What prevents you from being perceived as normal in society?

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My fashion sense and willingness to wear Pokémon merchandise in public at my age.

*Low stress tolerance
*Failure to chat incessantly
*Being "too nice" (not my words)
*Some initial literal interpretations (even though I *usually* know when it's not meant that way)
*Not always knowing how to respond/what people are trying to imply
*Appearing dumb (I assume)
*Eye contact may or may not be successful (affected by 1st point)

Severity of autism in varied ways, how I communicate and often make language errors...this is what I can think of.

I dress in an eccentric manner. I run away from strangers who approach me outside. I'm very easily and obviously startled by noise. I avoid eye contact. I stim with my hair.

Lately, panic attacks. I don't like feeling that way, but I see this is as indicator that I now have things to do in my life. I want to do everything perfectly so I can move forward.

Anxiety and avoidance, i don't have any social capital left at this point. Work, money, whole bunch of things. Very isolated existence.

I have several Autistic traits that show on the outside and I also have a very awkward body type and sometimes have to use a wheelchair to get around.

Difficulties in starting and maintaining conversations, inability to recognize and understand body language and facial expressions, not emotionally expressive, noise sensitivity..

If it's autistic related, it's my voice or wording. And because I don't "act like my age" whether I'm perceived as younger than I'm or not.
More than the two if people around my place didn't end up assuming that I'm someone from another region or class. Still, I do not mind.


But, in or out of the spectrum, what stands me out the most is sneezing. I hate sneezing. There isn't a day that I never sneeze. Especially the occasional 'attacks' that's been driving me mad, causing me too many problems, and losing focus too often times.
This is particularly a problem to me for most of my life. And I have yet to solve it even if many thinks it's not solvable to begin with.

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Maybe the fact I don't want too?

Society tends not to accept scientists as "normal" people no matter what we do or what we look like. As soon as they find out what we do, it is game over. Too many past horror movies have painted the concept of "mad scientist" traits, many think that is what we are all about. (Granted I do have a Dr. Frankenstein side with nanomaterials, but I restrict that for certain times when it is needed in the lab.) I have a hard time shutting down my creative thinking side, so I am often writing down ideas on paper, including when I am out with others. It is something that I naturally do.

There is another part to this though. The public masses tend to not actively challenge their brain with creative thinking that it has becomes rare to find one that does "out in the wild". Most would rather talk about reality tv or gossip about a celebrity, than to discuss knowledge that actually merits substance in a conversation. Those who think outside of their train wrecks of thought are the ones who become ostracized. It really should be the other way around. I see a giant disconnect with them that I will likely never be able to bridge, no matter how I try to.

When people actually see me out in public, not a whole lot, aside from my social awkwardness and sometimes my manner of speech. BUT, I don't actually go out in public a whole lot either. I'm very much a "stealth" aspie, and it's mostly because I've learned how to act "normal" in public. I can only keep up the act for so long however.

I don't feel comfortable in social situations, and that leads me to be socially awkward. I also have meltdowns sometimes.

Shyness, conclusions I reach sometimes, Dislike of being touched in certain areas, not being in a relationship at age 59 although this would be worse if I were a woman.

Oh my goodness, you don't even know how much money I would pay to have an answer to this question. I've been trying this question since I was 15. What is it about me that seems to turn people off? I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.

It really seems like there's something about my communication style that rubs people the wrong way. I have been described as "formal," "intense," and "analytical."

Perhaps it's a lack of theory of mind, or a lack of intuition about the emotions of others.

I'm sure a lot of things prevent me from being perceived as normal. I know part of it is things like the way I choose to dress or the way I choose to cut or dye my hair. Part of it is the piercings I have or the tattoo on my back. Then there are things that are not my own choices.... the way that I walk or the pauses in my speech (when I can manage to speak... sometimes my voice fails me in public), the motions I make with my hands or body in general, not enough eye contact or too much/too intense eye contact... I am sure there are more things that I do or do not do, but that is all I can think of at the moment.