What is your own reaction to people who are "different"?

How do you treat people who are different or "slow"?

I tend to see "differentness" as something positive, even aspirational. I think it's foolish to expect everyone to think alike, act alike. Oddness is often thought provoking and always entertaining, though I do give considerable weight to who is a good person. Ultimately, if I think they're just a #######5 person, mere novelty alone won't be enough to outshine the fact. But novelty is always a draw. It strikes me as creative, brave.

Unfortunately, being a good person and being odd/nonconformist rarely go together. Throw in intelligence (and/or taste) and you've got yourself a unicorn.

I also tend to look down on forced conformity/cliquish behavior/circle jerkery. To me, it's seems weak minded and senselessly elitist. That's not just sour grapes. I really don't like being around people who act that way, even when I'm not on the receiving end of it. I think some of the "bratty" or "attention seeking" behavior that's been imputed to me is simply this: unconcern for social mores and unconcern for the good opinion of people who I don't regard highly myself. I think the term "attention whore" gets thrown out far more often against me than it is deserved.

At work I'm intolerant of people who are slow or can't keep up (mentally or physically). I value people at work largely by their productivity. But also, in part, by how much effort they make. Their attitude and work ethic. I pretty much reject anyone who is not like me. I see them as a burden.

Boo Radley, for example, is supposed to have ASD. What are your thoughts on Boo? Would you have been friends with old Boo?

I often act as a mediator between NT and people with moderate to severe autism. I often relate to both sides when the other side is gone.

It was interesting watching this guy interact with people who were eating and would ask them questions at precisely the wrong time, and it's essentially impossible to explain to him what he's doing wrong. I can predict the outcome of what he's doing to others. His random questions to me when I had my mouth full didn't really bother me. In a way I find it really exciting talking to people that will go down very unusual lines of thought at very peculiar times with me, with complete disregard for social etiquette.

So, I have made fun of autistic people. Usually just by explaining really clearly the social rules they break and then laughing. It's not really mean spirited, but I see no other way of trying to make people understand each other, other than to find humor in it.

It is insane how complex social interactions are when you really think about it.