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?
Well the way I see it is do cats and dogs like each other? Some do, some don't lol
Cats are NT dogs ND, but I guess that depends if you love cats or dogs
No, it's the other way around! Cats are much more independent creatures who will do things on their own terms and spend lots of time alone. They aren't always demanding our attention like dogs. They aren't as servile as dogs either. If they don't want you, they'll just walk away.
I don’t think I know how to twist words and your view of the book is simply your view, not that of the whole autistic community. It’s a valid and rightful opinion, but it’s only yours not everybody else’s.
I don’t happen to think that a Muslim person is different to anybody else, other than their religious beliefs, maybe, or a person who is gay. They may have different religious or sexual orientations to me, but I don’t see them as different to me. Maybe I don’t judge people and categorise them into groups according to how their brain works or what their religion is, etc, that’s all, so to me, grouping people is exhausting and I’m not sure I get the point of it. Although I understand it in terms of business and selling books etc.
Wouldn’t it be easier to show autistic people in a positive light by talking about the positive aspects of autism and how many of us are succeeding in life and not talking about all the difficulties? I don’t get that logic. I’m not saying it’s wrong, I’m just saying it’s different to how I see the world.
I’m sorry if it appears I’m doing some weird stuff with your words, I fully respect your view on the world, as I do everybody else’s, we all see the world differently and I enjoy listening to other people’s world views as it’s interesting and helps expand my awareness, which is limited due to my autism, I have the rigid thinking patterns and think everyone sees the world like me. So it’s good for me to hear other people’s world views.
It’s a shame (to me) that you no longer want to talk, I was enjoying the conversation and learning a lot. I do tend to frame what others are saying, in my understanding, as it helps me to understand them. It’s a bit like translating French into English and saying it back, to check with the other person that I’ve understood correctly. This works with most people, and they get to understand me a little better as well, but I understand my style of processing and understanding the world, doesn’t work for everybody so I respect your wish to not talk any more on this subject.
Thanks for that conversation so far though, I can see why you’re a winner at work. You seem like a tender hearted soul.