autistic fantasy and "general weirdness "

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Some folks on this forum have complained that NTs, despite liking them/fitting in with them in general, think they are a bit weird; also that strangers on the street stare at them hard/turn to look at them whenever they pass them (I only go our wearing shades for this reason so I can fantasize in peace). In my case, they might say "maybe he's a psychopath or something" (people in class) or "aimlessly wandering" (English teacher) or "you've gone into a catatonic state" (Maths teacher).

After so many years of wondering why I was like this (look like I'm in a constant state of having an absence seizure), I've finally found the reason: autistic fantasy...

"Autistic fantasy is a defense mechanism that uses daydreaming and fantastical thinking as a method for coping with stress..." Basically as autists we are more likely to try to escape our issues than face them head on, this could be why we're perceived as "lazy" by others too. In my case it's because I have no coping mechanisms, thus relying almost exclusively on Autistic Fantasy to cope.

I use this all the time myself and I'm sure most of you can relate to this. We use gaming and the internet and daydreaming excessively to cope with the issues in our lives, instead of taking a proactive stance and moving forward. Do NTs think you are weird? This might be the reason. I guess this is aimed at the higher-functioning/mild cases who fit in with the NT population so well they can't tell you're autistic, but at the same time they think you're a bit off.

Do you relate?

Oh my goodness! I just wrote about this on another thread. I day dream and fantasize often. I have never really associated it with stress; I love it. I am on the train a lot for work, so I get a ton of time to let my mind wander. My friends tell me that I look like I am high when I do it, but they know I don't so drugs, so...

Happy to hear someone is out there in fantasyland with me!

More or less. Except my own world is based on experience and random creativity out of boredom, and less of a stress coping mechanism.


Except, WHAT IS NORMAL?!
What or why do you think that autistics (probably will and still) think NTs are weird despite growing and living around them for most of our lives?

I don't 'get' normal. I still don't truly get it other than it's based on culture and experiences, and what most people think it's "natural".
And I feel like 'normal' is more of another bubble that just so happens where the majority is, and less of something that makes others unite or understand each other.
Not because I (couldn't be) 'in' there, because there are others that exists and most types of 'normal' ignores it, and is likely enforces their own rules to another.

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I think they do because a lot of them give me strange looks and target me.

I sometimes get caught up in fantasy, but I still try to stay motivated. I sometimes daydream while doing other tasks.

"I sometimes daydream while doing other tasks."

Same dude, one thing I've noticed about this is that a lot of your mental energy is vented into daydreams, which sort of drains your physical energy so you don't really have much to do other tasks, if that makes sense?