I don't think this is abnormal, since every artist should be trying to find out more about that stuff. But then again, maybe it is unusual... *Shrug*

I also really enjoy the process of doing research. But only on the subjects I like. If I have to do research on something I dislike it is pretty unpleasant.

Efficiency and structural elegance.
Fluid dynamics.
Material properties, including composites.
Programming.
Minimalism and sustainability.
Sociobiology.

History, especially American history and ancient history/evolution of human culture, Generational trends (Strauss-Howe,) personal budget spreadsheeting/planning, economic trends, health trends, psychology, archeology, language structure and its impact on human culture. Politics and Law. Literature, particularly science fiction and creative non fiction. Sheesh, that’s kind of a lot.

Photography, ancient history, evolutionary biology, etymology, among others.

It annoys me that for other people these would be hobbies, passions, avocations, or just interests. But because we're autistic, they're "special" interests.

Houses and property, old battles from history and my local area.

The Legend of Zelda, primates in general (which then specified to great apes as I got older), and human evolution (mostly related to the great ape stuff because we are apes). Those are the most long term special interests that I have had.

In my teenage years - tennis and tennis players. The band Faith No More.

Later on - science fiction, especially Star Trek (this one is still going).

Ever since I've taken antidepressants, they not only dampen bad obsessions but good ones too. So I haven't had a good, solid special interest for years.

Hm well, ones that stick out are
theyre not in order

Winx Club since I was a child, it still lingers but in different forms, instead of the show itself I look up dolls and research them.
Leapfrog
Hello Kitty/Sanrio
Tokyo Mew Mew/Anime in general
Jumpstart
Black Butler
Soul Calibur
Love Live
Tokyo Ghoul
Tamagatchi's and other virtual pets
2000's era and toys
Researching cults like Jonestown
Researching genetics rare disorders
Wars and how nuclear fallout/ other chemicals effect humans and other life

My current ones I'll have to say Drakengard, Final Fantasy, doll collecting, sanrio, build a bears and hamsters. My special interests and how I engage in them changed as I got older, I now research them online, draw, and collect merchandise and make shelves for the stuff I collected for it. I know my special interest history seems very stereotypical compared to others I was always one to escape with forms of media and still do.

I have a few.

I seem to like television "Special Interest", Public access/commercials/advertisements/PSA's. etc. 900 number (not necessarily the X rated/NSFW ones, but yeah lol.) commercials. Local ads for restaurants, business, they are kinda quirky, but also scary/uncomfortable sometimes too. Flea Market Montgomery, (which later became a big meme lol) is the best example I can use.



I liked to collect McDonald's, "Happy Meal" toys, when I was younger and growing up in the 90s. Back when the "Happy Meal" toys were good. I don't know about now. lol. But back in the day, I had the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, belt buckle morpher thing. I had all the power coins. I managed to collect and snag them all. I had the mini Furby's. The Tamagotchi keyrings, and the Inspector Gadget toys, and yeah.

I was really into The Wiggles. The original Wiggles, (Jeff, Greg, Anthony and Murray), not the group/incarnation they have now. I always found them cute, and just nice and charming men, and I would sing and dance to all their songs. I know damn well I was probably the only little black boy that liked The Wiggles. I didn't care, and still don't care. The Wiggles are awesome and epic. lol.



I liked the the now defunct Nickelodeon Magazine growing up as a kid. I would read a lot of the issues that came out. I felt it was an underrated magazine, that people didn't appreciate. I remember my Uncle bought a subscription for me as a gift, and I couldn't wait to search the mail for the Nickelodeon Magazine newest edition to show up. Yeah. lol. Unfortunately I have no idea what happened to all my magazines. A lot of my things when I was younger ended up "getting lost", and it's a long story, and I rather not talk about it, as it's personal family BS, but yeah. lol.



In my youth and childhood, I was into a lot of random computer games growing up. Reader Rabbit, Little Howie's Fun House, Freddie Fish, Pajama Sam, Mall Tycoon, Roller Coaster Tycoon, The Sims (which later became more popular), Thief, Doom, Wolfenstein, Midtown Madness, Carmen Sandiego, The Law and Order and CSI games. Yes lol. I just liked PC games back in the day lol. I would just pop a disc in, install the game, and play for hours and hours lol. I still have some of my PC games in my CD wallets lol.

I used to buy/get Willy Wonka, Laffy Taffy candy, just to read the jokes/riddles. When I noticed that some of the jokes were being copied quite a bit, that made me mad. I also had an obsession with Jujubees/Jujufruits candy. I would eat those all the time. Same with Sour Brite Crawlers:Sour Gummy Worms and Hot Tamales/Mike & Ike candy. I still eat the Sour Brite Crawlers and Hot Tamales candy lol.

I would collect movie theater/cinema ticket stubs on my dresser in my bedroom. I always loved that, as evidence and proof that I saw a popular movie, or even more obscure movies. I would just collect all the ticket stubs, and they would add up and I had quite a bit. I guess I figured it was a silly and weird hobby to have, so I think one day when I was cleaning my room, I just, I guess I found it stupid that I was collecting all these movie tickets, so I threw them away unfortunately. So yeah. lol.