Have you been caught faking nuance comprehension?

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Jayo
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07 Feb 2023, 1:32 pm

Like, in a situation where there's a bunch of NTs, one of them makes some nuanced remark or question to you, and you put on the same face or "mask" as the others (reading the room, masking so far so good), then you retort with something that you can tell a second later was a non-sequitur, so your interlocutor repeats the remark or question, you're like "Uhh, yeah, ABCDE, that's a lot like VYWXZ, I hear ya, totally, but it could've been worse if IFYGSF." not answering literally, as you can "sense there's something", in their tone or face or posture, but you couldn't seamlessly put your finger on what the nuance is.

But then it hits; one of the others in the group says "he doesn't get it." 8O You've been OUTED. They just spoke about you in the 3rd person, which is one of the first microaggressions that we tend to notice when we're "outed". :( 8O

I've encountered that back in my 20s before my understanding and masking really improved (post-diagnosis), and all I could reply is something like "OK, you got me...I have to come clean that I'm not very good at reading between the lines, I feel kind of embarrassed about it but I didn't intend to cause any upset." I think at that point, you have less to lose by openly admitting your weakness, as it also shows that you're more alert to being possibly taken advantage of (as you can often tell there's something unspoken, but just can identify WHAT), and it shows you're not being passive-aggressive.



klanka
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07 Feb 2023, 4:17 pm

Before I learned better social skills I did get referred to in third person



Jayo
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07 Feb 2023, 8:19 pm

klanka wrote:
Before I learned better social skills I did get referred to in third person


Yep...not uncommon among those of us on the spectrum, so I've gathered. After you start getting this, prepare to be treated as if you're invisible. :(
A rather passive-aggressive manifestation of the label "he's not all there". :x Makes me wanna say, "why are you talking about me in the 3rd person? I'm RIGHT HERE." :x



klanka
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08 Feb 2023, 8:31 am

i just see that as a cue to leave that group



Jayo
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08 Feb 2023, 9:26 am

I think you're relatively fine if it's just a one-on-one dialogue, or even two-on-one. The trouble is when it's a group of NTs, like six or so, THEN everyone instantly picks up on the unspoken nuance but you. So they can just viscerally tell by exchanging glances that each understands it, whereas if it's one-on-one, your interlocutor has some room for doubt b/c he doesn't have other NTs as a sounding board.



kraftiekortie
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08 Feb 2023, 9:49 am

Now you understand why I hate hanging out in groups! :)



PenPen
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08 Feb 2023, 10:31 am

Image



Highlander852456
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08 Feb 2023, 2:35 pm

Yes.



MatchboxVagabond
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23 Apr 2023, 10:15 am

TBH, this kind of reminds me of that scene in the 40 year old virgin where he's trying to pretend that he's felt women up. It's both very funny and very relatable.