“Autism awareness!” What about it? “Be aware of autism!” Okay, but like, what specifically about autism should people be aware of? “Beware of autism!” Ah. Of course.
Nah. More like this: "Autism awareness!" What about it? "You're autistic!" Oh. That puts so much of my life in context. "All these people are also autistic!" They do make so much more sense than everybody else... "Beware, antivaxxers, we're coming with the jabs!" (This last bit is just to troll the NTs, if you couldn't tell)
There's a road sign nearby that says "Person with Autism" area, and everytime I drive by it, I think "IT'S PEOPLE WITH AUTISM ON DIS BLOCK NOW, WE'RE SPREADING AAAAAA"
I love the 'have done list' rather than the to do list. I set a timer going and see how many things I can get done. When the timer goes off I write down my have done list and then cross them all off...win win a dopamine hit and productivity without PDA..
Vacillates: The "c" sounds like /s/, like the "-cil" in pencil. With all the love, from a word nerd. And also thanks for sharing the definition onscreen for anyone else who likes to learn stuff.
@@Autistic_AF You're welcome. I love the experience where people who acquired specific words through reading but without audio, and people who learned specific words through audio but not reading, can share the knowledge and the joy with each other.
I was in my mid 40s before someone told me it was not normal to run through a set of rules while having conversations. But it's true, I can either stare off into nothing and pay attention, or I am running the rules of engagement while you talk at me. As a good student who attended a tiny school until age 14. My mom stayed at home, I was allowed to be active in anything that interested me. When I got to the larger public school, I tended to band with the outcasts and oddballs. Many of whom have received diagnoses themselves or have children on the spectrum. Now that I deal with some chronic health issues, I find I am having what I can only identify as some type of meltdown or burnout. I was diagnosed ADHD a few years ago but I wasn't screened for autism. I think I am AuDHD. Thanks for you videos Mike.
something I really dislike about psychiatrists is sometimes they just DON'T share information with you, for example, I was diagnosed as autistic when I was a kid... but they didn't TELL me OR my parents?! Like what the hell? I had to go through tons of shit to get freaking diagnosed as an adult when I could have had a much easier time during my teenage years if they just did their due diligence and got me properly medicated back then. I think they were waiting for like an 'official' diagnosis from a specialist, but they forgot to communicate that to us.
REAL! I was requesting housing support a couple months ago and in between meetings I got diagnosed with ARFID. No one told me and I only found out when I got a paper mail approving my request because it included a list of all of my diagnoses. I already knew what it was but I thought I couldn't have it since my autism already explained those difficulties.
I still do that, whenever my brain is not busy, I always live in a fantasy world. However, I find it really hard to imagine faces, which is why I found it difficult to answer the question in the autism test about whether I can imagine characters in a book. Generally yes, just not the face.
I do the same, and it expands, my first memory about doing it is when I was 5y.o trying to imagine cup turning around, so I could read the sign on the other side. Now, when I'm 45y.o. and 'aware' I'm autistic my virtual reality is more like a blend of 3D Autocad and Video Editor, and I can dive in in a ghost mode. Next time NT tells you can't imagine things, or suffer from autism., tell them "I didn't know you suffer from NID, neurotypical imagination disorder" and if they dumb enough to continue asking what is it you say "The lack of it"
How about an "Autism Enlightenment Month"? With the aim to spread more positive knowledge of autism. Mind you, we should be doing that 12 months and 365 days a year!
Hey Mike, this might be your best meme related video yet. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into your content, as I'm sure many others do. I laughed throughout, but I really liked your comment, "Very cheap! Get your autism here!" lol And yes, tradition is peer pressure from dead people. Or from ghosts? Better call Ghostbusters! Wait...call? No thanks! Well, I'm off to work so I can save up for that next awesomely helpful autism charity gala.
Another great video. I know you polled favourite types, but one of the things I love is the variety you do. Today I was laughing and nodding at so many of these memes! I've set a goal for 2025 to support you a bit more by not stimming the skip button when the commercials come on. :)
@@Phoenix-regenerating Do you mean clicking on the advertisment itself? It should, but it's more of an interruption. Letting ads run, liking, subscribing, sharing and clicking to actively select Autistic AF videos all help with youtube metrics. So many stims! :) There's also more direct support by taking out a membership (definitely worth it!) or sending one time payments via the Super Thanks button.
