this post was submitted on 17 Jul 2026
589 points (97.3% liked)
Autism
10130 readers
672 users here now
A community for respectful discussion and memes related to autism acceptance. All neurotypes are welcome.
Community:
Values
- Acceptance
- Openness
- Understanding
- Equality
- Reciprocity
- Mutuality
- Love
Rules
- No abusive, derogatory, or offensive post/comments e.g: racism, sexism, religious hatred, homophobia, gatekeeping, trolling.
- Posts do not need be related to autism, off-topic discussions are allowed. This is a safe space where people with autism can feel comfortable discussing whatever they feel like discussing, as long as it does not violate the standing rules.
- Your posts must include a text body. It doesn't have to be long, it just needs to be descriptive.
- Do not request donations.
- Be respectful in discussions.
- Do not post misinformation.
- Mark NSFW content accordingly.
- Do not promote Autism Speaks.
- General Lemmy World rules.
- No bots. Humans only.
Encouraged
- Open acceptance of all autism levels as a respectable neurotype.
- Funny memes.
- Respectful venting.
- Describe posts of pictures/memes using text in the body for our visually impaired users.
- Welcoming and accepting attitudes.
- Questions regarding autism.
- Questions on confusing situations.
- Seeking and sharing support.
- Engagement in our community's values.
- Expressing a difference of opinion without directly insulting another user.
- Please report questionable posts and let the mods deal with it.
.
Helpful Resources
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
Me: Question A
Them: Ah you must really mean Question B. Here's your answer.
Me: OK but Question A
Them: Ooh, you're really grilling me now. Relax.
"I asked the question I intended to ask using the words that I intended to use because they have the meaning that I intend them to have. There's no secret subtext to read into, I am asking this question literally with the words coming out of my actual human mouth" And people will still think I'm fucking sarcastic.
A part of my job before i got let go was to write up "Recaps" and so I would dutifully document a summary of the days events, vital state and what not. I was truthful in what I wrote, but was eventually told by HR I had a "sarcasm problem."
My (internal) reaction: https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExd2J6OXpndG9iZDYwN2Jka3FiY25wZzJlbW5nN2FmcmJ3aW1oZnpnbSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/dw7lCpFmsyfS0/giphy.gif https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZjU4bDFiZThjY2Y2NHp5NG8ycGFnZWlsbnB3aDZnMWhpMWZicTZyaSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/l3q2K5jinAlChoCLS/giphy.gif https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZ2dzMXZvdDI3amNteWt0bTJnemp6emFiemxyaHBocGFiNWVodXgwYyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/5oFjKRms23Lmt42GQt/giphy.gif
I endlessly strive to figure out how to have my words mean what they mean, when asking questions. TOO MANY times, suffering this^ scenario.
... And then tone too, finding what this mystery perfect intonation that has them remain in their considerate, critical, creative, compassionate forebrain, and not be thrust to the back of their brain in survival mode. It's just an honest question! ... Ever baffling, the psychology, the astrology, the lunar cycles, the weather, whatever else is going on in their life, to cause these impediments to simple direct communication that means what it means, and not all these sensational pos-hoc subtexts imagined but not intended.
I had a job interview once at a dual language company (me Eng, them another but spoke English) They asked what entailed in a previous job i had held, and I told them, "[...] making sure to give the customer an 'award-winning- smile."
I knew this phrase had been used before metaphorically by people, after some of my own trial and error, but the interviewers then were surprised and then asked how I got the award.
I got dumbfounded by how seriously they took my attempt at light-hearted conversation, then I had to explain to them it doesnt always mean seriously.
Weird return on that one. Caught me so off guard.
I remember that asking a co-worker if we should do something, came across as ordering them, and made then very angry.