Facing the real world.

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-You said things like political activism are more fun with money....that is what I meant. Also, there are other ways to make money and/or have income than the work force. I mean anyone from homeless people to people supporting themselves with jobs protest and participate in petitions so I am not sure what your point is with that.

-I know the normal path is not the only path, but in this society it's probably the least risky....and I don't have a skill at which I can excel, at least not that I am aware of but I guess its possible.

-Yeah I suck at fake smiling and eye contact.....I don't mind trying to be a bit optimistic so they get the impression I have some skill and positive points but usually they can still tell there is something wrong with me it seems. That is probably why they seem to rush through and then I never hear anything back. Maybe it's the weird stare when I do manage to make eye contact for a split second or two who knows. Its not uncommon for me to get accused of being lazy and/or irresponsible or they realize I am just 'too slow' to keep up.

Exactly.

SSI/SSDI, internet crap like survey sites and some you can make money more easily on, playing music/singing on the street for change, and there are always things that aren't legal which I probably don't have to list I am sure people know of those and I am not advising those things but they do exist.

But aren't all those things you mention one does for money, working?

I mean I don't understand why people take pride in supporting themselves. If they take pride in how good they are at their job, that I can understand.

Do I understand that people need to support themselves? Yes, I do. I just don't see the reason to take pride in it.

My aunt keeps telling me that I should feel uncomfortable with being supported by my father at my age, even if the first and foremost reason for my not having a job is the fact I've been studying up until now (and no, I cannot study for a master's degree and have a job at the same time, my executive function is bad enough for one - both things would be overwhelming). She says that, if she were in my place, she'd take up a part-time job along with her studies. She would not feel good about herself in my situation. So is my NT friend, who took up a part-time job when starting her master's studies (although her parents could have supported her) and, during summer break, she upgraded to a full-time position. I would never have done that, I would have wanted to relax during summer. I do not feel ashamed to be supported by my father (as long as I do not place a financial burden upon him - and I do not). I'd rather be supported by him and be free than support myself and slave away...

Not necessarily, but kind of...I guess it depends on how you define working. But even with SSI you have to do a lot of paper work and even once your on it I think you still have to keep up on stuff and keep things updated or whatever.

Social Security is indeed an option, but not realistic in most countries, because it either doesn't exist, doesn't exist for AS or is ridiculously small.

Sweetleaf, I always say that the cure for AS is having a millionaire father. Then you're not disordered, you're not fired, you're not rejected, people just judge you as "justifiably eccentric".

I also suffer from Crohn's Disease. The REAL World came up & slapped me in the face. I hate it, but its true, there is no REAL Health Care in the USA just a bunch of Insurance companies who get to do almost anything they want to, while taking my money.
Or as an ER Doc once told me "Health Insurance is a big scam"!

Sincerely,
Matthew

1) While there is a difference between fun and more fun with money, I'll give you that point, because I still stand by what I said. If you find fun in political activism, you'll find more fun in it with a shower and a full stomach than without.

2) The point is still the original point: while you could do some of those things without any source of regular income, you will find them all easier and more enjoyable with a shower and a full stomach. The point of carrying on this long about it is just that I like to challenge people on the internet. It's a fun way to keep sharp and an exercise in self improvement via the act of occasionally being unexpectedly wrong.


Everyone is good at something. You just have to get yourself to your best and start trying things. I mean, you were going to collage for something at some point. That means you had either a drive or a skill for something.

EDIT: That's right, collage. Got a problem? `-`

True that.

There are some jobs that AS people can do, depending on where they are. But, the NT's in the world (who are selling out and slaving away to get their money) see the world through that lens of hateful jealousy toward anyone not being forced to make their choice. And these are your customers.
I've had a variety of jobs in different fields, including artisan type fields like woodwork and vintage motorcycle mechanics.
There are jobs out there. I think the key is to not get drawn into the retail trap. If you do that, it skews your perspective for work and what work is. It also, as seen here, short circuits your ability to take pride in anything.
Bosses will make a wide berth for you in their organization if you have a position where you can use your problem solving skills, attention to detail, and high quality standards to their benefit turning out good product for customers.
You have to find that job.

If you spend 12 hours a day on the internet, the only thing you are cultivating is a short attention span. You're not learning to fix things, carve wood, sculpt stone, weld, be a plumber, be an electronics whiz, or a lot of other jobs you could be good at doing.

I'm pursuing a graduate degree right now, and I'm having to take an English class. 2 weeks ago I had to give an oral presentation (my weak spot) that made me so anxious that I didn't show up for class for a week. Today, I made myself voluteer to have work read in front of the class and critiqued because I know it's what I need.

Be scared. It's okay. But, be scared while you put one foot in front of another, even if you piss yourself doing it. That's how people on the spectrum have done it in years past and even today when they don't have the luxury of rich fathers or lotto jackpots.

I hope this doesn't come across more insensitive than I want it to, because I don't mean it that way. I do that a lot.

Yes.

I know it's not for everyone, but I learned a lot in collage, okay! Don't hate!

I don't be hatin'. I think it's hilarious when someone on here decides to poke me right in the amygdala in a funny way.

Gotta be able to laugh at yourself. So, thanks for the laugh.

I used to...but the PTSD ruined it, I am good at reading which is great for college all except I cannot keep up with it because I cannot focus on reading too long or it triggers things I just had to be such a book work I had my nose in a book until I realized it was a lock-down not just some lighthearted announcement in the middle of the day. Also I used to be able to stay focused on topics and such for long periods of time which was good for research and writing essays...but of course my concentration is effected due to being on edge all the time........My brain does not seem to think there is much difference between a 'dangerous' school setting or a college setting so even going to class was draining me too much. I ended up not even being able to handle 2 classes a semester at a community college after having failed at regular 4 year college. Also its gradually only gotten worse so now I even freak out on people or inanimate objects sometimes.

So yeah I guess I have a problem....I'm f****d in the head. Anyways sorry for the derailment but I didn't have a short simple response

Have you tried online college? There are plenty of fields in which a degree from even an iffy online college is worth just as much as one from an average traditional school because of how much isn't book learnable.