Problems with the younger generation

I am terribly sorry and shocked to read that you experienced. I won't say that the problem is the younger generation, although you remarking that they are digital natives may be part of it. Most people fortunately do not actively target people with obvious neurodiversity, but the few that do (and don't care less that they've ruined someone's day) can be found between ages 1 and 100. They're petty bullies feeling good about themselves for having a go at someone who they feel they can get away with their unacceptable and unforgiveable behaviour.

Going back to the 80s I was in the same place. I was unaware that I was neurodivergent (the word was hardly known), but I was aware enough that I seemed to be a target of being teased. One day, walking home from school (alone), I walked into two older boys who without being provoked started to call me names. When I didn't respond they started to push me. Telling them to stop ....as if they'd politely oblige... they took it to the next level, and seconds later I found myself in a ditch overgrown with stinging nettles.

There is some really nasty folk around, and if I was to express my sincerest feelngs about them it would be me who'd be locked up and not them.
Being a digital native or being someone barely an adult I feel adds fuel to their feeling of impunity. They lack the social experience of facing real causes and effects, most of their 'experience' is based on stories they watch online. They might even legitimate that harassing someone in real is needed to have that real experience (I remember a front page article in the 00s where two teenagers killed a younger girl 'just' to see what it was like to see someone die). The issue is, they feel it is fair and square to do as they wish to fulfil their agenda and interests, but once they get pushed back into their boundaries they are first to accuse others of not respecting them.... WE are the older ones so WE should know better how to respond (according to their wishes), and THEY are still young and for US older it is mean to 'take it out' on someone younger.

Whatever you try to do with someone is thinks it's ok to harass or bully, treat them like an idiot. As the saying goes, you don't argue with an idiot. And keep them at bay whenever and wherever.

I'm just noticing a lot more agression walking around, its not like its even confined to people sitting behind their windscreen honking. Its like everyone is miserable muttering obscenties. Venting their frustration on everyone. I don't know what the one underlying reason for this is. At the same time there are good people, someone may be feeling stress or frustration rather than kicking someone for personal gratification.

Mothers in the 80s were being told all kinds of things. I do think i would have been diagnosed sooner if divergence was a buzzword, but I always loved being me. That is the thing now because even knowing now I have ASD I know I'm totally me. inimitable. We all are.

I agree, its dangerous out there for people who have a vulnerabiity because of the people who want to take from them. When I actually think about the risk, maybe its low, it could be pure chance whether you bump into someone who is going to cause trouble. Generally though these people wont be in certain places at certain times (like 7am).

The only thing I have learned about bullies is the not to allow them trick. Or entertaining them with a response which could provoke them further. I see it as a problem where society turns a blind eye to the extent where its normalised. More generally it seems to be an evolution of a certain kind of behaviour at this point in time, where people think its osmehow more socially acceptable to behave in a hostile way and pass it off as banter. Again this might just be my take at the age I am.

I'm just noticing a lot more agression walking around, its not like its even confined to people sitting behind their windscreen honking. Its like everyone is miserable muttering obscenties. Venting their frustration on everyone. I don't know what the one underlying reason for this is. At the same time there are good people, someone may be feeling stress or frustration rather than kicking someone for personal gratification.

Mothers in the 80s were being told all kinds of things. I do think i would have been diagnosed sooner if divergence was a buzzword, but I always loved being me. That is the thing now because even knowing now I have ASD I know I'm totally me. inimitable. We all are.

I agree, its dangerous out there for people who have a vulnerabiity because of the people who want to take from them. When I actually think about the risk, maybe its low, it could be pure chance whether you bump into someone who is going to cause trouble. Generally though these people wont be in certain places at certain times (like 7am).

The only thing I have learned about bullies is the not to allow them trick. Or entertaining them with a response which could provoke them further. I see it as a problem where society turns a blind eye to the extent where its normalised. More generally it seems to be an evolution of a certain kind of behaviour at this point in time, where people think its osmehow more socially acceptable to behave in a hostile way and pass it off as banter. Again this might just be my take at the age I am.