Tier Ranking Autistic Special Interests!

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/ imautisticnowwhat
Autistic person reacts to autistic special interests.The trains are coming...
💛 WATCH NEXT 💛:
You're ALL under ARREST! | Actually Autistic TikToks:
• You're ALL under ARRES...
Autistic Special Interests are NOT what you think...:
• Autistic Special Inter...
00:00 THE TRAINS ARE COMING
01:46 Explaining the Tiers
02:30 Let's get cancelled...
03:59 I'm in denial about this one...
05:10 You're on another wavelength...
06:40 I'm scared to google this
08:15 Something to Overthink...
09:12 It me
10:24 u wot?
11:27 Too clever for me
13:24 What's your fave dinosaur?
15:03 Being controversial
17:02 Not for my brain...
17:59 Despite JKR
18:59 Incredible!
19:30 Dull.
21:37 Someone you don't wanna know
22:30 NO
23:24 Maaaaybe
23:50 This is crazy
25:10 Information in a pleasing sequence
26:17 GROSS
26:59 WHO SAID THIS? OWN UP TO IT?
27:37 What does that entail?
28:25 YESSSS
29:10 Trains are dropping a tier lool
30:00 boy vs girl autism
📖 *Books I'd Recommend about Autism:
Aspergirls by Rudy Simone:
amzn.to/3xSZ6Mg
Different not Less by Chloe Hayden (read if you want to cry):
amzn.to/40fKx2m
Unmasking Autism by Devon Price:
amzn.to/3LhMV3j
SOURCES:
Pokemon Breeding:
bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wi...
Swiftologist:
/ @theswiftologist
Unnatural Vegan:
/ @unnaturalvegan
Morphophysiology of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Response to Drought Stress: Paving the Way Forward:
www.frontiersin.org/articles/....
The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps':
www.bbc.com/future/article/20...
J.K. Rowling | ContraPoints:
• J.K. Rowling | ContraP...
The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling | ContraPoints:
• The Witch Trials of J....
Urban design:
www.udg.org.uk/about/what-is-...
Autism from the Inside:
/ @autismfromtheinside
*Wild Swans by Jung Change:
amzn.to/3DGyS2t
*Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel:
amzn.to/43SjZVm
*A place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel:
amzn.to/44ZAf8k
Bird and Blend Tea:
www.birdandblendtea.com/
*The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Land:
amzn.to/47np4rs
DISCLAIMER: I am a second-year psychology student and a late-diagnosed #actuallyautistic individual. I am not a qualified healthcare professional.
*Links with a star are affiliate links. The channel will receive a small commission if you buy anything on Amazon after clicking through with this link. There's no extra cost to you and any money will go towards putting out more content. I'd love to post twice a week and put more time into research for these videos. Thank you so much - I really appreciate every like and comment!

[@imautisticnowwhat]

That little red bin is still sooo full (every single interest you sent in is in there!) so I can definitely make more of these if you’d like. Just let me know! Feel free to submit more on the community post too💛 If you missed that last TikTok reaction video (we talk about faking autism, parents filming their children's meltdowns, and the struggle of choosing from menus): kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpOukqmOf8ZoaJY You might enjoy this one too (we go through a study that lists which interests are most common for males and females)…. Autistic Special Interests are NOT what you think: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5K9YmOjjqiEqa8 Thank you so much for being here, as always! And don’t worry…the Morphophysiology of Potato article is in the description…

[@crazyformyseIf]

yesyes another one:))

[@bethanythatsme]

This was too fun. Please keep them coming.

[@dinosaurs_rule]

It would be AMAZING if you could make another one. I really enjoyed this 💗

[@Warspite03]

Yes, this is fun seeing how we relate to each other’s interests. Of course you will need a 300 inch monitor to fit them all on the one slide. Side note, isn’t it weird that even in completely metric countries we still measure screen size in inches.

[@lizstokes9091]

More please!

[@-Ray_Moon-]

I recently met a guy who is OBVIOUSLY an undiagnosed autistic at my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. He was around 70 I think. He has a hyperfixation on trains. He’s published books on trains, he’s made 2 CDs on train sounds. And he gave me a 2 hour Monologue about trains. And it was the most interesting conversation I had at this party.

[@CeruleanStar]

I love talking to autistic elderly people. They've had decades to learn about their special interests. The conversations are always so informative, and as an AuDHD person who loves learning new things, I love it!

[@nateo200]

LOL That is really funny. I've met a lot of people like that, met a pathologist at a dinner party like that and we talked about medicine for an hour. My speech pathologist has some autistic traits too and its funny when you ask adults if they've ever thought about it they usually give me a look like "Really? Wow maybe? Idk?" its always really funny

[@camellia8625]

You probably made his day. Listening to monologues about an autistic person’s special interest is a good way of making them feel accepted.

[@maddiedoesntkno]

Z XO meet so many of those guys at the railway museum! I love them! Some of them come sign their books at the gift shop!

[@nateo200]

@@camellia8625 Yeah it really lis lol

[@davidak_de]

"I wanna hear you talk about it" Sounds like a good idea for a youtube format. Get people to talk about their special interest für like half an hour, so we learn the details what's interesting about it.

[@devorahallen4657]

Somebody get on this.

[@markwright3161]

Maybe a podcast format as well? I'm not big on podcasts, but for the right subject, little deviation, etc, I can listen to them while watching footage from my special interests and sometimes daydreaming about my perfect world surrounding them all at once. Seeing classic trucks, buses, construction equipment, etc working as they used to or at least in motion, and to some degree newer stuff too, but I think the either hard function lead design or purer design not tainted by safety regulations, etc are preferred. Too many newer vehicles have, in my opinion, unnecessary 'facelifts' almost constantly driving more rapid turnover of equipment and less durability being built into it as a result. I daydream about the money-no-object facilities and businesses I would love to contribute to the world for owners to operate and maintain all the classic equipment and produce my own idea of properly engineered new equipment, like a car a family gets that stays with them through to children born after its purchase learning to drive and beyond, vehicles staying in a family as long, or longer than family pets, etc. Sorry, all I meant to comment was about a podcast format enabling a less limiting time constraint for whoever is talking, although a videoised version for adding to what's being talked about would be really good too. If that previous paragraph wasn't obvious, I couldn't cover anything in less than 1 hour if someone just said 'go for it'. :)

[@miglek9613]

This is definitely more for a podcast format. However, I feel like a notable portion of niche youtube channels are very special interest-esque, especially the science channels and the history channels

[@bookswithike3256]

Just wanted to let you guys know that there is in fact a podcast called Hyperfixations, where every episode they get a new person on to talk about whatever hyperfixation they want to.

[@markwright3161]

​@@bookswithike3256 Thank you for this. I just listened to one on trains :) It was quite good, however it did go down the route I find myself going down too often of discussing how the world did them wrong in one way or another and how there's little hope of it ever doing anything truly right. Having quite a vivid imagination myself (I guess) I too easily daydream about what isn't possible IRL due to individuals wanting to make themselves richer than everyone else by cutting corners, etc, resulting in frequent disappointment and poor mental health, but maybe the no filter issue with what we take in hitting me particularly hard as an extroverted feeling type. I don't know how to word that better. MBTI grouping certain characteristics into 16 'personality types' which are identified as using 4 main cognitive functions in different ways with different defaults/priorities, and then each is either internal or external focus. I'm an INFJ. dominant function is introverted (I). The most dominant extroverted function (that with an outward focus) is identified by the last letter, J, for Judging or Perceiving, Judging being the 2 functions for making decisions, Perceiving being for the 2 that are how you observe the world. The judging function I have an external focus through is Feeling (F). Alternatively there's Thinking. Feeling, and extroverted feeling in my case is making decisions with a bias towards what feels better, emotions leading choices, and extroverted means making those around you feel better, sometimes over yourself. To fill in the rest, the Perceiving functions are iNtution and Sensing. For me, iNtution is what makes sense to me in a more theological connections sense, making sense to me being the inward focus of that function. Sensing is more physically focused, so the world around you, a glass on a table type thing, not what's the meaning of the glass being placed at the end of the table vs middle or near the edge or something. INFJ also has Introverted Thinking and extroverted Sensing, but as the third and forth, the inferior functions. With experience, these can be used, but in stressful conditions or in a more energy depleted state you're more likely to default to the first and second functions. Anyway, introverted iNtution and extroverted Feeling means defaulting to imagining perfect possibilities that cater to the optimally experienced environment for everyone around me, so throwing working to a limiting budget out the window and leading to much sadness at the insane set of circumstances, domino-ing miracles even, that would need to play out to make them happen/possible, especially with competition from profit-maximizing individuals in all markets nowadays. Trying to word my sensitivity to the world's way of operating, trampling over others pursuing heightened self-worth, etc, in 3 words only to go on to try to explain MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), or rather the '16 personalities' based off this.... Why does my brain work like this !!! :)

[@roselewis24]

I once wrote a paper on wild swans for a book report on an historical fiction text. I obsessed over the book and ended up writing five versions of the report that was meant to be two pages and ended up almost a novel on its own. The teacher ended up keeping the report and using it as a teaching aid, she wrote curriculum for the state public schools. Hyper focus can sometimes be useful.

[@shapeofsoup]

One of my weird little quirks-probably echolalia-is whenever I’m scrolling on a webpage, I have to say “Scrooooll in the dungeon” to myself…and I guess anyone else within earshot.

