How do people feel about the term "Wired Differently"?

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a polite way of saying "inferior wiring".

...I like.

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I disagree that it's rarely used for non-autistic people.
I, myself, only very occasionally hear it used to describe autistics.
I hear it used most often by neurotypicals about males and females.
Especially in the mainstream media. I frequently hear "mens' brains are wired differently" or "womens' brains are wired differently".
Something which I don't believe and never have but, especially over the past 15 years or so, people have started saying one or the other very often in relation to biological sex.

As for it being used to describe autism, as a metaphor at least, I'd say that was more accurate and I certainly don't mind it.

Thank you for all your replies, they are very useful. I'm giving a talk next week and this topic so I may well use some of these replies (anonymously of course), to support the presentation.

Generally speaking, I'm really interested in the intersections of autism and science fiction, and one of those cross-overs is the sci-fi(ish) terminology used to describe autistic people. Some of it is not helpful, but some, like 'wired differently' seems to suit the purpose quite well. I agree with some posters on here that it is the word 'differently' that helps here - rather than saying 'wrongly'.

Thanks again everyone! Stay happy and safe and well!

David

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David Hartley - Writer, Performer, PhD Student, NT brother to a fabulous autistic sister.

Here to be in the wider world of autism. Fascinated in the link between autism and the fantastical genres. Delve in with me on YouTube: The Fantastic Autistic https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKFGHLYnAPrz_XGAodX8vAQ

Let's talk on Twitter: @Fantastic_Aut

Radiance in Dailiness

I know I am wired differently. I would like to make better connections in some areas.

I actually love the term wired differently. I have absolutely nothing in common with any NT person,even the most weird,shyest,anxious NT's or even the NT's that have other neurological condition besides Aspergers/Autism.I even feel vastly different than any of my family members and I get treated like I'm vastly different by family members. I also feel that unlike a vast majority of the population,I don't need any human contact.I have any problem with the term"wired differently" becasue that's who I'm am.

In my opinion, people should not go along with any "Wired Differently" term, or with anything else like that. People need to start defending themselves and others, and making it clear that no one has any right to label them. And that if they do not like them, that is there problem and it is just too bad.

Richard

Let's see its English and describes the word its a synonym to, ok great I feel exactly nothing towards this phrase.

It's not insulting in any way and in general I find people forcing their distaste of words on others more offensive than words (with one notable exception.)

Someone who calls herself "IstominFan" is definitely "wired differently." Tennis is an atypical interest for most people and being a fan of a player most people haven't heard of (but should) makes me more so.

Being a cat lover isn't unusual for a female, but I love a very special kind of cat, the Lynx point Siamese. I think they are incredibly beautiful and two of my cats were Lynx points.

Really I think it is just about power and the acceptance of otherness.

If someone suggested to me that I was "Wired Differently", I would recognize that it is not that mean spirited. So I would let them say that. But I would not affirm it in any way. I would just try to keep the conversation topical.

If on the otherhand they were trying to to use it to stigmatize me, I would remind them that they don't have to like me, but that I am not going to accept any such labels.

People who are somehow different or marginalized, we must stand up for ourselves and each other.

I have gotten dozens of people fired from jobs, both public sector and private sector, and I have forced the closure of businesses. I stand up for myself and I stand up for others.

When I was elementary school age I did not know how to do this, so I was bullied.

And then for many children, the real bullies are the parents.

Richard

Wired differently sounds accurate to me. We literally are.

^^^^^^ That still sounds like "neurological difference".

No one knows that that is so. And going along with it still is potentially allowing people to stigmatize us for not measuring up to conformist standards.

Richard

Well that's true of everyone. The more I think of my best friends this way the more I realize they're probably more similar to me than I ever knew. That's my best guess, I think we've all been keeping to ourselves this year.

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Yes, we can't let our lives depend upon anyone else's acceptance.

They don't have to like us. And when necessary, I have let people know this.

Wired Differently is not the meanest sort of thing to say, but I still would always be careful not to endorse it.

Richard