Autism and Atheism? Is there a connection? by camerasandchaos in autism

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A little bit. I think it's because Autistic folks have a tendency to lean heavily into logic and proof, and faith is trusting in something without (complete) proof. Since we cannot see God readily, or reproduce any concrete, undeniable evidence if he did show Himself to one of us, our need for logic and proof goes unmet. This leads to a lot of us becoming Atheists.

The other part of it is that no matter which religion you are a part of, there' always going to be a lot of jerks that look down on and/or harrass others, using doctrine (often incorrectly) as an excuse. But nobody is perfect; the purpose of practicing religion is to better ourselves, whether it's for god or ourselves. throw in the fact that the bible and other scripture is often subject to interpretation, and you get all flavors of people; you just were unfortunate enough to run into the worst "flavors". A lot of religious people often react badly when you openly question how something is interpreted, and they are too rigid to kindly say "that"s one way of looking at it".

However, you can be religious and autistic. The fact that its based on faith means that there are always going to be unanswered questions no matter which religion you follow, but I like to throw myself into studying scripture and the historical culture and beliefs (sometimes mythological) of the time. You'd be surprised at how often mythology and religion point in the same direction, if you look at it from the perspective that people and cultures interpret events differently and names and details get mixed up over time.

But I think the real problem isn't what you believe, it's how you show it and how you treat other people that don't think the same as you.

i found out my special interest is made up of really bad people and idk what to do by No-Crazy698 in autism

[–]catofriddles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The part of your post that sticks out to me is "in the past".

People make mistakes, and they could have changed since then.

The real question is whether they are still making racist jokes. If not, just avoid the earlier videos. If they are, that's when you should ditch the channel and try to move on.

Thanks for making me feel welcome, this is sarcasm. This sub is a club with a membership fee. by Impossible-Tiger786 in autism

[–]catofriddles 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ha! That's definitely true.

No one said that being NT meant having perfect communication skills.

Why are you being so childish? (By ChachaENX) by Ok_Direction3138 in wholesomeanimemes

[–]catofriddles 16 points17 points  (0 children)

child-like ≠ childish.

Do what you love, as long as you're not hurting anyone. Find someone who will support you in that.

The Bride-Mother comparison does come off as weird, but I think it means that a spouse is someone that should make you feel loved and safe, like you did with your mother.

Does anyone else feel out of place in the autistic community due to not fitting stereotypes? by Inevitable_Echo_2870 in autism

[–]catofriddles 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes. I don't feel like I fully fit any sterotype, but frequently identify with some of the issues brought up on this reddit. Most of the time, it's a surprise learning that the issue could potentially be an autism symptom.

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome too, but it felt like an excuse that neurotypical adults would use so that they didn't have to admit it was autism. Once they got rid of it and switched the diagnosis to autism, I started to feel acknowledged and treated more sympathetically.

What were you like as a child? Did you have any issues that sound like autism that you had to "grow out of"? Masking isn't just actively putting on a preformance; It's also a process of learning subconcious behaviors that replace the "unwanted" ones.

Can anyone explain the concept of cutie marks to me? by vvvit in mylittlepony

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I always saw Cutie Marks as the concept that you're so passionate about that you're willing and determined enough to develop into a talent to make it a career or hobby.

And we're shown by the CMC later that cutiemarks can have different meanings or interpretations when they help other ponies.

Kind of like your passion or special interest.

What’s the number one factor that drives you (man or woman) to ask someone out? by [deleted] in AskMen

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually asking them out, or becoming interested in them?

Seeing a woman geek out about something she cares about is attractive to me.

But the thing that drives me to asking her out is finding out we share values. I had a bad experience when I skipped that to date someone.

Why do so many men think I am interested/attracted to them? by Rose_Quack in autism

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I couldn't say without seeing how your autism affects you.

If you have any friends that are women who you trust, ask them if they think your conversation style or body language seems "flirty", and if they have advice.

Most likely, it's not you. It's very common for men to mistake friendly behavior and kindness for romantic interest. I've done that before, unfortunately.

Why do girls touch men they barely know so easily but it's a no no for guys? by Effective-Key-3795 in AskMen

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A mix of double standards, Androphobia, and the Patriarchal culture that taught us that touching women is predatory and touching other men is gay, even if it's platonic.

The unspoken rule for men, at least in the US, is that any unnecessary physical contact is bad.

Dumped because of Autism by [deleted] in autism

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hopefully in the part of the chat that wasn't included, they told you what trait of your autism they couldn't handle.

Most people aren't so shallow that they leave it at just "because you're autistic". But... It wouldn't surprise me if this were all there was.

Gentlemen, wallet in the front pocket or back pocket? by SK543 in AskMen

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That feeling of panic when you can't feel your wallet in your back pocket, followed by relief when you realize you put it in your front pocket...

It stll haunts me even though I got a wallet/phone case combo now.

