What is Fun for Autistic People? - Learning to be Autistic Episode 15

[@gmlpc7132]

Good topic to explore! I particularly liked your points about "guilty pleasures". People from any background can feel the need to hide "guilty pleasures" but for those who are autistic it seems that so much of what we enjoy are treated as guilty pleasures by others or just outrightly mocked or stigmatised and therefore we more often we have to hide our interests compared to neurotypicals. Perhaps also as our tastes tend to be unconventional there's more possibility that we will have likes that seem very odd to others. For example (if this doesn't sound too pretentious) I can like a piece of avant garde classical music alongside what may seem a very basic pop song. it's then possible to be seen as an outsider by both the avant garde fans and those who like pop, neither of whom can understand how it's possible for one to like the other.

[@autisticadvocateforcrohns]

Great video Dana, helping so many people!

[@nimrodgrrrl]

Fun for me: gigs, going to the cinema, reading a book at home alone, listening to a podcast, watching special interest tv. I’d say all of these are “normal” things neurotypicals enjoy. But I also think a common thread amongst these is things I can do alone or with someone who is like-minded (my partner for instance is also autistic, so we can bond heavily over shared interests)

[@DanaAndersen]

Outside of gigs and the cinema, they're totally all things I wanted to do with friends growing up/in my teen years, but didn't actually do with people until I found other neurodivergents to be friends with. Neurotypicals seem to see them as 'alone time' activities quite often, when I'd much rather have fun doing cosy quiet things with other people!

[@CAT-Anne]

I have fun just being. I don't have to be entertained or be involved in what others are doing. I like watching, and let them 'have fun'. I've always been like that.

[@DanaAndersen]

I didn't really realise I do this until I read your comment! I've had a lot of situations where people think I'm not joining in on something because I'm anxious or uncomfortable when really, I'm happy just to be there and don't need to be involved to be having a good time!

[@CAT-Anne]

@@DanaAndersen Yes...my 'good time' is observing. :)

[@KiraAfter_Dark]

I find it funny hearing someone say that watching airplanes isn't fun. While I'm not the biggest fan, I come from an airline family. My mom and brother love sitting at the airport and watching the planes. My brother, who's now a pilot, will check what planes are coming to the airport so that he can go watch the cool planes land and take off.

[@DanaAndersen]

Fun is so subjective, but my parents definitely wouldn't have been prepared to take us plane watching in my childhood! There were quite a lot of people there though, its obviously a hobby a lot of people are enjoying!

[@KiraAfter_Dark]

@@DanaAndersen my brother brings a radio scanner with him to listen to the pilots talking to ATC when he goes.

[@shadowfox933]

Watching airplanes would be very fun to me so long I can do it "on mute." Also, happy TWOsday :D 2/22/22 is a Tuesday if anyone sees well in the future

[@turtleanton6539]

Special intressen 😊