How you see me.

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O, and 2ukenkerl,

Pretend you said 'hello' to me (whether you would or not is beside the point),

It displays motor mannerisms (flapping, swaying, looking at lights), lacking in all the nonverbal cues (no eye contact or any other nonverbal language that a human can read--I was happy in the video, just FYI and all. I doubt anyone could pick that up), a lack of speech (a total lack of social and emotional reciprocation).

If I spoke, you'd get a voice without emotional inflection, and with a single reply, usually 'no', no matter what you said. I don't talk enough to offer echolalia.

That's every symptom that can be shown of Autism without talking about the other criterions, i.e., no friends, developmental history, etcetera.

RE: curled hands,

It's something I've noted that a certain number of individuals with an ASD do; whether it's a precursor to hand flapping or not, I don't know.

And I didn't pick up on any of that stuff.

Right hand was flapping
Swaying side to side (it wouldn't be as evident due to the camera being stabilised in my hand)
Looking up at the light near the end
The camera is the person (i.e., you), and I ain't looking at it
Side on to camera
No facial expressions
No talking

You can't see any of that?

I saw it but it all looked normal to me.

I only noticed the hand thing and the not-looking-at-the-camera thing. But you mentioned those in your introductory post, I think, so I was looking for them.

You just seemed to be standing there normally.

Granted, if I had tried to talk to you (assuming I could somehow teleport myself through the computer screen) and you had continued to stand there unresponsively, I would have twigged that you were unusual. But then, the chances that I would go up to you (or anyone else) and try to talk to you are really quite slim.

Ah, ok.

Unfortunately, none of that is "normal". It's probably normal to someone who's been around people with ASDs a lot or have one themselves (I doubt many people with Aspeger's will be able to relate, especially adults; I haven't seen any behave like such. They all responded), but it's completely abnormal behaviour in regards to normal and appropriate social interaction.

I haven't seen anyone else behave like such in person, except a young girl with Autism.

Well my eyes wander around the room too, and I look down or away but I wouldn't know someone is actually staring at patterns or objects if they were turning their heads and moving their eyes. I don't know how none aspies would see it and know if you have something.

I sometimes keep my hands curled and I always thought that was normal.

As others have said, seems "normal" to me.
I curl my hands too, I guess. Hand flap too, though not often.
I think I sway. Don't look at people. All that good stuff.

I suppose I wouldn't think it was 'normal' but you look rather pleasant and safe to me in that video. I would not say hello to you, but I'd prefer your proximity to that of other people.

I like hand-flapping and head-movements like that. I suspect that since autism-traits or autism-like traits are common in my family I automatically feel like people who exhibit them are at least third-degree relatives.

This made me smile. Daniel regularly reminds me of the Mathers character in The Third Policeman, after he's been murdered but surprises the narrator by being alive and talking in his old house. Mather's explains that he has determined that "no," is the safest answer to any question, and so he says "no," to everything. His friends, he says, get around this by asking him things like, "Would you say no to a glass of whiskey?" I found The Third Policeman to be a very stupid novel, but that part was good.

If I saw you in public:
I would notice you and know immediately you were not normal
I would strongly suspect autism after observing for a couple seconds
I would be interested in your behaviour, but force myself to not stare because I don't like to be stared at
You would probably think I was normal and I would not let on that I knew what you were doing
I would probably defend you if someone else made a rude remark

Very brave, and I appreciate your effort and willingness to share. Was interesting to see some mannerisms that I express in a muted form, or have mutated; the rubbing and curling of my youth is now more rhythmic tapping and finger sequencing (which have been easier to explain as being a musician/percussionist, esp. before I learned about ASDs), yet still very very familiar, swaying. Like looking in a mirror that intensifies characteristics. Admire you for your strength - thank you. [edit] And, for the record - your company would not be unwelcome. You seem attuned to yourself, which while exhibiting in its own way, is a good quality to me. [/edit]


M.

Last edited by makuranososhi on 02 Apr 2009, 12:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Looks fairly normal to me (like, nothing spooky or strange) but at the same time I noticed the totally abnormal presentation (that some others might perceive) because I pick up on details like that and know a lot about these things.

I'd have absolutely no problem with you.

But then again, I don't know how much my opinion's worth....you should see who I hang out with!

I have a question for you, Daniel, and I hope you don't mind. As an aspie, I sense the world a little like you do, but not enough for me to fully understand what it's like.

Here is my question: If I did meet you in person, or someone at the same spectrum level, how should I interact? I think there are a lot of NT's (and some aspies like me) who would like to know this. For example, are quiet voices easier for you to handle? I already know touching is unwelcome (I don't like it, either). Is there anything else I should know?

I realize aspies often get frustrated trying to communicate with NT's, and I can imagine how much worse it must be when you have full autism, and don't speak much, if at all. Many people don't have the convenience of writing, either. I think giving NT's some communication "guidelines" from the autistic point of view would make things much easier on both sides.

Interesting video...I myself wonder what I look like to others, but I don't think I could just point the camera at myself and capture it, I wouldn't be able to act naturally enough.

The most I've ever been told by people is that I'm "weird", that people talk about me behind my back, and that I should smile more.

But I guess even if someone did tell me what was so "weird" about me, I probably wouldn't understand what was so out-of-the-ordinary about it.

wow daniel i loved the video, i didnt know that was curling your hands thats how i sleep or will sit with that, i have to ask if i ever walk like that, and i looove starin at the lights didnt know that was sensory seeking haha, and also get stares haha, who cares, i never notice until i actually look up, and see them, idk how many i get when im not payin attention, anyways u learn soemthing new everyday hehe. great video by the way!