Okay, second comment, the peer review thing is real. I'm not *technically* diagnosed b/c I was told "you can't be autistic b/c you can take different driving routes" but my AFAB brother is like, "yeah, we're like, the same person, and I'm autistic AF, which means you're autistic AF" BTW!!! That's why I found your channel, cause i'm constantly saying "i'm autistic AF" lmaooooo, so, yeah. My partner was like, "we're not going to spend 5K for some NT to give you a diagnosis when it's PAINFULLY. OBVIOUS. that you are", b/c every other autistic person in my family is like, IDK, I understand them all, and, when it comes to getting along w/autistic people, it's like, CRAZY how well I understand them, and they me. But non autistic people think I'm insane lol. But when I, an adult woman, am being compared to "little boys", well, that's dumb AF lmao. Being told that I can drive places so that means i"m not autistic, or, I make eye contact, I'm like, "bro, my dad literally was like IF YOU DON'T MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE YOU'RE NOT LISTENING", and then, I followed *allll* "the rules" and.... I went so far, and got nowhere, cause in the end, it didn't even matterrrr (cause I"m autistic). Anyway, the oversharing, overstimulation, and following rules & then also being a SJW in my heart, plus all the nuances I can create w/literally anything, there is no way on god's green earth I am *not* autistic. But, I'm an "old woman" in internet terms (AKA, 30 lol) and bro, my partner is like "if you're not autistic you are the most sociopathic manipulative mofo on the planet, but, you are too sweet, so, I'm going w/autistic". Yeah. Peer review is real. My bro was like "just... say you were diagnosed, b/c not everybody is okay w/self DX, EVEN THOUGH!!! it's accepted that if you've done your research, you can self diagnose". Also, why tf do psychiatrists diagnose this in the first place? They suck in general at just diagnosing people accurately unless it's textbook, but also, autism isn't a mental illness, lol.
Hey I drive too, and I have to say that learning to drive was one of the most stressful things I have ever done. Freaked me out way more than many other things people would consider challenging. So just because we can do something doesn't mean we are using the same level of energy as everyone else to accomplish it.
@@Mrs.Silversmith Totally agree!! For me, driving is one of my special interests, and it has been since I was like, four, I would memorize *exactly* where I was based on the feeling of the roads beneath me, and I can look at directions and memorize it, if you asked me to drive from where I'm at now to 2000 miles across the USA, I could totally do it. But, I know that I"m like, in the driving category where, it's like, TURBO processing overdrive. And she was like "you can't be autistic then" and I was like, "???" My brother also had the same experience you did, but, I think it's b/c I watched NASCAR back in the day every Sunday that took away any fear that I had & my dad was a mechanic. I guess it was exposure therapy before I even knew what that was, lol. I'm glad that you were able to accomplish the task though, b/c you're not wrong, it's super daunting. If the music is on, windows are down, and I'm at a stoplight, I have to turn the music down otherwise I have issues with concentrating, I feel blind. So, music has to go on when I know where I'm going, otherwise, I *will* get lost going to a place for the first time. Imagine that, everybody's different!! (lol, I'm half joking b/c some people think all people should be the same, lol). Gotta remember we're not all one size fits all!! Peace to you!
@@themissingsock2437 I used to be a great driver, but when I moved from where I grew up I lost my confidence because I have no sense of direction and can't plan new routes or deal with unfamiliar places. I haven't driven for over 10 years now.
Charlie says MEWUSUAUAHHEWRRRRUUAUAAIIOUUSS OUWIWKIUUEIIUUUOOWW. = Don’t play on the train lines. So funny. We had some horrific public safety films from those years!
Autism Acceptance Month just sounds to me like 'ok I guess we'll accept you exist' but maybe im looking at it wrong Also to add to 8:47 - every A in Australia is pronounced differently ALSO 13:27 - when I was little, I always wanted to be the first person to be on Pluto. Does this mean I just wanna go home?🤔
Yes that often works! I've been held up in total nervous inertia over getting 2 rooms cleared for repairs in my house, but when I did a little bit I started enjoying the challenge of storing everything as effectively as possible and then I went into hyperfocus mode and my anxiety dissipated because I was so involved in what I was doing.
Personally I really love these more lighthearted videos. I'm not on any social media so I don't see memes like this very often. It's a nice break and usually validating and affirming.
I do one of a few things when writing a to do list but these are the two main choices for me ... I've done then check list thing, I even add tasks I did the same day before I started writing the list just so I can tick off more than one thing before I tackle the actual tasks I may then get one or two extra tasks done. I mostly ignore the to do writing bit because I know I will more often than not ignore the list and do something I didn't write down anyway. 😊 Everything else very relatable, and yes I know exactly what you mean about the fax and phone people!
I look forward to your videos every week because they are great. You have the most variety of videos, and I always wonder what kind you are doing. I guessed you would do a light and fun video because of the last weeks. 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
The "Charley says" advert brought tears to my eyes and tingles to my my body. The exact same reactions I had as a kid. Thank you for the blast from the past. I always thought that the little boy was lucky to have Charley to keep him safe. I really needed a Charley. I still do.
Last night I got into an arguement with a business that I like (or used to like) because they don't follow social rules. I'm one of those Autists that learned those social rules to the point that now, I feel wrong and get angry when I see someone (especially a business) not following them. It just doesn't make sense not to follow them. Arg!! And the customer service person lacked any customer service skills to de-escalated the situation, which also bothered me, as I have been a customer service person for SO Many year, and should be de-escalation should be something they do.... I just don't understand. That kinda stuff makes me feel old (which, in some realms I am, so, whatever). Big Sigh.
Your extreme intelligence, diligence, & courage are extremely comforting to me, as well as an inspiration. You have earned the right to be extremely confident, which I am happy to say you are. Notice that I did not praise you for being extremely confident, first, since the world is enragingly filled with massively undeservedly self-confident monsters.
