Thread 33644776

how does being interested in something work? i think im autistic and have things that interest me like ocean animals but i do not know much about these topics despite really loving them. other autistic people know so much about their special interests. how can i find out more, should i write a list with question regarding that topic and work through it by researching step by step?

watch a documentary about whatever subject you have in mind as a starter, then read wikipedia articles, books or whatever else. writing down questions and looking them up is a surefire way of getting burnt out... at least in my experience.

t. has severe Asperger's but is gradually overcoming it

I personally like to watch videos about what I like, and follow blogs or threads that talk about them. Maybe do that?

>>33644811
>writing down questions and looking them up is a surefire way of getting burnt out... at least in my experience.
if you do that while first exploring an interest, that is.

Try and tie your interests into something fun.
For example, if you are talking about something nightmarish it can be fun to make little similes relating to cute ocean animals. That way everyone knows you like that thing, and they might find the juxtaposition entertaining.

i have a similar situation, lots of small things I'm fixated on but don't actually know much about. even made a list like you suggested and then promptly forgot it and did not research the 30 random questions about owls i came up with. desu if you arent naturally driven to learn about these things or if they are fairly common subjects of interest i would say the label "special interest" doesn't apply, its just a regular interest/hobby/curiosity/whatever. that term is used too much and therefore has lost some of its meaning, much like other things related to autism as the diagnosis has been professionally and socially reinterpreted. the people who upload youtube videos of their massive weather radio collection all going off at once? definitely a special interest, but someone who likes learning about meteorology and owns a few weather radios as an accessory to their fascination with weather does not have a special interest in weather radios unless they care deeply about the specific models of radio and know the ins and outs of how the eas system works. who gaf about the label? its good to put effort into interests and hobbies but dont try to fit a mold of an encyclopedic memory or unwavering obsession with something if that's not who you are, just enjoy having non-mainstream interests because they're way more interesting to talk about than entertainment franchises. check out a book or go to an aquarium lol

>want to make something
>get stuck
>ask for help
ad experium
yay, you're a novice

then
>want to make something
>synthesize solutions
>make something
ad experium
yay, you're a virtuoso

>make things
>people see them
>ask for clarification, help, collaboration
ad infinitum
yay, you're the expert

quod erat demonstrandum
(editors note: that's how mathemeticians say "das rite nigga")