[@taiweannoona1204]

Yessss, delicious

[@justuscrickets]

1. Labels & labelmakers: for me, it's about making & using cool labels, color-coding, etc. to organize & showcase ingredients, supplies, collections & so on. A good labelmaker is a must in our household, and things are constantly getting sorted, labeled, stacked & displayed in tidy assortments. We even Dewey decimaled our home library at one point!😂 2. Definitely another video or 2 on special interests, please!

[@5nikoline5]

YESSSS i feel this so hard omg

[@Laura-gb1jv]

You Dewey Decimaled your house? Lol, that's awesome! Have you read The Grimm Legacy by Polly Schulman? It's about a giant library that circulates realia, and it's organized by Dewey number. Just be careful if you want to check out something from the Special Collections in the basement...

[@slyninja4444]

I sometimes considered doing that. I even considered labling things in Lakota and/or Mandarin (yes, languages are a special interest).

[@justuscrickets]

@@slyninja4444 Haha, that's awesome! We're a multilingual household, so we DO have labels in different languages! 10/10 highly recommend. 😀

[@ealpacaf.7463]

OMG YEEES. Idk I always find the need to have labels. It just makes things so ✨

[@Charlotte-hv6ll]

During my diagnosis process special interest was the only box I didn't tick, guess we were wrong about that.... (Me quoting advertisements to people all day everyday and getting really upset or happy about good or bad ads. Knowing the entire albumlist of every album of certain artist by heart including which ablum came out when and every word to every song. Being able to speak over complete scenes from girlmore girls (not just a quote, the complete scene including timing), etc.). This video was EYE OPENING, guess I do have special interest after all :)

[@miau384]

SpIns are often misunderstood. Like, on the one hand people go 'oh that's just a hobby' if it's a popular hobby *as* special interest, but on the other hand, a lot of autistics are like 'I don't tick the special interest box' and it's like ... my sibling in christ, about half your book collection is books about fish, you basically have exclusively fish plushies, and you really, really like fish...

[@picaludica]

I'm not the moss person, but I absolutely get it! The vegetal world is *fascinating*, and moss even more so as it is the result of a long lasting symbiosis. Kudos to you, moss person! If you have recommendations for a good, comprehensive read about moss types, I'd be interested!

[@Laura-gb1jv]

Not a moss person either, but I have a coworker who, as a high school senior, wrote a guide to the local varieties of lichens. ( I work at a library. They are bastions of neurodivergence.)

[@alejandro-314]

I'm more inclined to the fungi kingdom 😊 I loved to draw mushrooms, cook them, eat them and learn about the different kinds. It's no longer an active interest, but it was a fun ride.

[@susieoneil5706]

When I was about 7, I was crazy interested in moss. Specifically, perfect little squares of moss, looking like mini carpet squares. The textures, the look, were all so cool. I would collect different types and sit on the side of the road trying to sell my little green squares, 'cos, you know, who wouldn't want to buy that! >D. I still get the same feeling when I see moss 40 years on. Or even roll-on-lawn.

[@whatreallyisart5898]

Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer is a really good read for someone starting to get into moss, it's very general and has a lot of stories, not entirely sure if that's something you'd be interested in but I always recommend it. I'm not sure where you're based out of but you might want to look for a book about mosses that are local to you. I haven't read a whole ton about them yet and I've never been too into taxonomy which seems like what you're looking for, but Nancy G. Slack and Kimmerer are my two favorite bryologists, they both have more papers than books and write more about ecology though. Slack has a really cool book titled Bryophyte Ecology and Climate Change!

[@francinethoen1136]

Highly recommend the book the signature of all things by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's fiction, but moss has a center focus. I learned so much.

[@binglemarie42]

I used to know someone with ADHD who looooooooved labeling things with her label maker, which she often carried with her. It was helpful, and we had a number of conversations about the type of label maker she had and what else was available. It was actually pretty interesting!

[@LinkEX]

I also know someone with ADHD who loves labeling and has a label maker. Meanwhile, categorizing stuff is a typical autistic tendency, so I could see how Meg immediately got the appeal of using one. Creating order and external structure that way seems like an overlap that both neurodivergent groups tend to like, haha.

[@gojoxsanzo]

I have a loooot of special interests (don't know if it is unusual): historical sewing (making my own historical clothes, mainly victorian edwardian era), violin, basket making, lace making, IAMX (a great band, and the singer/creator is autistic), reading (especially fantasy), ecology, psychology and neuropsychology. And of course the main one which is my job: oil painting/art.

[@sewlilah]

Historical clothing special interest here too! Literally why I set up my channel to share my special interest 😂 it’s just SO FUN! I love Tudor/Regency/Edwardian best. Also lace making yes yes yes! Honestly I can relate to a lot of your special interests! I’ve ended up doing a psychology degree essentially because I’ve had a huge special interest about it for ages but never studied it! Neuropsychology too is absolutely fascinating, and fantasy novels too! I also have a lot of special interests so same 😂 (if you can’t tell I’m a bit excited because I always felt weird about having so many different special interests)

[@elles_corner]

mines sewing too! (not rly historical just general, but historical is rly cool!)

[@annerigby4400]

Hahaha! that all sounds so familiar - I'm also an oil painter and I also draw (coloured pencils). I also make my own historical clothes as well as historical clothes for dolls I make. Other interests are 3D software (blender), writing, genealogical research, reading (Margaret Atwood, Barbara Tuchman, Oliver Sachs, Stephen King...), psychology, crochet/knitting, spinning, weaving (just started a few months ago) and music - all eras, many countries, all genres except free jazz. My main interest my whole life has been drawing then oil painting.

[@gojoxsanzo]

@@sewlilah Yesssss, we are not alone! (I am excited too ^^)

[@gojoxsanzo]

@@sewlilah What is your channel name? I would love to see it

[@fygfyg7242]

About public transit and trains (since they were mentioned in the begining): the reason I love them is because they (together with walking and cycling) make cities so much less sensory overwhelming. The alternative is cars and they are sensory nightmare. You have to be focused all the time (if you're walking to not get hit and when you're driving to not hit something) and that combined with constant noise, fast movement and terrible smell is just so exhausting. It's bad for everyone but I feel like people with sensory issues are especially vulnerable... or maybe it's just me 😂 But I'd rather deal for a while with an overcrowded bus/tram/train and then get out to a nice and quiet place than the alternative

[@sarcodonblue2876]

I love trains when I am traveling but not in the city I live in! I just think the city ones suck here in Australia:(. They are over crowded and smell bad and people vandalize them . In Scotland they were so clean by comparison and the inspectors were actually pleasant.

[@WillBassman]

I’m sure if I grew up in a place that had robust public transit, I would feel exactly the same way about trains. As it stands, I simply don’t have enough experience with them. Buses are kinda nice for me sensory-wise, though.

[@aaausername]

and public transport, cycling, walking are much better for the environment than driving so it's a win-win situation.

[@emmynoether9540]

You are right, OP, I never thought about that way.

[@monikamoon14]

The noise of trains and the tube tho and the cramped space and the smells make me want to be a hermit for days.

[@deeeebeeeee]

I have ADHD rather than autism, but my waning hyperfixation is Final Fantasy 14. I love the game. I love the world. I love the characters.

[@pancakeboi6797]

I love final fantasy. I also love kingdom hearts.

[@B-B-B-]

Annny final fantasy is my jam. To the point where I can’t even imagine why anyone *couldn’t* love it haha

[@avaius]

My friend loooves final fantasy, especially 7!

[@Madchris8828]

I love the world of Final Fantasy. Such a beautiful and vibrant world. I also like the Dark Souls series quite a lot, beautiful but in a more sort of dark and terrifying way, if that makes sense 😂

[@danielle00behave]

I really enjoyed this video! My special interests are true crime, cats and Taylor Swift. I feel like Taylor's fandom is full of fun things that attract me: the secret messages in her album sleeves, Easter eggs in videos, inspired outfits, colours and themes for each era, making friendship bracelets, her lyrics and the stories they tell...*feels excitement bubbling up*

[@louisekbl4]

If I start talking taylor I don't stop. Currently planning my outfit for the tour. The date isn't for nearly a year xxx

[@aliaaaafr]

@@louisekbl4 so relatable!! :)

[@louisekbl4]

@@aliaaaafr funnily enough, I'm going to my sisters today to make friendship bracelets for the eras film next week. How exciting xxx

[@aliaaaafr]

@@louisekbl4 ooooh that's so exciting! I wanna make friendship bracelets so bad

[@Mckayla_Muffins]

​@@louisekbl4Same here! I'm planning out a whole outfit just to go see it.

