Halloween Costumes and Behavior

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As all Americans know, Halloween just ended. It's a holiday enjoyed more by NTs than aspies, but I'm sure some percentage of people here dressed up in costumes, or maybe even went out to a club or a party. Anyway, if you wore a costume while going out somewhere (this doesn't include trick-or-treating), these questions are for you.
* Have you found yourself acting different than normal, maybe even more NT-like, than you normally do, solely because you're in a costume?
* Were your actions smooth and natural, or scripted and "acted out"?
* While dressed up, did you feel that you're "not really you" but a different person?
* Did you really get into your costume character, or did you simply wear the costume as a decoration of sorts?
* How did people respond to your costume persona?

Let me get the discussion started by posting my own story.

I dressed up as a brain surgeon this year; I wanted something intelligent, yet popular enough to get compliments on it. I definitely acted waaaaay different than my usual self; it's like the costume contained something that rewired my brain, and turned me into an NT for the night. It really felt like I gained new powers the second I put that thing on. I was a lot more confident than usual, and walked around my apartment building, stopped at a 7-11 on the way, and waited for my friends in the parking lot, all while wearing it (honestly, I didn't want to bother with putting it on in the car before going in, where it's too cramped to do it comfortably).

When my friends arrived at the club, we went inside, and hit the dance floor. I acted very smooth and natural for most of the night; I surprised even myself. I found it so easy to talk to random people and ask girls to dance. People were so friendly, I was amazed: guys high-fived me, and girls flirted with me. There was one dressed as a schoolgirl, who pressed up against me and said: "doctor, can you give me surgery to make me smart; I'm tired of sleeping with my teachers for good grades". I said "here, let me examine you first", and took her by the hand to dance with her grinding-style. There was also a costume contest, but I didn't feel comfortable being onstage, so I didn't enter.

All in all, it was such a great night; I haven't had this good of a Halloween since 2004, when I went to another party with a costume on. But now, Halloween is over, and it's time to get back to the harsh reality. But I'm very glad to have discovered the hidden potential in me. If only I could harness it more often, I could enjoy the best of both worlds: the intelligence of AS and the social interaction of NTs.

Last edited by Aspie1 on 02 Nov 2009, 12:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Makes sense.

And it makes sense that many folks with AS have spent their who life's facing up to the world behind a persona. It works for a while, until intimacy finds you out.















it makes sense, I have been hiding behind my persona for 42 years, sooner or later the party is over and it's time to come home.

My little boy who is 9 loves dressing up and dancing, but always with swimming goggles on or something concealing his facial expressions, for even at his tender age, he is somewhat aware that his facial expressions are not like NT's

Smooth!
I haven't actually done that kind of thing yet, mostly because most of my friends don't want to.. we stayed in and watched scary movies this year. (Also fun.) We went out once for snacks and walked past a ton of clubs, and I said to my friend that we should go out and party next year, but she didn't see the point of it, I guess. "What, and drink all night? I don't even know what people do on Halloween." I didn't really know either, so I didn't insist.
I've always thought it would be fun, though.. dressing up and playing with a bunch of strangers. I think in that kind of situation, people care less what you act like, so everyone feels like they can act a lot more free, which makes them care less what the other people are doing, lol. ∞
I've felt like that a few times, but not often.
I wonder why we can seem so NT-ish in that kind of situation, but can't manage it other times. >:
Maybe because it's just play, and not as intricate or subtle as other situations.

I didn't act any differently - I was dressed as a lolcat, and since I only wore my costume to an AS group event and anime club, there was no need to act any way other than myself. However when I cosplay I do find that it's easy to slip into character, and act as the person I'm portraying. I'm planning on cosplaying as Russia from Axis Powers Hetalia at Katsucon this year, and I intend to be fully in character lol

i "acted" like other people and did not feel self-conscious doing it. interestingly, i also do this when i play in the band i am in. for some reason, being on stage let's me take on a different persona.

