Is anyone like this in crowds?

Post Reply New Topic

Whenever I go out in public, I shut the world out. I ignore everyone and focus on where I am going and I don't notice people. I still see them but I am not fully aware of what is going on around me. I've been told I walk too close to people or cut them off, walk right in font of them, in stores I bang my cart into other carts. My husband told me I am very aggressive, when I want something, I go right for it shutting everything out. It's as if I hyperfocus in crowds. I don't let them bother me, I ignore them.

But I have gotten better with personal space, I don't walk so close behind people unless I am going by them. I stand an arm length away or more.

I always have my husband push the cart when we go grocery shopping. He's pointed out my errors when I be pushing the cart so I'd rather have him do it. He seems to see things I can't see such as knowing where to put the cart as we are shopping.

When I have a cart, I usually push it on the right side of the aisle and park it there....I treat navigating the stores and malls and such like as if I was driving a car.It works out really well, since most people do that too.

I'm like that. When I go to pick up my kid from school, I have to make my way through a crowd of people. It's the same people who have been there for the past six years, and I suppose it might be weird for me to not be in the middle of them, chatting away, and saying hi to everyone. I rarely say hi to anyone because even when I look at them, no one looks at me. Once in a while I have a day where I feel up to actually looking at people, but not often. Then, when I see my son, my face lights up, because he's sweeter than anyone, and I love him so much.

Today I was near my other son's school, which is a middle school (ages 12-14). When I'm around them, I totally tune them out, because I have no clue how to interact with people that age at all. (except my own kid). But today, a girl passed me and said, "Hello, Mrs. ____." It felt weird to be recognized, but I suppose they do recognize me, because most of these kids have seen me around for most of their lives. I think the girl was someone my son went to kindergarten with, but I wasn't sure, so I couldn't say her name.

Oh, but I'm getting off topic. As usual.

I use a cart only if the store is empty. And I hear everyone's conversation even if they aren't talking.
I like Wal Mart at 3:00 AM!

I'm sort of like that; when I go somewhere, I have an objective to accomplish and that's my focus. I don't knock into other shopping carts or anything--I try to be courteous--but I tend to keep to myself, mostly.

It might also explain why I don't think I've ever met anyone else who's Autistic.

To be fair...I don't think I'd be able to pick up that they were Autistic even if I was paying attention.

I always push the cart whenever I go to the store, mostly because I have to have something to do with my hands so my arms aren't just hanging there. I've gotten pretty good at it, and don't crash into anything anymore.

People are pretty much obstacles to be navigated around as I move from A to B. I walk very fast, so I try to get out in front of the crowd so that I don't have to work so hard to weave my way through them.

Typical posture for me is head down, looking about 3 m ahead of me so that I can work out the positions for the next two steps.

I focus on what I'm aiming to buy straight to the videogames buy game straight to checkout DONE! I also do as you do Beth I get in peoples way and my older sister has pulled me out of the way countless times I HATE when she does this LOL! I wonder why we do this or what it'd be called since I can't think of any term to describe it.

I don't do that.

I do try to avoid known crowded places at peak hours, because I like to get in, do my business, and get out.

I know what you mean. Especially if I am at a mall. I absolutely HATE people offering me things as I walk past trying to sell their product. It's really annoying because if I want their product, I will go to them and ask them for it.

I also walk/push the cart the same as if I was driving. I would like people to have indicators on their carts. Maybe that is just me but it would make things a lot easier for me...

I'm a pro with shopping carts, I squeeze through any space that I see in crowded supermarkets and swerve everywhere like a ninja (or much like a high speed chase through traffic jams).