A lovely piece of joy, recognition and humour. Thanks Mike for another fine video. Especially liked the Leopard one and the sleep ones. I think I just need more hours in each day and night, or even better just stop time for certain things. And like you, I always sit in the car when I get home. Even been known to fall asleep. WHY when I carnt at supposed bed time?
10% of the year?!? April is one of 12 months 🤔 Great video though Mike. Thanks for the laughs. I guess I'd better actually go to bed now, instead of thinking about it like I have for the past 3 hours. Sigh. The struggle is real. I'm so tired. 😴
20:05 🤣 When this happens to me I say "Do doo doo¹ We're sorry, the brain you are trying to reach is not in service at this time" ¹out of service phone sound from BCE {Before Cellphone Era}
I love your videos. I recently had a conversation under a German-language video about whether social media leads to more misdiagnoses. Some people were upset that you can't diagnose yourself. And that these terrible self-diagnosed people also inform themselves extensively about the topic and do thousands of tests and are then of course are totally biased at the doctor's. best of all, they also behave much more autistically after the diagnosis. Thank you very much for listing masking and monotropic behaviour, but unfortunately they didn't understand it. There really is still a lot of education needed, especially among health care.
Unfortunately, I have to be aware of my surroundings when I walk to work in the dark so I don’t feel safe with complete noise cancellation, but once we create noise-cancelling bubbles around motorcycles and leaf-blowers, I’ll be unstoppable
Being human, and knowing that humans are never hunted by orcas, but are rarely hunted by great whites, I would take the orcas, but if I was the prey list for both, absolutely would take the shark, orcas are terrifying.
Me, a Nintendo fan not realizing Autism Awareness day is April 2. Nintendo releasing their big Switch 2 direct April 2. *Surprised Pikachu face* Someone at Nintendo marketing is in tune with the autistic fans of Nintendo. Im about to watch ALL the launch and react videos for 24 hours. Better let my clients know I'm unavailable... Its my day in two ways 😂. Nintendo min/maxing their marketing dollars relying on our hyperfixations. I see you Nintendo.
@pardalote Mike is already friend-shaped, as far as the duck is concerned. Now with a little added flair to signal how kind he is to animals. Maybe the duck would be honored to be cosplayed, too. :)
My mother ate a lot of inorganic apples when she was pregnant with me, and now I’m like Mike, in that I make RUclips videos with cat ears on my head! 😸 Glad you are staying sane, Mike! Sorry to hear you are still spending a lot of time in the hospital. ❤ Hang in there, dude. 😮💨
Honestly I don't see the problem with speculating on famous people being autistic. If they are, it would only be beneficial for them to know, and if they aren't, then it literally won't affect them to incorrectly speculate that they might be autistic
I want to shout out the benefits of in-the-ear active hearing protection and over-the-ears active noise cancellation. I have some ear buds designed to negate only loud and sudden sounds and a pair of noise cancelling cans. The two can be doubled up for synergistic benefits.
I've worn Loops underneath my headphones before... I have fairly cheap noise-cancelling headphones and they have benefit (even without them being turned on... I was quite disorientated the first time I wore them in the kitchen and the microwave sounded much quieter and different...)
Rehearsing ordering a meal in your head is very familiar! Over a year ago, I was driving home from the biggest aquarium/terrarium fair in the world and got in line at a McDonalds drive through (something I never do but this was on the way home and for the Burger King I prefer I would have had to park the car and take the walking tunnel to the other side of the motorway) of the motorway in Rosmalen (The Netherlands). I bet many more Vivarium-goers had gotten in that line since it took a long while and I had fish on board which wanted to have more space at home. But I'm so hungry and I just hang on in this waiting game. So I get there and I say what I want. The guy taking my order misheard and tapped down the wrong order which I wasn't realising (didn't see there is a panel for drivers to read and check the order but that was my lack of experience with McDonalds drive through and I was tired). In stead of a Big Tasty I got chicken nuggets....... Seriously, if I want fried chicken I go to some Korean place or my local Turkish bakery/snack shop! But certainly wasn't about to go into the restaurant to have my order sorted considering the masses of people and 14 tropical fish on board. I don't remember if I grabbed another snack at home since I was concerned with the welfare of my newly purchased tropical fish. I guess this is also being autistic. Saying what you want to order perfectly only to be misheard by someone who is either too tired or is not paying attention and should probably have been put on some other task more suited to this person's abilities. Btw, a Big Tasty is not what it used to be when I had one like 20 years ago. If you crave something good and have an ounce of energy to make it just how you like it, go for it!
Thank you for a great video, the memes were fun and I love the cat ears. Oh and furry characters in drawings wear hoodies and all kinds of human clothing because they are representations of us, the people belonging to the subculture of furries. So the characters we dream up for ourselves often share our taste in clothing. Not always though, we are rather diverse and generalisations would surely do more harm than good.
I feel somewhat called out right now, espexially because I'm commenting on the video. I've had a ~30 min tedious task to do for over a week now, which - if I do it before Wednesday - will probably save me 4-6 hours of worse tedium. I can do the cost-benefit analysis fine, but my brain is still saying "nope". That was #1 on my Side Quests list this morning - again - and you can tell how well that worked...
