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?'.
I don't get why everyone seems to dress the same.
Take the colder months in the west for example; blue or black down jackets. You see them everywhere,!!? I even saw a couple yesterday wearing the same jacket, similar jeans, and the same trainers.
With the variety of clothing out there I like to play with what I wear, it's fun, and I actually tone it down loads so I don't make people comment etc, but really I'd like to wear really random clothes tbh.
Walk into Next or M&S, the ladies or kids clothes are colourful, have different prints and weaves. Then you walk into the men's section, it's like being on a morgue of boredom!
So I look go places like Urban Outfitters or Diesel etc, and I love the clothes, but the prices are insanely high!
I'm goth and I genuinely feel like there's more variety in the fashion you see in the goth community than there is in mainstream fashion. It's quite the achievement when we're all wearing all black every day! It's especially true for men's fashion I think, because the colour choices there are so limited and the expectations are so strict.
It does feel like there's less of a uniform in the goth world but you still get broad style categories.
One thing I have noticed and which makes me uncomfortable is the way alternative goth/punk styles have been appropriated by the mainstream. It used to be that coloured hair was a symbol of alternative style or membership of a loosely alternative subculture. Dyed hair seems pretty mainstream these days, no-one bats an eyelid if you have purple, blue or green hair. I suppose it means there's one less identifier to spot someone of a similar subcultural identity.
This troubles me too. I don't wear a "watch out for me, I'm different" or "I'm autistic so might act differently" badge......but I do try to alert normies that I am different from the get-go so that they do not become alarmed by my individuality of spirit. Thankfully, I don't think my "thing" will ever be adopted by the mainstream !!
I'm more Goth in spirit than you might ever imagine from my "Rees Mog" writings!