Treat or Torture?

[liveonearth]

To be able to see into other people's worlds.
To not be able to not see into other people's worlds.
Is this a gift or a curse?

It depends on the people around me.
When I am with people whose inner worlds are bright
Their light shines into my world.

Comments

[bobby1933.livejournal.com]

Yes, but maybe they cannot "hear" your screams in return? I have been rewarded by many pleasant on line contacts with other autistic people; but i have never actually observed two autistic people (even very high functioning ones) in face to face communication with each other. I was very late in discovering my own autism so i have never attended an autistic conference. But my guess is that we would find each other very noisy and distracting. I love Temple Grandin, but would i like her?

I have no theory of autism to discuss against yours. it is a mystery to me. Genetic inheritance may play some role, but who knows, it could just be early experience --post- or pre-natal. I am not aware of any blood relatives who are or were autistic (my son? maybe, and i don't communicate will with him at all well. We are like duelists, neither of whom can aim straight.)

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Well my theories are just that, theories. Adjustable with new information or even just new perspective. I notice with my autistic friends that the best thing I can do to keep them comfortable is to remain very still and quiet, and communicate as clearly as possible in nonjudgmental words. I know that they don't understand my body language, so I explain my mood and intentions to remove the mystery. It is an exercise for me in using words for things that I normally expect people to just "get". And it is fine.