Listen now | Matt and Angela talk navigating Thanksgiving as an autistic person and why watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an autistic-friendly holiday tradition.
I hope everyone survived Thanksgiving! I've been listening to a lot of your podcasts lately and learning a lot about the allistic world and how to navigate it better. I've been reflecting on some of my more mind boggling allistic interactions this year and I'm having trouble understanding why they say we don't have theory of mind. Autistics overwhelmingly seem to understand each other just fine, just like allistics understand each other so why it is said we lack theory of mind when the confusion is going both ways? Thanks! Mary
Hi Mary! Sami here, I am the new Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast. I did, in fact, survive Thanksgiving - but mostly because me and my (also autistic) boyfriend spend that day together, just us two, doing things our own way, at our own pace. In regards to the "theory of mind" comment - I absolutely agree. I can always click with a fellow neurodivergent person automatically - and yet, when the confusion is going both ways with neurotypicals, somehow we are always labeled as the ones that "lack understanding". Ironically, I've never understood it. Thank you so much for your comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the episode!
My strategy these days with family get togethers is to bring a puzzel and have puzzel time. I find it is a lot easier to engage with people while doing a puzzel because everyone is focused on it. No expected eye contact and the conversations tend to be easier. And people come and go from it which is nice too. And if the people I'm visiting have a dog or cat, I tend to spend my time hanging out with the fluffy friend.
Hi Daron! Sami here, the Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast. I think that this is such a genius hack for being able to unmask in an acceptable way for the holidays. Having a task that ensures that you won't have to prolong unfathomable amounts of eye contact is definitely a smart way to go. I'm lucky in that I only spend Thanksgiving with my (also autistic) partner, and we're able to navigate the day in a way that works for us and our support needs. Hanging out with the pets at the function is also something that I do to preserve my spoons!
I LOVE MST3K
Us too :)
I hope everyone survived Thanksgiving! I've been listening to a lot of your podcasts lately and learning a lot about the allistic world and how to navigate it better. I've been reflecting on some of my more mind boggling allistic interactions this year and I'm having trouble understanding why they say we don't have theory of mind. Autistics overwhelmingly seem to understand each other just fine, just like allistics understand each other so why it is said we lack theory of mind when the confusion is going both ways? Thanks! Mary
Hi Mary! Sami here, I am the new Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast. I did, in fact, survive Thanksgiving - but mostly because me and my (also autistic) boyfriend spend that day together, just us two, doing things our own way, at our own pace. In regards to the "theory of mind" comment - I absolutely agree. I can always click with a fellow neurodivergent person automatically - and yet, when the confusion is going both ways with neurotypicals, somehow we are always labeled as the ones that "lack understanding". Ironically, I've never understood it. Thank you so much for your comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the episode!
My strategy these days with family get togethers is to bring a puzzel and have puzzel time. I find it is a lot easier to engage with people while doing a puzzel because everyone is focused on it. No expected eye contact and the conversations tend to be easier. And people come and go from it which is nice too. And if the people I'm visiting have a dog or cat, I tend to spend my time hanging out with the fluffy friend.
Hi Daron! Sami here, the Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast. I think that this is such a genius hack for being able to unmask in an acceptable way for the holidays. Having a task that ensures that you won't have to prolong unfathomable amounts of eye contact is definitely a smart way to go. I'm lucky in that I only spend Thanksgiving with my (also autistic) partner, and we're able to navigate the day in a way that works for us and our support needs. Hanging out with the pets at the function is also something that I do to preserve my spoons!