25 Apr 2012, 11:48 am
Longshanks
Veteran
Joined: 2 Feb 2012
Age: 60
Gender: Male
Posts: 558
Location: At an undisclosed airbase at Shangri-la
25 Apr 2012, 12:00 pm
25 Apr 2012, 5:47 pm
houla wrote:
I am a 48 year old. high functioning, autistic woman. Over this last year, I’ve been taking some classes and because of that I’ve been having a lot more interaction than normal. Lately, it seems like the interactions have become more complicated, so I registered with Wrong Planet in hopes that I can get some help figuring things out.
My biggest problem is interacting with a few individuals in the classes, who seem to be determined to interact with me. All three of them talk a lot at me to tell me what, or how, to do things. However, a lot of what they say is factually incorrect when it comes to the material we are studying. I don’t usually bother to correct them, but just try to listen, however, I always score much higher than they do. In fact, I think I have the highest score in my classes, but I don’t think they realize this. The thing is, I can only maintain a semblance of “normal” interaction for so long, before I run out of things to say and the whole interaction becomes really painful for me. Two of the three are really loud and jarring people and it’s hard to even look in their direction. I try to avoid them and sit away from them, but they seem to seek me out for some reason. The third is an older man (older than me) who thinks he knows more than the teachers (he doesn’t) and is always saying mean things about other students and the teachers behind their backs. He even seems rude to the teachers. I tend to just smile and nod at him, but I just want to run away when he starts talking to me and saying mean things about people. I don’t know how to make him stop. It’s at the point where I won’t go into a classroom if he’s in it until class starts, so I can avoid him. And, I dropped out of a small study group because it was too hard for me to cope with him.
I really like the subject area and I really like my teachers, but I don’t know how to get these people to leave me alone without being really rude, which will just make everything uncomfortable. Especially, since I think the two women think that they are earning points on some moral compass by ‘befriending’ and ‘helping’ me.
I'd really appreciate any advice on how to navigate these issues. My teachers know that I"m autistic, but I don't know if the students do. However, as accomplished as I've become at 'faking it', NT's seem to sense pretty quickly that I'm different in some way. And, it's not that unusual for people to figure me out after knowing me for a while.
My biggest problem is interacting with a few individuals in the classes, who seem to be determined to interact with me. All three of them talk a lot at me to tell me what, or how, to do things. However, a lot of what they say is factually incorrect when it comes to the material we are studying. I don’t usually bother to correct them, but just try to listen, however, I always score much higher than they do. In fact, I think I have the highest score in my classes, but I don’t think they realize this. The thing is, I can only maintain a semblance of “normal” interaction for so long, before I run out of things to say and the whole interaction becomes really painful for me. Two of the three are really loud and jarring people and it’s hard to even look in their direction. I try to avoid them and sit away from them, but they seem to seek me out for some reason. The third is an older man (older than me) who thinks he knows more than the teachers (he doesn’t) and is always saying mean things about other students and the teachers behind their backs. He even seems rude to the teachers. I tend to just smile and nod at him, but I just want to run away when he starts talking to me and saying mean things about people. I don’t know how to make him stop. It’s at the point where I won’t go into a classroom if he’s in it until class starts, so I can avoid him. And, I dropped out of a small study group because it was too hard for me to cope with him.
I really like the subject area and I really like my teachers, but I don’t know how to get these people to leave me alone without being really rude, which will just make everything uncomfortable. Especially, since I think the two women think that they are earning points on some moral compass by ‘befriending’ and ‘helping’ me.
I'd really appreciate any advice on how to navigate these issues. My teachers know that I"m autistic, but I don't know if the students do. However, as accomplished as I've become at 'faking it', NT's seem to sense pretty quickly that I'm different in some way. And, it's not that unusual for people to figure me out after knowing me for a while.
Do you have an i-pod ? or a small portable radio ? or mini cassette player ? and a pair of nice headphones ?
I find that people rarely attempt to engage someone who appears to be preoccupied..... with headphones on.
TheSunAlsoRises
26 Apr 2012, 3:49 am
26 Apr 2012, 7:28 am
26 Apr 2012, 7:34 am
26 Apr 2012, 7:52 am
Well done! That's one smart teacher you've got there. 
Sounds like those women now have to eat a little humble pie as they learn to respect your knowledge.......hence their pique.
26 Apr 2012, 10:03 am
houla wrote:
Also, to TheSunAlsoRises; I like your name. The Sun Also Rises is one of my all time favorite books.
TheSunAlsoRises
Delphiki
Veteran
Joined: 14 Apr 2012
Age: 182
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,415
Location: My own version of reality
28 Apr 2012, 8:09 pm
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