I have always ignored all those apps and whatnot on Jessica's channel (How to ADHD) or presented by therapist(s)/work because either they are busy-work to create & maintain or, once made, are overwhelming to even look at. I rather just do things as and when my brain says to... and if I forget them, then they were clearly not that important anyway. Though... working memory being what it is, well... xD At least with work, other people (product managers/owners, etc.) make and maintain those lists for everyone. At home, bills are automated and appointments go into the diary, the rest as mentioned. Usually works okay.
Trust me, the car thing, I do it all the time. I just accept that that’s part of how I function now. Yassssssssssssssss I put off going to bed too!!! I thought something was wrong with me!!!
0:34 - It's a lifestyle choice. Like you humans and Naturism. Not that we're particularly judgemental about Furries wearing clothes (although some get weird if we're wearing a top but no bottoms - no idea why though, you don't see that many complaining because Winnie the Pooh only wears a t-shirt).
What we need to do for Autism Awareness Day/Month is to get a large number of Autists to do an "I'm Spartacus" Flashmob - "I'm Autistic!" "I'M Autistic!" "I'M AUTISTIC!!!" etc Mike, I just want to say in the most Autistic way possible, that I love you and all you do, and I hope you are bearing up under the pressure of the hard time you are going through at the moment.
I didn’t have a bad experience getting diegnosed. Might just be the country I live in but you get diegnosed by a person who’s specialty is autism and they didn’t diegnosed me at any level just what I need help with and what I’m good at. I feel so many talk about how shit it is getting diegnosed without even trying to get one. I was scared before I saw her cus of the internet
Let's be fair most psychiatrists have a limited number of hours of reading/training/patient experience in autism. Whatever that number is it will be far less than a lifetime of experience that an autistic person has. So yeah, we are pretty good at spotting our own people compared to the trained "professionals".
I already commented, sorry, but I had to jump in about phone calls. I work at a national science information center (won’t say which one, it’s a secret), and we have a hotline. I will say, we can actually give people the best and most relevant information when they call in as opposed to emailing, HOWEVER, when I first started working there, I was so awkward on phones! I wrote a bunch of scripts for social scenarios and have them memorized to this day bc I can’t just talk to people. Turns out I’m autistic, who knew.
15:43 I'm going to disagree with your criticism of focusing on early identification here: I know of very few late diagnosed autistics (myself included) that don't wish they were diagnosed earlier, preferably in childhood. We may not be inclined to prioritize toddler diagnosis quite as much as AS is, but diagnosis earlier than has heretofore been the norm is important (before 18 in general, and before puberty in girls as that seems to be when a lot of the mental health consequences of masking start to become apparent), and even from our perspective, toddler diagnosis is important as diagnosis is easiest before peer pressure has started to build a mask.
I'm in my mid-40s. I had a horrible time with my mental health growing up and I don't wish I'd known earlier. At the point I worked it out (twenty years ago) it still wasn't acceptable to discuss it with my friends because women just weren't allowed to be autistic then. I had to pretend I thought I was a highly sensitive person, instead, to make it more palatable to people around me... it was a completely different world back then. A teacher had a go at me for not making eye-contact with anyone but couldn't join the dots...
I read somewhere that RUclipsrs benefit from having extra engagement in January. Something about how monetization works? I don't know. Hope you don't mind getting lots of little comments.
It's absolutely true! Views go down in December and January! I think people are tired from the holidays. And lots of creators stop working over this time (... not me!). Thanks for being here. --M
You definitely Soylent worry about doing so lighter, easier-to-male content on occasion. The science stuff is best, but it’s a lot of work to get right. In a similar vein, you shouldn’t feel like you have to post every week. Twenty to 30 hours is a lot for a video. Don’t burn yourself out, even if it’s what the almighty algorithm wants.
i get the sentiment AND to each their own etc etc BUT in my world the term "spicy" should _Only_ refer to food and nothing else lest it make my brain feel weird af☝️🌝 no _not even sex_ and _don't_ get me started on terms people use for that, damn i'm too literal to have a casual conversation, i might be like a Karen of terminology or sumn 😩🫴
This is again a great video with a lot things I recognized. I wonder why I seem to attract bad persons. My ex has been stalking me years and years after the divorce. Last week a man who I only know from the weekly meetings started to act weird. He tries to hug me all the f#&#*€ng time when I sit there in the group! The same time that I am irritated I am scared because he remains me of my ex. So I'll have to tell him to stop with that touching in such manner that he will not feel too bad. Because he might start also stalking me just like my ex. O.M.G. why everything is so complicated? If I was interested in that man then I would say that without beating around the bush. I am totally not into a relationship so why some men do all that stuff? I just want to live my life without being stalked and harassed. Do I have to start to carry a baseball -bat with me when I go outside?
Could editing Mike, please try to remember dyslexia is a member of the neurodivergent community and it just need text on screen longer. It is so short I can't even react quick enough to pause them to spend the extra time I need to read stuff.
