Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm reading the 10th edition of Asperkids and it lists a bunch of Neurotypical social norms and "rules" and woah. I'm 23 and can't believe I didn't realize these things. I wish I'd had this book in middle school - it would have save me a lot of trouble. Do people actually just pick up on this stuff automatically? Why did no one tell me?
Suddenly my job search from last year is making a lot of sense as to why the interviews didn't go well. Apparently someone having a book on their office shelf doesn't mean they've read it or plan to read it and asking them about it makes them uncomfortable and embarrassed - no wonder I didn't get that job. But I figured if you have a copy of The Art of War proudly displayed you've read it or are planning to read it - but I guess it was just decor? But it wasn't even a particularly nice looking edition, just a generic hardback, the type you can get on Amazon. Why display a book you haven't read or don't plan to read when it isn't even pretty? It reminds me of that part in the library in Gatsby but I figured people stopped doing the whole fake library thing when books became more affordable.
And then there was that guy I corrected when he said there were six continents and the business he worked for did business across all six ... he forgot Antarctica.
And suddenly every annoyed boss and potential boss and professor and teacher starts to make sense. Apparently people in places of authority don't like to be corrected or questioned. But aren't we supposed to ask questions and shouldn't corrections be made if something is wrong?
God, how do you figured out when to question and correct and when to just shut up?
It’s like when NT’s have all sorts of unwritten rules that we are supposed to “just know, without having to be told” couched in euphemistic language to explain same, as if this is their version of having “common sense” and having “cop on” and that we are supposed to be “seen and not heard” and if not, we are commanded, instructed and ordered to “shut up” “be quiet” “learn to take it” (bullying) and to “stop your nonsense”