Best Culture for Aspie

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So what do you think is the best culture for an Aspie? The word "best" can describe anything you would prefer: best for improving functioning, best for an Aspie to live and stay the same, etc.

I honestly don't know this answer. However, I have heard the UK is the most tolerant of Aspies. I am not sure this is the case, but having spent some time there, I can see why one thinks that.

Irelands even better than the UK I'd say. Ireland has an unusually high rate of autism so theres a high degree of tolerance here.

Someone told me once that Scandinavian countries were the best for introverts because of the culture, but then I recently saw someone here say it wasn't good for Aspies, so I have no idea. Maybe native American.

I'd say Japan would be a good place, since they value introversion and other solitary activities like meditation. America (where I live) has one of the worst cultures for Aspies. Despite the increased awareness of autism, only the smooth talkers get to the top of the social and work pyramids here. And if you don't have at least a couple of close friends you're automatically labeled a freak.

Rastafari has always appealed to me. I might convert someday when I move out of my parent's house. My parents say it is a "black person's religion" and that the people who are Rastas are so because they are lazy and don't want to help anyone. The aspect of Rastafari that appeals to me the most is the belief that people's bodies are a temple and therefore going to church is rather silly. My mother says that was made up because Rastas are lazy people and don't want to help anyone. Well, my mother is always accusing me of being selfish when I ask for help with things. I've been accused of being selfish pretty much my whole life and if the shoe fits I will wear it proudly. The one aspect of Rastafari I have to disagree with is the belief that Haile Selassie is Jesus reincarnated; but I do agree with most of the mother beliefs. Rastafari seems to be more of a lifestyle and culture than a religon anyway.

Having lived in the UK since birth, and having recently moved to the USA, I can honestly say the UK is a much closer culture match for Aspies.

Americans are extremely social and chatty. Have you ever seen the audience of an American talk show, how they jump up and down and get extremely involved and excited? Compare that with the extremely reserved audiences in the British chat shows, the difference is enormous.

Even the cinema is an insanely different experience in the UK vs the USA. In the UK it's almost polite, well-timed laughter. In the USA people laugh their butts off, call out funny one-liners (and laugh/respond to each other), and basically enjoy the movie in a completely different, almost collective way. In the UK people are much more solitary. This is even more true down south near London (up North they're a bit more friendly). British people don't really chat to strangers in queues like Americans do, and basically they keep themselves to themselves.

Whether one is 'better' than the other is really a matter of personal preference. One Aspie may want to fade into the background and not be put in stressful social situations, another may enjoy the challenge of trying to be more social and incorporating with NTs.

The Irish are super friendly for the most part anyway.

I'm actually fairly extroverted, although I haven't always been. My brand of extroversion isn't always received very warmly, however. I would personally guess that Asian cultures are more suited for aspies. Eastern cultures tend to make judgments of people based on their situation whereas western cultures tend to make judgments on your personal character. A lot of shamanistic societies find a place for people with autism, etc. often as shamans.

Last edited by Shadwell on 08 Dec 2010, 7:58 pm, edited 4 times in total.

My preference is a culture in which stress is minimized. I tend to have a lot more spectrum-related problems when I am under stress than when I'm not.

Yeah, it's really easy here to pegged as a freak, creep, weirdo, or just plain stupid, the last part makes me feel the angriest. Some people who cynically deride everything seem to go a long ways, but cynically deriding everything gets tiring and seems like a fashion.

How about Scotland? I have a cousin there and I'd love to spend lots of time there. She's in the countryside, in Lanarkshire.

acidophilus?

On one hand Japanese culture is hyperconfromist and ferousiously intolerent of deviants, but on the other hand Japanese culture is itsself rather aspergian. Like you said they value introversion and introspection. Both the nation and Japanese individuals ive known tend to get involved in interests with a tunnel vision passion that is very aspergian. So on balance Japan would be a good fit for an aspie- or it could be the the worst hell- it depends.

Americans boast of being individualists but British culture seems to be more tolerent of eccentricity than America.

I would say America is better than Japan.

The Japanese language has so many phrases that aren't clear, it's almost like a understanding between people. In my conversations they expect me to know what they're talking about. They will stay silent at times and I'm suppose to interpret that. Then in actions it's the same. If you can't socialize well and don't get the little things in speech and body language you will not do any better in Japan than America You'll be worse, you'll be a gaijin you wont understand the language like a native and you'll be lost. You'll be better off in America, people are more literal and not so... not even sure of the word.

Japan doesn't even seem to have a good image for people like us.

We'll be seen as this.



NEETS (not in education, employment, or training) who sit in their messy room obsessing over their obsessions.

Introvertness and shyness may seem very Japanese, but heavy social skills, dealing with authority, using correct language, not always sounding formal. I've insulted people because I've been too formal and they didn't get why I wasn't being more "friendly".

If you're a big loner who is always seen with no friends and you hardly talk to anyone. People will think you're a freak, Japan isn't that different in that regard.

Last edited by Scanner on 08 Dec 2010, 9:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I've always said I'm secretly British. Maybe it's the Asperger's instead.

Well, were else could you buy woman's panties to smell from a vending machine? I be visiting the Czech Republic next month and will report back to you all.