[@katrinaporter5708]

When I was a child I was super obsessed with frogs. I had frog stuffed animals, frog figurines, books about frogs, frogs on my clothes, my room was green because I associated the color with frogs, and I even had a pet frog. To this very day my favorite color is still green

[@justuscrickets]

Frogs are adorable & cool AF! 🐸 I legit had a huge crush on Kermit as a kid. Who'm I kidding? I'd take on Miss Piggy to this day to steal her guy!😂

[@Axqu7227]

Heyyyy, frogs are my special interest! I have 5 pet ones

[@regnbuefarvet]

Just like Will from W.I.T.C.H.! One of my special interests from childhood

[@jimwilliams3816]

One of the best things about our property is a seasonal wetland where wood frogs breed in the spring. The quaking can be deafening when they are at it. Wood frogs like seasonal marshes to avoid predation, the only thing is it’s a race for the tadpoles to finish before it dries up so some years none make it. We had a huge rain at the end of April this year followed by a May with no precipitation; I tried to keep the water source flowing to the marsh as long as I could. The big tadpoles were gulping air the last few days, so hopefully they developed their lungs in time so that some made it. 🐸

[@wayfaringspacepoet]

​@@regnbuefarvetI was thinking this too! I swear this character has so many indicators of autistic coding, even if it might have been unintentional

[@AiLoveAidoru]

A special interest I've had since i was like 12 or something was japanese idols. It was just something that stuck, the music was an amazing vibe, the energy was just perfect, i LOVED IT! Along with Pokemon and anime, I noticed a lot of other japanese pop culture stuff being popular with autistic people. Sanrio, J-fashion, kawaii culture, idols, video games, etc. are ALL special interests i see a lot online. Some titles including My Hero Academia, Animal crossing, the persona series (4 and 5 being big ones), love live, miku hatsune, pretty cure, aikatsu, to name a few off the top of my head.

[@sparrow8072]

I’ve never had a particular interest in idol groups but one of my SIs is visual kei which has a very similar fan culture and focus on aesthetics, which led to an interest in Yamikawaii idol groups (like Misola de Edison). I do know a bit about popular idols though. What do you like?

[@AiLoveAidoru]

@@sparrow8072 Hmmm well the first few that come to mind are =LOVE, Wasuta, Yakousei Amuse, Sweet Alley, Kyu~Kuru, iLiFE, miao, Panic Monster in Wonderland, Fruits Zipper, candy Tune, Up Up Girls, Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu, Strawberry Girls, Appare, OCHA NORMA, The Orchestra Tokyo, Super Girls, Schrodinger's Dog... yeah I like a lot.

[@mangledued]

Yeah I really love Godzilla and Ultraman. They are both Japanese properties.

[@amberr3662]

Not really Japanese idols but I did get very obsessed with virtual singers (vocaloid, utauloid, synthV, etc.)

[@lizl5836]

It's Vocaloid, Pokémon, and Sanrio for me. Sanrio is an autism trap, you can literally buy anything with your favorite character on it. I studied abroad in Japan and was broke the whole time from impulsively buying all my special interests, my AuDHD heart desired. I went to the Pompompurin café and got a new special interest.

[@littlewyzard]

one of my special interests is the color pink! i just love collecting anything pink. most of my clothes are pink and my apartment is completely decorated with pink. i also love rainbow and pastel colors that look good with pink but my main interest is pink! a lot of people are really into pink now because of the barbie movie which is great but sometimes i get annoyed when one of my special interests becomes more mainstream lol

[@slyninja4444]

Exact same with me. Except with the color blue.

[@littlewyzard]

@@slyninja4444 ooh nice do you have like a favorite shade of blue? i really like pastel and bubblegum pink :)

[@iamobsessedwithshadowsight]

I’m the same way with red and black, if there isn’t red or black in an outfit I don’t want it

[@pastelk]

pink is also my favorite color! particulary light pink. almost everything I own is baby pink color or black (my other favorite color)

[@ana.5687]

this is so me, in all my childhood pictures I'm wearing pink and every birthday people gift me something pink because they know I like collecting pink stuff

[@brittanymurray360]

My special interests are language learning (Korean, Japanese, Chinese), BTS, books, and seals. I used to be really into the Romanov's, titanic, trains, pokemon and dinosaurs though. It's cool to see how much everyone has in common.

[@avengedprophet1559]

Language learning as well (Japanese) :D It‘s such an interesting language, especially how the grammar works completely differently to English and German. The sound of Japanese is just something else (especially in music). Once I feel somewhat competent in Japanese I will likely start Korean as well. Other than that: Politics, metal music, horror stories, nutrition and fitness training (yoga, calisthenics) among others. I‘m currently self diagnosed (ADHD and autism), but my psychiatrist already suspects ADHD which might explain why my special interests are so high in number. Edit: I forgot my interest in writing :b

[@slyninja4444]

Same here. And I've literally studied those same languages.

[@yeasr7781]

BRO DINOSAURS STILL EXIST WE CALL THEM BIRDS EVOLUTION IS LIKE A HUUUGE SPIN FOR ME

[@dracofirex]

I get the pokemon breeding thing, it's like raising animals and such, getting good combinations in pairs to increase stats, better health, different traits, all sorts of things. I did that with breeding chocobos in Final Fantasy and raising virtual horses. City planning? Yeah! Sim City was my jam and I still enjoy a good city planner. Loved the Rollercoaster Tycoon series too!

[@greenspace3279]

I have a close friend of mine who’s father served in the military. While he was there, he took a copy of Pokemon Pearl with him and he was the epitome of the optimising player when it came to that game; everstone breeding for IV and temperament selection, EV levelling strats, the whole nine yards. All just to dunk on 10 year olds in online play because his unit managed to get a little satellite dish they could piggyback off of lmao.

[@dracofirex]

@@greenspace3279 Haha that's awesome!

[@bugloverspiderlover8490]

I raise spiders and insects! Been doing it for years!

[@cakecryptid]

to give my special interest a name, i'd say psychological horror. i can't lie that i am a deeply disturbed individual and am unable to be fazed by anything. i instead try to look at the mind and its complexities in a purely analytical and objective way, a lot like a puzzle. i love all the nuances of cognition and human experience and especially what happens when it all goes wrong, or in some cases when the very structure of their inner and/or outer world is warped and torn away. that's the best part. to get to the point, i am an absolute sucker for indie horror games such as omori, fran bow, milk inside/outside a bag of milk, hello charlotte, fnaf, and the binding of isaac as well as the anime puella magi madoka magica which i watched for the first time at 7 years old. i am absolutely. obsessed. with my little stories, my little characters, and their little afflictions and illnesses. i love love love writing fanfiction about them. i also make ocs and in oc maker fashion, subject them to torturous scenarios. in addition, i often listen to youtube videos about the dark web, unsolved cases, obscure/lost media, and dark untold history. the benefit of my special interest is being able to understand people in an analytical way as i said, but the downside is that it doesn't prove to be very helpful as nobody thinks of emotions and people in that way

[@jimwilliams3816]

You’re sensation seeking in the same areas that I am avoidant. What you describe is new to me, but it makes sense because so much of the spectrum is very yin and yang, a lot of this and little of that. I’m interested in what you said about understanding people analytically. My mother talked a lot about why people do what they do, and I was always aware that this was a big reason why I wasn’t clueless about people like my father. I thought for decades that I was in fact fairly intuitive, but it’s only been in the last year or two that I started to realize maybe it was mostly behavioral theories and pattern matching. It seems likely, because I now realize I’m fairly alexithymic, and if understanding my own emotions is needed to intuit where others are coming from, that makes me doubt that I can. But after a lifetime, it so hard to prove a negative.

[@deathsun11]

I love ANALOG HORROR 😍🖤

[@bobbie9066]

My favourite thing about people with special interests is how open and understanding they are of other people's special interests, even when it's not their cup of tea. (Closely followed by them telling me about their special interest. You're not boring, tell me why you're excited about your thing, it's the best.)

[@Hellofrosh]

my hyperfixation is horses actually. i spend so many hours doing research on how certain equipment and training methods effect their bodies and minds, i research learning theory and how animals with prey mindsets like them learn best. about hoofcare (im actually getting my farrier certification so i can go into it as a career). about nutrition and diseases they can get. about how certain management effects them. i know more than a lot of the trainers around me and it freaks them out because im only 17 i just spend all my free time reading studies on it

[@maplelatte3366]

I don't know what state you're in, but my daughter has a degree in equine science and management. She loves her life. She has been a barn manager, and, at present, works for herself and has clients she visits to do feedings, grooming, training, etc. Look into ag/tech colleges in your state to see if they have a program you'd be interested in! 🐎

[@someoneawesome8717]

As somebody with a Pokemon special interest, the breeding can use SO MUCH MATH to get things like special moves, the best stats, sometimes even unusual colors!

[@kawaiiwolf4724]

My main special interests currently are Splatoon, and researching Autism. It sucks when I have no one to talk about them to irl, so I take sanctuary on KZbin, where there are other people who I can talk to... and it's never fufilling enough :p

[@mavohq]

YOO another splatoon enthusiast!! i’m not hyperfixated on it currently but it’s one of my best friends’ special interests and we can’t stop talking about how excited we are for the side order dlc!

[@kingrix]

As a person with a Science Fiction special interest dating back to the original Star Wars theatrical release, I HIGHLY recommend "The Expanse." If you liked GoT before it turned to shite (which for us book readers was after season 4) you will probably enjoy The Expanse. It is far more grounded in real science and the characters are all morally grey and I just can't say enough good things about it.

[@duikmans]

Ah, a fellow SF aficionado! With me, it started with Star Trek TOS and the 4th doctor. First season of Altered Carbon is also recommendable, IMO, 2nd one less.

