Not caring what people think

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^^^ Pretty much the best way to live - too bad I had to figure that one out the hard way...

I care too much about what people think of me. It's like my brain is connected to other's and I just can't bring myself to not care.

Not only I care too much, but I don't WANT to be singled out, and made to feel like some sort of freak what shouldn't be out alone. I want to feel normal, accepted, and an insider. I want to walk out in the street and either have friendliness or be unseen, meaning I only want positive attention, no negative attention.

It's all very well and good self-aware Aspies taking such pride in being different and trying to convince other Aspies to openly be different too and to not care what others think, but it ain't so fun when people start bullying you. But I suppose it takes a lot of self-esteem and a bit narcissism to say "oh it's their problem not mine".

I think I care a little less than other people I work with, and it gets me into trouble when I speak up without fear. But I think it's a good way to live. I'd rather be honest, free and true to myself than afraid all the time about where I stand.

Having said that, I do care about what some people think of me, a lot. Just not most people.

I get people ruining my things or menacing me, with the assumption that I am the criminal.

Joe,

You echo my sentiments exactly.

The only thing I would change about myself is not to be so anxious when I feel as though I'm being hurried. It ties me up in knots and prevents me from moving forward.

oh, don't we all!

in my case it'd be best to have no attention at all, oh joy that would be marvelous.

i have pulled it off, most of the time. but i want to be able to flip some switch and voila...you are indistinguishable from air...

I don't care what society thinks. I do care about the opinions of a few people who are very important to me. It's not like I'm unkind to people because I don't care what they think. I just don't relinquish my individuality for the privilege of having the approval of those I would not trust to have good opinions.

I am generally, borderline-puritanical, in-person, probably, to the point of coming across as fake, virtue-signaling, gullible, childish, or mothering.

People will try to trick me, when I am relaxed, or not keeping score.

My property gets vandalized. I am slandered and treated like a dangerous or needy person.

And, they want to be heroic, when they do it.

It matters, what people think of you, because there are physical consequences, involving your finances, employment, or even freedom, when people take advantage of you.

I found that, when I was being rationed, I made a sarcastic remark. I said that it was all gone. There was no more. I was left alone in the ensuing chaos. But, it was technically a lie.

I have remembered something correctly, was prepared, oriented, and was proud, to make another person feel foolish. After enough of this dog-eat-dog stuff, they will start to slouch and feel unwell, while you stand proud.

I think it matters, because, when you are not on neutral turf, someone is always giving or taking. You are not allowed to be indifferent, with NT people.

I care about what people who know me to some depth think and what I think when I strip away the initial layers to see what is actually behind it, if I don't like it or someone I respect the informed opinion of doesn't like it then I reconsider, I don't have very much energy to waste on worrying whether anyone else thinks it equates to sugary or furballs!

I went though phases where I cared but I'm generally too much in my own head to worry about it.

I think I'm like you with this. I am constantly bothered with how I might seem, and generally can't work it out, which makes it worse. I regularly get irritated about the ways I'm assuming people think of me. I don't assume the worst for nothing, though: It's realistic as far as I'm concerned to assume most people are critical and cruel - they're happy to demonstrate their natures often enough when the individuals they talk about aren't around. A minority of people are worth the benefit of the doubt. The few who avoid being cruel in peoples' absenses, or at least the ones who are careful not to be overheard doing it.
Anyway, it's a constant irritation to me.

One big exception for me are those in formal positions of authority over me - a boss, for example. I feel it's almost like a duty not to care what they think, since they're in the social position of power. But among my supposed equals, it's a major stress.

I don't care what other people think of me. I celebrate my differences and express myself in an unusual way. If people don't like the way I dress, they don't have to look at me.

evidently, it bothers me enough to the point i was unwilling to take my big canon camera out in public while i was in europe and mexico, lest i come off as too "touristy". (or have it stolen)


next time for sure.