Why do people treat autistic people as less intelligent?

[Anonymous]

If anything it’s the opposite we can get bored if we aren’t challenged

[WhiteSteve]

Honestly, I feel like I couldn’t pick out an autistic person if I knew them, unless it was extreme. Like I think there’s a severity level where you can’t/won’t really speak at all? I could fill a library with what I don’t know about autism, haha. I feel like I hear it at every turn, autism this, autism that, yet I think the one person I know in my life who has it is my friend’s son. He’s an odd duck, haha, but his father is too, lmfao, just in the opposite, hyper-outgoing kind of way. He’s kind of like a housecat, haha. He just does his own thing, every once in a while will engage with you, but he just lives in his own world of Minecraft, mostly, haha, so we all just let him do his thing. Certainly doesn’t strike me as unintelligent, he’s just aloof and in his own zone. I guess he’s dumb good at Minecraft, plays tournaments and whatnot, and I haven’t played the game but I’m sure it requires a lot of strategy and smarts. And isn’t Elon Musk autistic? He’s a piece of shit person in my opinion, lmao, and certainly weird, but I’m not really in a position to call an engineer of any sort stupid. Dude designs and builds cars and rocketships, I’m sure he’s pretty fucking smart.

[Anonymous]

I’m autistic and you’re definitely right, that we can be treated as less intelligent. But for me, it’s more so because of my traits. Like at work, I feel this the most because while I’m very creative, I am not a good common sense thinker. My brain is made for creativity so things do not connect how they should for someone who isn’t. Anyway, my co worker was training me and I was getting small errors and after that day she began to speak to me like a teenager. I simply told her I didn’t appreciate her speaking to me like that and she stopped, but it happens a lot in job situations where I will not get a small thing, or joke, or anything a neurotypical will, and it’ll make it weird. Added on that I am a naturally quiet person, do not speak much.
I think because of the social aspect of autism people assume anyone with an antisocial tendency is less intelligent. This is even in the neurodivergent community that the loudest in the room is regarded as the most intelligent by default, and the quiet one is an easy target. A lot of people with autism unfortunately are quiet people, but in society, it is built for socialization so this is why autistic people struggle with being taken seriously.

[Anonymous]

They don't think they are "less intelligent". I am not trying to sound mean or anything. I am trying to answer your question. Please don't take anything I say personally. It's only from what I have observed,

Typically, they just think they talk too much or are obnoxious because some of them don't pay attention to social cues when the person doesn't want to talk to them at that moment. Usually, it's not because they don't like them or think they are less intelligent; it's just that they are trying to be nice and tell them they want to be alone right now or they are not in the mood to talk to them at the moment or they feel uncomfortable talking about the subject they are talking about.

A lot of autistic are intelligent and they learn how to communicate well to people through experiences. Again nothing to do with their intelligence it's more of not being aware of social cues or non-verbal communication.

[Asker]

Yeah it’s not by choice though when I have been in social situations I can’t navigate it on my own because I can’t read situations if I’m in a crowded room I legit stay in a corner or try to be off to the side because I can’t mingle and conversate. I’m also on overload due to the sheer amount going on around me because your analyzing everything

[Opinion Owner]

I totally understand I am not saying you aren't capable of it. My friend is autistic and he communicates extremely well, but he learned how to do it because his dad would have no filter when he talks to him. He would tell him "shut up" "I don't care" "You are being annoying" and as he grew up he learnt when to talk and when not to talk and it was the same at school because kids have no filter.

If they don't learn how to communicate when they are a kid it's harder to do it as an adult because most adults are more polite and they don't want to insult anyone because they don't want to deal with someone filing a compliant about them. So it becomes even harder for them to understand the social cues from people. It's difficult. And most therapist are too agreeable and never want to offend you, so you don't learn to deal with conflicts or how to communicate.

[Asker]

Yeah I have never had anyone to help in this capacity

[Opinion Owner]

There is Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RODBT) I heard my friend is going to it. From my elementary knowledge of the subject of mental health it's the opposite of the normal talk therapy. People suppress and control their emotions and they get what is called over-4control which I believe RODBT helps with. But again, I wouldn't bank on it because a lot of therapist are just doormats and don't help with conflict which is why they are pushing RODBT because a lot of people need help dealing with conflict during social situations and not just learning how to control and suppress their emotions even more.

But again it sounds good, but I would not put all my money into it it's just a suggestion or something you might want to look into. I would do extensive research on RODBT therapist and look at their background if you do decide to choose one.

[sawno]

Do they? Usually I thought they were treated as more intelligent since they tend to be hyper focussed and capable of seeing a difficult task trough.

[Asker]

I have seen a pattern where once people disclose they are basically infantilized. They are talked down to like a child even though they have established a strong pattern of high intellect

[sawno]

I don't recognize it in my environment, and I have met many autistic people and had multiple autistic friends. The only time when I can relate to that impression is if there is a merit of truth behind it to where a men in their 30's are just as excited about playing with toys as 7 year old boys would have been. If thats what people see then I can understand why they'd feel that way due to the very childlike impression.

But thats an absolute minority of them, most autistic people I know just have a more difficult time dealing with social settings and things like others doing some lighthearted teasing. But other than that perfectly normal highly capable people. Also applies to those who had a higher voice as a result.

In fact online I even come across terms like "Weaponized Autism" where autists are glorified for their ability to relentlessly follow trough on a challenge with exceptional skill.

[Asker]

Yeah I struggle with social settings and for the weaponized autism we don’t have an off switch I once got hit by a car, went into the bathroom at work cleaned the blood off and clocked in

[sawno]

Yup, and typically also honest very friendly people. I personally get along with them well, I just make sure I am very straight forward and that if I make a joke I either say it was a joke or make the joke very obvious.

[Asker]

My ex girlfriend didn’t understand any of this about me we had constant arguments because she would get upset cause I couldn’t read her

[jahaims]

They go off of stereotypes instead of facts obviously

[In_Trance]

gtfo autism troll

[Asker]

How is it a troll when I have autism and since I have disclosed some people have treated me like a child and talked down to me as if I didn’t understand them