5 Positive Autistic Traits 

I agree Dana that this argument that "autistic people don't care what others think of them" is overstated. it probably is true that autists tend to "go against the norm" more often but that isn't simply about not caring what others think. Sometimes it's just due to lack of social contact which can mean being less aware of what others are doing or expect. I think autists often do try to fit-in when they know or think they know what others expect but often they're not accepted even in these cases. That can encourage an attitude of giving up on trying to fit in and maybe defying norms but that's more a response to rejection and frustration than always intending to be different. Sometimes if you know you're not going to be accepted it's easier just to do your own thing. Some autists (and I'm largely in this group now) just try to avoid social contact and that gives more chance to be independent but that doesn't mean they then just do their own thing when in company.

Yes real life tetris! 👌🤩 Also yes I think the whole not caring what others think isn't true and many of us do, very deeply. And are deeply affected by what others think (of what we think they think) about us. Hence masking! With the clothing, etc I've been thinking about this myself recently and I think it might be a way of trying to connect and communicate with others (as those things can be challenging) as well as an attempt to express and define ourselves, even to ourselves (especially if there's been heavy masking and therefore perhaps an unsure sense of self)

The joy of your existence already

Congratulations on being able to do formal education on autism especially without having a meltdown every time someone insults us or acts like different neurobiology is a crime and should be wiped out. I wouldn’t have been able to stay beyond the first class, my temper would get me into trouble. I believe that the more people like you who are there and seen as a regular person by people who want to learn the better, it’s just you’re a stronger person than me for being able to face it. I actually hope you got something from your studies. I was diagnosed in my thirties and I had been masking for so long I’m not sure what is me and what is a mask. I imagine more education is something that I need. Our local college is crap though and offers nothing. I had hoped to join the open university but I ran into computer problems in that I can’t really do more than very very basic stuff but it’s irrelevant because I don’t have a working one and they’re expensive. I imagine it’s not easy to sit and think of positive traits, it made me think and I can’t come up with five, like you loyalty is massively important to me but unfortunately not to everyone else, I think I can tell lies a bit easier than you but I’m honest mostly, I know all babies are cute and they have a great name even when you’re thinking they’re so going to be bullied at school for it. But I agree lying is usually pointless and although I have a good memory I find it works best on the truth. These are a bit stereotypical though, I can’t think of anything that I am unique for. I’m glad you listed normal things though. I sometimes feel demoralised when people treat their autistic traits like superpowers because I couldn’t be more normal and I feel inferior to them as if I am not autistic enough. My therapist claims I have positive qualities but I think I pay him to say stuff like that when I am feeling low. I’m finding this a hard topic so I’m going off on a tangent to say that I hope everyone is enjoying the extended bank holiday weekend and that if anyone has Disney plus I highly recommend series three of The Orville I would recommend it all but series three is special. Thanks for the video Dana

I'd never trade my level 2 autism with anything.

Hi