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Subcultures and Asperger's--Worthy of Study

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fiddlerpianist
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05 Apr 2011, 9:14 am

I agree about playing music, less about the music subculture itself. I love playing music while people are grooving to it and having a great time. I don't like to take breaks, though, because if I'm not careful, someone I don't know tries to chat me up. I'd rather sit in the back and play tunes by myself, or go for a long walk.

Relatedly, I've found folk dance (particularly contra dance) to be a subculture. It seems that most of us are off the beaten path... some neurologically, some a little wacky for other reasons. But it's a great group of people.

Of course, there's the obvious one: a computer professional. If you're smart and effective, you can be about the most anti-social person on the planet and be accepted in a workplace environment. It depends on the department (and company), but if you find the right one, that's absolutely true.


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graywyvern
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05 Apr 2011, 9:15 am

agree, though whenever there is any power involved--even a tiny bit--you know some of the usual suspects will appoint themselves the center of things.

m.


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08 Apr 2011, 10:13 pm

arielhawksquill wrote:
Neo-Pagan festivals, the Society for Creative Anachronism, and all kinds of fan conventions (but particularly sci-fi/comics cons) are rife with Aspies.


also record conventions and cat shows.

goths are very accepting of asperger-like traits.

my brother is an avid bird watcher and has met some other bird watchers who are probably on the spectrum.


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08 Apr 2011, 10:32 pm

ColdBlooded wrote:
I had an obsession with 80s goth rock and the gothic subculture. Actually socially becoming part of that subculture was an entirely different matter, though. I could tell you all about the history of goth music and the subculture surrounding it, and would often correct people when they called something "goth" that clearly wasn't(like heavy metal or whatever) and give them a lecture on what goth rock is and about important bands. I wasn't socially part of any "goth" group, or even a related group(or any group for that matter) though(even though I dressed like it and all). It's kind of similar to what some people might see as "more rote than meaning," I guess... Because I knew all about it, but couldn't apply knowledge about it to anything like actually becoming a functional part of it.


I'm the same way. Never dressed emo, always listened to the music and learned about the subculture. Had no idea how to assimilate into the group, didn't really want to because the emos at my school were dumb and trashy, even though I had met others who were cool. But now the big thing is indie rock, and the same applies for "hipster" subculture.

As a child I wore whatever was comfortable, as an adolescent I wore whatever was popular, and now I'm trying to find my own style. I've basically just been dressing a generic "alt" that includes skinny jeans, dark or platinum jeans, plaid, band t shirts...and anything else I find that I like. I don't buy clothes from Hot Topic or American Apparel in case anyone tries to pin a label on me. :)



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08 Apr 2011, 11:53 pm

I've noticed that the subject of clothes seems to come up repeatedly in this thread. It seems a lot of Aspies are a bit clueless about the importance of dress in their younger days. I certainly was, until about the age of fifteen fashion was completely lost on me. I think most of us eventually get it, at least when it comes to proper attire at work and social events.

But sub-cultures very much tend to have their own uniforms. As several here have noted, wearing the uniform doesn't automatically make you one of them, but at least you can mingle with them to some extent and expect to find at least casual acceptance. Meaning you won't be rejected out of hand, the rest is of course up to you.

Here is where is does pay to do your homework. Even if you are not going in 'deep' I don't believe it's a waste of time to research the sub-culture you are interested in. Understanding the music, the clothes, and of course the mindset is absolutely necessary. No one likes a faker. Know your s**t, or stay on the porch. Of course, any good Aspie should see this as a challenge. "What, stuff my mind with what the mainstream would call useless data? Where do I start?"

I was hanging with a couple of bikers one day out in front of the dealership talking Harleys and this kid came up and strutted around in front of these guys for a few minutes, which even I, with my poor sense of body language, could tell was a mistake, then he told them he was a biker too, he had a '54 Sportster. Now, every biker on the planet knows the first Sportster was built in 1957. He had now, in a matter of moments, earned their complete contempt, and came very close to getting his butt kicked. There is a fine line between smart and smart-ass.