What do NTs mean by "autistics live in their own world"?

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Many NTs I've talked to over the years, and especially those who work with people with autism, often say that people with autism seem to "live in their own world". Most of us are probably familiar with this way to describe those with an ASD, but what exactly is meant by that?

The "aut" syllable in "autism" means "self" ( like autopilot, automobile, etc).

To be autistic means to be withdrawn, into your own head, and not engaging with outside world, or atleast, not with the outside social world.

I like to think I'm guilty of that. To a considerable extent, I stand outside of society, I don't run with the pack, I live in my own world because I don't like theirs very much.

I live in my own world, because the NT world is too demanding.

I guess it means: "Normal" social interaction doesn't come naturally, so autistics sort of focus on themselves and their own thoughts.

On a possibly related note, I just found out that the Japanese word for autism literally means "self closure disorder." Hm.

> "What Do NTs Mean By 'Autistics Live In Their Own World'?"

They mean, "I don't like it that you don't pay attention to me."

I suspect it's code for "people who don't do things in the normal way that normal people like us do" in many cases. It's a phrase that may be said in a condescending way or a sympathetic one.

More sensitive people might be commenting on the withdrawal inward that occurs when ASD people are bullied, shunned, ignored or excluded in some way. Which is often, so often that it is a shameful statement about neurodominant attitudes translated into aggressive behaviour toward others.

It means they are interacting with other people in a way they recognize.

Most autistic people have been to some degree socially unresponsive since birth or early childhood and have a more pronounced mental inner life.
This is referred to as being in one's own world.

I kind of think everyone sort of lives in their own world because everyone experiences the world around them differently, and I can never be 100% sure if how I'm experiencing the world is anything like how others experience it.

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