Are most neurotpicals mentally ill?

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I will never ever say that NTs are all normal, because they are not. You come across some who are very laid-back and stay descent throughout their entire life, and you get others who seem completely insane. I always thought I was the weirdest of the weird, but when I started my job working in a shop I came across some incredibly weird customers, (workers and all!)
I think you've got a point there. Not all NTs are social experts. Ever heard the old saying, ''there ain't no queer as folk''? That is so true. I see for myself.

My mum and her sister were talking about how odd people can be, just the other day (they're both NTs, and so are all their friends). My mum said that every time one of her work-friends, (lets call her X) arranges for her to come round to X's flat of an evening, X always makes an excuse just beforehand. Every time, and X doesn't have any children or boyfriends, or any other responsibilities really (apart from a part-time job). X just lives in a little flat of her own and could have as many friends round as she can when she wants, really. But, say for example, on a Wednesday X will arrange something with my mum to come round on Friday night, and on the Friday morning X will suddenly phone up and make an excuse. It's happened about 30 times this year, and it's no coincidence. It's like X can't really be arsed to see friends and chat. So I said, ''I didn't think non-Aspies done that really - I thought communication was natural and easy for them,'' and my mum said, ''not necessarily.''

NTs can be very socially odd a lot of the time.

I think that everyone can be diagnosed with something, one way or another. I've never met a person who didn't have issues.

May I share a perspective?

I believe that neither autism (plain and simple) or neurotypicality (plain and simple) are disorders. They are simply different ways to be wired. The autistic mind, when treated and used properly, is a magnificent thing. People often talk about the autism spectrum in terms of "high-functioning" or "low-functioning". I would actually argue that people on all points of the spectrum can be high-functioning or low-functioning.

Here's what I mean. Let's say you have two people with classic autism. One of them is completely cut off from the rest of humanity, prone to fits of violent rage, has no education, and may suffer from very serious conditions like epilepsy. The second one has learned to interact with people, albeit with some modification on the part of other people, has chosen to learn to calm themself, and is a generally functional human being.

I'll take two real people for my next example. One of my best friends is a "high-functioning neurotypical". She has a lot of the challenges that come with being neurotypical. For instance, she has high empathy, which makes her quite vulnerable to other people's emotional states. She can control emotions when they originate within herself, but cannot control other people's emotional states. Nonetheless, she is a very functional person, because she uses the strengths of being NT (ability to read body language, theory of mind, etc) and does her best to correct her weaknesses (she makes an effort to be straitforward and has even begun to share one of my interests).

On the other hand, I have another friend who is a "low-functioning neurotypical". She also has high empathy, but rather than making an effort to choose the right thing (regardless of other people's feelings), she is swayed by whatever the crowd is doing. Rather than making an effort to be honest and straightforward despite her wiring, she has succumbed to pathological lying. Every decision is based on pure emotion rather than principles (unless they are emotionally based) or logical thinking.

Feeling good about ourselves as individuals has to do with accepting ourselves for how we are, not by turning someone else into the "bad" or "defective" one.

It's a shame that NTs have a bad name now.

I am so sorry each of you had to go through such things

Pretty much the only response needed on this thread.

I agree too. Everybody has problems.

Can you not throw around "mentally ill" and "sociopath" like it means nothing? Mental illness and sociopathy are serious issues. Some people are just as*holes.

So she never apologized? I had a co worker who would insult me, then the next day he would be so nice and ask me if he can buy me lunch.

Yeah. Most are OCD Liars.

Yes...

I think a lot of PEOPLE are mentally defective, period.

NTs don't have a monopoly on it.

The way I see it, dysfunction transcends all boundaries.

whoa whoa whoa whoa WHOA! "mentally ill" doesn't necessarily mean a person is unkind, a liar, or illogical!

i mean, unless you want to be calling me unkind, a liar, or illogical.

i struggle every day just to read THIS? REALLY?