Is Autism really that "bad"?

All I hear in lectures, all I read in books and all I see in documentaries is how bad it is to live with autism. I have never heard, seen or read any real positive things, but I do wonder if that is really how it is....

Neurotypicals often say they can't grasp my ideas, but I also can't graps theirs... Take Russia and Ukraine these days, I just can't grasp why the leaders of both sides don't just enter a boxing ring and fight it out themselves instead of hiding behind armies, weapons, and other countries.... But that idea got me the social label of being crazy, in my eyes everyone who looks up to cowards who hide and don't fight themselves to solve their problems is crazy.

Also I just noticed that people often just don't try. I mean, I work my butt off while just trying to understand a bit of neurotypical logic, while they seem to think "it's not the same as my idea, so it's not true.". I force my brain to work for 300% just to make sure that every neurotypical on the outside feels comfortable in talking to me, but if I only let my brain work for 100% just for a minute, I am the uncaring crazy person who isn't trying to understand the feelings of others.... I hug my friends because they want it, it hurts me like hell, physically. and if I don't do it, I am the crazy one who has to adapt...

So yea, autism is a hell sometimes, but every one of my autism hells is caused by me forcing my mind to make sure others feel good and them not doing a single thing back. And then they say that I am egocentric, egoistic and uncaring....

If the whole world would be doing some efford on looking through autistic eyes, would autism be a bad thing?

If people would stop touching me because it hurts, if people would stop complaining about me sometimes not understanding non-verbal language, if people would just get out of their own bubble they call their mind and they started imagining how I see the world, then I think autism would be way less bad...

Demi

ManyHearts wrote:Also I just noticed that people often just don't try.

This is so true. They just label everything different as "diseased" or "disordered" and that's it - nothing else to be done. They seem to assume that the fact that they outnumber others, gives them "the right to be right". That's not true. I also think that in case of autism they are the ones who are egoistic - because they expect many things that are just not comfortable for autistics - like closeness, socializing etc. They force you to do things against yourself, just to their satisfaction.
They say they are empathetic, but this kind of empathy isn't worth much...

IceBlock wrote:They say they are empathetic, but this kind of empathy isn't worth much...

That's because they have selective empathy..

Honestly, I think people on the spectrum are some of the people with the most common sense.

I wish this sub-forum was used more often.

Would make for an interesting discussion over the human condition.
(I like to call it the human disease, an epidemic of excess.)

I'm so sick of people complaining to me that they want to enjoy their life as if I'm in their way.

You are right with your observations. Many autistic people have an absolute clear understanding of what is going on around them.
I never ever attempt to get close to NT's, just tolerate them because they are the ones that simply do not understand the simplest of concepts in this world.

I will observe and grasp difficult scenarios in lightening speed and I will openly voice the solution while others are still sitting around and try to understand the scenario for a couple of years.

Heck no, I do not bother with NT's: they are loud, talk all day while having nothing to say.

People hate it when I clearly state a scenario, a situation, a solution: Why? Because they did not think of it and then they try to dismiss my talents, try to make it look like they are the brilliant ones, take credit of my ideas, of my work.

NT's could never ever be real friends, they are unintelligent, self absorbed, noisy buggers. I flick them off like the buggers from my nose. Sorry, but that is about as much respect as I have for NT's.

AprilR wrote:

IceBlock wrote:They say they are empathetic, but this kind of empathy isn't worth much...

That's because they have selective empathy..

I feel empathy for cats but I don't care if I see a dog dying

I have infantile autism and I honestly don't really notice it that often. Maybe because I'm used to being that way. If you asked my mother, though, she would tell you that I'm quite difficult and point out every "autistic trait/flaw" that I have. She says I only follow my own perspective and never considers anybody else's side of a situation. The worst part of it is that I can't disagree because then I might sound like I'm in denial. I used to be the way she is describing, but I've learned to be more open minded and to consider other people's situations and opinions. I have finally realised that I just can't be right about things all the time. I easily feel uncomfortable in public, but I usually manage to oppress it since I actually enjoy being social. I have certain rituals/OCD-ish tendencies that I've had for as long as I can remember... so I think that came with my autism. My speech can sound a bit weird at times, as I might mess up a few words. It can take a few tries for me to properly pronounce a word especially if it's a long one, but it doesn't happen that often and isn't usually an obstacle... Although it does tend to happen if I'm really nervous. Besides those things and my apparent poor motor skills, I won't say that my case of autism is that bad. It's mostly people's reactions that I find hard to take because they suddenly start to see me as a piece of glass. That just annoys me. I might have autism, but I'm still a person and that's how I want to be treated. Some people just can't understand that.

Angelspit, VERY well said

Thank you!