Are we problem solvers or not?

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I don't know if problem solving is supposed to be a strength or a weakness that comes with autism. I know it's down to the individual and all that but I'm talking about the criteria for autism; sometimes it says autism means good problem solving skills but other times it means poor problem solving skills. I'm good at problem solving, is this supposed to be a trait or isn't it? Is it an ADHD trait? Or is it just a personality trait and has nothing to do with autism? Is problem solving (or lack thereof) an autism trait or an NT trait or what?

So many contradictions, I don't even know what are traits and what aren't any more.

Problem-solving is a human trait that may (or may not) be present to a greater or lesser degree in each individual.

There are times when I'm excellent in problem-solving; there are times when I absolutely suck at it.

It's up to the individual, why, and what problem.
I don't truly know how autism factors into this, except some of individual's OCD-like perfectionism tendencies.


It could be out of fascination, challenge or boredom.
Which might be done impulsively, and can be obnoxious to some when it comes to the idea of being right and orderly.

Or some weird attempt sympathy or full on altruism.
Or projection maybe, thinking something that happened to them the same, it may work to another.

Perhaps impatience or second hand frustration towards someone who's having a problem.
Solving problems not to serve others, but to put it frankly, to shut problems up.



Personally, I only try to solve or intervene at some stuff if I'm bored. Or actually impatient with something or someone.

Yet, I cannot pretend to be always in a right condition to do it properly.
Especially not in an unfamiliar place, not knowing what's permitted. Although I don't mind breaking any rule by myself.

Otherwise, intentions or not, it'll just complicate things at the wrong time and place. I hate to be ever the source of problems and concern myself.

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I think it depends on the problem. I would probably put it this way. I think very different than most NTs. In general, I think like Mr. Spock in Star Trek. All logic, little emotion.

I'm good at solving little problems that I come across every day, like I can get creative. I'm not very good at solving technical problems, like if the washing-machine goes wrong or something I have no idea what to do to fix it. But I can use my imagination and improvise. That sort of thing.

Is that what Aspies are supposed to suck at and NTs be good at, or are NTs supposed to suck at that and Aspies be good? Is that even problem solving?

Define "problem solving" by using a simple example.

I can solve very complex problems. I cannot solve simple ones. I make the complex simple and the simple complex. The first past of that phrase is what colleagues say about me, but I know they are polite in not saying the second part.

At times, Im a problem solver.

Other times, Im absolutely stymied.

I think I'm a very good problem solver. The thing is, I usually go for the fastest, easiest, most direct way to solve the problem. My wife and kids might have, say, a six step way to solve a problem when I can solve it in two steps. That's where my brain is an advantage -- I like things direct and to the point.

When they say problem solving, I assume they mean with math right. Problem solving is a human trait and men are more prone to this than women. `

^
I just took it to mean problem solving in general. Don't know if I was right or wrong to do that.

I can be a good problem solver but my husband is better at it than me because he doesn't get upset that easily like I do. When it comes to my son, I can solve his problems easily when he gets upset because things he gets upset about isn't a big deal to me and there is always a solution to it.

Some people get stuck because they run out of options or cannot think of anything to try next - this doesn’t happen to me. I sometimes get overwhelmed seeing too many things to try like the domino effect leading to an avalanche.