Copying, mimicing, masking, camouflaging

Hi! 

A lot of people on the spectrum copy and mimic. I've recently started to think about the ways I do this, and at first, I thought it's something that completely doesn't apply to me. However, the more I read about this, and the more ways of doing it I discover, I feel like I did not understand the whole concept of masking. It begins to be a huge eye-opener for me, and I would be very grateful if someone could share their ways of copying, mimicking, masking and camouflaging. How do do do this? Do you do this consciously? Do you still mask or have you stopped at some point in your life?

  • Yeah, I have my problems with the term too. Funny, what you describe is something I thought is just normal for nearly everyone. I ask a lot of questions too but it depends on the type of conversation whether I'm interested or not in the answer.

  • I have never liked the term 'masking', because it is facile, you put a mask on and take it off, it does not articulate the amount of effort needed to fit into allistic society. Mimicry and camouflage are better terms, as they indicate some effort. How do I do it? I ask lots of questions I have no interest in the answers to, about other people, their families and experiences. It seems to be expected, and makes them happy and happy with you. I make eye contact, it's entirely conscious, but I have years of experience in it and I can judge accurately what amount of eye contact people find comfortable. I can be affable, I can make wry and sometimes comical comments. Many people think that I'm a good listener. However, all this and similar activities, come at a price and that is exhaustion. Eventually, I have to get away from other people and be on my own in order to recover.