Neurotypical Social Interaction

Post Reply New Topic

Ok, this is not a topic analyzing the differences between NT and Aspie empathy, theory of mind, etc, but rather a look at how they promote usuage of those things, while providing bad examples, such as sexism, racism, and just terrible abuses of humanity.

You look at things that happen in the world such as the xenophobic riots in South Africa(which is extremely unusual for the country, yes, I know, but still), the Holocaust, apartheid, slavery, colonialism, and the list goes on and on.

I want to see if NTs themselves need social skills training and help with interpersonal relations. Also this is not a topic to assert Aspie superiority, it won't help this cause.

Just want to get some honest opinions from people.

That's all.
And remember no NT attacks!

It seems like the weakest form of groupthink can override the strongest form of empathy.

Groupthink is but individual think devoid of personal responsibility.

I don't think NTs are the problem. I think SOME of them cause all the problems... All it takes is a "power addict". He/she will try to boss everyone, and of course, some will follow, giving him/her more power, until he/she will use the followers to force the non-followers to follow. Those who are like that are, of course, afraid to lose thier power so they will try to control everything, everyone, and they have to "manage" that line-up of potential power stealer.

I think all the bad we see in the world is the result of that power war. Most poeple do well without bossing everyone around. They don't try to take the boss' place. Most poeple would do well without a boss (i don't need to be told to when it's time to clean...). But there is always one moron that will rush to the buffet without waiting in line, causing all the other to do the same or starve.

Those are the one who needs help but don't say so outloud, or the followers will show you why you shouldn't....

You could definitely make the argument that NTs need social skills training were they not 99.9% of the population.

If we were the majority, or even a sizeable minority that would have to happen. As it is it won't, ever. They can happily live their lives without having to interact with us even though they will still make use of the scientific advances we provide them with!

If we didn't exist they would still be living in the dark ages, but that doesn't mean they have to learn our language the way we have to learn theirs in order to get on with day to day life.

I definitely think many an NT could take a page from the book of quite a few Aspies I've known, to whom boundaries based on arbitrary factors like those you mentioned do not register, do not make sense. It seems too many NTs call for empathy towards others only when it's easy, but not when it means empathy towards those one is different from.

However, as some threads and forums here will inevitably show you, other Aspies could learn a few things about that too, so I can't say it's an NT problem, just a general jerk problem.

People have evolved because they perpetuate their genes. We're more successful than we ought to be at that. We should mitigate and eliminate the least pleasant aspects of our existence because that's nicer for all involved.

All things considered, while improvements could always be made, it's pretty darn special that anyone even tries.

What has making things nicer for all involved, got to do with perpetuating genes? All this niceness is not why we are here.

I fully support maximum niceness for all involved, but while I'd hold individuals and groups accountable within that paradigm, at species level, it's odd to criticize humans for failing (at an ideal of species-wide niceness and wisdom) rather than being impressed that it crosses their minds to try (anything beyond perpetuating their own genes and perhaps looking to their own comfort while doing so).

First, I thought this topic would be a more smoking gun then this, but apparently it has slided to the third page. Anyway, I am glad a few concur with my train and context of thought.

I look at auties' behavior and compare it to NT behavior, and to be honest, I see how much more evolved we are, but we are deined acceptance into society and labelled "disabled" but in comparison we are more evolved! I mean, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson. Without them we wouldn't have personal computers, theory of relativity and we(americans), would be living as British subjects!.

Also, I beg to differ solely on scientific advances, how about artistic as well? Hans Christian Anderson, I forgot the Vines' frontman and etc. I think it's the new conditional apartheid.

Hmm, do ya not think that people that perpetrate atrocities such as racism, genocide, and everything lese that you mention might not be typical of the population (NT or otherwise)? I'd be grateful if we could have a bit of perspective here.

Sensationalist, shocking, negative news will always appear in the media above nice, normal people, because that's what sells. It's human nature to overly weight negative personal experiences compared with positive ones. (Ever heard the retailer's gospel that customers will b***h to 10 of their friends about poor service but it'll take 10 incidences of great service for someone to mention how great that shop is?). It's like everyone assuming all muslims are terrorists now that Al Q'aeda is a household name - utter rubbish (muslim extremists still only make up a tiny minority of the global muslim population).

No wonder people seem to think reports, stories & experiences which reflect the minority of unpleasant, nasty people, are somehow representative of the entire population. Most of this minority are simply ignorant, but it's pretty common to find psychiatric and personality disorders that cause people to behave in this way. They are not representative.

If your problems understanding NTs and requests for information are going to be taken seriously, then it's probably not a bad idea to avoid looking ignorant and making unjustified generalisations yourself.

No-one's better than anyone else round here. Just different and trying to understand.

Waaiiiiit a minute, is the OP suggesting NTs alone cause racism, sexism and the Holocaust? You saying no one had Asperger's in any of these situations, or that NTness inherently caused it?

That's the OP's strong implication yes. Read it again. I was going to quote the bits that imply this but actually it's the entire post.

If the poster meant "does anyone who is a sociopath need social skills training and help with interpersonal relations.", then why mention NTs in relation to the topic at all? (And surely the answer is obvious - the poster is describing sociopaths, of course they need help with social skills!) Why suggest that "Aspie's are superior but let's not mention it in case it doesn't look good"?



I'm sure this was meant in all innocence but if the OP doesn't see a clear NT/Aspie divide in the way that's implied then it's a pretty pointless (and unclear) post.


PS in case anyone isn't clear: Sociopath - "a person, as a psychopathic personality, whose behavior is antisocial and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience". Although I use the term above to mean anyone who exhibits these traits through psychopathic tendencies or ignorance

To answer the OP's question, yes, some of us [neurotypicals] do need help adapting to social situations and learning how to function in them. This is not as exclusive an AS problem as some may think, though it's worth noting that much of my behavior is consistent with AS symptoms to the point where my psychologist suggested that I may have it (though I contested this as I felt I didn't have enough of the symptoms to warrant a diagnosis, to which she agreed).

I have never been social, and crowds and large groups of people make me incredibly nervous. Often times at large social events (usually family gatherings, the only social events I'm willing to go to) I get ridden with anxiety and have to take a walk or sit in a dark room for a little while by myself.

I agree- yes that is the case a LOT too.