5 Solutions to 5 Autism Questions

Can you predict the choices (behaviours) of autistic people? The REAL answers and the audience choices for last week's "5 Autism Questions You MUST Answer".
#EngageAutism #AskingAutistics

"5 Autism Questions You MUST Answer!"

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[joannedixon-jackson]

Poor Sky. My heart went out to her on hearing what happened. 😥💔 I had an awful time throughout compulsory education, and while it was never as bad as Sky’s experience, I felt let down by teachers, not listened to or believed, despite being a clever student who was in the music department and would go on to college and uni. If I’d been the type to arse about and not pay attention, I would have understood the teachers not being helpful to me, but it still rankles with me now, in my late 40s - I deserved much better from school!

I can’t believe people wouldn’t pick A for the jury service question, though. I’ve done it a few years ago, and if I had known anyone involved with the case, I would have got the attention of court staff and made it known to them. That is what people are meant to do.

I think I’m a neurolurker. Never been assessed, let alone diagnosed, but in recent years I have read so much relatable stuff from neurodivergent people that I figure that my brain is ND too.

[Gandalf_the_quantum_G]

Interesting. I chose all the "right" answers, which also were representated here. An interesting book about decisionmaking-process is "noise" from Kahneman. Was very enlightening.

I think the only reason why there is an extracted majority in the answers from these questions, is because of the effect of surveying a group of likely homogeneous people in their experience-base.
I assume, there would be also an extracted majority to come upon in questioning people, which grew up in foster care or which were prison inmates, as well as folks grewing up in "super-rich" families.

The way how these questions are asked are basically already a nudge towards the expected answer.
Imagine you'd get these exactly same questions asked in an article, which deals with setting healthy borders for yourself. I can't tell, if the answers would have been different, but I think so.

Howsoever, I find, that what makes us autistic is the very different approach to some problems, which occure in life. For example I found out, that I do mental arithmetic way different than others do. I have the idea, that being autistic - I just speaking for me - is the possibility to take information and connect it differently, always directed to the "truth". That's the reason why I can't stand disharmony in a situation, because it holds back the essential, the authenticity of ones personal expression as a human being.
I do analyze these social patterns and games most people are involved in, I can also play it, if I really want something and decide to play the game therefore (mostly in the working environment). Sometimes it even gives me the feeling of superiority, because I'm not actually peronally interlinked in these games, but I know how to play them. That makes everything so predictable.

But I somehow never like it to "play" the games, because it's just not me, it's just fake. To achieve success by not being me, just "playing games" more or less, feels like cheating. I literally feel sorry for the many people I got to know, which lived their lifes, identified with this whole "game" and that can be even reflected people. They chase this and that and don't get it, that it doesn't really matter (from my point of view). In the end matters being authentic. I can't think of soemone thinking on their deathbed: ah, I wished I could have been a little bit more unauthentic in my life.

It feels sometimes to me, that autism, with all the disadvantages it sometimes can cause living in this society, is the ability to see things in a bigger scale, like a bit detached from society and norms itself, which offers the advantage and the struggle to literally "see more".

Well, that was alot to tell. I don't know even anymore, if it really makes sense as a response to this video. But however. Now it's here.
Have a good one, dear reader!

[EcoHamletsUK]

I spent 55 years not even considering I might be different to most people. I just had a few problems that I was sure would go away eventually, as the only advice I ever received was bullshit like "he'll grow out of it" and "never mind, things will work out". I now know I'm different, and I've got a bit of paper from the NHS that says I am, but I'm not sure how I'm different.

It's interesting to discover that NTs wouldn't really think about the issues in these questions, but it fits with what I've been working out for myself. I either can't cope with difficult situations, or I handle them badly, so I usually walk away, or put up with them. I need to do lots of research and thinking before I do things, as if it goes wrong I may not be able to deal with it. I think NTs only do a bit of thinking, and if it goes wrong they just deal with it when it happens, then move on. I still have problems outstanding from more than 10 years ago, where walking away or putting up with it aren't viable options, and when I've tried to get help, no one has considered the 5 questions asked at the end of the video, so it's not surprising that I can't get the help I need.

This video has helped a lot in making sense of stuff I've spent a lot of time thinking about, but the more I understand it, the less I feel I belong in this insane world.

[alanguest]

Incidentally Sky's "Quiet Room" looked and sounded more like a prison cell!

[harrietwindebank]

I was taught to ignore bullies and to keep my head down at work. What I find most upsetting about speaking up isn't the potential consequences enacted by those who I'm speaking up against, but the judgement by others that I'm in the wrong for even wanting to challenge what I see as unfair or unjust. This makes no sense to me, can any NTs explain please?

[jfridayhealth]

I think this was a really important and nuanced look at our differences and the ways in which we are the same. Really interesting. Thank you!