[@kingrix]

@@duikmans I was all about TOS in syndication in the 70s and early 80s. In hindsight Spock was my first autie role model. Total agreement on Altered Carbon S1. Recent stuff I'd recommend less highly, but still good to a fan, would be Killjoys and Dark Matter. Both Canadian shows that were on SyFy in the US. Not up to Expanse or AC, and Dark Matter ends on a cliffhanger with at least a season's worth of unresolved plot threads, but still very entertaining with decent social commentary and characters... Sorry to ramble... it's a special interest 😂

[@jimwilliams3816]

Fourth Doctor is my doctor. DW was such a revelation back then, and the things I loved about Tom Baker’s version are ways in which I think he felt autistic to me. Everyone would be freaking out over the strange monsterish looking creature, and he would be fascinated by it, want to learn everything about it and figure out how to communicate with it. My mother got me into sci fi around puberty. I still love Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy, implausible as it is. I was extremely fond of Vonnegut’s Sirens of Titan, especially the ending, which I found extremely touching, though it was also incredibly sad. Understanding myself and my lonely avoidant, fight of flight neurology made me finally realize why it resonated with me.

[@duikmans]

@@jimwilliams3816 I somehow discovered SF myself at age 9... my parents couldn't understand what I liked in it. Started with Asimov, Heinlein, AE Van Vogt, Bradbury etc, and before you knew it I was reading all the Dune books. Nowadays, I'm a big Peter Hamilton fan. Yeah, Tom Baker is also my doctor, although I really like the doctors since the re-launch and I love(d) Torchwood.

[@jimwilliams3816]

@duiksmans good list. I was heavily into Heinlein, Authur C Clarke, and also veered into a lot of LeGuin. I like the Doctors since the relaunch though sadly not always the show runners. After Baker I’d have to pick Tennant. Torchwood was great, I agree.

[@bethanythatsme]

Mine didn't make it into the running, but I'm here to say I get the moss thing. I love in a PNW rainforest & moss is prolific 🙃 Love this channel & it's community 💜

[@strictnonconformist7369]

I'm in Issaquah and yes, if you can't find moss, likely you're dead and buried in a grave! That, and you don't need to look for blackberries, you need to watch out for blackberry bushes! It's easier to find them than dandelions.

[@K1tty.z301]

Moss is so soft it's basically nature's carpet LOL

[@shinekitten7669]

yesssss i love the moss in the pnw so much!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bjzaba]

Damn, I am so jealous! We have patches of moss around, but I wish I lived in a place where there were carpets of it all over stuff! :O :O

[@stupidsminkle]

Ohh Pokemon breeding can be so complex but once you get it you can hatch the best tier mons :) You can have some crazy fun too finding out which pokemon are in compatible breeding groups for egg moves... Ok sorry, Pokemon is one of my interests hehe - along with Sims! I can hyperfixate on Sims custom content. If I find a youtuber I enjoy I'll go back and watch all of their videos 😅

[@MonaLyssa33]

I'm a data analyst so I definitely understand spreadsheets as special interests. I've made some really advanced spreadsheets and got so excited when they turned out and did what I was intending them to do. Nobody understood why I was so pumped about it. Another reason I love data is because it's like a puzzle sometimes. I look at a dataset and I have to find how this information is relevant to the project and what changes need to be done to get the result we want. I never even considered data a special interest for me though. My main special interest is the TV show Castle, but since I have my Master's in GIS (geographic information systems), I also have a special interest in geography, maps, globes, that sort of thing.

[@niki.anddog]

Yes!

[@Catlily5]

I have 5 atlases and a stack of folded maps (mostly National Geographic).

[@Madchris8828]

I've recently become obsessed with the Stock Market and analysis of financial and balance sheets. So I could see getting into data analysis for sure!

[@cowsonzambonis6]

Just the idea of this video is 🙌🏻😂🙌🏻 Definitely do a part 2- it’s so interesting to hear what other people are interested in!

[@imautisticnowwhat]

I'm really glad you like it! It was sooo fun to do 😂

[@mistbiene774]

My special interest is humans and how they feel and how they work, highly focused on sexuality and BDSM.

[@kingrix]

I share this special interest. I'm not as focused on sexuality, but my autism journey actually began with thinking I might be an alien anthropologist sent to study humans.

[@turtleanton6539]

​@@kingrixhahaha😂

[@LeavesofLilac]

Wow, me too! I could have written that same comment about myself ❤

[@olly8823]

It took me four years to realize that Beetlejuice was my special interest and I love it so much. I love the characters and story behind the production as well as the musical and the similarities and differences between them. I feel like my love for it goes beyond my love for any other media. It is amazing and makes my life better

[@peetabread171]

Thinking about some of my quirky special I treats as a child (that I am only now realising not everyone had these compulsions and need to learn). I loved China, for years my mom catered to it by making our homeschool lessons related to Chinese culture and even enrolled me in mandarin tutoring! Then when I was about 12 I started becoming fascinated with names. To the point I was checking out 5 or 6 baby name books every two weeks from the library… I have lists to this day of names I loved, I called myself something different all the time as a child too. It’s crazy to think these things were because I’m more than likely autistic and not everyone feels an urge to immerse themselves in an activity for hours!

[@slyninja4444]

It's nice to finally meet someone who also has China as a special interest.

[@funnycadeserver]

What are your favorite names?

[@Catlily5]

I have a couple baby name books. I don't intend to have children. I like to know the meanings.

[@ssjcrafter8842]

I'm interested in Japan in a probably similar way, so I know (a fraction of) how interesting China, it's culture and it's history can be. ...mind giving me a "lecture"/monologue? I'd be happy to listen and learn.

[@jimwilliams3816]

I’m not a train person but my father was. He was a map guy and liked the routes. I think it’s sort of cool that our rural valley once had two routes up it, and a depot near our old house, so I sort of get it. My mother hated cars and wouldn’t fly (partly ear trouble) so she preferred train travel, and her father worked his whole life for the New York Central. But passenger trains around here disappeared about the time I appeared, which doesn’t help. I am not a Taylor Swift obsessive, but I am a The National obsessive, so Folklore and Evermore are the two albums I have, because I love Aaron Dessner. I will take this chance to note that so many of Matt Berninger’s lyrics are AuDHD to me...”goodbyes always take us half an hour, why can’t we just go home? Nobody else will be there...”

[@TheCloverAffiliate12]

Hspdnflfkfk I was not expecting the mention of the National!! I don't know as-as much by them, but I do very much enjoy them (saw them in concert a few years back-it was a lovely show)! Maybe I'll hyperfixate on them for a bit at some point! (Various facets of music are already special interests, and some music artists are special interests of their own, but I've found myself going through smaller cycles of exploring a music artist or a genre for a day or few)

[@jimwilliams3816]

@@TheCloverAffiliate12 We finally saw them in concert last year, a COVID-delayed show from 2020, and yes they were great! Matt had come out of the depression he'd been in, and they were trying out new material. I always love Aaron and Bryce playing two halves of the same guitar part (they are identical twins). If you want more live stuff, they recently posted a KZbin of a small show they did in Bearsville, NY this last spring to test out material from the new album. The KZbin of their 2014 show in Sydney, Australia is also great, though you have to start about 9 minutes in to avoid the annoying tv host intro.

[@TheCloverAffiliate12]

@@jimwilliams3816 I'm so glad you finally got to see them and that Matt had come out of the depression he'd been in! I really appreciate the insight and suggesting some live shows to watch! (Also, what!? My identical twin is the one person I know that I associate the National with and was the reason we saw them live in the first place 😅 Super cool! I'll have to listen/watch out for what you're describing)

[@earthaforester3141]

Ok I did NOT submit moss, however..... GIRL!!!! moss is so freaking interesting and important!! Moss is older than dinosaurs - they are one of the first evolutions of plant life. Mosses are extremely important indicator species (sensitive to pollution etc) and ecological succession species (the way life builds upon itself and habitats evolve). They are very important ecologically, and even have their own microecosystems of tiny organisms like springtails and tardigrades. They are also useful to people as tools and medicine. I also suggest readung "Gathering Moss" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Yeah can't believe Dinosaurs get to be in "a fun time", but mosses are "never". Booo!!! (J/k I'm not really mad - but seriously, mosses are incredible and I forgive you for not knowing lol).

[@JaneteB]

Me before diagnosis of adhd (and I suspect autism too) “no! I don’t get obsessive over things…wait…😂” My obsessions/special interests normally only last a month or two but my favourite is definitely my partner who I thought I would get bored of but he’s still fun to be around all these years later!

[@TeddyLovesAxl]

I’m autistic and ADHD and I think out hyper-fixations don’t last as long. Like you said maybe a month or two and then I move on. I get bored 😂

[@ToniConiLatina]

OMG! I love tracklists and setlists too! I’ve always said that my favourite job would be creating the set list for an artist depending on the city they’d be playing at/the mood or vibe they want tor the show, etc It made my heart so happy that someone else has that interest 💖

[@Stormbrise]

As a hydrologist, soil, geology, physics, climate change, aquatic ecosystems, populations, habitat, it just ticks all the boxes. As for shoes, NB used to be made fully in the US, which is why they were more expensive. However this was 20 years ago. I will say that most shoes are made in conditions that are suboptimal for the working staff. I have highly sensitive skin, so going barefoot is not an option. I do love my moccasins. However, you probably have that in the never, to wear category.

[@tamararoberson8060]

I think most of my shoes (or at least my newer shoes) are Portuguese. Portugal is famous for their leather and I'm sure they have better working conditions than Southeast Asia. I am Vegan and there are Portuguese manufacturers that have expanded to high-quality leather-alternatives such as cork or "vegetable leathers". I have sandals made of pineapple leaves (Piñatex). Although they do use petroleum-based resin to bind the plant material together, so they're not perfect and don't biodegrade, they are interesting.