1000% and I'm not even dyslexic I just can't read/process text fast enough and it really makes me feel slow. Usually I can just about catch the first 3 or 4 words and then it's gone.
i like the joke about fax machines person A: They don't have fax machines where I live person B: Where do you live that doesn't have fax machines? person A: the present (c. 2003) i also hate phone calls so much
"I'm not famous..." Well, actually, to an extent you are. You're obviously not a household name like one of the Hollywood stars or a world-renown musician. However, you have about 22,500 subscribers on your RUclips channel, so there are literally tens of thousands of people who have listened to some of your views/opinions on various autism-related subjects. That's a lot more than most people achieve. So, while you're obviously not an "A-list celebrity," you're certainly a "minor celebrity," whether you realise it or not (or whether you want to admit it or not). However, your humility in thinking yourself not to be a celebrity is endearing. You're a real alien from mars... errrr... I mean autistic human being, 😉 trying to make this ball of rock and water a better place for the rest of us aliens from mars... errrr... I mean autistic human beings. 😁
How I feel about 2nd April, and the content NT world creates for that purpose? Well, here is a message I wanted to leave to my former workmates, on my last day at work: Thank you all (except two I will not name to avoid giving them trouble) for not accepting me. I needed your acceptance, so we could communicate. I do not need your tolerance, because it is meaningless to me. You cam tolerate your neighbour's stinky dog, so as not upset your neighbour, while dog is unaware of it. Would you like to be treated like a neighbour's stinky dog for a change? Except, one fully aware of it?
Despite what the vote was for the type of videos, do the ones you have the time and energy for. Not every video has to be a debunking one. 🫂 😅 Sorry I can't afford the Discord... I won't drop Meg's for yours...that seems unfair. I do try to make the livestreams when I can (even though it's in the afternoon here and I'm at work).
“Autism awareness!”
What about it?
“Be aware of autism!”
Okay, but like, what specifically about autism should people be aware of?
“Beware of autism!”
Ah. Of course.
Nah. More like this:
"Autism awareness!"
What about it?
"You're autistic!"
Oh. That puts so much of my life in context.
"All these people are also autistic!"
They do make so much more sense than everybody else...
"Beware, antivaxxers, we're coming with the jabs!"
(This last bit is just to troll the NTs, if you couldn't tell)
There's a road sign nearby that says "Person with Autism" area, and everytime I drive by it, I think "IT'S PEOPLE WITH AUTISM ON DIS BLOCK NOW, WE'RE SPREADING AAAAAA"
CAUTION : BEWARE OF AUTISM
the horror! /s
I love the 'have done list' rather than the to do list. I set a timer going and see how many things I can get done. When the timer goes off I write down my have done list and then cross them all off...win win a dopamine hit and productivity without PDA..
Great idea!!
Love it. Yes I've done this, it does feel good to cross the stuff off
I'm going to have a go, sounds great
I do the same. Lol
That, my friends, is called the TA-DAH! list 😉. Can't take credit for the name, but I sure can share the joy of having it. Love 😘
Vacillates: The "c" sounds like /s/, like the "-cil" in pencil.
With all the love, from a word nerd. And also thanks for sharing the definition onscreen for anyone else who likes to learn stuff.
Appreciate the info 🧡
I thought the same and commented similar to you just now before scrolling more comments! Another word nerd here!
More comments mean more engagement, more love for Mike.
@@Autistic_AF You're welcome. I love the experience where people who acquired specific words through reading but without audio, and people who learned specific words through audio but not reading, can share the knowledge and the joy with each other.
Similar to oscillate
Both in meaning and how it sounds
The next greatest invention will be scent cancelling facemasks that we can actually breath comfortably with and talk through clearly.
@@Adriell.h.b. I’ve been half joking for awhile now that I could really use some loop earbuds for my nostrils 🤣
I was in my mid 40s before someone told me it was not normal to run through a set of rules while having conversations. But it's true, I can either stare off into nothing and pay attention, or I am running the rules of engagement while you talk at me. As a good student who attended a tiny school until age 14. My mom stayed at home, I was allowed to be active in anything that interested me. When I got to the larger public school, I tended to band with the outcasts and oddballs. Many of whom have received diagnoses themselves or have children on the spectrum. Now that I deal with some chronic health issues, I find I am having what I can only identify as some type of meltdown or burnout. I was diagnosed ADHD a few years ago but I wasn't screened for autism. I think I am AuDHD. Thanks for you videos Mike.
I made the Walton's one 🤣 so nice to see it here (with the Star Trek one's too) Making memes is my new soothing hobby
*brain plays The Walton's themesong*
It’s a great hobby! :D
something I really dislike about psychiatrists is sometimes they just DON'T share information with you, for example, I was diagnosed as autistic when I was a kid... but they didn't TELL me OR my parents?! Like what the hell? I had to go through tons of shit to get freaking diagnosed as an adult when I could have had a much easier time during my teenage years if they just did their due diligence and got me properly medicated back then. I think they were waiting for like an 'official' diagnosis from a specialist, but they forgot to communicate that to us.
REAL! I was requesting housing support a couple months ago and in between meetings I got diagnosed with ARFID. No one told me and I only found out when I got a paper mail approving my request because it included a list of all of my diagnoses. I already knew what it was but I thought I couldn't have it since my autism already explained those difficulties.
