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Alien Nations and the Great Divide
When I was at school, long division seemed inappropriately taught. I now think it makes more sense that divisions cut deep and take forever to heal.
As neurodivergent people, how do other people see us – socially? Some stronger responses I see:
“They make me feel awkward. They fidget, startle, and get all worked up over nothing. They have shifty eyes that either stare or ignore you. They say socially inappropriate or offensive things, show no social initiative, but when they do talk, they just can’t shut up about the same irrelevant topic for hours – every time I see them! Extremely self-absorbed. Apparently slow and stupid. Total party poopers. They’re not appropriate for my social circle.”
And we’re like:
“Say, what? I’m not ignoring you – I just don’t speak your social language, like you don’t speak mine. Why don’t you sense the things I do, as though I’m “overreacting” or imagining things? Many things in the environment are very painful for me.
I’d love to be appreciated, like a true friend. Small talk just seems meaningless and I’m just not good at it anyway. When I do make friends, they don’t last long, and I have no idea why. I would love to give of what I have, but it seems impossible to get that across to others. They seem to miss what I mean, go strangely quiet, or just get angry.”
That is just the tip of the iceberg in our differences. We all need so much healing and getting to understand and value each other.
As neurodivergent people, how do other people see us – socially? Some stronger responses I see:
“They make me feel awkward. They fidget, startle, and get all worked up over nothing. They have shifty eyes that either stare or ignore you. They say socially inappropriate or offensive things, show no social initiative, but when they do talk, they just can’t shut up about the same irrelevant topic for hours – every time I see them! Extremely self-absorbed. Apparently slow and stupid. Total party poopers. They’re not appropriate for my social circle.”
And we’re like:
“Say, what? I’m not ignoring you – I just don’t speak your social language, like you don’t speak mine. Why don’t you sense the things I do, as though I’m “overreacting” or imagining things? Many things in the environment are very painful for me.
I’d love to be appreciated, like a true friend. Small talk just seems meaningless and I’m just not good at it anyway. When I do make friends, they don’t last long, and I have no idea why. I would love to give of what I have, but it seems impossible to get that across to others. They seem to miss what I mean, go strangely quiet, or just get angry.”
That is just the tip of the iceberg in our differences. We all need so much healing and getting to understand and value each other.
- Copyright
- © 2024 Peter Sealy-Fisher Photography
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- Contained in galleries
- Personal Difference in a Prescriptive world

