Social Retardation

Post Reply New Topic

I have pondered this for awhile and have come to the conclusion that I am socially ret*d. I am by no means intellectually ret*d but I realized that is not how society views it. I feel they view it as if someone's ret*d in one area; they must be ret*d in all areas. This is by no means a ploy to feel sorry for myself but a realization instead. I think this is a struggle that most people with AS/PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) face. We realize we are not intellectually ret*d and we are the equals of anyone but we are treated as if we were ret*d in all areas. I realize this is a struggle I have dealt with my whole life and I reject those who can't /won't accept there is a difference. What are your feelings on this?

I would say I'm socially inept...but not socially ret*d.

Should you be lousy, say, at playing baseball or cricket, would you call yourself a baseball or cricket "ret*d."

I certainly wouldn't. I would say I "suck" at it, or am "inept" at it.

But I would try to improve, nevertheless.

There's a certain finality to calling anything "ret*d."

I kind of prefer the term "social dyslexia," but not really "socially ret*d" because of the reasons kraftie mentioned. Sure, I can be awkward and horrible socially, but I prefer inept or challenged over ret*d.

I had a "mother's boyfriend" call me "socially ret*d."

My reaction: I wanted to punch the guy in the face and really hurt him.

Don't let people screw with your head like that.

You don't deserve it.

You have certain abilities, and suck at certain things.

Everybody has certain abilities, and suck at certain things.

That's the way I look at it.

I certainly agree with you KK; it triggers anger more than any other emotion.

I think I have social apathy/indifference.

I can't stand the thought of having to spend time with people in a social setting that is outside work.

I find socialising so boring and it would actually drive me to drink.

Plus, I haven't got a f*****g clue what anyone's talking about anyway.

The literal meaning of the word "ret*d" communication is an important part of the diagnostic criteria for autism.

But the question is it us, or that our "Autistic" brain wiring is such a minority we are at a disadvantage.

I actually know two people with Aspergers in real life, and neither of them are so inept that they cannot socialize. At worst they are just a bit overly friendly and talk in a pedantic sort of way; even when they have just met you, it's like you are their best friend (as opposed to being aloof/passive such as myself).

My social skills are fine personally, nobody has really eluded to having a lack of social skills (through being ostracized), for example.

I have had times where I've said the wrong thing, or perhaps had some very minor social blunder, but hell, who hasn't? Nobody's perfect, and anyone who makes a big deal out of doing either of the aforementioned things is just a loser with nothing better to do with their time than nitpick on you for minor things; the people who you should proudly alienate from your life.

Some autistics can socialize for a period time. The "differences" will become more apparent in a long-term relationship and employment situations and that often results in negative consequences.

I don't like the "R" word, no matter what type of disability it's used to describe.

I read a list of now obsolete medical terms on wiki. Along with "idiot" and ", imbecile" there was one called Gay-related Immune Deficiency (GRID), which was the original term for AIDS up until around 1982.

When I was around 12, I remember hearing my own mother exclaim "Thank god I'm not gay!" when she read about in the paper how AIDS was going to kill most of the world population back in the 80's. If people made a misconception like that now would the whole would be in an uproar.

When I was at school I got called a social spastic. Hurtful, but accurate.