Ah, yes, the label we all know and love: abrasive. But don’t worry, it’s not really an insult. It’s just society’s way of saying, “You’re not playing by our unwritten social rules, and we’re a little uncomfortable about it.” If you’ve ever found yourself on the receiving end of this delightful descriptor, let’s dive into why autism might get us thrown into the abrasive pile—and why we probably deserve a trophy for it.
1. Blunt Honesty: Because Who Needs Filters Anyway?
You know that feeling when you’re at a party, and someone tells a story that has no clear beginning, middle, or end, and it could be 10 minutes of your life that you’ll never get back? Well, an autistic person might very well be thinking, “Wow, this story could’ve been 30 seconds. What a waste of time.” Now, let’s be real: the polite response would be to smile, nod, and pretend you’re still listening. But where’s the fun in that? Instead, we go for the honesty that makes everyone squirm: “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch the point. Did you mean to say…?”
And then—BOOM—abrasive. Because apparently, everyone prefers us to sit through the full 10 minutes, nodding in feigned interest. But guess what? We’d rather be doing literally anything else. So, what’s wrong with calling out unnecessary nonsense? Just a little bit of verbal housekeeping, you know?
2. The Subtle Art of “Social Cues” – Who Needs ‘Em?
Did you know that neurotypical people communicate mostly through subtle social cues? That’s right—subtle. It’s this fine art where they say something, but really mean something completely different. Kind of like a game of emotional charades, but with no instructions. And guess who isn’t playing along? That’s right, us.
When someone says, “Oh, I’m fine,” we tend to take it at face value. Fine means fine, right? But no—apparently, we’re supposed to read between the lines and understand that “fine” actually means they’re one espresso away from a meltdown. Now, if we respond with, “You don’t look fine,” it’s not a compliment. It’s apparently “abrasive,” because we failed to take into account their hidden distress. Who knew I was supposed to play mind reader in the middle of a conversation? What a social minefield.
3. Overwhelm is Real, People
Ah, the lovely sensory overload that comes with being autistic. You know when you’re at a party, and there’s 45 different conversations happening at once, the music is way too loud, and the lights are flickering like you’re stuck in an ’80s horror film? It’s like being in a blender of social chaos.
So, naturally, when someone asks, “How are you?” and all you can manage is a flat, “I need to leave,” they might take it as abrasive—as though you’ve just thrown their feelings into a dumpster fire. But the truth is, your brain is trying to figure out how to process everything around you, and your only coping mechanism is a desperate plea for quiet.
But instead of understanding that, society just adds another notch to your abrasive scorecard. Great. Thanks, world. We’ll just be here trying not to implode.
4. Lack of Small Talk – No, Really, Just No
Let’s talk about small talk. You know, that thing we’re all expected to engage in, even though it’s basically a socially acceptable form of torture. “So, uh, how’s the weather?” or “Did you catch that last episode of [insert generic show]?” No, I didn’t catch it, and no, I don’t have a strong opinion on the weather.
But if you dare respond with, “Honestly, I don’t care about the weather, and I don’t watch that show,” congratulations, you’re now abrasive. It’s like society wants you to perform these little social rituals even when they’re completely pointless. You’re supposed to pretend you care, and when you don’t, it’s considered abrasive.
So, to summarize: We just don’t see the point. It’s small talk. It’s repetitive. It’s filler. We’d rather talk about something meaningful, and if you don’t like it, tough luck. That’s what we call honesty. But, once again, it’s misread as abrasive.
5. The Beauty of Not Caring About Other People’s Drama
This one’s a real gem. Neurotypical people tend to engage in a lot of social drama, whether it’s gossiping, complaining about their co-workers, or discussing who liked someone’s Instagram post. But guess what? Many of us just don’t care. We have our own stuff to deal with, and if you’re telling us about someone’s latest breakup drama, we might just ask, “Why are we still talking about this?”
Naturally, when you drop a comment like that, it’s abrasive because, apparently, we’re supposed to pretend that drama is fascinating. But here’s the thing: we don’t have the bandwidth to care about things that don’t matter. And that’s honestly kind of refreshing. It’s not that we don’t like people, it’s that we’d rather not waste time pretending we do.
Conclusion: Maybe Abrasive Is Just Our Superpower
So, in conclusion, maybe being called abrasive is just another way of saying we’re different. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time we embrace it. After all, who needs polite social niceties when we could be saying exactly what we think? We’re the anti-heroes of social interaction—the ones who don’t play by the rules, and occasionally leave people squirming in their seats.
But hey, we’re not doing it to be mean. We’re just… cutting through the fluff. It’s all about efficiency, people. And that’s something everyone can appreciate… right?
So, let’s wear the abrasive badge with pride. After all, when you’re this honestly fabulous, who has time for small talk?
Cue sarcastic applause. 👏
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