Right and wrong

I’m feeling quite frustrated today and I’m trying to put it into words to make sense of why. Please feel free to either chime in with your thoughts on the matter, or totally ignore this post, as I suppose it’s a bit of a rant of sorts.

I think rules are very important to me. I use them to live my life. I know when something is right or wrong in my eyes and I try to uphold myself in a way that impacts those around me in as positive a way as I can.

With that in mind, perhaps it is the case that others don’t have as strict a moral code, or perhaps what registers on their radar is different to mine. 

And this is where, I suppose, my feelings of being let down have crept in. Recently, I dropped everything to help someone. Put hours into it. But since then, I’ve had very little back. They have had what they needed from me, but haven’t thought to reciprocate. I’m not going to lie, I’m finding it a bit upsetting. I don’t want to stop helping people, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t be followed up. I didn’t do it for recognition, but at the very least a thank you, or good job, wouldn’t hurt.

I have fairly strict guidelines on how I carry myself, and I assume everyone does the same (and that those guidelines align with mine). But it’s moments like these where that assumption crashes down in front of me. I always make sure my gratitude is shown when someone puts any effort into my betterment, so why don’t others. Or is it that they show it in a way I miss?

People aren’t mind readers, and yet I almost expect them to be. I expect them to know when they have negatively impacted me, even with no clues from myself. This is, I think, where the problem stems from. I have always been like this, and I hate it.

Apologies. Maybe this was more of a rant than I intended.

Parents
  • I can relate. I have strong morals, including some rules I made for myself that others don’t care about.

    How close is this person you helped? What are they like most of the time? Have they helped you before? What did you expect back, and when? Did you ask them for the help that you needed?

    I ask because I think it makes a difference. Someone close to you who’s helped in the past might just be absorbed in the moment. I don’t like to make excuses for people, but I do like to think of the reasons why they do/don’t do what we expect.

    We also need to realise that sometimes, people need to be asked for help, as they might not realise it’s required. I am terrible for asking. And when I think I have asked, really I’ve just made a round about statement. 

    Some others might indeed be all about themselves. But only you would know, since you know this person and gave your time to them.

  • Thank you for the questions. They are really worth reflecting on. It’s actually good to see and consider the context of what I was describing again. 

    We also need to realise that sometimes, people need to be asked for help, as they might not realise it’s required. I am terrible for asking. And when I think I have asked, really I’ve just made a round about statement. 

    I can see the truth in this statement too now. Though, it was not something I had considered myself. Another great example of how helpful this place is. Thank you. Perhaps this describes me too.

  • Interesting..........I am normally advised to be careful NOT to help UNLESS I am asked for it.

    I know that I do have a strong tendency to try and help anyone in a situation that I believe would benefit from my input but I am also SUPER vigilant against sticking my nose in where it is not wanted.  I always think that I am being too apologetic and hesitate to help - - - but my nearest and dearest tell me that I can be a little overbearing.  It sucks when you are trying to be nice and people just think you are being a know-all *** !

    How the hell can any of us get this stuff right between ourselves?  I try to stick with a small circle - but it can be exhausting maintain safe relationships with everybody.

Reply
  • Interesting..........I am normally advised to be careful NOT to help UNLESS I am asked for it.

    I know that I do have a strong tendency to try and help anyone in a situation that I believe would benefit from my input but I am also SUPER vigilant against sticking my nose in where it is not wanted.  I always think that I am being too apologetic and hesitate to help - - - but my nearest and dearest tell me that I can be a little overbearing.  It sucks when you are trying to be nice and people just think you are being a know-all *** !

    How the hell can any of us get this stuff right between ourselves?  I try to stick with a small circle - but it can be exhausting maintain safe relationships with everybody.

Children
  • Thanks, that makes sense now. I think I was mostly encouraged by being accepted here as I am not completely confident in my autistic identity, being only self-diagnosed.

    Hmm, I think most people (NTs) are quite happy to be wrong as long as enough people agree with them... it's called democracy...

  • What I mean is, you have questions, assumptions and opinions about yourself and the world around you.  I am the same.  Neither of us should necessarily be encouraged or guided by each other because we are both just as likely to be wrong - hence "the blind leading the blind."

    All the best

  • You write a lot of sense Triker - new or otherwise - self-identified or diagnosed - you're alright by me!

  • I find it hard that most people seem to not like being corrected and don't find that helpful! If I am wrong I want to be corrected so I see it as a kindness unless it is done in a mean way. Of course that is only if it is a point of fact not opinion. Nobody wants to be told they are wrong to like what they like; or if it is something which is a disputable matter, although I enjoy discussing those and not everyone else does.

    Also I think of it as helpful to share knowledge and advice, which as you say can also be seen as being a know-all. But surely it is good to share knowledge? Again, I like to be told things I don't know which might be useful. But not if someone has already told me that thing or if it is wrong I guess... Still, better to be offered the info than not, just in case it is useful.

    And it is difficult when someone tells you a problem and you just assume they want your help solving it when actually they just want sympathy. I often get this wrong! Even with my Dad who is very similar to me, but sometimes he just wants to vent to a sympathetic ear and has already thought of the solution, although it is nice when I do think of a thing which he hasn't thought of and which helps him. My Dad has also had problems with trying to help people and it not being welcome; we reckon he is autistic too.

    I assume these are things which people here relate to? I am only self-diagnosed and new here, so not really sure, but from what I have read those are regarded as autistic traits? And now I'm waffling and not sure how to sign off so I shall just stop writing and post!