Can AS offer lessons for NTs?

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Long before smartphones (sometimes seen as contributing to social isolation) were invented, people on the Autism Spectrum (AS) often felt socially isolated.

Before the world became an increasingly chaotic place, people with AS sometimes interpreted the world as a confusing place.

Are there lessons of AS perspectives important for NTs......even before AS was acknowledged?

I've only had a smartphone for a year and don't use it. I just stare off and space out in thought. I have an aversion to using it for some reason. Lack of habit I suspect.

Perhaps a historical example relating to your question is to imagine being a Greek philosopher during Athenian democracy. You can sort of tell they were capable of seeing through the perceptions that guided the masses and how easily manipulated they were by sophistry.

I think ASD individuals are more likely to see through that kind of social oratory/emotional manipulation and see society from a more logical, objective position, although they certainly aren't entirely immune to sophistry either, especially cloaked in the language of reason. That is nevertheless a striking difference compared to NT's who typically resonate emotionally with the views of their peers.

Neurodiverse people of all types have expanded the range of NT (and other ND) peoples' experiences. You can probably think of some names already. So, the answer is a definite "yes".

Specifically from angles you mentioned, it's harder to confirm. I don't think social isolation through increased electronic communication is analogous to the AS experience of it. I also don't think the increasing complexity of the world as experienced by an NT person is nearly the same as an autistic perception of it. Or to put it another way, if you ask both parties (AS/NT) about these issues, you'll get categorically different complaints.

The fixations on inanimate objects (common with Autism) over the years helped boost those critical-thinking skills; skills presently proving to be quite valuable.

My current interest is in Artificial Intelligence (AI) TECH. i.e., AI progress applied to pattern-recognition, and eventually discerning the context of informational/data content. Then again, the values of "old school" strategies can at times be astounding.

Which autistics

Which NTs

"Can" in what sense, legally, morally, physically

"Lessons" in what

shortfatbalduglyman: Rereading the posts in this discussion thread might help-out - sometimes re-reading discussion threads a second, even third time around may clarify.

The fixations on both concrete, and abstract concepts alike (common with Autism), over the years presently proves to be quite valuable. I've become quite resourceful, and observant.