Things that make me glad being an aspie

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Despite the struggles I have, there are some things that make me glad to be an aspie.

I am generally compelled to learn more about certain things than most people would do. Most people around me still think every prehistoric reptile (especially Dimetrodon) is a dinosaur, still call all pterosaurs "pteradactyls", smilodons are "saber tooth tigers", and all woolly mammoth species were bigger than modern day elephants. These people have never read a book on paleontology or a scientific article in their lives but I have read plenty.

Instead of driving my car recklessly to prove my "manliness", I prefer to drive safely so I don't risk getting killed or killing anyone else. I also enjoy seeing the scenery unfold before me.

I am not concerned with trends of any sort. I'd rather watch a Godzilla movie I missed out either because I didn't know it existed back when I was a kid or my parents decided I needed to "grow out of" that stuff instead of keeping up with the Kardashians. I also find it more fulfilling to seek out something specific to my interests rather than what's currently popular. For example, I'll try to find different science fiction authors instead of reading the latest James Patterson novel.

This is the best thread I've ever seen you start.

It's a breath of fresh air to read you focusing on some very positive things!

There are things I definitely like about being an Aspie and wouldn't want to change.

Maybe you sharing your list will make others think of their own? Maybe some of the people reading your post have never really thought about the traits they have that they appreciate about themselves?

This is exactly how I drive and I get called a 'grandpa driver' as if it's some sort of insult , I don't find it insulting to be called a safe driver who doesn't break the speed limit , it's a bit of a bizzare insult.

And I echo GF21 sentiment , it's good to read some positivity from you , keep it up dude.

Where I come from reckless driving isn't seen as 'manly' but is seen as 'immature' if you are over 21.

Most, if not, all the factual things I know everybody else knows too, or I even learn factual things from others. My uncle is NT but he has a brain like an encyclopedia. And most NTs I know have admitted that facts about the universe fascinates them. They probably just don't give themselves the time to actually sit and study it.

I have an interest in and understanding of the struggles and triumphs of a tennis player many people may not have heard of, but many more should know. I have the desire to tell people about Denis Istomin, a player not as famous as the big name players, but one who has overcome a great deal to succeed.

I have a compassion for my pets and consider myself a nurturer to animals, especially cats. I am not "that crazy cat lady." I am a very serious one, and many of my animals have lived very long lives.

I haven't been called that but I get told "I saw you driving slow!" like it's something to be ashamed of. Then they wonder why people get severely injured or even killed by the speeding idiots.



Complete opposite in the Bible Belt. It's a badge of honor to drive recklessly, especially among rednecks and hip hoppers. Ironically, both groups hate each other but they have a lot in common.

There are definitely NTs with intellectual minds, it's just that anti-intellectual NTs give them the same flack they do to us.

I don't look at tabloid magazines, follow celebrity news, or watch reality TV. Whenever that stuff crosses my vision, I feel like my mind is suffering from withdrawal. I am not sure why. I think it could be from how my parents always wanted to associate with the really affluent people in my area and they would put a lot of pressure on my siblings and I to "look good" in their homes. The "cool kids" also emulated the dress and hair styles of celebrities.
I guess I also hated how girls would swoon over the pretty boy celebrities instead of looking my way.

It's hard for me to untangle my autism from my personality when it comes to what I like about myself. I guess my ability to really study a subject that interests me wouldn't be there so much if not for the ASD. The feeling of being really alive when I'm making headway at getting something clever done. In a nutshell, I did it MY way.

It doesn't make sense does it ? some people are weird

It's much "easier" to drive recklessly in the US.

In the UK, especially in the cities, the roads are quite curvy and narrow---thus limiting speed-driving opportunities (except on the N and some of the A roads, of course.

Driving recklessly on curvy and narrow roads could very well lead to more damage than driving recklessly on straight roads.

Yes that is true. I think teenagers, particularly boys, think it's "cool" to drive recklessly, but most mature adults hate reckless drivers. Some social standards are different in the UK than it is in the US.
Same with braces. In the UK having braces are considered trendy and cool, at least that's what I remember in high school, but apparently in the US kids with braces get bullied and called nerdy and unpopular.

Things that make me glad that I think I need to attribute, at least in part, to my asd...
I can be very reasonable.
I am slow to change and cautious when I do so, that and my almost non-existent social life has kept me out of serious trouble throughout my life, I think.

When I decide to do something, I commit a huge amount of time and energy to it, and often achieve some results.

I seem to be fairly smart.



It's good to see this thread from you.

That's true and it's very stupid it happens like that. Unfortunately, there was a time I avoided doing anything or looking like I was a "nerd" or "geek". I am not exactly sure why I had that fear. I just know that being a jock was praised and being studious was considered weak for whatever reason.

One common thing among Bible Belt males of all ages is urinating on the ground. It's really crass and disgusting.

SAME! Although I can also pull some pretty insanely bad driving moves due to sudden moments sensory overload/executive dysfunction.

Maybe they are not interested in reptiles and science, and paleontology. I am sure there are things you don't read about because you are also not interested.



This is not autism, this is just called being a safe driver and there are plenty of safer drivers on the roads who are not autistic. My parents don't drive recklessly either and neither do my brothers. My mom in law didn't do it either when she drove. Anyone who speeds is stupid and selfish. I am not talking about unintentional speeding. Sometimes you are going with traffic and you don't realize how fast you are going, especially if you are going down hill or there are no cars in front of you but you are not paying attention to your speed. But I can tell when someone going too fast is doing it intentional. For one, they will pick up speed, two, they will pass you even though you are going the speed limit and they try and pass you and they just speed up and pass other cars in front of me too and I am thinking "dumb ass." I don't see many drivers doing this on the road in my area.



I call this normal behavior, you think all NTs care about trends and try and do them and have the same interests just because it's popular?

The thing that makes me glad to be an aspie is that I have a mind of my own and I'm not easily swayed by the masses.

I wish most of the drivers in my town would be more concerned about safety, obeying the speed limits and the like. A lot of people here drive either like maniacs or like slugs. Both are potentially dangerous. I got cut off in traffic by some speeding nutjob last week. It took me the better part of the afternoon to get my heart rate down.