What do you find weird about neurotypicals?
One completely inexplicable bug/feature that NT's have, and one that really, really annoys me, is how they don't seem to understand the very basic and important difference between complaining about something and simply stating a fact. For most of my life I've had people ask me, "Why are you complaining?", which always left me completely puzzled because I was simply making an observation! I've even had to attempt to explain the difference between the two, using very basic language, how (for example) simply stating that a certain inanimate object looks asymmetrical isn't the same thing as wishing it were otherwise.
"I want your honest opinion". Ugh! No, you DON'T want an honest opinion, you just want me to agree with you! It's not the same thing! How can they not see this? What is wrong with these people? How did we end up sharing the same planet with them? Was it just some giant, cosmic mistake?
God yes. I don't care about someone's rock or car collection, or their mansion in France (I mention these specific examples because I work as a volunteer with people - NT's naturally - who like to drone on and on about them).
This reminds me of something really funny that happened about fifteen years ago, when I was still living in one of the outer suburbs of Melbourne. An accident happened at the major plant that supplied gas to the state of Victoria, and we didn't have any for about three whole months. Going to the local shopping complex was a real treat for me, because I could see the panic in the eyes of all those miserable NT's who couldn't handle the fact that things will not always go their way in life, and many of them bought items (like milk) in bulk in panic-mode. It was like one of those films about the apocalypse, like that scene in "World War Z" when Brad Pitt decides to do some shopping and everyone is running around like headless chickens. I was probably the only calm one there. Things like that should happen more often. It was fun!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I had the exact opposite problem when I was in college. For some reason all the seats would fill up in the classroom before the one that was right next to me. There was even one time I recall when all the seats were taken (except the one nearest myself) when someone walked in late and was forced to sit there. He sat on the very edge of it furthest from me, like he was about to fall off the thing. I could tell he was very uncomfortable just being there, so close to the "weird one".
![lmao :lmao:](./images/smilies/lmao.gif)
I had the exact opposite problem when I was in college. For some reason all the seats would fill up in the classroom before the one that was right next to me. There was even one time I recall when all the seats were taken (except the one nearest myself) when someone walked in late and was forced to sit there. He sat on the very edge of it furthest from me, like he was about to fall off the thing. I could tell he was very uncomfortable just being there, so close to the "weird one".
![lmao :lmao:](./images/smilies/lmao.gif)
I have that problem during coffee and doughnut time at church even when I am the first person in the room. People will avoid sitting at my table if possible. People won't sit with me unless there is absolutely nowhere else to sit.
1. They talk about the weather all the friggin' time...it's ridiculous. I understand weather is a special interest for some autistics, but I'm talking specifically about the superficial way NTs discuss the weather. What exactly is the rationale for constantly pointing out that it's hot or cold or that it's going to be hot or cold?
2. The obsession with sports...they discuss it A LOT
3. The obsession with concerts...yeah, I've been to a couple, but they're not a big deal to me...I'd rather go to the movies
4. That so many of them don't like to read at all
5. Asking "what's up?" or "how are you?" when they obviously don't want a comprehensive answer. It's fine to ask this question when both parties are seated and not going anywhere, but it makes no sense to ask it when you're just walking past someone. Simply say "hi" if you want to be friendly.
There's others, but these are the main ones.
I'm slightly one of those people. No, I don't think I'll starve, but I find it stressful to be sure that everything needed is secured before the "lockdown". Just one forgotten ingredient can ruin the meals, to say nothing of if I should have forgotten something else, especially when I had pets I was very worried that their needs would not be met.
So to me it's stressful.
Apparently they're so afraid of delicious silence that they will fill it with everything.
I get complaining about hot and cold weather, but not just for filler.
Oh gad yes!! Please please please just say hi! I cringe whenever I hear' how are you' used as hi. It makes my smile goes very stiff. Just say hi when that is what you mean.
I have actually taken to just replying 'hi' to it. One person took offense at that!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
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2. The obsession with sports...they discuss it A LOT
3. The obsession with concerts...yeah, I've been to a couple, but they're not a big deal to me...I'd rather go to the movies
4. That so many of them don't like to read at all
5. Asking "what's up?" or "how are you?" when they obviously don't want a comprehensive answer. It's fine to ask this question when both parties are seated and not going anywhere, but it makes no sense to ask it when you're just walking past someone. Simply say "hi" if you want to be friendly.
There's others, but these are the main ones.
