3 ms·

What geek hasn't been told that they need to just try harder to fit in with the neurotypical non-geeks and then all will be well? I have, in my younger years,

What geek hasn't been told that they need to just try harder to fit in with the neurotypical non-geeks and then all will be well? I have, in my younger years, where all the non-geeks seemed to have satisfying social lives and I didn't. So all along the instinct was right. That I'm me, and if I don't fit in, it'll make me miserable, but not as miserable as trying desperately to fit in. Time cures many things. At the age I'm at now, I'm comfortable being me, with my hobbies and my social preferences (admittedly, even without trying you learn to effortlessly "fake" more and more socially normal stuff - but you can also select your friends from a compatiple geek level). Not uncomfortable always trying to be someone else.

est31 4y ago
> I have, in my younger years, where all the non-geeks seemed to have satisfying social lives and I didn't. Note that while I agree that autists are often isolated, the phenomenon you described exists for neurotypicals too. It's the social network paradox: most of your friends will have more friends than you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_paradox
mock-possum 4y ago
Also the older you get, the more of your peers reach the same realization, and you may find you have an easier time finding a community you’re more comfortable letting your freak flag fly in.