Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Rang... A source page for quotes linked to John Elder Robison. 0 quotes
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperg... A source page for quotes linked to John Elder Robison. 0 quotes
“As I've gotten older, I have taught myself to act "normal." I can do it well enough to fool the average person for a whole evening, maybe longer. But it all falls apart if I hear something that elicits a strong emotional reaction from me that is different from what people expect. In an instant, in their eyes, I turn into the sociopathic killer I was believed to be forty years ago.” TeachEmotionalTaughtFoolNormalAgingAveragePersonActSociopathKillerNormalcyReactionAspergersOlderSociopathyAsperger SAsperger S SyndromeSociopathic Book:Look Me in the Eye Source: Look Me in the Eye
“I tried to show him things, but he didn't seem to study what I showed him. Usually, he just put whatever I handed him in his mouth. He would try to eat anything. I fed him Tabasco sauce and he yelled. Having a little brother helped me learn to relate to other people. Being a little brother, Snort learned to watch what he put in his mouth.” ChildrenChildhoodBabySiblingsBrothers Book:Look Me in the Eye Source: Look Me in the Eye
“We do not naturally care about people we don't know... If we tried to feel sorry for every death, our little hearts would explode... I don't have any physical reaction to the news. And there's no reason I should. I don't know them and the news has no effect on my life.” Aspergers Author:John Elder Robison
“Saying you "have" something implies that it's temporary and undesirable. Asperger's isn't like that. You've been Aspergian as long as you can remember, and you'll be that way all your life. It's a way of being, not a disease.” WayLongRememberDiseaseTemporaryUndesirableAspergers Author:John Elder Robison
“When Martha first met me, I was anxious and jumpy. I was always tapping my foot, rocking, or exhibiting some other behavioral aberration. Of course, now we know that's just normal Aspergian behavior, but back then other people thought it was weird, so of course I did, too. One day, for some reason, she decided to try petting my arm, and I immediately stopped rocking and fidgeting. The result was so dramatic, she never stopped. It didn't take long for me to realize the calming effect, too. I like being petted and scratched. "Can you pet me?" I say when I sit next to her.” PeopleKnowsTryingFirstsLongReasonCoursesNextRealizingResultsFeetEffectsArmsMetsOne DayBehaviorNormalDecidedDramaticPetAnxiousCalmingTappingAberrationFidgetingCalming Effect Author:John Elder Robison
“I am sure antidepressants, drugs, and liquor have their place. But so far, that place is in others, not me.” DrugLiquorAntidepressants Author:John Elder Robison
“Unlike some older brothers, I never set him on fire, or cut off an arm or leg, or drowned him in the tub.” FireCuttingBrotherArmsLegsOlder BrotherTubs Author:John Elder Robison
“In the past, when people criticized me for asking unexpected questions, I felt ashamed. Now I realize that normal people are acting in a superficial and often false manner. So rather than let them make me feel bad, I express my annoyance. It's my way of trying to strike a blow for logic and rationality.” PeopleWayFeelsTryingPastFeltRealizingActingNormalLogicAskingBlowStrikesMy WayAshamedUnexpectedSuperficialRationalityAnnoyance Author:John Elder Robison
“And now I know it is perfectly natural for me not to look at someone when I talk. Those of us with Asperger's are just not comfortable doing it. In fact, I don'treally understand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs.” KnowsLooksFactsNaturalNormalComfortableStaringAutismEyeballsAspergersPerfectly Natural Author:John Elder Robison
“Simply making myself aware of others has remarkably improved my social life. People accept me much faster now that I ignore them less.” PeopleSocialAcceptingFasterSocial LifeAccept Me Book:Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers Source: Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers
“It does not matter what sixty-six percent of people do in any particular situation. All that matters is what you do.” PeopleInspirationalDoeMatterInspiringSituationParticularSixPercentSixtyAutism Book:Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers Source: Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers
“I don't really understsand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs” NormalStaringEyeballsAspergersPerfectly Natural Author:John Elder Robison
“There are plenty of people in the world whose lives are governed by rote and routine. Such people will never be happy dealing with me, because I don't conform.” PeopleWorldMental HealthPlentyConformityRoutineConformNon Conformity Author:John Elder Robison
“And my experience in the music scene had shown me that there were places for places in the world where misfits were welcome.” WorldSceneWelcomePlaces In The WorldMisfits Book:Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's Source: Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's
“Building up a weakness just makes you less disabled. Building a strength can take you to the top of the world.” WorldBuildingWeaknessDisabledBuilding UpTop Of The World Author:John Elder Robison