Sombyr

joined 11 months ago
[–] Sombyr 1 points 6 months ago

That's good advice, but it's also worth noting that my initial strategy was to try to hold of on saying anything at all that could be offensive until I learned what's okay and what's not, but that too ended up offending some people. The reason being that I would get close to people, but they would get closer to me faster than I was getting closer to them due to me still being overly cautious and trying to find the proper things I was allowed to say and do with them. That's partially what this is about. Trying to find the starting line so I know what's not gonna drive people away immediately.
For instance, while it's true a lot of people won't be offended by "K." or proper punctuation, I feel like in most casual contexts, people are much less likely to be offended if I don't do those things, which gives me time to get closer to people and learn more instead of driving a sizable portion away right off the bat.
Another piece of advice this friend gave me was to ask more questions. I always knew that was a good thing to do, but I was always worried people would see me as nosy if I asked the wrong ones. I learned from her that people are generally more happy by me showing interest than they'd be upset by me accidentally asking something personal.
That and the advice I've gotten in this thread has been really helpful so far. Already people are being a lot friendlier toward me, although it's gonna take a bit to change the general public opinion of me.

[–] Sombyr 3 points 6 months ago (5 children)

I've never been downvoted anywhere for expressing that opinion. Lemmy especially there's a huge disparity where saying you'd rather be with a bear than a man is unacceptable, but saying you'd rather be with a bear than a woman? A-okay. Source? I've said both. Only one was I not attacked for. Guess which?
Seriously, I've expressed my trauma regarding men countless times and every time been attacked for it. I've expressed my trauma at the hands of women and not a single downvote or attack or disparaging remark any time. Lemmy has a very clear bias.
I wouldn't have a single problem with men getting upset about this bear thing if they got equally upset when somebody says something similar or worse about women, but they don't.

[–] Sombyr 1 points 6 months ago (4 children)

I mean, probably a therapist would say that. Still ask your therapist and not Lemmy.

The funny part is I asked here specifically because I was directed to by a psychiatrist. They thought the best people to ask would be other people with autism who've already learned better how to interact because they'll understand what I need to hear better.
She also told me to consult the friend mentioned in my post, which is how that conversation started.
The reason I'm trying so hard to understand is because I keep having mental health crises over my inability to communicate and the fact that I have a habit of making people really mad and not knowing why or what I did to cause it. Being not only an outcast but having everyone hate me and not just imagining that is very stressful.
Trusting myself to know what's rude doesn't work. I piss people off extremely easily and don't even notice I did until they're refusing to speak to me.

[–] Sombyr -1 points 6 months ago (12 children)

As a trans woman who has also been sexually assaulted, it has more to do for me with what danger is more real to me. I've experienced zero bear attacks. Nobody I know has experienced a bear attack. Why would I fear one? Of course, consciously yeah, I know a bear is dangerous, but I have no real world experience to back that assumption up.
Men though? Yeah, I've been sexually assaulted by men. I've been physically assaulted by men. I've had family and friends who've been physically and sexually assaulted by men. That danger is real to me. I know that if a man I don't know is nearby me he could do those things to me, and I have the real world experience to prove that assumption correct (the assumption that they could, not the assumption that they would.)
Therefore, of course I'm more scared of the man than the bear. And of course I'd choose the bear over the man. I don't care if it's the wrong choice, I'll take my chances to not have to relive that trauma, even if it means risking my life. Not like I'll have time to regret that decision if the bear decides to kill me. Probably. And most women I know when asked expressed the same sentiment in different words. We're more scared of men than bears, but that doesn't mean we literally think men are more dangerous than bears.
Is it the logical choice to pick the bear? Probably not, but humans are not logical creatures. I'd rather make the wrong choice than the scary choice.

[–] Sombyr 18 points 6 months ago

I keep luring them out by accident just by bringing up any kind of women's issue at all. Thankfully though, a quick report and they get banned from my instance real fast.

[–] Sombyr 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I agree after reading the rest of the thread, but I think that may also have partially been her intention. I hang out primarily with the same group she does, so she's trying to help me get along with that particular group. Even so, her tips could help me come off as less robotic in general, even if they're not strict rules that need to be followed, so I think I'm gonna still try to take her tips and just adapt them to myself.
Definitely gonna stop saying "K." though. I don't have the skill to be nuanced enough to not use it improperly. Additionally, I always assumed people just wouldn't try to gauge my tone over text if I didn't specify it, but I guess unlike me it's important to neurotypicals to understand how each other feel, even if they have to assume, so I'll just have to cut down on the assumptions they have to make.

[–] Sombyr 1 points 6 months ago

I'm not sure, but I've asked people and I'm told by my friends that before they knew me better, they thought I was either being passive aggressive, or maybe I was going through something and was being rude by accident (the friend I mentioned said a lot of people were asking her if I was okay, because apparently I came across like I was upset about something.)
I'm guessing that'd be the "spouse k" then since I think that's the one that often implies "okay, but not really okay."

[–] Sombyr 1 points 6 months ago

As far as the first thing goes, I used to avoid using any text speech at all, only used proper punctuation, always made sure my grammar was right. People started to get really annoyed with me because of it, telling me I was being overly formal.
As far as the second thing goes, that was a sarcastic joke about how the "rules" I'm told to follow are always full of contradictions, making them hard to follow. The joke being if autistics made the rules they'd be actual rules, and efficient ones. I'm well aware of why it's not actually that way.

[–] Sombyr 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] Sombyr 2 points 6 months ago

The punctuation thing has actually been pointed out to me on a couple occasions before. One of my exs thought it was weird and said it "gave the impression I'd be mad if other people's grammar wasn't perfect." So apparently it does bother some people, but it's probably more of a straw that broke the camel's back situation, where I already speak so formally in the first place that it makes me look stuck up.

[–] Sombyr 5 points 6 months ago

Actually I'm fairly popular, but that just leads to me catching a lot of attention from strangers who's first interaction with me, not knowing I'm autistic, is seeing somebody rude and dismissive.
If I could just explain to everybody immediately "hey, I'm autistic, I'm not being rude on purpose," that'd be great. But most of my interactions with people are short messages like "What outfit are you wearing on your character" or a quick invitation to join them for something. Not a lot of opportunities to explain to them why I act the way I do.
When I do get the opportunity is usually when I end up making real friends, because they don't see me as the dismissive girl who doesn't want to talk to them anymore, but instead the autistic girl who just interacts a little differently.
Hell, some people keep trying over and over again to be my friend even when they think I am being rude and dismissive, they just don't make any progress because they've misread my mood and assume I want them to go away.

[–] Sombyr 8 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (4 children)

It's unfortunate I gave that impression, because she's probably the nicest, most accepting person I know, even including other autistics. She was just trying to let me know because I've experienced significant psychological distress from my inability to connect to other people, so she's trying to help me understand why, which was a recommendation by a psychiatrist I saw.

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