I'm a NT and I feel that's super weird, too.
1
About the weather. People in China aren't that absorbed with weather! So when I went to America for a summer program, I got freaked out about how absorbed people are with weather. Every American I met asked me how is the weather like in China. And I have to answer that for ten times on the first day of school. At the end of that summer program I was like "ask me everything but DONT ASK ABOUT WEATHER".
I guess it's a way of socializing? When you meet a stranger who you know nothing about, you have to come up with a topic. So Americans came up with weather as a common topic? In China we don't have a common topic like that, but we have similar topics. Old people like to ask you about your family. Young people just ask you your hobbies. And parents always ask you "how is school going" when you get home.
23
I know nothing about concerts and sports. I guess that's just another common topic usually used in social life. I'm frequently embarrassed when my friends are all talking about concerts and I can nothing to say, but gradually I developed the ability of switching the topic.
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Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 106 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 107 of 200
You seem to have both neurodiverse and neurotypical traits.
I'm pretty sure about being neurotypical though, since my neurodiverse traits never caused me any trouble and I get along well with other neurotypical people.
Maybe this means I can get along well with neurodiverse people, too? I never get a chance to prove this because in China schools don't enroll students with ASD and therefore I have no neurodiverse people around me.
So I am here!
2. The obsession with sports...they discuss it A LOT
3. The obsession with concerts...yeah, I've been to a couple, but they're not a big deal to me...I'd rather go to the movies
4. That so many of them don't like to read at all
5. Asking "what's up?" or "how are you?" when they obviously don't want a comprehensive answer. It's fine to ask this question when both parties are seated and not going anywhere, but it makes no sense to ask it when you're just walking past someone. Simply say "hi" if you want to be friendly.
There's others, but these are the main ones.
I'm a NT and I feel that's super weird, too.
1
About the weather. People in China aren't that absorbed with weather! So when I went to America for a summer program, I got freaked out about how absorbed people are with weather. Every American I met asked me how is the weather like in China. And I have to answer that for ten times on the first day of school. At the end of that summer program I was like "ask me everything but DONT ASK ABOUT WEATHER".
I guess it's a way of socializing? When you meet a stranger who you know nothing about, you have to come up with a topic. So Americans came up with weather as a common topic? In China we don't have a common topic like that, but we have similar topics. Old people like to ask you about your family. Young people just ask you your hobbies. And parents always ask you "how is school going" when you get home.
23
I know nothing about concerts and sports. I guess that's just another common topic usually used in social life. I'm frequently embarrassed when my friends are all talking about concerts and I can nothing to say, but gradually I developed the ability of switching the topic.
I saw an American lady on TV talking about her business dealings with some Sheiks from the Persian Gulf (Dubai or some such place). She said "I told them I was from New Jersy, and the first thing they said was 'how is the grazing in New Jersey?'. And I replied that 'the grazing is fine in New Jersey'".
These filthy rich oil sheiks are all only one or two generations removed from being desert herdsmen. So I guess that's their equivalent of "how is the weather?". But it still cracks me up trying to visualize "good grazing" in New Jersy: herds of goats and camels wandering around Atlantic city. Well...Jersey does have diary farms, and some free range livestock. So maybe I shouldn't laugh. But I guess to an outsider the local small talk always sounds ridiculous.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
In most cases people just want to try to connect. Ie when it comes to the weather, its nothing more than a conversation starter. They don't really know what to say to someone they don't know all that well and so the weather is seen as a suitable ice breaker.
It's inappropriate to be too personal unless you are very familiar with someone. Weather is a very generalised topic...
Sometimes it may be out of politeness, two strangers passing might comment so as not to see rude (ignoring others is seen as rude in many places, unless its a crowded city centre or the like).
That explains the odd greetings you get when standing at the bus stop, walking down the street or when bumping into a neighbour. They like connecting and they do that via chit chat...it can sometimes (but not always) be the start of a beautiful friendship so to speak (or to type in this instance).
As to what i find weird about NTs...nothing in particular. It society and its endlessly odd belief systems (irrespective of neurotypicality) that does my head in.
Half of its poppycock.
It's funny (ironic) how people who talk about things on a superficial level are considered "normal," but people like me who actually know something about a subject in detail (for me, tennis) are considered "weird." Because I like a player most people haven't heard of, they would think of me as even more weird. Too bad, because Denis Istomin is a nice man and his story could inspire a lot of people.
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