Let's Freak the Neurotypicals out.

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So, I was walking to a friends dorm room last night, and these girls behind me were talking (in a very neurotypical fashion, I might add) about Asperger's. They were saying things such as: "so and so that I know has it...yeah, they're really obsessed with stuff, it's cute....yeah, well I know someone that has it and... etc etc."

Since they were stereotyping it (they were - my bad memory won't let me remember specifics, not to mention what they looked like), I decided to throw them for a loop.

I turned around and said, "Asperger's? I have that."

They looked at me blankly, did a little "socially acceptable" laugh that girls do to show that "I don't really care and it's really weird that you're saying this...ew...go away weirdo and let us finish our uninformed conversation." Then, they walked off.

Why talk about something when you don't really care to know much about it? Here's someone who MIGHT ACTUALLY know what they're talking about and you blow them off.

I knew that would happen. I just wanted to freak 'em out a little. We're PEOPLE, not little autistic phenomenons.

Sounds annoying. I wouldn't have even bothered to throw a comment their way.

NTs talk without much regard to the content of the conversation or being factually correct. One of the frustrating things about relating to them on that level...

Kudos for weirding them out though, you're a brave soul!

Well you are just some random person to them who wants to talk in their private conversation. It is very creepy.

I'm sure if they actually knew you, they might have actually been interested in involving you in their conversation.

I don't see why the hell you would do that. They didn't seem to be insulting or even really condescending. As far as I'm concerned, you probably just worked towards creating more prejudices.

Maybe. But people are always going to have prejudices of some sort. And, as I said, I cannot remember everything that they said.

What I find ironic is that they're talking about it right in front of someone who has it but they don't really want to actually "talk" about it.

Cute.

There's a trick to it - an NT would have been able to turn around and join in the conversation, whether they knew them or not.

Darned if I know what the trick is, though..

^^
I know, right?
I didn't originally intend to freak them out - I intended to join the conversation and perhaps throw off some prejudices.

But, I'm not NT, so that doesn't work.

Funny how they want to understand it, but won't be understanding when they get the opportunity.

It's important to get awareness out there for all neuropsych disorders, not just Asperger's. If I overhear stereotypes or offendingly incorrect information about neuropsych disorders being said in a conversation, I will interject and briefly explain how it is offensive. I couldn't care less if it is perceived as rude. The comments themselves are rude. I also feel very strongly about discrimination over homosexuality, and I butt in when I hear offensive remarks about gays and lesbians, too. I used to wonder in the back of my mind if I should stay quiet, but recently, I saw a Dateline episode about discriminatory remarks being made to teens while they were on hidden camera, and after the experiment, the researchers explained that it is best to speak up rather than keep silent. You don't have to give a long lecture to spread awareness.

And several of the times I've corrected people about neuropsych disorders, they actually were really interested in learning more and ending up asking me many questions. Maybe the trick for next time, instead of just saying, "Asperger's? I have that", is to say, "I have Asperger's, and it isn't true that ______________." And correct their generalization/stereotype. Make them aware that neuropsych disorders are hidden conditions, and that they need to be aware that anyone around them could have a neuropsych disorder without them knowing it.

Out of similar experiences i came to the conclusion that NT's are not so much interested in facts and factual aspects. Their chats seem to pursue other goals than exchange of information and though i don't really grasp what they do or aim at with their chitchat and thus can't judge it, it usually triggers a certain amount of discomfort in me. This may be quite a prejudice of mine, but i think such an exchange of banalities is basically pointless. Meanwhile i've learned to simply ignore it.

At any one time the main focus of any group of NTs is to maintain the stasis/harmony of their group - they want this far more than they want to learn new information. We are the opposite generally ie a group of Aspies would probably be thrilled if they were talking about Star Trek and someone walking in front turned round and said 'I used to work on that show' ie the butting in would be far less important than the 'interesting' information. With Nts though, the social faux pas of interrupting a group of strangers would completely override the relevance of anything you said; you would immediately be put in the 'weird/annoying/bad mannered' category and nothing you said would be of much importance as a result.

Also, their general level of interest in a subject is far less than ours - I'm amazed they even knew what Asperger's was! They see it as a difference and it's anathema for the average NT to want to associate with difference (they think it might be catching!)

I do like the idea of butting in when people are making offensive remarks about anyone different than them, rudeness be damned! If enough people do this, maybe they'll actually listen...

I do strongly think the OP should have been hailed as an expert!! ! But this could just be the Aspie way of thinking, like the Star Trek example. But I also think it's sad when people won't accept information they claim to want... it should be a GIVEN by now, even to NT's, that people with Asperger's aren't always up on all the social norms...

I don't know about anyone else but how do you even butt into a conversation? I cannot even bring myself to simply attempt to start a conversation with someone let alone randomly say hi to people like a lot of neurotypicals can do. Yeah that didn't help when I was in school...not being able to initiate social interaction of any kind. With teachers outside of the raising hands in class during lectures which I was fine with(except later in middle school when some teachers did not require that, then I could never get a word in since I wasn't assertive and loud). I learned if I just went and stood by them they would eventually see what I wanted it must have been weird though since other kids would say 'miss or mr...whatever' and I would just walk up to their desk or whatever and stand there till they inquired as to why.

I guess that can work in some social situations like just stand or sit somewhere long enough and maybe someone will talk to you...but yeah I don't get it and probably would not have said anything if I was in your situation. Even when I was in college I couldn't even ask the person next to or in front of me for a pen or pencil to borrow which created a couple embarrassing situations because what kind of a college student can't just say 'hey could I borrow a pencil' to someone.

Maybe they thought you were another neurotypical and just butting in for the hell of it.......or maybe your analysis of their behavior is correct I can't really say.

Not THAT creepy. Presumably the OP lives in the same dorm, and they were having their conversation in a public area. A little forward, maybe, but not outright creepy.

I used to do stuff like that. Not on this exact topic, but similar situations where people were talking about something I knew about. Eventually I realized it never worked as I intended and gave up on it, but I completely understand the impulse.