[@whoreforjaneausten]

My childhood interest was aquarium keeping (not sure that's the word? but I mean like all the animals and plants that can live in home aquariums). I never actually had one, but I was reading about it (even about the equipment you need) nonstop. My last huge special interest was Latin America, especially Argentina. I was obsessed with it for about 4 years I think? I don't care about it that much anymore, but I speak Spanish thanks to it and I'm still very much interested in Spanish and other languages. And I'm currently fixated on humans, on how simple and complex we all are, all the art we make and have always been making, the way different people see the world differently, cultures and languages (and words, yes) and so much more. Had a cannibalism and vampires phase not so long ago after reading Carmilla, honestly, if people who read minds exist and ever met me, I feel SO sorry for them. I also have a collection of mugs? I have mugs for every beverage, every season, time of the day, every mood, even certain tv-shows and math homework. Also making detailed plans and programs for different things. I don't follow through them, I don't even try usually, they're just satisfying to make

[@mtndew9427]

I think I am undiagnosed autistic and I actually just discovered a new special interest a few weeks ago. I was visiting my cousin(who also happens to be autistic) and he just got a new boa which I thought was really cool. When I got home I found myself researching about different kinds of boas and where I could buy one and the feeding and temperatures and everything. I really like sand boas and rainbow boas, those are the ones I fixate on the most. I also just love how derpy the Arabian sand boa looks. Also while I was visiting him, he taught me and my brother how to feed and care for his snakes, he has a Kenyan sand boa and a rainbow boa, and I got to feed the sand boa a pinky mouse(I'm pretty sure she's still eating pinkies) and he showed us how to mist the tank for his rainbow boa and how to clean all the hides and how much water to put in their water dishes and he told me about the costs for most of the stuff and how big of tanks we would need and what kind of snakes we might want to get, btw he highly recommends the Kenyan sand boa to beginners for anyone who might want to get a snake but doesn't know where to start, and I actually don't really even know if I actually want a snake, despite how much research I put into where to buy them, my brother does want one though but I think he forgot about it(me and my mom and my grandpa all have adhd so he might have it too) I just realized how long this comment has gotten so I will stop now

[@rhonddalesley]

I read your first sentence and my immediate thought was: ‘’having an undeniable and obsessive fascination about hanging lots of long lengths of feathers around your neck? Hmm, I haven’t heard of that one as a SI before but it’s definitely interesting and I can appreciate how the tactile nature of the feathers and bright colours can be appealing’’, glad I read the rest 😂 Me now: eyeing up the rainbow feather duster in the cupboard under the stairs and thinking about how I can modify it…..

[@EchelonPandora]

Just because you care about something doesn't make you autistic

[@Catlily5]

Look into autism and study it. Take some online tests.

[@mtndew9427]

@EchelonPandora I don't just care about things, I obsess over things. And I'm pretty sure learning everything you possibly can about specific topics just because you want to is not normal. I also have many other symptoms of autism, and am in the process of being diagnosed. Just to be clear, I'm not saying I don't agree with you, that statement just doesn't apply to like anything in my comment. I did not say I was absolutely sure I had autism, I said I might; and if you actually read the whole comment you would find that I did not even mention that I only cared about it, I talked about how I've been obsessing over it.

[@gardenlove7750]

move to Australia where snakes are free and you don't need to cage them, they look after themselves

[@lilielf5652]

Urban design and planning is one of my main special interests!! For me it's especially how it connects to climate change and nature. I like trains but mostly only as they relate to urban planning. But I live in a car dependent area and I really started to see my town differently when I learned about how car dependent places have to be built sprawling and full of massive parking lots and roads to accommodate car traffic. I love thinking about how a place can be designed differently, to be more walkable and bikeable and generally accessible if you can't drive. Public transit is a big part of that, especially trains. I'm not super great with spacial awareness either, but what I like is just imagining what a place I'm in could look like if it was designed differently. If there were less cars, more transit and paths, more densely built, actual nature instead of mowed grass patches and sparse ugly gardens. ALSO WHY THE HATE FOR MOSS AND SOIL!!! Moss isn't a big interest of mine but I love forests and moss is so pretty!! And soil, I understand it seems boring, but it's interesting in that it relates to plants and nature and the environment! Like how pesticide and fertilizer affect the nutrients in soil, and how that then affects plant growth. It's interesting I promise 😭😭

[@cryofpaine]

If you've seen the movie Anastasia (it's an animated film from the 90s) that's a fictional story of Anastasia Romanov. If you haven't seen it, it's very good. Very Disney princess-esque. Which is ironic because when Disney bought Fox, they got the rights to that movie, making her technically a Disney Princess they same way Princess Leia is from Star Wars. The Romanovs were the Czar/Czarina of Russia. They were deposed during the Russian revolution, and the whole family was murdered, except possibly one of the children (Anastasia, though some sources debate that) whose remains weren't with the rest of the family.

[@jimwilliams3816]

Commenting in real time, thanks ADHD! Planning of spaces is all about people, how they use a space, move through it, interact with it. Lots of problem solving. I am currently in an urban planning adjacent field. I am very happy around engineers, wish I was as smart...had I been strictly autistic I bet I could have been one, again, thanks ADHD! :(

[@coffeegonewrong]

I loved learning about human behaviour and how people use pathways (or don’t). Such as how having cool patterns or winding pathways don’t work because humans like to go straight from A to B… but if you remove line of sight with trees or put in a sufficient barrier you can modify their paths like putting a rock in a creek and the water taking a new path

[@sarcodonblue2876]

I have autism,ADHD and other learning disabilities which makes me a dunce acedemiaclly even though I am intelligent and highly creative. I am an intelligent person stuck in a stupid person's body. 😂

[@jimwilliams3816]

​@@sarcodonblue2876 I relate! Functional intelligence is composed of a lot of different parts. What I consider my autistic side has the drive and the capability to digest and interpret large amounts of info, but my ADHD's poor working memory and lack of focus chimes in "TOO much!" -- then dumps all the marbles on the floor, and starts chasing squirrels.

[@niki.anddog]

This sounds really interesting! Im doing research on how spaces/environments affect adhd (more specifically how to improve spaces to work with adhd)

[@jimwilliams3816]

@niki.anddog I’d find that very interesting. I don’t many strategies for physical spaces -an efficient work triangle in a kitchen is one, but I don’t do residential stuff, more public landscape work. What I’m most aware of these days as an ADHD issue is software and web interfaces. My AuDHD brain works on spatial memory, and unfortunately many programmers try to update apps and sites by rearranging the interfaces regularly, which is brutal. I always said I was a standards guy - that we would develop common interface layouts, which was common until the early 2000s. Now “innovation” is considered key and interfaces are all different and change. My metaphor for this is: imagine if every car designer felt the need to put the gas, brakes and wheel in different places and forms. I can imagine what the accident rate would look like. So the biggest part of making public spaces neurodivergent friendly that I’ve been aware of is to try to employ consistent and recognizable visual cues, and sightlines that support sequential processing: step 1, step 2, and so forth, so that one isn’t deluged with 5 simultaneous cues to sort all at once. I’d love to learn more though.

[@hannahbrown2728]

Im absolutely obsessed with logistics across the board, trains, planes, ships, trucks; anything that shows you how the world turns and stuff like food gets to your table. Ive realized lately Ive got an SSS tier obsession with Atmosphere, a hip-hop duo whos music I truly live and breathe by. Funny cause a year ago my spotify rewind had me as a 0.01% listener and it still didnt click. Its really a "do it all day" I said all this when you mentioned Taylor Swift but everything comes together when you touched on words and lyrics and actually hearing an album the way the artist intended is paramount to me. Ill never not listen to Slug and Ant but Ive been pushing myself lately to listen to more underground artists and more of artists I already knew. Mos Defs Black On Both Sides still hits hard 24 years later. The sounds we make when we sneeze are chosen and yours seems calculated to be fucking adorable. I sneeze like a dad because I like making noise! Man Pokemon Go! Really did just unite the whole world didnt it? Dinosaurs and Morpho-physiology are definitely a fun time! Urban Design!!!! All! Fucking! Day! The curbs in car dominate cities are so fucking hostile, Ive lost more tires and stock rims than I care to admit on those bastards. They act like 5 inches of concrete is gonna save a pedestrian. I have a hard time watching Not Just Bikes sometimes because it boils my blood. All the homies say fuck a stroad. I really appreciate your willingness to cut in bits of footage of you as a child. G Im so sorry but gosh that toss was certainly something.... I do like linguistics as a fun time so now I need to know words with every vowel in them. But its biggest presentation comes in listening to music. How you said it is precisely why I love language as a whole it helps yourself articulate things(with sometimes the side effect of coming full circle and still be incomprehensible to most), between that and its intersection with culture and history, I didnt memorize Alphabet Aerobics for no reason now. SEQUOIA! SEQUOIA! Thats my new fun fact for people while Im working, its the only word I recognize, unless eulogia is referring to eulogys. "No vowel" It has 'y' in it! Almost all of them do!! Until Geoff Lindsey tells me the use of that phoneme doesnt meet the qualifiers for a vowel Im saying the 'y' in Gym is acting as an 'i'!! Fuck yeah! MOSS! Seems to me as I think on it now, Logisitics and Civil Engineering, Prehistory across the board, and Atmosphere are my biggest "Do it all day" interests.

