Published on 12, July, 2020
So I recently stumbled across this article that really resonated with me - https://aeon.co/essays/the-autistic-view-of-the-world-is-not-the-neurotypical-cliche
It describes to negative connotations and stereotypes associated with autism and covers controversial areas, such as how autistic people lack empathy, are unable to love etc.
The scope of the article highlights how autistic people are observed and judged by neurotypicals and explains how their perceptions and prejudices are based on their own perspectives and experiences.
This may sound harsh and divisive at first, but there is a valid point throughout that due to our minority status, we rarely have a voice to explains ourselves and although I confess I could never fully understand something from a neurotypical perspective, at the same time I wouldn't expect a neurotypical to fully understand something from a neurodiverse perspective either.
What is depressing for me, is that despite that insight into each other worlds, so to speak, clearly lacking on some parts, it is the autistic person who us at fault and not a problem shared by both parties.
I shared this article with my partner and his response was, when are you going to accept life is unfair and you just have to get on with it. Of course he wants to crack on with things because it doesn't affect him! I gave the example of how it would appear should you swap the autistic person with someone who is homosexual or black - he didn't think the same thing applied and so this is why this article is so relevant for out times.
I don't want a NT and ND division, so how do we come to understand each other better?
I for one do not have a problem in the normal way with metaphors and jokes.
This may be because I have 'learned' how to appreciate them. I have my moments that it takes a long, long time for a joke to sink in (sometimes years!) but there are many which I do understand. Same goes for metaphors, and I love language which is full of metaphors and similes.
However, I also visualise metaphors. I see them in pictues as to what they really are. And the same goes for bad language. If someone refers to something as a (obscene word for sexual intercourse) something, I visualise the thing as actually being in that state, but in not a nice way, as a violent unwarranted act, with all the images that conveys. Even if someone is referring to a box using such a word, I still imagine the box being violated in a pornographic way. I cannot simply see it as an intensifier and it makes me extremely uncomfortable.
Most people who would ask me to a party know I won't go, but I often get invitations like 'I know you won't come but I am having a party at ....' I don't really know what to make of that! I don't really know whether I prefer to be asked and refuse the invitation, or not receive the invitation, in which case I think I have been overlooked. I think it is nice to be asked really, even though I will refuse the invite. Someone just stating that they are having a party which they know I won't come to suggests to me they don't want me there anyway!