Do you feel like a part of the autistic community?

[Judge]

I don't really feel like I'm part of much of anything and never have. Always on the outside looking in.

 

[Beguiling Orbit]

I don't really feel like I'm part of much of anything and never have. Always on the outside looking in.

@Judge, what if I told you that you are an integral part of this community? Well, it's true.

 

[LucyPurrs]

@Judge, what if I told you that you are an integral part of this community? Well, it's true.

I can't even imagine this community without Judge. You hit the nail on the head.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

I can't even imagine this community without Judge. You hit the nail on the head.

Gravitas,good sense as well as fun

 

[Alis1998]

I do feel like I belong here.
Autism is a central aspect of my daily life.
Being on a forum with people that feel the same way, or have almost the same traits feels very lovely. I mostly dont stick around on forums. But this forum seems understanding, lovely, friendly and optimisticm. I feel a very postive vibe on this forum. Maybe it is just me, but that makes me feel like I belong here.

 

[Joel's Hear]

Susanne, I know what you mean. The karma buttons are so shiny and colorful I can't help but feel the temptation to try and write something grand and fake sympathetic or especially meaningful to get points. Other times, in response to this insane urge, I'll try to write something stupid or pugnacious in order to NOT get karma. I know this seems pointless.

But to get rid of karma? Buttons so shiny and colorful...!

On another note, I like this site fairly well; I'm a member of no other forums and I live in Mexico so I get on here for fellow-brained people who speak English.

 

[Pondering]

Kind of, but not really. Mainly because my diagnosis results were inconclusive. Even though I accept myself for who I am, it's almost like I can't feel part of an autism community because I'm too close to being neurotypical, but not nearly neurotypical enough to be considered one of the nerotypicals. That doesn't really bother me, though.

 

[onlything]

I don't know. Sometimes it feels like I do belong here and in autistic community overall. Other days it's like I don't belong anywhere. I appreciate people here, I really do. And yet. Maybe it's because of what I went through. Maybe because of depression. Maybe because I don't have any formal diagnosis and can feel fake at times. I simply don't know.

But it's good to be here when I feel that I may belong, even if just a bit.

 

[Butterfly88]

Yes, I do. I used to go to schools with many autistic people, I go to an Asperger's social group, and I use this forum, I tweet about ASD, and I try to spread awareness. That's pretty included.

 

[OkRad]

I love it here. I love the posts that people make and learn so much! And when I have a bad day, some kind person will tell me a way to get around that feeling for another day. And I try to do the same. I feel I fit in here. But IRL, I don't fit in well anywhere. I went to a few Aspie support groups back in the day when they were separated Aspie and Autie. It was nice, but I did not feel I fit in. I don't know why. Maybe no one else did!! We are a particular lot............

 

[Forgotten Aspie]

My experience here is that everyone has greeted me with respect and understanding that I am an older adult who believes he has a high probability of being ND. All I can say with 100% confidence is that this awkward, and disconnected feeling Ive had all my life, had never been as clearly defined or understood as when I met people who had the same experience. It has been a private / personal feeling and awareness I've practically hidden from myself. It is beyond coincidence we all have this connection. I DO have a profound difference that has only seemed "normal" when I talk with others on the spectrum.

I'm going through a real uncomfortable period here before my evaluation next Wednesday. Wondering what will be clinically "found". I've tried my best to educate myself about Asperger Syndrome... spent hundreds of hours in the last 45 days in self examination and recollection of past situations as well as current ones... reading, talking with others who are on the spectrum.. I think one of the factors that keeps me in doubt is that we are talking about a disorder that varies as much as personalities do. Being older and having a full life of behavioral compensations, makes it hard to "see" what have been "normal" behaviors as actual ND traits. There is no "exact match" so you can say with 100% confidence I have "that".

It seems one common trait, is that we are very hard on ourselves. We're black/white - concrete thinkers that are comfortable with predictability and consistency in an unpredictable and inconsistent world.

 

[Mr Allen]

I'm kind of glad they said I'm Aspie and not full blown Autistic.

Although I did get a LOT of stick online when the World first found out, I was accused of being retarded, living in a Bubble, and stuff that was so bad i can't tell you.

