lighting matches

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Not sure if this is covered anywhere else, haven't seen yet, so...

Does anyone else have issues with matches..that is, skittish about lighting one? Afraid to burn off a few fingers? I've only lit one match in my life, for a candle..after stressing over it for several minutes. If anyone else can relate, might it be yet another possible Aspie manifestation?

I don't like the smell or sound of lighting a match. I'd prefer using a lighter any day!

I can totally understand how lighting a match would be over stimulating though, and I don't think I was able to successfully light one until my 20's.

I have trouble lighting matches, period, and yeah, I always think I'm going to burn my fingers.

Love it. Wood matches anyway, not the paper ones. Love the smell, and the aftersmell, the touch of the wood, feeling the raised print on the box, listening to the sticks rattle inside. The crackle as it fires up. Those are comfort sensations for me.

Much nicer than lighters. Don't like touching plastic or chrome or the little ridges on the wheel, especially ahte it when the label comes off the lighter and leaves sticky residue. Smell of butane is completely revolting.

I've been thinking of switching to flint and tinder, to be honest. I like iron, and I love flint and other chalcedonies. Super old school, don't have to refill it with petrol fuels.

I'm not sure about being skittish but I have a lot of trouble lighting matches. If I try I usually end up with a mangled unlit match. I also hate the smell.

I am skittish about lighting a stove with a match and won't do it even if it means going hungry.

I hate paper matchs, wood ones are OK for me.

I am a chemist and you have to someones work with flames so I am OK with matchs. The thing I do not like about paper ones is that they deform and bend when I try to stricke them.

_________________
Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity I am not a jigsaw, I am a free man !

Diagnosed under the DSM5 rules with autism spectrum disorder, under DSM4 psychologist said would have been AS (299.80) but I suspect that I am somewhere between 299.80 and 299.00 (Autism) under DSM4.

I do not like matches. Paper matches are the worst.

I don't mind the smell, though. It's a sharp sulfury smell, but not overwhelming like cigarette smoke.

I have a fear of matches, because I'm afraid that I'm going to burn myself.

I can't light either matches or lighters. I'm convinced I'm going to burn myself is part of it.

I like using matches to light a cigarette. I don't know why. My oldest daughter smokes also and she likes matches too. Or we did. I bought some cheap ones at the grocery store instead of the better ones at Wal Mart. They are the little wooden ones in the small boxes. These would break off and the burning end would fly into something. After t happening a few times to both of us, we got rid of them and went back to lighters.

I do like how matches smell.

I hate lighting the gas logs. I'm always afraid I will blow us up. The thing is back inside there and you can't reach it well. It's underneath the logs and under a metal guard. I have to light an incense stick and have it flaming well before I stick it back in there to light it. I also have to hold the dial and let it warm up before I turn it to the number and let it go. Otherwise it goes out and I have to do it all over again.

I grew up with a gas stove where the pilot light didn't work and we had to light it with a match to cook anything. Sometimes we had to light the oven too if it went out. I hated that. It took me quite a while to learn to do it.

Frances

Can't light one out of fear of burning things and lack of any idea how to despite observing people do it. I don't really "get" fire.

I've never lit a match in my life and I doubt I ever will.

Oh, yes. I love the smell of matches...and what they can do (sounding like a pyro here lol) enough to force myself through any of the nervousness that may come from trying to strike them. It's kinda crazy -- I love fires to camp out or cook things (marshmallows!) or for warmth in a cozy house, but really dislike almost any amount of smoke. A newly-ignited match and a newly-extinguished match are the only exceptions to that. Hmmm...

as a child, i was terrified of lighting matches, because of my horrible gross and fine motor skills. i knew i was lousy at it, and therefore was scared of burning myself to death, like my clothes will catch on fire etc. i don't remember how old i was, just that my sister who's five years younger, five years, damn, lit a match when i couldn't.
i still have a problem with it and i'm 45.5 years old, lol. but i can do it if i really have to and although i'm tense, i'm not so terrified. just don't ask me to lit the kettle using a paper match, then i'm really scared. it's too close to my fingers.
i'm so glad you post this! thank you. i remember up to that day how bad i felt about my younger sister lightening a match when i couldn't. i mean, how would you feel if you were a kid and your much younger sibling did something you were too clumsy and too much of a coward to do? at least, this is how i saw it back then. now i understand...

No nothing to do with AS.

I don't mind lighting a match and holding it for a few seconds, but after that I keep thinking it will burn down to my fingers, then I yelp and drop the match on myself or the floor and catch everywhere alight.