Help Me Understand A Label, Please?

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[TL;DR bolded at end of massive wall of text.]

Now, I understand that humans, especially those with more logical and analytical minds, have the tendency to categorize the world around them and place themselves in relation to those of these different categories. Survival depends on understanding the difference between the proverbial "us" and the proverbial "them," for "they" may have different interests than "us," and "we" need to protect our own interests. I, like many others, have been outcast by a large number of people.

However, I am deeply questioning the validity of the "neurotypical" category.

How can any neurology be considered "typical"? How can any arrangement of neurons, any pattern of thought processes, any combination of personality traits, any amount of cognitive ability or deficits, be considered "the norm" when every brain and every expression of the brain is entirely different from one another? Even the "socialites" socialize differently from one another; even the athletes play differently, the artists paint differently, the writers write differently, the musicians perform differently, the mathematicians calculate differently, the partiers party differently, ect. and so on.

I have encountered many different people in the course of my life, being that I both have an extremely large family and attend an extremely populated high school, and not one of the thousands of people that I have met has warranted the label of "typical."

Perhaps my issue with the "NT" label is that I do not understand where the medium is. On what basis are those without autism or other neurological conditions considered to be "typical"?

Humans tend to find the "average" of things; our brains need these "stereotypes" to help us understand all of the integral components.
But how effective are these stereotypes?

Out of all of the numbers from 0 to 100, for example, the average would be 50. However, 49 and 51, two numbers very close to this "average," are very distinct numbers. For example, 50 is an even number, while 49 and 51 are both odd numbers. 50 is divisible by 2, 5, 10, 25, and, obviously, 1 and 50. Barring 1, 49 and 51 are divisible by none of these. In addition, 49 is divisible by 7 and itself and 51 is divisible by 3, 17, and itself; 50 is divisible by none of these numbers. I could go further into the differences between 49, 50, and 51, but my understanding of mathematics is not prodigious, by any extent.

Likewise, I fail to find enough correlations between the "49s" and the "51s" of our society, especially in comparison to the "50" that everyone is "supposed" to be, to consider either of them to be "typical."

Some non-autistics are socialites, while some of them are extremely introverted; some non-autistics portray themselves to be rather cruel and insensitive to others, while some are considered to be rather kindred and accepting; some non-autistics have a plethora interests, while some of them have very few.

I am just as guilty as many others on this forum of feeling alienated by "them." I am beginning to realize, however, that "they" do not represent all of society: "they" may just be the particularly intolerant ones, the ones who do not understand, the ones who see the value in maintaining a particular mode of interaction, the ones who are frightened, unsure, unaware; for every non-autistic that I have been alienated, chastised, teased, brutalized, and misunderstood by, there is another non-autistic that understood as best as they could, who was there to uplift me, comfort me, inspire me, amuse me, converse with me, and simply be with me.

I understand the need for some comprehensive label of those who are not autistic, and maybe even for those who are not diagnosed or presumed to have some disorder that they identify with or are identified with. I am wondering why is it that "neurotypical" is that label. Why can't we just refer to them as non-autistics--"NA"'s--or non-diagnosed/non-disordered (here, "disordered" would mean having or identifying with an disorder and not the absence of order)--"ND"'s?

Perhaps it is that I simply do not understand the world that I live in all that well. Perhaps there is some common medium between members of our society that I simply cannot see. I apologize if I have offended anybody with this post. I do not mean to demean those who use "NT" as a label--I have used it myself a few times--and I surely do not mean to demean those who identify as NT. I simply do not understand this concept that has been presented. Please feel free to present your views however you see fit.

TL;DR-- Why do we call them "neurotypicals" when none of them seem very typical at all?

I think that it gets the point across, but I understand where you are coming from. No two people are exactly alike. However, the NT label is not being used as an us vs them sort of thing but rather as a way to quickly differentiate between someone who is on the spectrum and someone who is not. Thus, it has it's utility as an easy thing to type in to a computer or a way to make an easy differentiation. I don't see it as a way to discriminate, at least not when I use it. Then again, some may well use it for that reason. The thing is, you will NEVER have perfection in language because so many different people use it and the meaning many times changes with the intent of the user. It's why I have a fascination with etymology (the study of word origins and the evolution of their meaning). It's interesting to see how these things change over time.

I'm still trying to figure out if I am NT or not. I have many characteristics of Autism, but not enough to be diagnosed as such. I was diagnosed as Dyslexic when I was young, with ADD as an adult, I have been in depression for most of my life, and my most recent shrink says I have Social Anxiety Disorder.

Am I Autistic? According to the DSM IV and the DSM V, probably not. Is my neurology typical? Certainly not.

I don't mind being referred to as Neurotypical in the sense that I am not really Autistic. When people equate the word Neurotypical with "herd mentality", "stupid" or "cruel", I do mind that.

Yea I know what your saying I always say "Normal" as no one is truly normal, and a lot of people can have traits of a lot of things. Though what really makes it a label is the large amount of traits and the impairment in life due to those traits leading to __ Something. Like my boyfriend I don't know if he has AS but he Has strong traits of AS. Don't think i'd consider him "NT"

@Outofplace I know Nt intention is to not be AS vs NT or used as a negative, but I can tell you , reading on this forum, there are people doing just that. And seem to label all NTs together or "Vast majority of NTs " When a vast majority of Nts are not that way at all. Just like you can't lump AS/Autism it's a spectrum. Everyone in humanity is different, with different personalities.

I will say NT works when your talking about "average" development vs the development of people on the spectrum or traits vs what's considered "not the norm" Etc.

A lot of people on the spectrum have been belittled all their life for being different and just not getting all the time what people mean. By Nts. But I have seen people I believe to been or had traits of Aspergers, and they were very mean/bullying too.

And I'v seen "Nts" Bully "Nts" heck if your thinking of percentage of As to "Nts" a lot of Nts really bully more other Nts. Who may be nerdy or different, or just more quiet.

I think people forget that sometimes.

"Nts don't understand me and put me down" well sometimes people to realise those Nts are not "Nts" Those are just jerks! Those are just jerky people. Because I'v known of a lot of people bullied, and I always stuck up for them.

Some might say to me I'm just kinder because my son has autism or my boyfriend has traits. No this is how I'v always been, I'm a girl who was always considered "Attractive" and very "talkative" and therefore "popular" In highschool, but I was in all IT classes I'm into anime and video games. And my best friends were those ones being picked on.

In my neighbour hood i was taunted and picked on at 7-8.They'd avoid me , hit me, or call me names.That lasted only so long, till I got mean. And became a bit of a bully, who only hurt other bullies.

In jr high I became "The peace maker" And that caused a lot of problems, because I stuck up for people and it made my friends angry "Your on their side". But i stuck to my opinion no one deserves to be put down and If i'm around I'm always going to say something. Yet again my "boy crush couple" in jr high was very popular and kinda "leader" So though i'd get yelled at, I basically was allowed to keep my ground and things were forgotten.

Probably if I wasn't as well liked people would have try to pick on me, or get mad at me when I stuck up for someone. I also was really nice to people and really kind,and I was always there for people, so they would never do something to upset me.

I'v always tried to understand as many people as possible, because we are all just so different in life. I wish there werent those cruel, backstabbing gossipers..But there just are. And media glorifies critics.

I do get Most "AS" would never be like that, so would seem that "Nts" are evil. But really it's not fair to label it like that..I dunno..rawr

A more precise word for them would be, "Having neurology which requires no accommodation due to disability or unusual talent." But saying "Neurotypical" is just easier.