Neurotypical Privilege and Neurotypical Supremacy

Greenfinch

Only this morning in answer to my telling my grandson that he must make time to do something I was met with the reply you can't MAKE time ! I fear the expression FIND time would be responded to in the same way. He really felt that I was the silly one !

That made me smile. This from one of my favourite bloggers RobertLovePi:

“I need this done yesterday!” — Many of us can explain, in detail, why time travel into the past is not permitted by the laws of physics, as they are currently understood. Those who request, or demand, reverse-time-travel, from an Aspie, should not be surprised to hear such an explanation.

Only this morning in answer to my telling my grandson that he must make time to do something I was met with the reply you can't MAKE time ! I fear the expression FIND time would be responded to in the same way. He really felt that I was the silly one !

A related issue can be prosopagnosia.

People can get the idea of being rudely ignored by someone and wonder why.

The person with prosopagnosia might not realise having it as it is just how things have always been for that person.

It appears that prosopagnosia is not an all-or-not condition.

ElderlyPerson, I am very aware and familiar with the issues around eye contact and how challenging it can be. I understand the literalness issues too. I was with an autistic person today and had to explain what 'she has you wrapped around her finger' meant. It's not easy but yay that awareness is increasing.

the desirability of literalness depends on the context.
so in science, engineering, medicine, mathematics for example it is desirable.
but in poetry, art, creativity, humour, maybe less so.
eg,
O my love is like a red, red rose That's newly sprung in June;
or,
She walks in beauty like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies;
what would that mean to a literalist.
i couldn't quite follow your second paragraph opening thread OP. but i get the gist, i think.
heard a woman on the radio tonight saying she was on the spectrum, and had had to observe how people converse, and try to imitate.
eg, a neighbour invited her in for coffee. she wanted to speak to that neighbour, but as she didn't like coffee, she didn't go.
she said that she has since learned that she could go and simply ask for tea instead. or water. or just decline a drink.
but originally, because of the literalism, she felt that as she was being invited for coffee, that was the only possibility.
so, EP, that is an example where literalism has its drawbacks.

www.sciencealert.com/for-those-with-autism-eye-contact-isn-t-just-weird-it-s-distressing

But the problem is some people do not 'get' the tone or body language clues but are expected to by the neurotypicals and the neurotypicals give out blame if it is not 'got'. And neurotypical supremacy requires that people 'get' all the clues.

And neurotypical supremacy requires eye contact and sometimes applies stereotyping of untrustworthiness and dishonesty if it is not there.

What is wrong with literalness, there is a clue in the name.

Literalness seems to me as a decent, honest, desirable thing, yet neurotypical supremacy denigrates it.

ElderlyPerson, the written word on forums like this can be hard to get the feeling of no matter whether one is neurotypical or not. We can tend to read the tone according to our own mood of the moment, or it can be hard to know if someone is being sarcastic or not. You don't get the same tone or body language clues as you do face to face with someone.

I haven't read your links but I'm well aware of the issues, especially with the literalness some non-NT people can have.

EP Life is really difficult for anyone on the spectrum, that’s a given. Some people, if they know that you are, will try and be understanding, but most people don’t know enough about the subject or how to handle it, and that goes for everyone both neurotypical and on the autistic spectrum.
Social niceties and behaviour, both in speech and the written word can be a minefield.
All I can say to you, is to read lots of comments on the forum and study how others write.Do short posts of anything that interests you, and await replies, but don’t worry if the thread
Wanders and people write things that don’t always seem to be connected to your opening post...go with the flow and try and be relaxed.
Write comments on threads started by other people as well, not just your own threads.
Everyone is welcome on a forum and being neurotypical or not doesn’t matter.?
Use emojis if it helps to show when you are serious and when you make a lighthearted comment.