How do you react to authority (being controlled)?

[Full Steam]

I'm not sure if if had a problem with it at school, although just because a teacher said something did not make it gospel.

As I grew up though, I started rebelling against society in general, maybe partly because I saw how all the authority figures were just like my peers - different to me. Since I didn't trust most of them, once I saw the authority figures were just adults who were not like me, often with power complexes, I chose not to trust them.

For me trust is earned, and a title or position does not make me trust you until I've assessed your character directly.

 

[MrSpock]

I don't automatically have a problem with someone in a position of authority, but if they choose to exercise it they'd better be considerate and competent or I will definitely have a problem. I dislike that so many people seem to accept opinions from authority without subjecting them to reason first, seems to me the world would be a better place if more people thought for themselves more often.

 

[xudo]

I chose neutral in the poll, because I wouldn't say my default position is to fight against authority. I'm mostly not bothered, but there have been instances where I've reacted to certain people who've been in authoritative positions. There were teachers in high school who nobody would dare cross, others who you were happy to listen to because you respected them and then...there were a few who I personally just didn't like/respect or whatever. I had a biology teacher who I would frequently question or talk back to. He hated me

Outside of school, pretty much the same. I'm mostly indifferent and I suppose respect authority figures in terms of the police (probably because my Dad is a barrister so kind of grown up knowing the justice system is to be respected). I guess maybe I'd have a different view maybe if I'd ever had any dealings with the police?

I can still get cheeky and talk back to people I probably shouldn't though, sometimes on purpose and sometimes because that's how it comes across when that wasn't my intention.

 

[Mia]

Not well, unless I have no choice and am stuck at the airport, or in a government office or a bank. If I know the person and they are in a position of authority, and I like them, I'll usually be all-right. Come from a long ancestral line of people who don't like authority.

 

[The Penguin]

I do have mixed feeling with some people with authority that abused this power. When something like that effects me, I will seek justice and I have won many cases before.

 

[OkRad]

I am a pushover and quite weak. I am susceptible to whatever people tell me. I have been abused by religious people and beat up a lot nad never hurt anyone.
Oh, but I forgot. I am also a psychopathic deviant and narcisist and posibly even schizophrenic, so I don't know how I can be all those things at once.

 

[Judge]

I try to be neutral, but always in a cautious manner when dealing with authority. I was raised to respect authority, but not necessarily be blindly obedient, either.

Reminds me of my father, a career naval officer and all the dissenting opinions he witnessed behind closed doors pertaining to the war in Viet Nam.

 

[Bolletje]

I respect authority, in that I'm usually pretty strict about following rules.

However, if someone is in a position of authority over me at work, yet appears less competent or less knowledgeable than I am, I have a hard time respecting them. My direct supervisors are usually a few years younger than I am, and while most are friendly, some of them are patronizing. Unless I've seen them be exceptional, I won't like this and instantly dislike them with a passion. I'm very proud when it comes to my knowledge

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

I used to attempt to be even more annoying than usual to test if the person in authority would act professionally..

Bad habit )

I think I am naive to expect those in positions of authority not to abuse their position..

Perhaps I take their 'positions' literally ie to expect the police to assess evidence and uphold the law. The reality being protecting their own jobs, to interpret government directions to their own benefit

Trading standards, same thing.... interpret everything in such a way so that they don't have to do anything.
Nobody wants the difficult job, easy life go home at 5.... why chose to put an awkward case forward..
(Except that is your actual job!)

Drifting along into personal experience cell of authority... conclusion justice and law doesn't exist around here, as long as the public don't find out its ok..
The opposite of justice has to be seen to done.... if it isn't public it doesn't matter.
High horse is tired, but if I was Charles Bronson it may be different

 

[Peatsmoke]

I'm instinctively distrustful of authority - starting with my headmaster in secondary school, continuing with managers at work, governments, CEOs... in fact, just meeting someone in a suit for the first time produces a pretty strong negative reaction in me. I suppose I'm suspicious of their motives: why are they in this position of authority? Is it because they crave power? Are they really more knowlegeable or more able than me? If they're not, I will seriously dislike them.

I also feel they have the potential to hurt me and others who are different. They have to prove to me that they won't do that.

Politically, I lean towards anarchism (aka libertarian socialism), although it's hard to imagine how that would work on a large scale without reengineering human nature. Or would you just have to reengineer NT nature...? Hmm.

 

[On the Inside]

I vote negative, however, if the person in authority sees that position as being superior, or there to whip people in line, then I got problems.

Fortunately, I have a knack for avoiding those types, or they see me as hopeless to their cause and they leave me alone. I am gratefully dismissed.

