Do people think your ret*d before they get to know you?

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My vacant expression makes people think I'm thick. 35 years ago at the end of my apprenticeship I passed my Carpentry exams with a Grade 1 Distinction in both the written and practical tests, "the highest ever marks in the country since these exams were started" according to the lecturers. At work I'm regarded as average even though I turn out twice the work than anyone else and every job I do is perfect. I think people can't get over the idea that if you look simple then you are.

I was asked if I was "slow", or "mentally challenged", or "ret*d" because I'm quiet, and when I was in school the bus picked me up and dropped me off directly at my house instead of at a bus stop. The bus was short too, hence the name "short bussers" (I went to a special ed school.)

Only people without high IQs think I'm "mentally challenged." They make that assumption based on the fact that I don't talk fast. As the saying goes, "It takes one to know one." In the case of intelligence, it can require highly intelligent people to recognize some other highly intelligent people.

As a kid/teen, I got this vibe from people quite a bit. Kids at my school would treat me like an idiot savant of sorts: they would socialize with me as if I was several years younger, raising their voice up a few pitches...I hated it. But when time came for schoolwork, they'd always be the ones asking me to spell words and answer questions. At least I was good for something.

Most of my family consider my "ret*d" and they don't even know that I have Asperger's. I am rather reluctant to tell them that I have Asperger's, which is on the Autistic spectrum. That is just opening up a whole other box of worms.

When I was a kid, people used to think I was deaf because I never talked, even when they talked to me, usually. Now, people will sometimes talk to me as if I don't understand the simplest things, so they may very well think I'm "ret*d" to some capacity.

I have been called an idiot several times, but really what living human being on this planet has not done the occasional stupid thing, and been called out on it. I think the problem that I interpret things so literally has led to trouble. Some of my behavior has led to hostility, but it doesn't last long if its a stranger, so I don't worry so much.

Most of my same age peers thought that I was the nasty R-word, in elementary school and high school. There was even some guy in my college programme, who tried to treat me like an idiot. At least he apologized to me.

Ouch that must have been so insulting cockney! Mostly people thought I was a stuck up *bia*ch in school (their exact words) since I always seem to have a serious look on my face and always spit out whats on my mind... Luckily I have friends that like me for that very reason. The sad part is I'm actually very sensitive I just didn't know (don't know ) how to come across as it.

I'm pretty sure that most people assume that I'm ret*d, even after they get to know me. Truth be told, I'm not certain that they're wrong, although I'm not one on paper, it's the general consensus of the public that I'm some kind of imbecile or at the least, unbelievably stupid. Today a homeless man of questionable intelligence, told me that "I'm an idiot, I was born an idiot and I never got any smarter". If someone that dumb can recognize my cignative deficiencies, I must be a stupid son of a b***h. I was only smart enough, to avoid going to jail and losing my job by lashing out and severely beating him, which is what I wanted to do.

At the same time, I'm angered when people occasionally tell me that I'm smart. I have the self awareness to know that I'm not, and I hate being lied to and patronized.

I'm in the midst of trying to defuse a meltdown that has been brewing all day and I thought this would help, I was very mistaken.i shall go, now.

Between my more severe autistic traits and my severe coordination disorder, absolutely. I've heard it whispered many times by strangers observing me in public. Sometimes they think I'm blind too because I'm often guided around that way.

Cool necrobump.

I think people assumed that when I was much younger. My kindergarten teacher assumed there was something wrong with me because I didn't speak or understand English when I started school. Today, I think most people assume I'm just shy because I don't speak much before I get to know them. I think they believe I'm a bit anxious as well, although a lot of people have said I was intelligent.

I think people always do and always have. I'm not sure what it is, but people have told me that I appear that way.

They did when I was little probably because of my language delay and not understanding lot of things and not acting my age because I was immature and I also had academic issues and I didn't know a lot of things. I was also very naive so it was assumed I was either stupid or ret*d depending on the child.

Even though my language was all caught up and I knew stuff now, I was still asked time to time in junior high if I was ret*d or not. I am not sure why I was ever asked that but if anyone ever wonders if I am, then obviously they notice something off about me.

Now some people just think I am slow or close to being ret*d because I have gotten those comments online before from time to time.

Lots of classmates thought I was when I was in elementary school. I'm sure some of it was my dyslexia in addition to my bad social skills & the fact that I quoted very inappropriate things I heard on TV without really understanding them.