Autist

Has contemporary usage as a self-identifier and a term of endearment used online by individuals who self-identify as non-neurotypical. Although often used light-heartedly, and seemingly in jest, it reflects underlying non-typical struggles can manifest as the tendency towards introversion, social isolation, obsessive thinking, anxiety, difficulty maintaining eye contact, social awkwardness and missing common social queues, and a feeling that they do not fit it to normal society. The colloquial usage reflects a recognise of common struggles, shared ability and a steadfast refusal for it to be defined as a disorder in any form. It is not a problem to be fixed, but different way of being, and possibly an adaptation to growing up and socialising online.

Although not clinically-diagnosed as autistic, self-identified austists recognise traits that place them somewhere on the spectrum, are often very high-functioning and analytic, and whilst still feel very deeply, are often lower in emotional intelligence and emotional control, and tend to be obsessive in their pursuit and immersion in their interests.

Hello, fellow autists.

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