Animal Greetings

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The term Aspergers has only recently entered into my radar. Until now, for 37+ years, I have just been considered shy, a bit eccentric, bright, talented and a bit socially awkward. This site has helped me in that if NT people really do process information differently to AS, it would explain a lot of the frustration I have felt in interacting with many people. If I remove frustration from the equation, I think I may find it easier to accept the differences. I'm still not entirely sure whether there is a neurological difference, but I will go with this idea for now and see if it helps me to accept various situations in life.

One of the things that came into my mind recently that may or may not be related to AS is the fact that when I am in a shopping centre or crowd of people, I don't really see any of them, but if there is a dog or pet present, I immediately make eye contact and go up to say 'hello' to the animals (and yes, they do smile in greeting). Its only now that I'm thinking about it that I realise I don't acknowledge the humans with them. Perhaps this is one of the reasons people consider me "eccentric"? That doesn't mean that I don't have empathy for people. Simply that I seem to feel a stronger bond to animals first and foremost, and always have.

i saw a beautiful elk yesterday when i was haunting the woods

Sapphix, you'd be good for my autistic daughter. She wants to socialize but it's painfully overwhelming. When she has the dog on a leash, people come up and pet her dog and like her dog and are predictable with her dog. It's affirming to her and a safe way for her to feel like she's socializing.

I always "got along" better with animals than people. I had no trouble interacting with an animal, but I was scared senseless of people.

Amongst my family it's a standing joke that unless someone has four legs and a tail, I'm not going to be interested

I'm the same way. I usually acknowledge a person's pet before I even look at them. And then, the only reason I bother with them, is because I have learned over the years that the human will feel hurt or upset if I don't. Because for them, they will often use the animal as an excuse to socialize with the person. I've greeted dogs, and then had them break away from their owner and run after me for more attention, LOL.

I completly understand, always felt a much closer conection to animals than to people as well

I can read the emotions of animals much more easily than humans.

Yes, yes, yes! I can absolutely relate to all you guys.

I will talk to dogs and cats at peoples houses and hang out with the animals at parties.

I can communicate with animals in a way that most people find spooky. Barking guard dogs roll over for me or try to lick my face. Cats that "hate everybody" will curl up on my lap and rub against my legs. This is one of those things that makes me think that NT's are the ones who are different, having stepped outside of that natural cohesiveness.

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And now, a story (feel free to stop reading here)...

When I was about eight years old, the circus came to town.

One of the attractions at this circus was that you could have your photo taken with a chimpanzee.

My dad had spent 22 years in Africa, he loved chimps and had kept one as, he liked to call, a friend, not a pet. So he of course wanted to see these chimps and have contact with them, despite the unnaturalness of the surroundings, etc. So I was going to get my photo taken with one of the chimps.

My dad wasn't one to express emotions very often, particularly pride in me. But that day he was proud and talked about it for many years after.

When I sat with the chimp, the ape did something that he hadn't done with the other kids. He perked up and put the knuckles of his fist up to my mouth. I was completely unphased by this - to tell you the truth I felt more at home with this chimp than I did with other people and I guess he picked up on that. I returned the gesture and didn't really know why. And when I had to leave the chimp seemed upset, clinging to my jacket and stroking my hair with his hand.

My dad was nearly crying. He told me later that this behaviour was something he'd only ever seen in Africa. it was the social greeting that one chimp would give another to show it was not a threat and to build up a bond. Congola, my father's chimp, exchanged the same greetings with my dad.

One thing happened after that. A few days later I ran into Lee, a bully on my street who picked on me more and more as he got older. He had a huge gause bandage on his neck. He had also gone to have his photo taken with the chimp. The chimp that had taken a bite out of his neck and thrown him off the stool. The circus left early, but I was very pleased that nothing happened to that chimp because of taking a bite out of Lee, much as his family wanted the animal destroyed.

Ah, good times.

That is one of the best animal stories I have ever heard! Thanks.

I have always felt more a part of the social world of animals than humans. I visit the human world, stand at the periphery looking in, maybe wander into the mass once in awhile, but retreat back out of it again. Perhaps that is what makes me a better observer of their behaviors and will help me in my career (neurological research).

With animals, when one is present, my attention goes to them immediately, and it is hard to keep attuned to the humans around; they just don't interest me then. Animals feel more my equal; I WANT to interact with them. Nonverbally, I better understand them and feel compassion and true empathy for them.

Nothing hurts me more than seeing an animal suffering. No human suffering does that to me.

Why my brain sees animals and humans so differently, while logically I know we're all animals, I can't say. Probably because I am human and am supposed to feel part of the human species, though I don't. So I tend towards those I feel for, which is other animals.

I have a hunch that most Asperger people are unusually attracted to animals. I find myself in accord with all sorts of animals. Even flights of sparrows and pigeons come to me and recognize me at a distance regularly if I toss them a few crushed peanuts on regular occasions.