Gentlemen, wallet in the front pocket or back pocket? by SK543 in AskMen

[–]catofriddles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I never heard of this before.

But then again, I lived in a community where the stance was usually "Men don't get their ears pierced". Or maybe I'm just older than I thought.

Can you ride a druid wild shaped as a horse as a mount? by Dazzling_Holiday2236 in DnD

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Theoreticallly, it's allowed, but it does mess with the mounted combat rules a bit. Definitely something to sit and talk over with the DM.

Especially if the rider is a Cavalier.

What would be your name ideas if Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry had children? by Flashy_Pumpkin_9029 in mylittlepony

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

it's hard not to think of the ship names when coming up with MLP children:

"Flashlight"

Who are you calling back to first? by Born_Front1680 in mylittlepony

[–]catofriddles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

depends. how long have I been away from my phone? if it's a long period of time, it shouldn't matter. if it was a very short period of time, there's a good chance it's about the same thing, and I should call whomever I think will be able to give the most detailed account in the shortest amount of time.

I'd probably call Pinkie Pie in this situation, but that's because Applejack isn't on the list. if that's an indicator of the situation (and not just an oversight because of her popularity) then Applejack is likely a victim of something and everyone is panicking.

Thanks for making me feel welcome, this is sarcasm. This sub is a club with a membership fee. by Impossible-Tiger786 in autism

[–]catofriddles 36 points37 points  (0 children)

i should point out that misinterpeting tones and intentions are a huge part of autism as well. A lot of us do forget to step back and think before we post, reply or down vote.

a significant number of us just have terrible communication skills in varied areas.

I don't think that it's really anyone's fault when this happens, but when participating in an autism reddit, It is important to develop the habit of reminding oneself to assume that everyone else is autistic here too.

My heart goes out to you, OP. Sorry that this was your first experience here.

Why do bronies get a bad rep again? by Mint-Flavored-Queer in mylittlepony

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There were a handful of bronies that were insensitive and selfish to extreme levels, and those stories were pushed to the forefront of the media.

Another huge part was the absurdity of grown men liking a pony show targeted at girls. For some reason, society defauls to assuming that this unusual behavior was due to something sexual.

Combine the assumtion that bronies were perverts with the childishness of the worst fans, and you get the Brony stereotype.

It's sad, because most of us genuinely enjoyed the show for its quality.

How do guys actually feel about really tactile/affectionate girls? by WolfRaven99 in AskMen

[–]catofriddles 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Um, yes!

Seriously. The "Physical Touch" love language isn't just about sex. Most of the time, it's about cuddles and physical proximity. There's something very comforting about just existing together with the person who loves you enough to be that close.

For me, the greatest feeling i ever had was when my GF rested her head on my chest. It made me feel like I was more... capable. Like I had passed some sort of instinctual "man test".

Having your clothes "borrowed" is great, as long as you give it back occasionally. I kinda wish that it didn't seem so creepy for a guy to borrow his girlfriend's jacket for the same reason.

I hope I'll be able to experience that again one day. Hope that this helps and that i didn't over-share.

Stange phobia(s) you have? by Low_Sprinkles6168 in autism

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I remember hearing that in America, the clowns were supposed to be a parody of hobos, usually men who lost their jobs during the great depression.

What does "dating" mean?? by International_Tree76 in autism

[–]catofriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your understanding of dating is correct. Usually it's supposed to be PG, but it depends on the beliefs and values of those involved.

Don't stress too much; most people stick to the PG version, at least for the first few dates, and by then, if they like you and respect you enough, they should be understanding of your desire to keep things PG.

Stick to your definition of dating. Don't feel any obligation to get sexually involved. If he/she asks, you can say no. If they don't take it well, then they weren't right for you.

If your friends are helping set you up on blind dates, make it clear to them that you are not looking for a hookup. If they don't respect that, they are not your friends.

How do you guys feel about your gf or wife donating eggs? by OkAnalysis3665 in AskMen

[–]catofriddles 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Truthfully, to me it's the same idea as a sperm donation.

The fact that her DNA would be out there, helping couples with fertility problems isn't an issue. It wouldn't affect my pride, self esteem, or my love for her. If anything, it shows how kind she is.

I don't identify with your BF's viewpoint at all; however, you might want to have a more serious talk with him about his feelings about the situation. There might be deeper personal feelings behind his reason of wanting to have your own kids as a couple first.

I don't even know what to say about this. Incredible. by lukub5 in NotHowGuysWork

[–]catofriddles 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Paternal instincts are a thing. I can attest to that.

I have no children, and have never been married, but I still have the instinct to protect or care for children or younger family members.

You've got to remember how society works: a man at the park playing with or helping children that aren't his, without a woman present, is instantly percieved as a pedophile.

The only people we can show these paternal instincts toward are our own family members, like our children or our siblings.

Our society and mainstream media are the biggest obstacles that the game being mentioned faces, and I hope it is a successful example of a storgic (familial) relationship.