Is being offended easily a diagnostic criteria for Aspergers

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Yupa
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06 May 2010, 2:29 pm

From the other people with Asperger's I've known both in real life online, it sure seems like it.

It almost seems like getting angry easily at little things is a qualifier for being autistic. Any thoughts on that observation?



Lene
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06 May 2010, 2:39 pm

HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST THAT!! ! :evil:

(joking)

Maybe. I wonder if we get offended over different things than NTs do, or perhaps we just get focused on details more than a non-autistic person might.



League_Girl
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06 May 2010, 3:28 pm

I don't find myself getting offended easily. I seem to be the tough type compare to other aspies because I see them getting offended by things they read and I wouldn't even feel it or even interpreted it that way. If I don't understand what I'm reading, how can I get offended? Same as if I can't keep my attention span on a post I'm reading.



IamTheWalrus
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06 May 2010, 3:31 pm

I am offended more easily when I feel misunderstood, maybe thats also the case with people who have aspergers...



Willard
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06 May 2010, 5:13 pm

Well, we do tend to be prone to more faux pas, therefore more upbraiding for our social missteps, more victimization by bullying, more eye-rolling frustration and put-downs for being different or inept - so I'd guess it might be more likely that we could, as a group, be a tad more touchy.

I don't typically think of myself as easily insulted, I (usually) know the difference between a joke and an intentional insult. I do tend to have a bit of a hot button when it comes to social injustice - I cannot abide seeing someone mistreated for being different, or verbally disparaged when they can't (or aren't present to) defend themselves.

I will say, that once you have genuinely insulted me, I will analyze everything you do or say around me for further snarky attacks, because once you've openly shown that lack of respect, I don't trust you anymore.



zen_mistress
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06 May 2010, 5:20 pm

I know a number of people with AS who it is impossible to offend. My dad is difficult to offend, he just laughs at criticism.

I have met others who seem oblivious to insults directed to them, they just dont understand that it is an insult.


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06 May 2010, 5:28 pm

Yes, I have seen a few aspies that get offended easily.
Heck, I get offended easily - though not usually about aspie related topics.


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Aimless
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06 May 2010, 5:31 pm

I was always very hypersensitive. I overcame it to a degree, in that I came to understand that some teasing was affectionate and if it wasn't, It's OK if I'm not perfect. I just no longer react so quickly and angrily (usually) but I will go over the statement in my head again and again. My AS son finds offense in everything, it seems.



nick007
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06 May 2010, 5:37 pm

I get offended extremely easily at times but at other times I do not seem to care at all. I think it could vary depending on if I'm in a social setting or not. When my parents say something I feel like I am being criticized & I could take it the wrong way & lash out at home. But if I'm in a social situation like work or doing something in a store; I tend to brush it off & not really seem to care or notice. It's kind of odd :?



Lilactiger
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06 May 2010, 6:25 pm

I can sometimes get offended easily by teasing. I think it's because I can't always tell if the person is joking or not.


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ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
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06 May 2010, 7:11 pm

I get offended easily in person. I compensate by not getting too involved. I realize it's a trade off with me. I can jump right into people's lives and be like I was, irritated, somewhat peeved, and too eccentric, or I can take a back seat and remain balanced.



Descartes
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06 May 2010, 7:32 pm

Unfortunately, I tend to get easily offended, probably because I have tendencies to take a lot of things personally.



Chronos
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06 May 2010, 8:22 pm

Yupa wrote:
From the other people with Asperger's I've known both in real life online, it sure seems like it.

It almost seems like getting angry easily at little things is a qualifier for being autistic. Any thoughts on that observation?


I'm actually fairly difficult to offend.

I think if most people with AS get upset, or seem to get upset easily, it's because they tend to be harassed, misunderstood, and metaled with than most people. I think this is more apparent in the children because children are more forced to do things or act certain ways than adults.



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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06 May 2010, 8:37 pm

Aimless wrote:
. . . and if it wasn't, It's OK if I'm not perfect. . .

I like that! No silly requirement that I be perfect.

I am a person! And you are a person, too!



PunkyKat
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06 May 2010, 9:12 pm

I get offended very easily but the things that are offending aren't things that probably wouldn't offend a regualr person. But yes, I am very easy to offend.


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earthmom
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06 May 2010, 9:54 pm

I think in order to understand this you have to define some things that you take for granted (the OP).

You are coming from a point of assuming the same situation is happening to 2 people - one is NT and one is Aspie - and you're asking would the Aspie person be offended?

The real answer in my experience from myself (Aspie) and others I've observed who are some NT and some AS, different things offend different people to different degrees.

Something you say to an NT that they find offensive can many times be totally overlooked or even not understood by the Aspie. I've seen that untold numbers of times - just don't 'get' the "insult". Other NTs laugh, I don't get it, but as long as it's not about me okay someone can explain it to me later or I just ignore and go on to something else.

This is a very handy and useful thing if you have an NT who is set upon trying to insult you. Many of the insults just bounce off. :) If I don't get it or don't care, it doesn't effect me and Oh Well, they don't get their way (which is to upset or belittle me).

BUT other times a person may not even realize how deeply they are insulting me and if I overreact or melt down, they're as shocked as anybody. Maybe they threw away something that was VERY important to me.... maybe they mimicked me when I was a hair away from a total meltdown about something else and they thought my sputtering was funny...... there are times when that last thing is all it takes.

I think the disconnect is in what types of things are thought of as insulting. I believe most of the time those things are different for the two groups.


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