Orphan.....plus Autism?

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Most with Autism/AS have had different childhoods, some radically different! Wondering: Are others here without parents? Not wanting to go into detail but quite a few Wrong Planet inhabitants do know Lab Pet didn't have parents (that is, after age 12). Separately, being alone does change one's perspective & I'm rather sensitive/touchy about my lack of parents status. I do, and have previously, kept this guarded when those whom I hardly know inquire since (1) I am private/shy; none of their business (2) potentially weird &/or unexpected reactions from others.

Apparently there ARE some mixed feelings about orphans - one would think the obvious: That if one didn't have parents then that child is especially vulnerable AND..not that child's fault (of course). But humans can be very odd - almost fearful (? right word) or hesitant about the concept.

Ok, the reason I'm illuminating this is there is a new movie to be released July 24th (in USA): "The Orphan"

I am curious. The orphan girl, named Esther, is evil incarnate. True, just a movie - so what? But why the oddness with orphans? Once, not too long ago, I had a long taxi ride (not the usual). I'm mostly silent and not keen on speaking to any driver but he asked about parents. I just said, 'I didn't have.' Strangely, this guy took an almost mystical view of that - saying that orphans have special privileges (metaphorically). Did you know I have heard this before? People do have peculiar views on this - why? Then, couple that with HFA/AS....inexplicable.

Anyway, I think I'll watch the movie "The Orphan" just to see. Are any others (Autists) w/o parents? I mean, as adults (like Lab Pet)?
Does Autism + Orphan mean more to you - synergistic effect?
As if others don't treat Autists oddly enough, then to reveal the 'no-parent' status is even harder.

i'm not an orphan and yet i am. i'm legally an orphan. my parents were divorced long before i was born. and my mother (who raised me and my sisters) was very abusive. all of us ran away from home at some point. i did it at 14, which started a huge custody battle that wasn't resolved for 3.5 yrs. the court took away custody from my parents and gave it to my eldest sister.

in the end i haven't had any contact with my father in 4 years, though we had very little contact to begin with. i haven't had contact with my mother in 7.5 years now, for which i am ever thankful.

i get a lot of weird reactions. people are often shocked to find out that i'm completely independent at my age, that i don't have a home to return to if my life falls apart.

those people who get the full story are either horrified that i was abused or horrified that i didn't just forgive my mother for abusing me. for me the hardest part is deciding whether i should tell the truth (that i'd don't really have parents, that i don't even know where my parents live) or gloss it over when people ask me about my parents.

My mother died when I was 10 years old. My father is still alive.

I never knew anybody thought that an orphaned child is suddenly different in strange, mysterious ways from a child that is not orphaned. I don't understand why anybody would be afraid of an orphan. That's so weird! I can't believe anyone including you LabPet (Edit: arisu too, I just read your post) have to deal with such irrational and - I think also - stupid opinions because some people think there's anything strange about having no parents anymore.