Talking on the phone

Hello, Hotel California.

I myself struggle to speak on the telephone, other than to known friends or relatives. In my school days, I didn't seem to mind doing so at first, but one of my fellow high school pupils allegedly rung me up, and teased me. I put the phone down immediately because of what he allegedly said - it wasn't swearing or verbal abuse, but he allegedly said or sung something that teased me so much, it upset me in a way. Some people tend to be offended by words or phrases that are not sweary, but still said or written in some excessively teasing or taunting manner.

Since I left high school in 1998, at the age of 17, I now communicate by mobile phone, text message or email, which were more or less in their infancies in those days. I can easily communicate by text or email, because I have more time to understand the questions or general information, but on the phone, one would ask me a question and expect an immediate answer, which can make speaking on the telephone a nervous experience. If you had to speak to your local bank, building society or whatever, making a phone call can be a real nightmare. One would probably end up hearing a recorded message, and also get put on hold for ages before speaking to a human being. To a normal person, that would be a problem, but to an autistic person like myself, that's even more so.

Hello, Hotel California.

I myself struggle to speak on the telephone, other than to known friends or relatives. In my school days, I didn't seem to mind doing so at first, but one of my fellow high school pupils allegedly rung me up, and teased me. I put the phone down immediately because of what he allegedly said - it wasn't swearing or verbal abuse, but he allegedly said or sung something that teased me so much, it upset me in a way. Some people tend to be offended by words or phrases that are not sweary, but still said or written in some excessively teasing or taunting manner.

Since I left high school in 1998, at the age of 17, I now communicate by mobile phone, text message or email, which were more or less in their infancies in those days. I can easily communicate by text or email, because I have more time to understand the questions or general information, but on the phone, one would ask me a question and expect an immediate answer, which can make speaking on the telephone a nervous experience. If you had to speak to your local bank, building society or whatever, making a phone call can be a real nightmare. One would probably end up hearing a recorded message, and also get put on hold for ages before speaking to a human being. To a normal person, that would be a problem, but to an autistic person like myself, that's even more so.