Are Asperger problems worse in the city or in the country?

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How does your situation in an urban or rural place affect your issues with AS?

Where do you live? How would you define the area?

The services available to you? Vocational Rehabilitation agencies?

The relative density of people or the lack thereof?

Mass Transit?

The lack of activity?

Political leanings of the majority vs you?

Tolerance of the ASD community in your area?

Urban. Way too crowded, too many people.
I'm here for other reasons, and temporarily.

Depends on the aspie. My potential career path is through music, and in the Country (where I am) it can get really depressing... lack of contacts, lack of venues... this that and the other.

I live in Edinburgh, and it is the biggest city I've ever been to (barring a day-trip to Glasgow). The noise of traffic used to upset me, but now not so much. The streets are pretty busy which makes walking to places confusing because I walk faster than most and so have to pay attention to avoid colliding with others.

I'd prefer to live in a rural area, like the village my mother grew up in, because Edinburgh's making me too nervous and reclusive. Also, I enjoy walking in the country, something I've been unable to do since coming to Edinburgh (for I do not drive).

There are no services for adults with AS in Edinburgh that I use, so I wouldn't lose any kind of support if I lived in a rural area.

The sole reason I'm in Edinburgh is for the university. Once I'm finished with that I will be leaving for somewhere quieter.

Last edited by McTell on 23 Mar 2009, 5:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I sometimes forget this at my peril.

In other words...

It depends...

Wasn't that George Carlin?

And so are the people around you.

I live in a suburban area. I haven't seen any useful services at all. I want to believe that it's better for younger people. I imagine that the culture is probably slightly better than urban or rural. It's more about the individuals in your life -- family, school, work, community... I find intelligent and/or educated people tend to be a little easier, but it's really an individual thing. Some individuals are more enlightened and tolerant, some are born jerks. They can be anywhere.

I think it would be worse in cities. Quieter areas like the countryside would probably be better for aspies, that's what I think anyway.

I live in the suburbs - in a poorly planned cul-de-sac. There should be a separate category for people who live in a cul-de-sac miles away from shops, restaurants and parks. (There are actually a lot of planning studies about the sociological impact of the cul-de-sac.)

I would rather live in the city where there's a lot of buzz and so many people you blend in. I'd love to be able to walk or take a subway everywhere.

I sometimes feel like I'm in a fishbowl here. It's lonely but very exposed.

I lived in a large metropolitan area for two years. It nearly drove me insane. I've spent much more time living in suburban and rural areas, both of which have their own annoyances. In the suburbs, it's all the pests who's definition of being a 'good neighbor' is to always be dropping by unannounced to give you pies or sell you cookies or pressure you to participate in the neighborhood homeowner's cabal. In rural areas there's just not much going on...ever. Something which I am in favor of roughly 90% of the time, but on occasion I like to emerge from my sanctuary and frolic about.

There is a cow pasture across the street from me, and there is a fair distance between my neighbor's hovels and my hovel. It's quiet. The air is clean. And yet 4 miles down the road is an interstate, and 5 miles one way is a small city, and 60 miles the other way is a mid-sized city, largely populated by yuppies and hippies and artists of every kind. Ideal for me, really.

I couldn't really say - not being rehabilitation material. I suspect they're adequate.

Hardly any population density in the immediate vicinity of my sanctuary. This is what matters.

None.

Deliciously so. If I want any, 60 miles isn't far to go for it.

Mostly right-wing and against me, but nowhere near as conservative as some other places I've lived.

Community?

I prefer to live in not-too-chaotic parts of a city. London, for instance, is such a big place that there are parts of it that are quiet and have green space, but you can still get to the centre very easily.

In the rural area my mother lives in, I find it all too easy to crawl inside my shell and never come out. In close-knit communities, I feel like I'm always being watched - people pick up on the slightest hint of oddness. In the city, it all seems like less of a big deal, I feel less self conscious and make a few friends.

Exactly. Its HELL for an aspie.

Geez hard to answer. It depends on the aspie.


Cities being bad for aspies because:

Too much people
Too much cars
People being less tolerant for people who are different

Countries being bad for aspies because:

No public transportation so the aspie is screwed if they can't afford a car
Harder to get a job


I for one am a city person. I like to be left unnoticed and not known, and I need things to do, places to walk to than using my car and using my gas to get to work.

Where there are more people you can develop your social skills and eventually get past your disability. Where you're isolated, you'll always be alone. You guys seem to think in terms of avoiding problems, not overcoming.

Exactly! That's so true. I don't believe aspie = social anxiety or agoraphobia. And as someone mentioned, everyone in the city is a "little different". Some people have to try harder than others. For us, it's not a problem!

I also find the quick limited human interactions are great ways to test out my social skills. In the country and suburbs, its more of a "commitment" and way more intimate to talk to people. In the city, they won't remember you in 10 minutes.

what a delightful little crock this post is. don't take it personally. i am attacking your opinion.
get back to me in 30 years when you have some life experience.

avoiding problems/ overcoming problems?

are you on meds?

Is the past or future better? Both.

Why are other people of any importance? you will never meet 1/1,000,000% of them.

It is not about you, them, it is in fact about the Hummingbirds, life is everywhere and full time.