What is the difference between Pity and Compassion?

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I don't think you can have compassion for someone and "look down" on them also.

The above poster made a remark that is interesting. However it is too generalized to be of a great help initially but I think with some other input it can create some very constructive social understandings.

Some items to think on.

1. Calling autism a disability and saying someone has a disability is or is not looking down at someone and thinking they are inferior compared to an average?

2. Pity as a definition of anything perceived as an inferiority judgement may be too harsh. Whereas to seek to correct when chosen and enable as is seems more balanced. The right to treatment is unalienable but in the perfect world so is a reasonable right to dignity.

Compassion is when you feel sorry for the situation, pity is when you feel sorry for the person.

What I mean is that when you pity them, it kind of overwhelms your view of the person and you treat them as if all they are is someone to be pitied. The guy in a wheelchair isn't a quirky funny guy with a coffee addiction and a sort-of girlfriend, just a pitiful person who can't walk. Compassion you still see the person as more than just a victim of misfortune.

Pity for autism is acting as if meltdowns and inability to do things makes up the entirety of autism and not seeing the good. Compassion for autism is feeling sad because the kid's having a meltdown and doesn't have the verbal skills to tell you what he needs, but also seeing his sheer glee at watching a fan and valuing that.

That's my opinion, anyway. It's not about what you do or don't do, it's about how you see the person.

Thats a nice and valuable way of expressing that kind of view. Yet it is much more complicated then that. Look for another post of mine to come related to your reply specifically. I will use it to model an introductory discussion article.

This kind of learning opens up the world of NTs to you. In the end much of what confuses us about their society are unspoken rules that can be explained in short sentences. Furthermore I just think it is natural for us tolearn in this manner. We tend to be very trusting and open of these sorts of messages, to our benefit and detriment.

pretty much the exact same definitions i would use.

It seems pity has a new definition today. You say you pity someone when you feign sadness over someone else's misfortune but in reality have no respect for them and wish to insult them rather than help them. In other words, pity is a word used in derision.

It seems that the neurotypical idea of using compassion on us is to use deception. Instead of firing autistics from jobs neurotypicals now lay them off due to lack of work.

This is really getting old. I have had 2 job placements in my life. One I was fired from because of learning disability after a week and the other I could not handle the environment changes in expectation (transitions and required quick new skills). I don't sit around thinking the world hates me but instead I create solutions for myself and others. I really wish you would focus on more positive things then this circular they hate us and are out to get us reasoning that is like a broken tape recorder.