Most of my bosses, teachers etc. "Authorities" have been fair, understanding, caring individuals who seem to have higher purposes and look to the long term. So the reality for me is positive. I take it case by case, and try to approach new situations with the mindset that "this will be a fair and open situation" then evaluate later.

 

[Full Steam]

Politically, I lean towards anarchism (aka libertarian socialism), although it's hard to imagine how that would work on a large scale without reengineering human nature. Or would you just have to reengineer NT nature...? Hmm.

I agree and I see anarchism as the ultimate political system, it just requires humanity to fully mature before it becomes viable. Until then it's just another word for chaos.

If you're into Sci Fi, Iain Banks Sci Fi books dealt with a utopian anarchist leaning civilisation called the Culture. Intelligent machines look after civilians needs and hierarchy is not needed, nor is money.

 

[toothless]

i am a bit mixed with authority due to my life experiences.
with the police for example,i am very cynical of them and really hate them unless they speak to me friendly and not arrogantly,that is because i have spent my life been brought back home by them after ive wandered off and being restrained by them,some of them have been real arse holes to me but some of them will come and see me to see how im doing or ask me in the street.

if a support staff lords their authority over me,it pisses me off and i dont do what they want,and if two certain managers of the care facility i live in do the same thing i get very pissed off and refuse to listen.

ive spent my whole life listening to people talk down to me because im LFA and now im verbal its me who is doing the talking,i wont let them talk over me like im a piece of crap.

 

[Peatsmoke]

I agree and I see anarchism as the ultimate political system, it just requires humanity to fully mature before it becomes viable. Until then it's just another word for chaos.

If you're into Sci Fi, Iain Banks Sci Fi books dealt with a utopian anarchist leaning civilisation called the Culture. Intelligent machines look after civilians needs and hierarchy is not needed, nor is money.

Yeah, I'm an Iain Banks fan. The thought that something like the Culture might one day be possible even on this planet, or that it already exists or has existed somewhere, actually kept me going during a period when I was feeling particularly cynical and bleak about life.

I haven't read all the Culture novels yet - I know there'll never be any more, so I want to have something to look forward to...

 

[Aspie_rin]

To me, if someone is wrong, they're wrong, no matter who they are. This has put me into trouble, however... I try to respect authority if it's too dangerous not to, but the idiocy of some people makes me cringe and wonder why the hell are THEY in charge...

Some times it turns out great though, like that time when a teacher decided to punish all the class because a few people were misbehaving, and we had to write a text or copy the same phrase over and over (don't remember wich) an I decided not to do it because it wasn't fair. The other students tried to convince me to do it, probably because they thought it would only make things worse, and I was in tears because I was really shy and didn't like the attention but didn't wanted to do it because I did nothing wrong. After the class the teacher talked to me about it and I ended up winning, and the teacher never did that kind of thing again. This is something I was really proud of

 

[NateSean]

It depends on who actually has the authority. There's authority and then there is an imagined sense of authority and the latter I tend to have a bit more fun with, because I like knocking people off of any high horse.

 

[Judge]

Challenging or just perceiving authority remains risky business in this country if you're unaware of just how much "authority"one may actually have or be willing to use at the time- and under what circumstances. Proceed with caution. Considerations of such things in theory can be very different in reality.

https://www.usnews.com/news/califor...anaheim-fight-with-off-duty-officer-gun-fired

Should be interesting to see how this is ultimately resolved.

 

[umbrellabeach]

I've had so much conflict with authority over my life that I'm always suspicious of anyone in authority. Too often they try to bring everyone else down to make themselves feel powerful, and they put a lot of emphasis on their position. I see this a lot with the up front managers at work.

 

[Judge]

I've had so much conflict with authority over my life that I'm always suspicious of anyone in authority. Too often they try to bring everyone else down to make themselves feel powerful, and they put a lot of emphasis on their position. I see this a lot with the up front managers at work.

Oh yeah. I've worked under many a manager in my lifetime. Very, very few of them I can honestly say that I liked. Or that I thought truly knew of the work they presided over. But then I'm reminded of that saying in the military.

"I'm not an officer. I work for a living!"

Maybe you should strive to be self-employed. Not easy, but highly rewarding for many people on the spectrum. Though between you and me, I'm not sure if I could ever endure working for anyone again. Even if it's my only option left.

 

[inabox]

I don't mind being advised what to do / how to do it, sometimes I want / need that. But I want to at least have the choice of what I do. If I am told I must do a specific thing and I don't like the tone of how I was spoken to, - if I was talked down to or patronised sometimes I will want to intentionally NOT do that thing, even if originally I was going to do it anyway.
I don't like being spoken to as if I am an imbecile.