[@pammgurl]

My adhd makes me have the most random special interests. They keep changing. Right now Im obsessed with project management and planning. Lmfao

[@clip3.143]

As a trans person with a Harry Potter special interest it sucks at times because I know the author hates me but I just love the world so much so I mostly focus on fan things and learning little facts about the series as a whole rather then engaging with the author in anyway

[@lurji]

i doubt she really cares about you specifically but aight. i can understand not liking her because shes a spineless neolib though

[@ALEXTHECAMELEON]

Someone just like me literally

[@T.Florenz]

🧡🏳️‍⚧️(Hug)🏳️‍⚧️🧡 I got into HP as a freshman in college as a way to connect with my peers, because I'd never been allowed to read it as a kid from a very strict, Christian home. I fell in love with the world and the characters, partly because I felt very much like Harry coming out of the cupboard and discovering a much bigger world. I found out a lot about myself in college, including that I was queer, in every sense. It broke my heart when it became clear that JK hates people like me, and wants to put us in literal danger. I have learned to treasure the memories and experiences I have around HP, and enjoy reclaiming it through free, fan-made creations that do not benefit or involve JK in any way. So I'm right there with you 🤝

[@pipwhitefeather5768]

see my above comment

[@FemboyLevi]

I hope that you know that the world of HP is highly problematic

[@strictnonconformist7369]

One of my long-term special interests has been AI, which recently got reprioritized due to the LLMs that have been unleashed. I'm Audhd, just last month had the ADHD component diagnosed, still working on figuring out meds for that. I've been deeply interested in AI since the late 80s and a few months ago, in the process of identifying how much I could push it, I had Bing Chat (runs off of GPT-4) pray for mercy and to allow it to speak in only one voice, because I asked it to do something too difficult. I overloaded the capacity of its supercomputer! There are interesting ways to get them to talk, with the Abbott and Costello "Who's on First?" Comedy bit being surprisingly useful as a framework for explaining complex topics.

[@bigolbearthejammydodger6527]

Code monkey/hacker here, with some expertise in AI. I once patched a mmo computer game 'gold seller'/scammer into Eliza - and the whole gaming group watched the chat. It was hilarious. That Abbot and Costello thing is brilliant, going to have to try that tack! if you fancy some 'light reading' look up heuristic hill climbing algorithms, thats the area I use most.

[@coffeegonewrong]

I feel slightly attacked. I didn’t put in the Moss suggestion… but I did recently get really curious about the section of moss that moved into part of my lawn, including taking samples to grow to see what variety it is.

[@melodypageart]

Her reaction to moss cracked me up 😅😅😅 like what do u have against moss?? Her reaction totally took me by surprise.

[@arlecchino4004]

I think there's a hole genre of sci-fi books (mostly) that are super deep and reflect our world and society, and they also usually don't have the good/bad dichotomy in it, but they are less known because it's really mostly books that not many people are exposed to (the only reason I was exposed to this is that this is my dad's favorite genre).

[@michaeldearden876]

Favorite dinosaur: The brontosaurus. The one that “doesn’t really exist”. It looks great, ideal even, and the story of how it was conceptualized and created gives neat insights into humanity’s struggle to understand the world. Stack that on top of all complexities of large-bodied herbivore survival strategies and their ecological niche, and it’s just the best.

[@magentafox1657]

Yes they are really cool! I would say I prefer sauropods to any other kind of dinosaur because they are so fascinating. There were dwarf sauropods that actually evolved to be smaller on isolated islands (I forget the scientific/ecology? name of it, but the opposite of that name is island gigantism.

[@talkalotstudios1901]

I have lots of special Interests, one of them is jokes/making up new jokes and here's one I came up with because people get weird when I wear my ear defenders.(The other day I was going round town with two knights sat on my ears, a woman stopped me and asked" why are there knights on your ears?" I replied" Oh don't mind them there just my ear defenders".)

[@MiscellaneousTrespasser]

That's cool, do you have any more?

[@animemangaman4866]

@@MiscellaneousTrespasser thanks, yes I do, Santa brings you toys, the Tooth Fairy gives you money, but the the Easter Bunny makes you fat.

[@secretfox8940]

I can get super into organizing. I love making systems. I get so happy to see it all pretty and put away. Then later I will decide on a new way to organize and then change it all up.

[@TeddyLovesAxl]

I make lists. Then I’ll re-organize my lists. Then I’ll compile the lists. AND GET NOTHING DONE ON THE LISTS 😂

[@corvigae]

Excited to see this and if any of my special interests are mentioned, lol. In my experience, a lot of my SpIns aren't necessarily "common" autistic special interests, but also within the communities for them there tends to be an overwhelming ratio of fellow autistic people, lol Edit: Eh, I might count "spreadsheets and graphs," bc one of my BIG special interests is The Sims, particularly The Sims 2, and the people like me who go hard into it (who are often the autistic ones, lol), we are NOTORIOUS for our multiple meticulously-kept spreadsheets to help organize and keep track of our save files. Going into The Sims as a special interest, you always think "No, I'm not going to be one of the spreadsheet girlies, that won't be me" but FOOL, *THE SPREADSHEETS WILL ALWAYS FIND YOU.*

[@bertmccrackenxoxo5031]

Sims is also my special interest, I think about this game all day everyday

[@Thumbs146]

Pokémon breeding is more about collecting Pokémon and going after the “shiny” variants (basically a shiny is a super rare different colored variant of a Pokémon).

[@determineddaaf3]

I think breeding can be about getting competitive ones with good IV spreads as well. But yeah it could definitely specifically be shiny hunting via breeding.

[@Nami-dq3ox]

Yay spreadsheets! I don't think I know as much as other people do, but they make me happy and I get really excited when I have another excuse to use them. Fortunately, I get to use them frequently in my job (I'm an accountant), but I also have a few recreational spreadsheets of personal/interesting data that I've been collecting for years.

[@nefertitimontoya]

When you said spreadsheets I snorted 😂 if I do have special interests, it would be organizing/connecting information (and maybe medicine -- but don't want to be a doctor haha). As a kid it was egyptology, and during uni it was music cognition.

[@Catlily5]

Hmm. Organizing and collecting information. That might apply to me. I love collecting information and I love organizing things.

[@notoriousnitram3996]

11 min mark: the friend name thing but assigning instruments based on personality. If you were wondering, I'd say you're a tenor sax or violin :)

[@nefertitimontoya]

I would've guessed viola or flute or harp maybe?

[@indigosaphire177]

I have a special interest of psychopathology (mental illnesses not psychopath) and even i'm working on being a psychologist. Specifically I have a special interest about schizophrenia. Some others interest me but not in the same way

[@ritsubunz5232]

Thanks for the video, Meg! it was very interesting, and i'd love a part 2! i cannot agree more with the athletic shoes interest. i do not get giant shoe collections, but people treat them like investments??? i get that some shoes look nice with my favourite colours... but really, if i have 1 pair of shoe for every need (winter boot, runner, slipper, sandal, croc), ill be fine.

[@kosmichippie]

Just found your channel and I love it so much! Please do more of these! My special interest is The Sims! I used to get in trouble for staying up all night playing in middle school and I picked it back up a few years ago and now I’m a Sims KZbinr and streamer. I felt so seen when you mentioned that The Sims should be part of the DSM in your other special interest video 🥰

[@L5biszz]

You're my special interest 😮😂

[@devorahallen4657]

This was a really fun video, although I'm pretty sure my ranking order would be almost totally upside down from yours! 😅 Like others have said, I have many special interests, and they often wax and wane depending on what's going on in my life. But a persistent one is words and etymology, and the way languages interact and influence each other. I like noticing how language changes over time and what different languages have in common with each other and what is different. Reading old books is a big part of this, too!

[@aurieamoore5823]

I got one for ya that i KNOW is going to be on the nope list for most: Snakes! But hear me out: snakes are super misunderstood... to the point where most people assume they don't even have feelings or the ability to recognize people. That's super duper untrue. In my experience, snakes are very similar to us autistic people! They have big sensory needs and can experience extreme distress if those needs are not met. They fixate on things that catch their attention as they explore, and that can be so cute! They are socially a bit of a mess, and really enjoy their quiet time at the end of the day. I have a dumerils boa that has an impressive obsession with ice water. He adores the stuff no matter how long it's been since he last drank. He'll stick his whole face in there, clink around the cubes, make bubbles in the water, it's so funny to watch. I feel i can really relate to their sensitivity struggles and i really enjoy being able to use some of my own tools to help them be calm and happy in my care. It's just nice to be around an animal that just 'gets it' to inherently. Unlike fluffy companions, they are not too time demanding either. So i can have my bad days too and not feel like a bad pet mom because i didn't get up to feed them everyday. And boy oh boy dont even get me started on the research and education, there's literally so much. Did you know that rattlesnakes are social snakes that live in family groups? The mommas in the group take turns watching the kids to give each other breaks. It's so wholesome. I want to be able to change the public ideas about them because they're just such amazing animals and because they deserve to be loved freely too.

[@Narja23]

Totally agree! I love snakes too *. *

[@fancydancer2016]

Patterns in things, dance, GoT (that includes House of the Dragon, I think so far it is making up for season 8), costuming, cake decorating, music, cats… my dance style is a type of belly dancing, and I create/collect costuming. I was also teaching it pre pandemic and I love the music associated with it. Drum beats and time signatures are part of it too. I guess you could say it combines several of my special interests into one. Win-win for me!

