Published on 12, July, 2020
Thanks to Number in another thread (root beer) I've been thinking of the many things I've just 'not got' and done wrong.
Usually the clue that I'm not 'getting it' is the look of wonder on the faces of other people.
I'm suspecting now this may be autism related.
There are countless examples during my life but here a few.
McDonalds: I don't really understand McDonalds and I don't spend time in them without another person.
My mum used to like them so I'd take her there for lunch sometimes.
One of the 1st times she asked me to collect a menu for her and some cutlery.
I couldn't understand why these weren't on the table.
So, I went to the counter and asked for these things.
After this initial trauma, I then had the trauma of trying to understand what you are supposed to eat off of and with.
Doh.
McDonalds is a particular thing with me I think.
I was with my autistic friend on our way back from visiting his mother and we went to a McD.
He asked me to get him a 'root beer'.
So, I asked for such at the counter only to be asked what that is.
I said 'I don't know' so no root beer was presented to my friend.
Another prime example is going to a spa and swimming baths in a hotel.
I'm not a swimmer or a spa goer.
So, the 1st thing I did was put my make-up on before going there.
Then, I couldn't understand how the lockers worked and had to get assistance.
Then, I eventually found the toilets but couldn't find my way back to the swimming pool so I walked through reception soaking wet in my swimming costume.
I was also in a church once when a service began and loads of people sat around me.
I had gone in there because I was in a strange city and cold and was using the church as a refuge.
I thought I could just sit there whilst the service took place.
I hadn't anticipated communion and although I'm not a Catholic or a church goer, and although I didn't understand what I was doing, I felt obliged to follow everyone up and take communion.
There are so many examples I won't continue.
Is it just me or are there other people here who just don't 'get it?'.
Internet trolling. I do not and will never understand why someone would do this. I've been trolled online before and it zaps your self confidence and caused depression for me. It's easy to hide behind their screen and be horrible to people. But why they would do it I have no idea.
I want to agree with you in principle - it’s a horrible business and awful to be subjected to. (And in the wee small hours today a textbook example came up here before the moderators ejected the offender). But the fact is that there will always be trolls during this phase of our human evolution. For some it’s about narcissistic supply - get a reaction and they get a hit. For others, they are lashing out at the world and projecting. The person briefly on here earlier started aggressively titled threads targeting minority groups (and the ‘woke’) but was clearly deeply hurting inside about feeling marginalised and unseen themselves. A bad night? Alcohol? Do they regret it this morning? Who knows? But it can’t have made them feel good, to be at war with the equally marginalised. As horrendous as their comments were, I could feel the depth of their pain and loneliness. And that’s all of us on some level. All human life is here…
I am often called a troll and am banned from many online groups as a result.
Tying into the 'Things you just dont get in life' I dont get why I am called a troll and banned. Someone has posted a position, I have worded a response (arguably entrapment) which down the line I can have them challenge their first position... If they have contradictory positions, then my position is the strongest... If they don't then I have new information to take away to learn something new.
I don't understand why my wish to learn something new or show someone they are not right is trolling.
I'm mid-fifties, mate. And that goes to show that silliness and immaturity are not exclusive to the young.
I don't rember you saying your age Simon, but I was in my twenties like a blunt axe when talking to people, try chopping using one
As I mentioned much earlier today, your response to their posts was more humane, mature and understanding than my own kneejerk efforts, and that's a real credit to you and also a lesson for me.