[jarrodtanner]

I know how it is to be bullied and have the bullies blame the innocent person when they did nothing. It has caused a lot of trauma for me and to this day I still have to fight those demons. I always do my best to help whoever I can as I never got the help I need. I can't stand to see someone else go through what I went through

[wickjezek]

Poor Skye! I really feel for them and the abuse they suffered from the teachers and bullies.

I also relate to Alexis ordering 12 of the same shirt. I've too often found myself wearing the same things over and over and by the time I realize they're a favorite I can't find them anymore.

[lisedenmark]

Thank you for this Part II video. I have been waiting for "the result" since last week - it was perfect and just as I hoped (and expected!). Very clever!

[livinginthenow]

For Question 3, I might have tried option "D" instead. That is, approach the intended victim of the prank and let them know that they had overhead the other planning the prank. That, too, might have backfired. But it would have been what I would probably have done.

[SuperUberDae]

The shirt question was so relatable. I literally have a hooded sweatshirt in my closet right this moment that I've owned for over 20 years that I refuse to get rid of. It's too old, stained, and ragged looking to actually wear, but I keep it. Just in case.

[alanguest]

Very thoughtful video Quinn, Sky and Sam's experiences struck me the most. Sky's experience brought back painful memories of being bullied at school, trying to tell my teachers about it and they either didn't believe me or didn't do anything about it. If I tried to fight back or asserted myself, they often believed the bullies lies (such as biting their hands and claiming it was me) and never allowed me to prove my innocence. Like Sky, I gave up fighting back and I still have difficulties asserting myself. Whilst Sam's experience reminds me of how my local jobcentre never lets me learn from my own experiences of jobhunting and put the lessons into practice, in fact they seem to care more about meeting their targets more than anything else.

[arsVegas]

This is by far my favorite video posted to date. Period. Everything stated in this video deserves its own seperate series of videos. Brilliant and succinct. Excellent bridge video as well, of course! Can't rave enough! (Actually, I could go on, but I'm working on that. lol) Thank you so VERY MUCH! If I could assist in some way I certainly would! Truly outstanding.

[jabaerga]

This exercise was enlightening! Great way to self-identify. Thank you Quinn 👍😊

[myworldautistic]

Without background info some of my answers ended up wrong. My heart breaks for Sky. I have had similar experiences

[lukeshirley]

So very interesting and fun, thank you. Negotiating the ethics vs profits at work is one of my biggest struggles.

[AppreciateGoodMessag]

Every question is what I would have done. Q-4. I worked for a company`that paid me well. I had worked the for the company several years testing materials. One day I was asked to re-run a test I did that was to ASTM standards. I was asked to re-run the test. I did and still found it failed, in fact, taken from the same batch, it tested a bit worse. Then they asked me to re-run the test again. But this time to deviate from from the ASTM standards. I refused. I had one of those desk calendars with a hook in the middle. I flipped the calendar an arbitray number of pages and wrote myself a note. "Are you still here?" I also wrote an undated resignation letter and put it in an envelope in my desk. Funny, within days I had finally received a raise that surprised me. A few months later, something else untoward happened at work and I went to my immediate supervisor, dated my resignation letter that included a thirty day notice, and handed it to him with no explanation. He didn't think I would follow through. For three days he asked me if I meant it. I said yes. I received another raise, more than the previous one. As my last day approached he begged me to at least train a replacement. I told him I would, but it would be as an Independent Contractor. I also told him my daily rate. The Head of the Research Division called me to his office. He told me the amount was more than the Corporation was willing pay. On the day I "retired early" I clocked in an hour early, I was dressed to the nines. I put on my lab coat and went to work. I announced lunch was on me. Pizzas and cake were delivered at noon. We had expansive window on one wall of our lab. When my eight hours was up someone said, "There's a limousine out front and they are rolling out a red carpet. Everyone gathered at the window to see who had arrived. I laughed and looked out the window, "Oh, that's my ride." I hugged and kissed several of my immediate co-workers and out the door I went." The limo was an impulse buy from two nights before. Q-I did not get Q-5 completely right, If I had known they had the funds, I would have done much the same thing. I did purchased a dress, loved it and got two more more with a different print. I still wear them. (If I had stayed with the company I left when I was twenty-nine, my retirement today would have been much more. But I was bored with my job. I have had a roller-coaster life, and experiences almost beyond belief. If I had known then what I know now...well, at least today I'm smiling. I turned seventy-four only days ago. I have tested with a specialist and will discover his findings in eleven days.)

[josephmartin]

Yes, they were what I expected. Im saving up for more of the tee shirt I can wear because they cost $30 US apiece. You do what you have to do! Brilliant video!

[mdj]

one last comment:

twin 1 still has 'Tiger, '
a beloved stuffed animal from childhood, stored away in a drawer.
years ago, I bought an identical replacement after stitching the original together multiple times...
he wouldn't touch it 💜

does anyone else have a favorite stuffed animal, blanket or other item from childhood? I do.

[benmitchell]

Always appreciate your work (and aye, I find that with a lot of neurodivergent responses to limited choice questions "more contextual information please" is a common refrain)