People, people, people

K, that is some coping strategy, if it works for you... use it.

Your words reminds me of Dawn Prince-Hughes or Temple Grandin study of the animal kingdom.

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-autistics-known-today.php

KaloJaro thanks for the reply.

I understand your point of view and agree with you.. this is very similar to my own cognitive emotional thinking. Packs, herds,, deliberately hunting the weak and slow.

Fear and mistrust are centre to my autism traits, based on life experience of being harmed by socialpsychopathic society.

I would say there is 6 types of humans in the world.. hel, demon, animal, humanbeing, demi-god and god,, we all can exist or experience these 6 planes, just some people are more archtypical in one or two states. Maybe the 7th plane is harmony.

I tend just to go into my garden and plant flowers most days and walk about without making much contact with people, I AM HAPPY WITH THIS. I am beginning to understand that this is the best way for me, a path of peace. Thankfully, I have a support worker who is my talking link to the darkworld.

The forum helps me too as an expressive therapy.

I think it annoys me personally how much people try to deny any association with the animal kingdom. I rely heavily on my senses and instincts, because whether I like it or not, in a public environment, I am prey. I'm hyperaware of others actions, of people getting too close, of stray glances, of anyone seeming to move deliberately towards me etc etc.In this state I'm usually tense, nervous, slightly distressed and actively avoid any eye contact.

At times in places where I feel comfortable, I switch to a predatory mode, meaning I'm confident enough to act as though I own the territory/area (my room, certain tables or chairs I regularily use) and will defend it if necessary. I will walk about, move subtly closer to people I feel are invading said territory, which makes them subconciously move away, and generally act as though I have every right in the world to be in that specific place, while implying they don't (within reason, I rarely outright ask people to leave). This can include looking directly at someone and making eye contact until they look away/move away.

This is the result of humans being omnivores, meaning we switch between predator and prey instinctively depending on our environments and situation. With my friends who I trust (my 'pack/herd') I switch between prey and predator depending on how the others are acting. If they are relaxed and actively moving through crowds without moving out of others way, I feel we are more of a pack. And when they stick tightly together, or seem nervous, I feel we form a herd.

Whichever 'role' they adopt (seemingly unintentionally), I also take on the behaviours as well, although I'm often protective of them as I seem to always end up being the decision maker/leader. And they don't even seem to notice my 'strange' behaviour, meaning subconciously, they also register my behaviour as natural and instinctive.

I wish there were more studies done into this sort of behaviour readily available to the public, it'd be interesting to see humans analysed as one would analyse any other creature on the planet.

I view people as animals, because logically, they are. While I was growing up I've always had two cats around me as well as my parents. From the cats, I learned not to hit or pull limbs (tails or ears) or else I'd get batted on the head and hissed at, as well as how to get up the stairs (I still get the urge to drop on all fours going up long flights of stairs).

I prefer animals because they react in simple and logical methods, and if you do upset them in some way, you're easily forgiven in a few hours (maybe less if you bribe them with food).

However, I feel I view other human beings the way I think other humans see animals, dumb, vicious creatures that are often unpredictable and dangerous. Whenever I meet people I don't know too well, I instantly go into fight or flight mode.

If I was to get shoved into a cage with a lion, I'd probably be more relaxed with the lion.

I can't tell whether these people mean me harm, I can't tell what their motives are for speaking to me (animals are easy: affection, food, warmth) and I'm hyper-aware that whatever I say can be used against me. Its even worse when you see them wandering about in packs (2-5 individuals) or herds (10 or more), with the packs often deliberately hunting down any strays to harrass or harm, mentally, or physically (this led to many years of high school with me hiding in the library).

Keeping this in mind, I try my best to associate human behaviour with animals, almost like watching a wildlife documentary. It means I can keep relatively calm as long as no one gets too close while in a public environment.