Is it "wrong" to have "special interests"

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You hit the nail on the head here: having an interest is just fine, just as long as it's the same as everyone else's interest(s). But I've always been one to deviate from the social norm anyway

There is absolutely nothing wrong with special interests, and they should be encouraged and not shunned. Most special interests which I have had, can be redirected toward a gainful career, or can be useful in some way. Anyone who thinks a special interest is weird or useless, is being judgmental by default, and needs to be disregarded. They do not have our best interest at heart; rather they act on their own inhibitions and low self esteem.

Charles

When I was obsessed with Queen/Freddie Mercury my parents would make me hide anything that even had Queen's logo on them. And I wasn't allowed to listen to their music until my obsession was no more. Worst time of my life.

In their defense, it had turned into an obsession, not just a special interest...

Last edited by SeizeTheDay on 24 Jan 2011, 1:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I keep saying I'm undiagnosed... ghaw, that's almost a compulsion, but I remember the stuff I was interested in when I was in school was encouraged. For example, the teachers would give me bird books and bird magazines and let me draw birds on assignments and make assignments about birds.

If loving stopmotion animation is wrong than I do not want to be right.

My parents made it out to be the wrong thing to do, when I was a child. I say, screw them.

When I was growing up, many of my special interests were encouraged by my parents, because they had a lot of potential for a good career in the sciences.

Unfortunately, when I actually tried to pursue a scientific career, my aspie traits stopped me from advancing.

The big joke of my life: Asperger gives and Asperger takes away.

I hate the expression 'special interests'. It sounds so patronising. If we were not Aspies, it would be called 'area of expertise' and seen as a positive thing.

i don't see how it is patronizing

I find the term 'special' tends to be used in a patronising way, particularly toward children, and people with disabilities. Sort of like saying someone has a 'special friend' - it's said in an indulgent way of children, or maybe an adult with a learning disability.

And I also find it patronising that 'special interests' is a term that has been coined specifically for the interests of people on the spectrum, and listed as a pathological 'symptom' - whereas if someone is not on the spectrum, it would be called 'area of expertise', which is more of an objective term, and used with respect, and seen as something constructive and admirable.

It's patronising because it's using different language for different people, and the different language denotes different attitudes.

(And of course I'm talking about the way that NTs have coined the term and use it - not when people on the spectrum refer to their special interest. But I think it is a shame we have this 'special' term just for autistic people - it's alienating, and creates 'them and us' attitude, suggesting our 'special interests' are somehow inferior to NTs' 'areas of expertise'.)

I think of 'areas of expertise' as when some one specializes in something, whereas a special interest at least in my case rarely lasts very long (most of the time that is).

It's alright to have special interests and there's nothing wrong with sharing them with others. What people want is for you to listen when they want to talk about what they are interested in, too. If you give them some time, they will listen to you when you talk about what you are interested in.

Okay, that makes sense. Although for many people, their 'special interest' is a lifelong interest and really is an area of expertise.

Don't you find, though, that when NTs have a short-lived interest in something, it's not called special interest then. They'd just say 'Oh, I'm really into [whatever] at the moment'. Or they'd call it a fascination, maybe - eg. 'I've got a fascination with [whatever]'.

Guess I just don't like the double standards, language-wise. I observe a lot of NTs have these 'special interests' - although often in more socially acceptable areas, so it's not seen as weird - but they're not called special interests then. and not seen as pathological.

true, but double standards are kind of hard to avoid, and apply to a lot more that special interest's

Oh definitely. I just like to point them out when I see them. Because I think they can do a lot of harm in some situations. And I notice it particularly with Aspergers, probably because of having Aspergers myself, so having to live with some of the negative consequences of people's double standards, and the stereotypes and judgements that result from them.

Heh...I was told (rather, I was screamed at)...

"You need to take all that anime s**t down from your walls! Any normal guy who you take home is going to be freaked out when he sees that. And if you DO find a guy who's into the same stuff, I can only hope you don't reproduce. Do you honestly want to subject your kids to that embarassment?!"