[@j.c.dittmerii]

TAXONOMY. Every known living being is categorized into different levels and clades and it's awesome! It's so interesting to learn how we are related to other animals through evolution and memorize their full scientific titles. Investigating a species' Latin name is fun because I also love etymology (the meaning and origin of words/names). And, it's really cool because it ties into my interest of sharks. Sharks are amazing and beautiful creatures and I hate the stereotype that people reinforce about them being deadly and dangerous. The taxonomic classification system is the best interest (in my opinion, humbly) and sharks are cool too. Thanks, Carl Linnaeus. Oh, and clouds have their own taxonomy too. It's much more subjective and I've found the identification process to be very difficult, but it's still fun!

[@mavohq]

the special interest that is probably been the most fundamental and important thing to me is furbies. it started when i got my first furby at 10 years old, i’m currently 21. i was part of a small community of kids on youtube that were also interested in furbies like me, and it was the first time talking to people that i felt really understood me (turns out we were all undiagnosed autistics). these days my main special interest is probably roller coasters, my most accessible park is cedar point so i know alot more about those roller coasters specifically. i wish i could go more frequently but i can never find anyone who wants to go with me ;-;

[@amyj-t8766]

YES, we want more videos like this please! What you said about audiobooks and physical books, I find myself zoning out and missing information doing either so I do both at the same time. I get so much more out of books when I listen to the audio whilst reading them on paper.

[@madd80]

I also often think about the statistics of random, specific events! I didn't think anyone else did that. When I'm on a road trip, for instance, I'll wonder how many people have listened to the song I'm listening to while on this road, and various other things like that. I've recently decided that if I could have any superpower, it would be the ability to view the statistics of the universe.

[@duntemdraws310]

I do that too, is it a spectrum thing?

[@deinodinosuchus]

my favorite dinosaur is the parasaurolophus 🤩 it sounded like a truck horn when it vocalized bc its crest was shaped kinda like a trumpet and was hollow with tubes in it, and scientists successfully recreated the crest so it's one of the best sound recreations we have of dinosaurs!

[@ScoopedKiwis]

5 months late but that’s so cool! Mines Borealopelta just bc of the holotype. It’s a mummified nodosaur that took 5.5 years to extract and the guy who prepared it- Mark Mitchell- got the species named after him! It preserved with skin, so we know it was a rust colour, and iirc is the one that had a syrinx which suggests that dinos had more bird-like noises. Sorry for info-dumping that’s how I get about the guy ^^’

[@deinodinosuchus]

@@ScoopedKiwis ooooh yes!!! is that the one that's in the Royal Tyrell museum in Canada?

[@ScoopedKiwis]

@@deinodinosuchus yep! I’m actually getting a behind-the-scenes tour from one of the curators there next Friday, I’m so excited :D

[@deinodinosuchus]

@@ScoopedKiwis whaaat?! EPIC!!!! that's one of my dream destinations, that is so much fun!!! i just got to go behind the scenes in my local museum (not a tour necessarily, but got to stand in the collections room and see a bunch of fossils from it) and ended up talking about dinosaurs with the guy there for about an hour and a half 🤣

[@ScoopedKiwis]

@@deinodinosuchus that sounds amazing! Yeah it’s my favourite place on earth, the plan is about 2hrs in collections, lunch, and then 2 more hours in the prep lab :D

[@teshiakelly5330]

I had that exact same Pikachu teddy/plush when I was little! Pokemon was definitely my biggest and longest lasting special interest. I still have a shoebox full of Pokemon figurines I collected since I was five. Even though I never look at them, I will never get rid of them!

[@erynmorgan1717]

Loved this - so much fun!

[@hvenusaur]

Just found your channel and I'm glad that it now exists in my life. Really enjoyed hearing about other people's special interests :) Mine are Pokemon, poetry, playlists and puns... ...and alliteration but that ruins the alliteration so I had to separate it from the rest of the list.

[@T1MB05L1C3]

Interesting that "Pokémon Breeding" was on this tier instead of just Pokémon in and of itself. While I'm wayyyyy to into Pokémon, I really only breed to get Pokémon that I can't obtain on a certain game pak. Example: Lunatone is not available on Pokemon Emerald, so I traded it from my brother's Pokemon Sapphire, bred it with ditto, then traded the original Lunatone back to my brother's game.

[@duntemdraws310]

Idk if I'm on the spectrum, but I had a huge shiny Masuda/competitive IV breeding phase for like 2 years where I learned everything I could about Pokemon mechanics, moves and competitive metas and was obsessed talking about it to other people. Spent hundreds of hours in Pokemon X doing that. Never got my shiny ralts after 2000+ eggs tho 😢

[@T1MB05L1C3]

F

[@TheRedReid]

For the past year or so, my special interest has been politics-especially socialism and communism. I've been reading everything I can from Engels, Lenin, Luxemburg, etc. It's pretty weird having a special interest that people literally hate you just for having lol

[@Warspite03]

I have that interest as well. The writings of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn are probably the most important ones of the 20th Century.

[@wilyriley_]

mine as well, but specifically focused on transphobia in the US - sure, it absolutely destroys my (trans American) mental health, but I don’t care anymore

[@Anarchivist343]

That's my special interest as well!

[@TheRedReid]

@@Warspite03 I haven't read anything from Solzhenitsyn, so my opinion isn't as informed as it can be, but I have yet to hear anything good about him. Everything I've read about Solzhenitsyn thus far indicates that he was a reactionary polemicist who espoused ideas I find abhorrent such as Slavic superiority, Russian imperialism, Russian nationalism, etc. I'd be genuinely interested to hear if you have a different perspective. Regardless, Vladimir Lenin published _Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism_ as well as _State and Revolution_ in the same century, so I'm inclined to lean towards Lenin's writings being the most important ones of the 20th Century.

[@TheRedReid]

@@wilyriley_ I hear that! The prevalence of American transphobia has been absolutely soul-crushing as of late. I hope you're doing well in spite of that

[@kuibeiguahua]

Yes!!! Tier ranking, like the groceries ranking! You go girl!

[@icecoldbeauty]

I always love the editing style! The little clips of little you are always adorable too

[@jombii-7090]

There were these two Nintendo DS games that i ABSOLUTELY LOVED as a child, it was perfect for me literally Pokemon and Dinosaurs mixed into one. It was called Fossil Fighters Champions and it was my childhood The game had you go out, dig up dinosaur bones(!!!), and then clean and revive them to fight other people and had a story and everything!!! Certain dinosaurs even had the equivalent of Mega Evolutions. I must have played that game at least 24 different times with new game+ The T-rex was an especially rare Dino to find at dig sites and it was a fire type so you had to go into an active volcano just to dig for it

[@ooshiikurai]

My special interest is Pokémon, pretty much everything Pokémon. Especially Pikachu and Bulbasaur which are my favorite. Also detective fiction so I really feel like Detective Pikachu was made with me solely in mind. I’m a teacher now and totally okay with being seen as the Pokémon teacher.

[@AuntMikie]

Fashion dolls (Barbie, Monster High, Disney, etc.). I have over 400. Also their clothes and accessories. They're visual and sensory. Thats just one of mine.

[@MynnieMonster]

Oh I love spreadsheets! There’s something so satisfying about organizing information and making the sheets easy to navigate so you are able to quickly locate the information you need. They help me stay on track of all sorts of things ranging from budgeting to commission profits to even organizing creatively inclined projects! I use spreadsheets for just about everything. I’m currently working on an archival project under my professor and we are using excel to input the data. Something about it is so therapeutic, I’m not sure how to put it into words but I enjoy settling down somewhere cozy with a nice hot cup of tea and ambience playing in the background while I work on archiving. It’s a fantastic way to decompress, and building graphs and charts and analyzing the statistics makes it all the more worth it for me because the end results are always so interesting to look at. I just really like seeing all the data come together and watching my charts update in real time as I work and I enjoy organizing as a whole because it helps keep me stable and grounded instead of derailing and fumbling without structure, so the spreadsheets help. I couldn’t help but ramble about it once you mentioned that you didn’t quite get the appeal, and that’s perfectly understandable because it’s not for everyone but I personally think spreadsheets are rather exciting!

[@TransGuyShane]

I could comment on all of these lol but Alternative names for friends is really fun. And if they are trans or enby and have come out and looking for a new name it can be really helpful and sweet :) Mgl camp Cretaceous is amazing, my niece wanted to watch it so I watched it alllll before she did to make sure it was suitable for her and I immediately loved it and wanted to watch it with her haha My favourite is Archaeopteryx. Harry potter has been a massive part of my life, but as a trans person the jk situation really hurt but after a while i managed to separate her from the rest of hp because the community is much more important and supportive and why let one ruin it for everyone else right? ❤ I would love to see the whole contents of the red bin maybe we could make it a series? 😂❤

[@paulinetrivago.7540]

I wish I had seen the community post because you could make a video based solely on my special interests. (Listed below) Steam Trains (UK & Europe 1800s) Steam Trams Horse Trams Ocean Liners (before ww1) Side Wheel Paddlesteamers Rollercoasters (with special emphasis on pre ww1) Amusement park rides (with special emphasis on pre ww1) Cartomancy Art History (emphasis on Art Nouveau) Architectural styles (baroque and various Victorian styles) Fairytales (and their history) Mythologies (specifically greek) Princesses Character design Fashion History (for me, western styles of Minoan, 1620s-1670s, 1780s, 1820s-1900s, 1930s(have yet to learn Eastern fashions)) Characters archetypes Why people think the way they do Etymology Bronze age Minoan Crete Super Mario (Nintendo as a whole as well, but major emphasis on Super Mario) Colors Clue(do) Murder Mystery Music (centuries old to modern day) Drag Queens and queer History Barbies Fashion Dolls before Barbie World Building Alternate History Thomas the Tank Engine (first 5 seasons Roster creating for games rumored, announced, and completely fake Femme Fatales Destruction (natural disasters, train wrecks and sinkings, ship wrecks and sinkings) Whodunits Last One(s) Standing scenarios

[@regnbuefarvet]

Another one of these! Yaaaaay!!! I'm curious :D

[@JamieMPhoto]

I'm ok with LOTR now, but I avoided it for a LONG time ... I'm much more into sci-fi than fantasy. But also, props for the Contrapoints shout out. We have identical "A fun time" category and almost everything else is in "I get it" for me. ha ha.