Speaking of imagination, I used to come up with stories that I never wrote down. Whole world building stuff. Not very interesting, but that's me.
Sounds awesome to me!
I still do that, whenever my brain is not busy, I always live in a fantasy world. However, I find it really hard to imagine faces, which is why I found it difficult to answer the question in the autism test about whether I can imagine characters in a book. Generally yes, just not the face.
I do the same, and it expands, my first memory about doing it is when I was 5y.o trying to imagine cup turning around, so I could read the sign on the other side. Now, when I'm 45y.o. and 'aware' I'm autistic my virtual reality is more like a blend of 3D Autocad and Video Editor, and I can dive in in a ghost mode.
Next time NT tells you can't imagine things, or suffer from autism., tell them "I didn't know you suffer from NID, neurotypical imagination disorder" and if they dumb enough to continue asking what is it you say "The lack of it"
How about an "Autism Enlightenment Month"? With the aim to spread more positive knowledge of autism. Mind you, we should be doing that 12 months and 365 days a year!
Blackmail immunity is hilarious.
Blackmail immunity, brilliant! New addition to my vocabulary yay!
I wish I had a superpower 'emotional blackmail immunity'
Hey Mike, this might be your best meme related video yet. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into your content, as I'm sure many others do. I laughed throughout, but I really liked your comment, "Very cheap! Get your autism here!" lol And yes, tradition is peer pressure from dead people. Or from ghosts? Better call Ghostbusters! Wait...call? No thanks! Well, I'm off to work so I can save up for that next awesomely helpful autism charity gala.
Good one Hunter 😂
Thank you!
Another great video. I know you polled favourite types, but one of the things I love is the variety you do. Today I was laughing and nodding at so many of these memes! I've set a goal for 2025 to support you a bit more by not stimming the skip button when the commercials come on. :)
Does not stimming the add button, actual give Mike more money? If so I will join with that.
@@Phoenix-regenerating Do you mean clicking on the advertisment itself? It should, but it's more of an interruption. Letting ads run, liking, subscribing, sharing and clicking to actively select Autistic AF videos all help with youtube metrics. So many stims! :) There's also more direct support by taking out a membership (definitely worth it!) or sending one time payments via the Super Thanks button.
Okay, second comment, the peer review thing is real. I'm not *technically* diagnosed b/c I was told "you can't be autistic b/c you can take different driving routes" but my AFAB brother is like, "yeah, we're like, the same person, and I'm autistic AF, which means you're autistic AF" BTW!!! That's why I found your channel, cause i'm constantly saying "i'm autistic AF" lmaooooo, so, yeah. My partner was like, "we're not going to spend 5K for some NT to give you a diagnosis when it's PAINFULLY. OBVIOUS. that you are", b/c every other autistic person in my family is like, IDK, I understand them all, and, when it comes to getting along w/autistic people, it's like, CRAZY how well I understand them, and they me. But non autistic people think I'm insane lol.
But when I, an adult woman, am being compared to "little boys", well, that's dumb AF lmao.
Being told that I can drive places so that means i"m not autistic, or, I make eye contact, I'm like, "bro, my dad literally was like IF YOU DON'T MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE YOU'RE NOT LISTENING", and then, I followed *allll* "the rules" and.... I went so far, and got nowhere, cause in the end, it didn't even matterrrr (cause I"m autistic). Anyway, the oversharing, overstimulation, and following rules & then also being a SJW in my heart, plus all the nuances I can create w/literally anything, there is no way on god's green earth I am *not* autistic. But, I'm an "old woman" in internet terms (AKA, 30 lol) and bro, my partner is like "if you're not autistic you are the most sociopathic manipulative mofo on the planet, but, you are too sweet, so, I'm going w/autistic".
Yeah. Peer review is real. My bro was like "just... say you were diagnosed, b/c not everybody is okay w/self DX, EVEN THOUGH!!! it's accepted that if you've done your research, you can self diagnose".
Also, why tf do psychiatrists diagnose this in the first place? They suck in general at just diagnosing people accurately unless it's textbook, but also, autism isn't a mental illness, lol.
@@themissingsock2437 Self identification is valid! 🧡
Hey I drive too, and I have to say that learning to drive was one of the most stressful things I have ever done. Freaked me out way more than many other things people would consider challenging. So just because we can do something doesn't mean we are using the same level of energy as everyone else to accomplish it.
@@Mrs.Silversmith Totally agree!! For me, driving is one of my special interests, and it has been since I was like, four, I would memorize *exactly* where I was based on the feeling of the roads beneath me, and I can look at directions and memorize it, if you asked me to drive from where I'm at now to 2000 miles across the USA, I could totally do it. But, I know that I"m like, in the driving category where, it's like, TURBO processing overdrive.
And she was like "you can't be autistic then" and I was like, "???" My brother also had the same experience you did, but, I think it's b/c I watched NASCAR back in the day every Sunday that took away any fear that I had & my dad was a mechanic. I guess it was exposure therapy before I even knew what that was, lol.