Costumes make no difference for me, except that I'm using more brainpower-per-second because I'm probably uncomfortable.

OP, I wonder if wearing a costume makes you feel less inhibited? Also, brain surgeon... cool idea.

I was dressed as Two-Face. I had a coin which I kept flipping.

1. Excellent thread, and excellent observations.
2. High five on the lines you dropped, those were smooth!

I noticed this too, I felt a lot more confident last night; breaking the ice is incredibly easy on Halloween. I picked a good costume, too, I was Jon from Jon and Kate plus 8. I have never watched that show, but my sister suggested the costume. Basically, I looked like a complete tool (gelled hair, "cool" shades, stick-on rhinestones for earrings, an Ed Hardy shirt), and a lot of girls thought it was hilarious because they watch that show and can't stand Jon. I even danced with a girl I had never met before who was dressed as Kate.

I didn't get into the persona (luckily, I don't know how to be a douchebag); I just mostly made sarcastic remarks about how cool I was, and instead of paying attention in pictures I pretended to be texting somebody (apparently Jon always has his phone out like he's doing that constantly). I really enjoyed the confidence boost; I think this is why fraternities and sororities always have a themed "mixer" for events.

How does it feel to be participating in the ripping-off of our (*chan) culture. I can has cheezburger



Oh wow hahahaha. So Russia, how are you? Being mean to everyone else & being imperialist yet claiming to oppose it?

I understand the OP - when I cosplay as a Nigra (see my av) IRL I get more chantarded & awesome. part of it is 'scupted' and 'scripted' (chan terms & etc) and the oher stuff is spontaneous - me becoming more of a channer tha I normally am

I was about the same as usual... but a little more comfortable being myself, lol... if that makes sense. I'm guessing because in my neighborhood, hardly any of the parents dress up-certainly not to the extent that I did if so, so I looked weird anyway. I didn't have to try to pull off being normal when everyone could see I was weird anyway My neighbor dressed up a little bit though, so I wouldn't be the only one dressing up I was a fairy (full blown, lol) and she was a cop (just a hat and handcuffs)... but it was nice of her to do so.

I think I just felt more comfortable all around-I could be weird, when it was obvious that I was a little weird anyway, but it was at an appropriate time, so no one really cared.

Wow, so it looks like the NT-fication (is that even a word?) of oneself due to wearing a costume happens to quite a few aspies. I think this has to do with dissociating from your usual persona and adopting your costume alter ego. Also, people with milder forms of AS (like myself) may actually be getting into the NT herd mentality, only this time, it's in a form where aspies can relate to it and actually do well. After all, getting into the character of one's costume is mainly about acting skills. So, someone who's normally uncomfortable in social situations may lose all traces of his shyness, simply because everyone around him is adopting costume-based alter egos, and any overt signs of acting weird will be dismissed as simply not being a perfect actor, as opposed to actually being weird. Also, like wigglyspider pointed out, those interactions are essentially just playing around, and don't have the strict unwritten rules that govern regular NT interactions.

Last edited by Aspie1 on 03 Nov 2009, 11:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

Oh no! We've found a cure... dressing up!! Don't tell Autism Speaks...

Maybe you could dress up as an NT next year? (creepy costume, right? - just kidding).

No, costumes do not affect my biology. I have AS and all it's traits in spite of garb. Oddly enough though, I still think I understand what is being described here.

I think people with non-biological social conditions do this kinda thing as a sort of treatment. I can not remember where I heard that though, but apparently it is highly effective and can eventually the same confidence can be found without the need of a costume.

Ah, that has actually been done. Generally requires the advice of an actual NT for trendy clothing selection, and the perfection of NT slang that says next to nothing while communicating everything in subtext... oh, and a crush on a celebrity generally makes it more realistic.

I always do that. when ever I put a costume on, I always take on the character of what my costume is. I went out trick or treating as a cat, and I would "meow" walking on the street, and Meow every time someone opened the door.