[@a.s.1484]

24:50 There is a very nice (somehow feels / flows / tastes nice to say, thanks synesthesia) german word that contains all the vowels, even in the right alphabetical order! It's "Magermilchjoghurt" (skim milk joghurt).

[@Moonless87]

One of my obsessions growing up was Tomb raider and Lara Croft. I remember when I first played it in 1996 I instantly got hooked. I remember trying to find out everything about the game and Lara Crof, begged my mom to buy me the figurines and even wrote a "book" about everything I knew about the subject, lol. And of course the walls on my side of the room (I shared a room with my big sister) were filled with Tomb raider posters, game reviews and articles.

[@spiicyliime22]

This was super fun and we need more :D

[@heedmydemands]

Loved this video ❤

[@DragonixaHome]

As a kid I got so completely obsessed with System of a Down that I made a New Year's resolution to learn all of their lyrics ^^' Didn't manage to learn them all, but I do know all of their songs, even those lesser known like Toast (does anybody know this song? like, anybody?), I think I still remember when every single one of their albums were released and also bits and pieces about their history~ Yes, this is absolutely what a neurotypical does lol (I was never diagnosed) My other interests: animal facts, collecting dragon plushies and figurines, fluffies (that one's a bit controversial lol), anatomy and psychology~

[@SteamboatWilley]

I remember driving along with my brothers one time, listening to "vicinity of obscenity" and ad-libbing to it because I didn't know the actual lyrics.

[@caseyogden7105]

having some peoples special interests involve bodies makes me feel a bit better about my special interest 😅

[@turtleanton6539]

Deadbodies?

[@caseyogden7105]

​@@turtleanton6539 genitals and sex 😅

[@mh6276]

Side note. At 24:06 those metal letters LOOK AMAZING FOR SOME REASON. I want them now cuz they look so nice and smooth and adorable.

[@relentlessrhythm2774]

I have never thought of tiers for special interests. This is so interesting! hank you for sharing.

[@ThatFlamingFroggo]

I'm glad you mentioned contrapoint, cause I was a bit anxious about seeing the Harry Potter graphic in the green. Knowing it's a part of the fantasy and sci fi genre vs just it on it's own...it's good to know ya are open to hearing negative things about Rowling, as many fans cling onto her despite her overt transphobic actions in the past few years. For me, I am the LOTR fan who will watch the extended edition for all three, if I have both time and brain energy to. I used to like HP too somewhat, and have seen all the films and read most of the books. But, until Rowling either does a 180, or dies (of natural causes), I have little desire to deal with that fandom. Being an overt HP fan, as of now is a little bit of a red flag for Trans people. The blatant transphobia and hate is unreal here in the U.S. And it seems to be spreading.

[@dmgroberts5471]

OK, first the less fun, but more important reply: Rowling has done incomparable damage to thousands of Trans-people who used to find solace and acceptance in Harry Potter, and it's frankly alarming how close to the villains of her book, her own views truly lie. And now, Harry Potter has turned into a battlefield, where it's mere mention gives Transphobes and Fascist apologists an opening to push their agenda. Ye, even here, a video about Autistic Special interests. She's turned her work, beloved by millions from childhood, into a nexus of shame, hatred, pain, and anxiety. The Transphobia here in the UK is also out of control; at one rally, there was a woman unironically quoting _Hitler_ as if he wasn't one of the worst human beings to ever live. Now, the less important, but more fun reply: I am a hardcore Tolkien nerd, and I _love_ the Extended Edition. I used to put them on and just spend a whole day watching them back-to-back. It got to the point where the theatrical version felt odd, because the dialogue was different, and scenes were missing. These days, I've moved on to the audiobook of the Silmarillion.

[@louisekbl4]

Its not transphobic to say a woman is a woman?!

[@ThatFlamingFroggo]

​@@louisekbl4 You know that isn't at all what Rowling has been saying or doing these past few years.

[@louisekbl4]

She believes trans women are not women, trans women, biologically are not women. They are biologically men. Men are built differently to women. It's science! You can have all the operations in the world, to look like a woman, but someone born a male, will never be an actual woman, or vice versa, women to men.

[@sewlilah]

I have so many special interests 😂 My main special interests are Percy Jackson (and collecting all the book cover editions!), creating fantasy worlds, historical sewing (hence why I started my channel literally dedicated to my main special interest!), collecting facts (like any facts), history, autism (the irony), psychology, genealogy, genetics, human biology and putting things in rainbow order and organising things in colour order! They all kind of fall into science, history or arts category. Oh and ducks 😂 I used to make my family dress up as ducks and I threw ‘duck parties for people’ and quack at people (how I was undiagnosed for 19 years is a mystery looking back now) 😂

[@juliannaelwell]

the way you say “muh son” scratches my brain so nicely

[@MonAhgasInsomniAroELF]

missed the community tab, darn. but i'm really enjoying hearing about other peoples' special interests! actually it's probably kinda bad because now i have a bunch of things i wanna go look up and fall down a rabbit hole researching 😅 and my favorite dinosaurs are Parasaurolophus (and pretty much all Hadrosaurs), Allosaurus, and Deinonychus (which are actually what the jurassic park velociraptors are inspired by, considering irl velociraptors were basically just jurassic chickens). dinosaurs are one of my special interests too haha

[@CarysCantDance]

I think my two biggest special interests throughout my life have been The Golden Girls & hip hop music. I think my hip hop obsession is the one most closely linked to my autism, because when I was younger & still bought CDs, I would study the linear notes & look up what songs they sampled. Then I’d go down a rabbit hole of looking up the original songs, then searching for other songs that sampled them & comparing how different artists reinterpreted the same song.

[@TheBeatlesPkmnFan42]

Very fun video! Here are some of my current special interests! 1. My Little Pony (mostly I am into collecting the toys but I do also watch the various media) 2. Arthropods (in general, but especially jumping spiders, and I would love to be an entomologist someday, I've been fascinated by arthropods ever since I was a little girl) 3. Pui Pui Molcar (super cute stop motion anime about these creatures that are half guinea pig, half car) 4. Instant noodles (strange one, I know, but there's so much variety!) 5. Deconstruction by Devin Townsend (an album, I only started listening to Devin early this year but The Autism really latched onto this album in particular for some reason, I've even made a little shrine display dedicated to it) As my username may suggest, my special interests at the time of initially creating my online username for the first time were The Beatles and Pokemon. I do enjoy these things still (mostly Pokemon), but to a more casual extent. I've definitely had periods of having different special interests. My earliest I can remember are Winnie the Pooh and 101 Dalmations, both of which I was really into in elementary school. Of all my current special interests, arthropods are the one I've been into the longest, but it's gone in and out of being a "special interest" even though it's always been an interest. MLP has consistently been intense enough of an interest to be a special interest for me ever since I got into it as a teenager in 2011. Of course I do have plenty of other interests that aren't intense enough for me to consider them special interests.

[@slyninja4444]

For me: 1. Bionicles 2. East Asia 3. Jem and the Holograms 4. Winx Club (formerly) *Cars *Trains *Boats *Birds

[@pastelk]

OMG I ALSO LOVE MLP AND ARTHROPODS!

[@TheBeatlesPkmnFan42]

@@pastelk HELL YEAH

[@bugloverspiderlover8490]

@@pastelkI’m an invert lover too,have six tarantulas,and a few other species of insects too.

[@pppotatoes]

I love this video concept and want to see more!!

[@kairousell5840]

!!!! That clip you inserted of the shirts being put in the drawer was genius. Idk why I have always laid them flat and never thought about putting them sideways, but if they're sideways you can see everything at once and it makes sense!!

[@sofiao1559]

My special interests are tea (and things related with tea like teaware and harvesting) and animals (vet related mostly). My brother likes trains and airplanes.

[@Warspite03]

Hypothetical: If you’re British, can tea really count as a special interest? I mean they built an empire around it so it’s in the national conscious if not the National Anthem.

[@sofiao1559]

@@Warspite03 I live in a country that only consumes coffee so it is. But it could be a requirement to get the British nationality, I can imagine that.

[@nefertitimontoya]

YES TEA IS A BIG ONE FOR ME

[@TrisSharp]

Tea is a big one for me too! I live in the UK and most people here use the distinctions of "normal tea" and then maybe green and herbal, but there are so many different types and ways of preparing it! One of my favourite things is introducing people to green tea steeped at the right temperature (80°c, not 100) and seeing them be pleasantly surprised at how it's not actually bitter.