User:Comintell

I am a neurodivergent person who has a passion for knowledge, facts, and technology.

Autistic This user is proudly autistic.

I love checking facts and doing investigative activities in my spare time.

Please read this

I have ASPD

I do not let it be the only thing that defines me.

However, please understand that while I can communicate well for the most part, I may misunderstand, or be confused by certain things that are easy for neurotypical people to understand.

Thank you.

Status

Overwhelmed, disappointed, and taking a break.

Getting back into editing at a crawl-pace.

Interests

Science, AI, Mental Health, Investigation, Cyberspace, Cats, Facts

Employment Disclosure

I am currently on Disability due to health issues.

Location

I am from California

Random Fact

It might be a moderate, but I still want you to use gender-neutral pronouns when speaking to me. When speaking to me one on one, use they/them, or @comintell's

When speaking to me alongside other users, please try to avoid they/them and instead use my username (e.g. @comintell's contributions/edits/comments)

An Essay On My Experience Having ASPD

According to the US Centers for Disease Control, 1/44 children are diagnosed with Autism.

As a person with autism, social communication has always proven uniquely challenging for me. From a young age, I have struggled to properly interpret the subtle nuances in tone, facial expressions, and body language that convey meaning beyond people's words. Without this intuitive emotional understanding, I find myself frequently misunderstanding the intent behind what people say to me. I wish my brain was normal, and it seems every day I am reminded of my aberrance.

For instance, when friends make plans conditional on some other factor, like the weather or how much work they have to do beforehand, I used to get very frustrated if they later changed their minds. I've since come to realize that most people do not view tentative plans as definite commitments the way I do. But in the moment, their apparent flakiness felt misleading or inconsiderate.

Don't get me started on subtle sarcasm or nuances – both things I will sometimes "miss". Over time, these minor social misunderstandings left me feeling disappointed and frustrated with my connections.

From the other side, I know my flat affect, monotone vocalizations, and tendency to infodump about my special interests also increases the chances that I miscommunicate or even annoy others without meaning to. The challenge of interpreting verbal and nonverbal cues goes both ways.

After enthusiastic conversations where I thought everything was going well, it can be jarring when friends brush me off later, leaving me to wonder, "why? And then–Aha! The answer abounds in what can only be described as one of the most disheartening realizations: I'm autistic. And sometimes I forget it because, in my mind and my isolated little world, my perception of things is all I know. To me, it's normal.

The end result is, that while I sincerely want meaningful relationships and to effectively convey my thoughts and feelings, autism inherently makes that more difficult.

It can be profoundly frustrating and isolating. However, through consciously working on my listening and communication strategies over the years, asking clarifying questions rather than making assumptions, and surrounding myself with patient, compassionate friends, I continue making slow but steady progress.

I try to extend that same gentle patience to others that I so appreciate being extended to me. We all have unseen struggles, and open communication and understanding is the only way forward. These days, I don't get as disheartened when reminded of my "oddity" or my neurodivergence. I'm learning to love myself, and be mindful.

If you see me as strange or annoying, please forgive me and communicate what I did wrong, but just remember, my brain may be different than yours.

-Comintell