does it show?

for as long as i can remember, i'v had issues with being bullied. primary school, massively so in secondary school, and even now at college. but its odd. back in secondary school, i knew no one, due to moving schools for year 7, and i kept my head down and was quiet. within the first week, the classmates behaviour towards me got set in stone in low level harrasment, put downs, and as much physical stuff as they could get away with during lessons like PE. at that age i had no diagnosis, and didnt until my first year of college, and after 5 years of more or less hell, i was ready to beleive of the oft trotted out trite that 'people are different when you get to college'. no, they really arent, by the end of the first day i had been called out, degradingly, for giving an answer in class that was more detailed than is the norm for teenagers, this has persisted to the present day, even when i moved up onto the lvl 3 course from the lvl 2, there were brand new people i had never met, verbally taking the p**s on to other grounds than i was very silent. only the other day, i was on the morning college bus, not having slept much the previous night, and was led back, eyes shut, but very much awake. 3 teenage males my age i have NEVER met and hadnt spoken to even when getting on the bus started slamming windows, shouting in my ear, slapping me on the shoulder and in one case stamped on my foot, for no apparent reason, other than to judge by there conversation, that i was, in there eyes, alseep.

but enough of my whiney sob story and onto the real reason for this post. a recuring though throughout secondary school, and one that resurfaced shortly after i got my diagnosis two years ago was this; does it show? is there something about me, my speech, my mannerisms, and posture or stance, is there one single thing that lets people see me in a way that indicates me as a target for this kind of behvaiour. is it linked to aspergers and autism? has anyone else found thensevles targeted for no apparent reason by peers?

Parents
  • Hiya, I'm Katie and I'm a 17 year old aspie, I only got diagnosed this year but it makes a ot of sense.

    I've always had trouble with people, the way I see it is pack mentality, 'If you're not with us you're against us'. Many have gone out of their way all my life to make fun of me for walking fast, being too smart (knowing that the x ray images was of a short fin mako shark rather than simply putting 'shark' on the quiz) or explaining in too much detail. As a girl, this lead to constant sniping from other females, whether its degrading comments about my appearence (forgive me for not plastering that expensive clay over my face every morning or that I actually like having short boyish hair ¬¬) or just highlighting that I'll never have a boyfriend or any 'true' friends.

    Like I said, unless you're part of a group, people will single you out and target you simply to make themselves seem more interesting or humourous to their friends. As a girl, this meant bitching behind my back and the odd catcall from boys of 'can I have your number?' before they burst out laughing (and people wonder why I can't take any offers of relationships seriously) at my expense. But being a girl, theres always been the whole 'you shouldn't hit girls' thing with the boys, meaning they kept it verbal.

    Most likely its not something you're -doing- more what you're -not- doing, aka being like them. But look on the bright side, by being myself and actively trying to ignore all these comments, I've become an unofficial role model for younger students at my high school (in 6th form now), I've seen more kids dressing up in a more gothic relaxed style with girls cutting their hair short in a way that suits them.

    As one of my friends (yeah, I successfully intergrated into the 'outsiders' group) say, 'Better to put up with them now so you can make them kiss your a** when you're their boss later.'

Reply
  • Hiya, I'm Katie and I'm a 17 year old aspie, I only got diagnosed this year but it makes a ot of sense.

    I've always had trouble with people, the way I see it is pack mentality, 'If you're not with us you're against us'. Many have gone out of their way all my life to make fun of me for walking fast, being too smart (knowing that the x ray images was of a short fin mako shark rather than simply putting 'shark' on the quiz) or explaining in too much detail. As a girl, this lead to constant sniping from other females, whether its degrading comments about my appearence (forgive me for not plastering that expensive clay over my face every morning or that I actually like having short boyish hair ¬¬) or just highlighting that I'll never have a boyfriend or any 'true' friends.

    Like I said, unless you're part of a group, people will single you out and target you simply to make themselves seem more interesting or humourous to their friends. As a girl, this meant bitching behind my back and the odd catcall from boys of 'can I have your number?' before they burst out laughing (and people wonder why I can't take any offers of relationships seriously) at my expense. But being a girl, theres always been the whole 'you shouldn't hit girls' thing with the boys, meaning they kept it verbal.

    Most likely its not something you're -doing- more what you're -not- doing, aka being like them. But look on the bright side, by being myself and actively trying to ignore all these comments, I've become an unofficial role model for younger students at my high school (in 6th form now), I've seen more kids dressing up in a more gothic relaxed style with girls cutting their hair short in a way that suits them.

    As one of my friends (yeah, I successfully intergrated into the 'outsiders' group) say, 'Better to put up with them now so you can make them kiss your a** when you're their boss later.'

Children
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