I'm glad that you were able to accomplish the task though, b/c you're not wrong, it's super daunting. If the music is on, windows are down, and I'm at a stoplight, I have to turn the music down otherwise I have issues with concentrating, I feel blind. So, music has to go on when I know where I'm going, otherwise, I *will* get lost going to a place for the first time.
Imagine that, everybody's different!! (lol, I'm half joking b/c some people think all people should be the same, lol). Gotta remember we're not all one size fits all!! Peace to you!
@@themissingsock2437 I used to be a great driver, but when I moved from where I grew up I lost my confidence because I have no sense of direction and can't plan new routes or deal with unfamiliar places. I haven't driven for over 10 years now.
Charlie says it's dangerous to play with matches...I loved those public information cartoons such a relief to know what the rules are...
Charlie says MEWUSUAUAHHEWRRRRUUAUAAIIOUUSS OUWIWKIUUEIIUUUOOWW. = Don’t play on the train lines.
So funny. We had some horrific public safety films from those years!
@@Autistic_AFdid Charlie get hit by a train? 😮
@@Autistic_AF I'm still traumatised from the one about not flying your kite near an electricity pylon. And we didn't even have a kite.
Autism Acceptance Month just sounds to me like 'ok I guess we'll accept you exist' but maybe im looking at it wrong
Also to add to 8:47 - every A in Australia is pronounced differently
ALSO 13:27 - when I was little, I always wanted to be the first person to be on Pluto. Does this mean I just wanna go home?🤔
Australia is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Coincidence?
6:49 Whaaaaaat? That is where The Prodigy sampled "Charly" from? So cool making these kinds of random connections decades later!
YES! A series of PSAs :)
Gamify the task!!!
(Without using all your remaining spoons to gamify the task and without getting distracted).
Yes that often works! I've been held up in total nervous inertia over getting 2 rooms cleared for repairs in my house, but when I did a little bit I started enjoying the challenge of storing everything as effectively as possible and then I went into hyperfocus mode and my anxiety dissipated because I was so involved in what I was doing.
Personally I really love these more lighthearted videos. I'm not on any social media so I don't see memes like this very often. It's a nice break and usually validating and affirming.
I do one of a few things when writing a to do list but these are the two main choices for me ...
I've done then check list thing, I even add tasks I did the same day before I started writing the list just so I can tick off more than one thing before I tackle the actual tasks I may then get one or two extra tasks done.
I mostly ignore the to do writing bit because I know I will more often than not ignore the list and do something I didn't write down anyway. 😊
Everything else very relatable, and yes I know exactly what you mean about the fax and phone people!
I do the drive way thing everyday. Every damn day.
I look forward to your videos every week because they are great. You have the most variety of videos, and I always wonder what kind you are doing. I guessed you would do a light and fun video because of the last weeks. 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Glad you like them, Leslie, thank you for being part of the channel! :)
Loved this video Mike. I had to pause it so many times though to let my slow processing brain catch up 😅🤦🏼♀️
Lol, I had to stop it a few times to read the text!
That racoon-cartoon (love that word 😂) ist really helpfull. It took me years to figure that out. But it is a real formula to apply on a daily basis. 👍
The "Charley says" advert brought tears to my eyes and tingles to my my body. The exact same reactions I had as a kid. Thank you for the blast from the past. I always thought that the little boy was lucky to have Charley to keep him safe. I really needed a Charley. I still do.
Last night I got into an arguement with a business that I like (or used to like) because they don't follow social rules. I'm one of those Autists that learned those social rules to the point that now, I feel wrong and get angry when I see someone (especially a business) not following them. It just doesn't make sense not to follow them. Arg!! And the customer service person lacked any customer service skills to de-escalated the situation, which also bothered me, as I have been a customer service person for SO Many year, and should be de-escalation should be something they do.... I just don't understand. That kinda stuff makes me feel old (which, in some realms I am, so, whatever). Big Sigh.
Your extreme intelligence, diligence, & courage are extremely comforting to me, as well as an inspiration. You have earned the right to be extremely confident, which I am happy to say you are. Notice that I did not praise you for being extremely confident, first, since the world is enragingly filled with massively undeservedly self-confident monsters.
I LO-O-O-OVE that about "We need to talk!"
A lovely piece of joy, recognition and humour. Thanks Mike for another fine video. Especially liked the Leopard one and the sleep ones. I think I just need more hours in each day and night, or even better just stop time for certain things. And like you, I always sit in the car when I get home. Even been known to fall asleep. WHY when I carnt at supposed bed time?
That late night notepad idea is amazing! Thank you!
Let me know if it works for your brain too, Michael!
10% of the year?!? April is one of 12 months 🤔 Great video though Mike. Thanks for the laughs. I guess I'd better actually go to bed now, instead of thinking about it like I have for the past 3 hours. Sigh. The struggle is real. I'm so tired. 😴
Yes, of course! Haha. You and me both - sleep well, sweet dreams! 🧡
20:05 🤣 When this happens to me I say "Do doo doo¹ We're sorry, the brain you are trying to reach is not in service at this time" ¹out of service phone sound from BCE {Before Cellphone Era}
Psychic damage vs spreading autism appreciation- depends on if you even try to sleep 😂
I love your videos. I recently had a conversation under a German-language video about whether social media leads to more misdiagnoses. Some people were upset that you can't diagnose yourself. And that these terrible self-diagnosed people also inform themselves extensively about the topic and do thousands of tests and are then of course are totally biased at the doctor's. best of all, they also behave much more autistically after the diagnosis. Thank you very much for listing masking and monotropic behaviour, but unfortunately they didn't understand it. There really is still a lot of education needed, especially among health care.