 

[Voltaic]

I try not to conect myself by my similarities with everyone else on this forum. I find conection by being diffrent than the world, and even here. i feel the autsim comunity has individuality over conformity. i can conform here, by not conforming.

 

[granolaturtle]

I don't personally know any other formally diagnosed autistic people in real life, but I feel connected in spirit, if that makes sense? I do know a few other disabled people and it's easy for me to relate with them and sympathize. I often find myself getting angry at all types of disabled people getting disparaged, not just autistic folk.

 

[Chance]

I never seem to really fit in anywhere no matter how hard I try. But this place is special to me. Its mostly the kindest people I have ever been around. I know I'm messed up, but in other ways I'm very smart. I know I have ASD, but also know I can sometimes figure out very hard business decisions that led me to a great job. I am often worried about being a freak, but I am more grateful for the good things in my life, and the struggles that make me grow... This place has helped me grow a whole lot.

Out in the world it is what it is... : )

 

[LucyPurrs]

I never seem to really fit in anywhere no matter how hard I try. But this place is special to me. Its mostly the kindest people I have ever been around. I know I'm messed up, but in other ways I'm very smart. I know I have ASD, but also know I can sometimes figure out very hard business decisions that led me to a great job. I am often worried about being a freak, but I am more grateful for the good things in my life, and the struggles that make me grow... This place has helped me grow a whole lot.

Out in the world it is what it is... : )

I so hate it that you and others here see yourselves as freaks. You are people, not freaks and unusually honest and insightful and kind people. Those qualities are rare in today's world. Please try and value those parts of yourselves. I know that can be hard when one gets frequent &/or consistent negative feedback from others, but consider those others- are they worth believing? Would you want to be like them?
Who does not value intelligent, accepting, sensitive, insightful, helpful, supportive and caring people? Well, those are the kind of people who make up this forum else I'd have left a long time ago. Those are the qualities I value, not whether you have a strange mannerism, dress weirdly or whatever else you feel you do that makes you stand out. I apologize for this rant- this is something that gets me every time I hear someone denigrate themselves unfairly.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

I so hate it that you and others here see yourselves as freaks. You are people, not freaks and unusually honest and insightful and kind people. Those qualities are rare in today's world. Please try and value those parts of yourselves. I know that can be hard when one gets frequent &/or consistent negative feedback from others, but consider those others- are they worth believing? Would you want to be like them?
Who does not value intelligent, accepting, sensitive, insightful, helpful, supportive and caring people? Well, those are the kind of people who make up this forum else I'd have left a long time ago. Those are the qualities I value, not whether you have a strange mannerism, dress weirdly or whatever else you feel you do that makes you stand out. I apologize for this rant- this is something that gets me every time I hear someone denigrate themselves unfairly.

Nah, he's a freak.

 

[LucyPurrs]

Fridge

 

[megacomic]

You're one of the most well known members on this site. How are you on the periphery? I think we're all used to being outsiders that being on the inside feels so odd that we fail to embrace and we push ourselves to the periphery because it feels familiar.

I honestly didn't think autism really had a community maybe a few forums and some support groups but nothing really widespread. I don't really seek out other Aspies because everyone is so different when I met other Aspies I no more related to them then I could with a deer. My ex is an Aspie though but we had similar upbringings which is why relate so well and we hang out regularly.

 

[Aeolienne]

I feel left out on occasions when hear everyone else comparing notes about their sensory sensitivities, which I hardly suffer from at all. Yet I seem far more impaired than other Aspies when it comes to forming intimate relationships* and no-one can explain why, still less what to do about it (other than the same old same old "just join a club", "relationships come along when you least expect it", "have you tried online dating" etc.)
* I have only had one official intimate relationship in my entire life, between the ages of 37 and 40 (I'm now 42). Am I that unattractive? I've posted pictures of myself elsewhere, so you be the judge.

I also feel left out when I hear other Aspies rattling off lists of the benefits they're entitled to and I wonder how they are so well-informed - were they issued with an instruction manual along with their diagnosis? Conversely, I also feel left out when I hear another kind of Aspie banging on about how proud they are of their condition because it's enabled them to succeed in a professional niche. I ask myself Where's my special talent? Was I misdiagnosed?

And finally, I hate ten-pin bowling - which apparently puts me in a minority among attenders of Aspie social groups.