Not ubiquitous among autistic folks.

Ubiquitous meaning “occurring everywhere”? What about the child in “The Emperor’s New Clothes”? Or an autistic person’s anger/frustration/indignation over illogical, arbitrary social maneuvering?

Just maybe, the whole notion of being “supported in one’s role” is foreign enough (and constructed-looking enough?) to be distasteful - an artifice - or at least unnecessary in living one’s beliefs. Besides, roles are what nonautistic people spend so much of their time and energy indulging in. So maybe they’re the ones who are trapped and need to be rescued?

In the chemistry of social interaction, we’re like the “noble gases” - inert, nonreactive elements - or else catalysts, agents of change which are themselves unaltered. Yet others may endeavor to thrust role-support upon us, trying mightily to induce reactions of the types they desire. But you can’t ask a catalyst to do your bidding unless it’s in its nature to do so anyway.

Last revised: June 20, 2007
(c)2007 Dave Spicer
(back to project main page)