Damaged goods really ?

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I mean are autistic and the mild cases that appear in people really viewed as damaged goods to a "normal" person ?

I dont know or care, if other people think im 'damaged goods' then it does not affect me whatsoever

Personally, I dislike the second part of the term as much as the first. Goods? No.

I used to see myself as, well, not really damaged, but defective.

As for other people with autism or autistic traits, the two words that come to mind are puzzling, and sweet. (And do note, "sweet" comes from thinking of specific people I know, not from a generalization. Not a stereotype, but an observation about specific people.) But then, I'm not normal, so, I guess that doesn't mean much as far as the question.

My observation of how people see me (if I'm included in the mild -- ignore this if after reading my sig you think not), people who don't like me seem to see it as a personality thing. People who do, I think, see me as having some things I'm not good at, and probably just see it as idiosyncrasies of who I am, and their overall image of me of someone they like.

Although, there's the folks in between, who don't know me well and haven't made a judgment. I don't know what they think. I suspect, mostly they think I'm weird. But, who knows.

Most people don't have a clue what Autism is, so if you're not visibly stimming, that word won't even occur to them. They will likely see AS behaviors as odd, but not necessarily in a negative way, just quirky and different. Whether they perceive you as 'damaged' depends to a great extent on how you see yourself. If you believe you're a piece of crap, they will likely pick up on that and treat you accordingly.

Bullies, OTOH, will attack anything they sense is the least bit different from themselves.