#autistic stuff

[ven0n4t]

only 5? light work.

[neuroqueerings]

Small Talk: A Guide

I have come to think of small talk as a service I provide for allistic people.

It took me a long time to realise that small talk is essentially just a noise. Someone says to you, 'Hello, how are you?', and technically you should be able to just reply, 'noise'. Or 'Noise, noise. Noise?'.

But every game has its parameters. So, you have to say something like, 'I'm fine, thank you, how are you?', or throw them a curveball like, 'I'm fine thanks, but isn't it cold?'. They seem to like a curveball, because it hints at meaning, where in fact there is none.

And this brings me onto the most important rule. If someone asks if you are alright, you can chortle and say, 'I will be when I've [insert something mundane like 'finished work'], thus hinting at dissatisafaction with life. But it can only be a hint. Don't just leave an ominous 'no' echoing between you.

The universal translation of all small talk is, 'Everything is ok, I am being friendly, expectations are being met'. That is what the noise you are making should mean. If you are advanced enough, by all means add a curveball or a hint of feeling, but never, ever any actual meaning.

[inkwell-illustrations]

Me trying to act like I’m not overstimulated in public:

[rabid-goblin-freak]

Have you ever, as fellow autistic people, ever try to help a non autistic person? Like you were just trying to be helpful because you know what to do, but instead you get snapped at?

Yeah, that just happened to me again. Now I feel awful about myself. Like I'm annoying and just get in the way. I'm trying my hardest not to cry, because if I do they'll know I'm weaker. Then they'll pounce on me like wild dogs.

[scribblewasp]

every once in a while i see another study on the news about milk or some other random thing 'causing autism' and it irritates me so bad. Can i get a cool study please. I wanna know why autistic people are more likely to be queer and trans or asexual. I wanna know why we all have digestive issues. I wanna know why we need to stim. I wanna know why autistic girls are so much harder to detect. I wanna know why we struggle with sarcasm and detecting tone. I don't wanna know what made me this way, and i don't wanna know how to cure it. I want you to give me the science i need to understand it.

[smorp-a-dorp]

Autistic person without headphones, forced to be alone with thoughts

No survivors

[positronic-crisis]

autism in trek gifs #20

me, forbidding myself to become obsessed with a fandom again. but then

[geese-in-a-frock-coat]

What's your evidence for Watts and Murdoch being autistic? (I totally agree btw)

Hello, internet stranger. Buckle up cause I've thought too hard about this.

Ok disclaimer I have not really sat down and watched the whole thing for a hot minute. Its past nine, you're just gonna have to trust me this one.

Credentials: Mega autisitc

Murdoch:

Does not understand social conventions. Like this ones pretty obvious. He doesn't understand why people keep dogs. Raises his kid in a completely non traditional way. Frequently doesn't get why people care about something that he sees as not being worth it (sports and popular trends and so forth).

Doesn't like small talk

Cares about justice NOT the law. The thing that really makes me think he's autistic is that he cares about things being just and is prepared to break the rules to do so. The main example being he lets that woman out of prison depsite the fact that he could go down for it. He turns a blind eye to Watts and lets Giles go even though they're both criminals in the eyes of the law. And on the flipside he sends George to prison because I think that's what he percieves as justice (if anyone's seen the bridge this really reminds me of Saga at the end of season 2)

Sees through hierarchy. There are so many epsiodes that play out like "I think Mr X is the killer." "But Mr x is extrememly important and influential!" "I don't care he killed her."

Interest in science and inventing. Look I know we joke about stereotypes but like, its a stereotype for a reason. He builds things with an autistic brain. He uses pattern repition through learning about previous inventions and applying them to his own devices.

Visual learner. This is not autism exclusive but he solves cases in such a unique way that it screams ND to me. Murdoch often literally builds a case. They make a joke about clue/cludo but he literally has to make the model of a house to picture where everyone is. He makes all those model of the ladies that were covered in metal. And let us not forget his famous chalk board.

Buzzkill. I say this as a long-term sufferer of leaves parties at 8:45 syndrome. He does 'boring hobbies' which autistic people often have because we don't feel the need to take up traditional ones.

Remember that scene where he attempts to read out his and Julia's book and just absolutely cannot tell that no one gives a single toss about anything he's saying.

Wears the same thing for nearly 20 years. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Refused to let his wife cut his hair because he didn't want to change from the lady who used to do it.

breather. Part 2: watts.

Cannot read social cues: Frequently insults other station house four people. Pretty sure he called someone's baby ugly but I might have hallucinated that. "You're face is symetrical." Got chucked out of station house because he didn't get on with any of them

Disregard for societal norms: doesn't feel the need to be polite or tactful with anyone or to really follow police protocol. Acts very 'improper' a lot of the time. Only got one shoe shined that one time because that was all he needed. Puts his feet on the sofa, lies on the desk and leans over tables.

Makes limited eye contact.

The man will fidget with anything: Look this is clearly a character decision from Daniel Maslany but its an autistic character decision if ever I saw one. We're talking pencils, cups, fabric, anything. If it is on the set, he will find a way to play with out. And I don't normally like to assign autistic traits onto behaviour implemented by actors but it's basically stimming at this point. I dare you to keep an eye on this man's hands for any scene and I garuntee you they will not stay still.

Disorganised, but not: He always has tiny bits of paper and whatnot in his pockets but always seems to know where everything is. organised but doesn't have to time to be tidy. Same whenever we see his flat, it's equally disorganised. as an autistic person I find things end up all over the place because I don't have the capacity to keep them in order.

Bad handwriting and can't spell

Physicality: Most autistic people will have some sort of problem with co-ordination. He walks uneavenly. He has an odd posture. I always think about that scene where he steps in sick and moves around like a dear on ice. He's clumsy, can't sit straight and has a strange posture.

can't think when being interrupted

can't focus on two things at once.

George realised he'd been possessed by aliens because he was acting normally.

pretzels: dare i say safe food. If not, they're bland, usually the same everytime and take little mental effort to consume.

Strong sense of justic: see william murdoch.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

Dr Emily Grace: didn't become a doctor becuase she didn't want to adopt a 'cheerful bedside manor.'

Dr Julia Ogden: Married to Murdoch (like calls to like) and sees through the bullshit of victorian society.

Susannah Murdoch: has those two as parents and I have the full confidence of genetics on this one.

In conclusion:

There's probably so much more I could talk about that I just don't remember because there is a lot more of this show than most others. But anyway. Murdoch is autistic because he has to be for the show to work and becuase he often comedic-foils far too close to the sun. And Watts is autistic because there is no way on God's green earth a man who stands like that is neurotypical.

Thank you, internet stranger, I am here all week.