Things that most neurotypicals take for granted

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A list. Skills and such things that most people take for granted, that in people with ASDs are either not present, not reliably present, or hard work. Add your own.

If I am neurotypical, in most cases I will take it for granted that:

1. I will be able to talk when I need to.

2. Getting a sentence out will not require conscious planning.

3. My body will do what I ask it to most of the time.

4. Most environments will not be painful for me.

5. I will not often be as confused as hell by things that most people consider elementary.

6. If I don't want to do something, doing it will only take a moderate amount of self-discipline.

7. If I do want to do something, I will be able to do it immediately.

8. Minor changes in routine will not require advance planning to stop my brain from freaking out.

9. I do not need a list to keep track of what I do naturally.

10. Things like taking a shower or figuring out food are quick things to be done when necessary rather than things that need to be planned around.

11. If given a choice I can "just choose one" of the options.

12. knowing when to STFU

13. instinctivily programmed heat seeking search and destroy poon tang missiles in males

14. ability to get an instant wide-on in females

15. Being able to wear clothes without the risk of going completely bonkers.

16. Not being bothered by teeny tiny changes.

17. If I wish to go out with friends for a few hours, I will not have to conserve energy for a week beforehand, and I will not be fatigued for a week afterwards.

18. If I cannot find friends with whom to go out with for a few hours, this will be unusual, rather than expected.

19. Knowing that instead of smiling nicely, I actually look like this:


True story.

18. That I love being spoken to like I'm a Valley Girl, just because the rest of my same sex peers talk like that.

19. I don't have to take a nap after a 5 hour work day and a trip to the grocery store.

20. When someone is attacks me verbally, my mind won't go blank. I have words available to defend myself.

21. I love to network with others.

22. I love going to crowded events, like concerts, fairs, sporting events.

23. Flirting is easy and comes naturally.

24. I've worked at one job for over 5/10/20/30 years.

25. I'm a great dancer, great kisser, life of the party.

26. I would have been able to get dates easier and meet guys in real life and be more sociable and go to more parties and hang out with my peers more and have them over at my place or be at their place

27. Finding jobs be a lot easier

28. I won't have to plan my days when I have something on my mind I want to do

29. I have an easier time making decisions

30. Maybe have better control of my laughter so people aren't telling me "It's not funny" as if I have control or think I am laughing at them when I am laughing at something else in my head

why artistically and comedicly put aspies and yourself down? no point, NTs are socially higher on the evolutionary plane no reason to put aspies down as a joke.

31. Small talk would be easy.

(If I am neurotypical, in most cases I will take it for granted that: )

32. I will be able to have things that I am good at and things that I am bad at, and they will not be called splinter skills, or the paradox of neurotypicality, or somesuch.

33. People will not use my talents as evidence that I couldn't have difficulty with anything.

34. Conversely, it will be considered normal for me to have difficulty with some things, and this will not be taken as proof that I am overall incompetent.

35. If people say things to me like "You think you're so smart, you can make friends, but you can't do algebra? lol" it will be considered a d*ckish thing to do, rather than putting me in my place like I deserve.

36. People who pontificate on the nature of humanity will not list traits that I lack completely or struggle with as things that are essential to being human.


@Panic: because venting through humour or otherwise makes frustrating situations feel better.

32. When I realize I need help, it will naturally occur to me to ask someone for assistance--and I will be able to formulate a question or statement that is understood as a request for help.

34. I am generally capable of thinking about more than one thing at a time.

35. I am able to tune out ambient noise (e.g. the buzzing of electronics, the sound of my skin scraping against my pillow as I breathe) so that it does not bother me.

36.(a) I do not need specific cues to remember information or skills;
(b) Finding myself in a new environment will not cause me to forget how to do something that I have done every day for a number of years.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think this thread is meant to put anybody down. It seems more like a way to express a need for understanding--by listing difficulties that "you" (<--any person with ASD) experience and wish NTs could understand and accept as a very real part of your life.

Stating that you can't do/have difficulty with something isn't putting yourself down--it would only be a put-down if you also stated that your difficulties made you less of a person (or something along those lines).

Like Who_Am_I said: some people find it helps to laugh at things that are painful or frustrating--it provides "comic relief"

1.) I would be able to talk on the phone without incessantly pacing

2.) I wouldn't have to rehearse conversations before I have them

3.) I wouldn't have to be called lazy all of the time because I need to rest after completing tasks

4.) I wouldn't have to get upset with the ones I love because they don't understand what I think they should already know

5.) I would be able to have a fluid conversation and engage in small talk

6.) I would be able to have a conversation with those my own age

7.) I would be able to do mundane things without lists

8.) I would better be able to do things like button buttons on my clothing and actually properly cut my food with a knife

9.) Things like whispering wouldn't bother me

10.) I could concentrate on more than one thing at a time, rather than taking hours to complete a task