10:58 cat ears appear.
As if by magic! (Or continuity error)…
@@Autistic_AF Magic
Unfortunately, I have to be aware of my surroundings when I walk to work in the dark so I don’t feel safe with complete noise cancellation, but once we create noise-cancelling bubbles around motorcycles and leaf-blowers, I’ll be unstoppable
Thanks, Mike, that was lots of fun! I hope it helped to raise your spirits a bit too. ❤
Yay, memes! I feel heard even though I was in the minority of poll responders.
@@milkywayranchsc Thank you! Memes and lighthearted content stays… it has to…. I’ll go mad otherwise! Thank you for voting!
@Autistic_AF that's why I voted for them. Had a hard week and ready for some levity.
Being human, and knowing that humans are never hunted by orcas, but are rarely hunted by great whites, I would take the orcas, but if I was the prey list for both, absolutely would take the shark, orcas are terrifying.
Me, a Nintendo fan not realizing Autism Awareness day is April 2.
Nintendo releasing their big Switch 2 direct April 2.
*Surprised Pikachu face*
Someone at Nintendo marketing is in tune with the autistic fans of Nintendo. Im about to watch ALL the launch and react videos for 24 hours. Better let my clients know I'm unavailable... Its my day in two ways 😂.
Nintendo min/maxing their marketing dollars relying on our hyperfixations. I see you Nintendo.
Aw, did you bring out the cat ears to welcome the cosplaying duck?
Now Mike needs a duck beak and crown! 🦆😁
@pardalote Mike is already friend-shaped, as far as the duck is concerned. Now with a little added flair to signal how kind he is to animals. Maybe the duck would be honored to be cosplayed, too. :)
@@resourceress7 🦆❤️
Its only 01.25 in the night, so im okay, i can still go to bed within time haha!
My mother ate a lot of inorganic apples when she was pregnant with me, and now I’m like Mike, in that I make RUclips videos with cat ears on my head! 😸
Glad you are staying sane, Mike! Sorry to hear you are still spending a lot of time in the hospital. ❤ Hang in there, dude. 😮💨
Thank you, Miss Pat 🧡 and welcome to the dark side!
How can apples be inorganic? They're mostly made of starch.
Wearing cat ears is awesome
Do you mean the electronics?
@@WilliamLund-o1dIt’s a joke, meaning apples which are not organic, though sure, my mother eating computers makes about as much sense! 🤷♀️
Honestly I don't see the problem with speculating on famous people being autistic. If they are, it would only be beneficial for them to know, and if they aren't, then it literally won't affect them to incorrectly speculate that they might be autistic
it's always a good day for memes
It’s always a good day for memes! :D
I want to shout out the benefits of in-the-ear active hearing protection and over-the-ears active noise cancellation. I have some ear buds designed to negate only loud and sudden sounds and a pair of noise cancelling cans. The two can be doubled up for synergistic benefits.
I've worn Loops underneath my headphones before... I have fairly cheap noise-cancelling headphones and they have benefit (even without them being turned on... I was quite disorientated the first time I wore them in the kitchen and the microwave sounded much quieter and different...)
Rehearsing ordering a meal in your head is very familiar! Over a year ago, I was driving home from the biggest aquarium/terrarium fair in the world and got in line at a McDonalds drive through (something I never do but this was on the way home and for the Burger King I prefer I would have had to park the car and take the walking tunnel to the other side of the motorway) of the motorway in Rosmalen (The Netherlands). I bet many more Vivarium-goers had gotten in that line since it took a long while and I had fish on board which wanted to have more space at home. But I'm so hungry and I just hang on in this waiting game. So I get there and I say what I want. The guy taking my order misheard and tapped down the wrong order which I wasn't realising (didn't see there is a panel for drivers to read and check the order but that was my lack of experience with McDonalds drive through and I was tired).
In stead of a Big Tasty I got chicken nuggets....... Seriously, if I want fried chicken I go to some Korean place or my local Turkish bakery/snack shop!
But certainly wasn't about to go into the restaurant to have my order sorted considering the masses of people and 14 tropical fish on board. I don't remember if I grabbed another snack at home since I was concerned with the welfare of my newly purchased tropical fish.
I guess this is also being autistic. Saying what you want to order perfectly only to be misheard by someone who is either too tired or is not paying attention and should probably have been put on some other task more suited to this person's abilities.
Btw, a Big Tasty is not what it used to be when I had one like 20 years ago. If you crave something good and have an ounce of energy to make it just how you like it, go for it!
Thank you! 😊
Thank you for a great video, the memes were fun and I love the cat ears.
Oh and furry characters in drawings wear hoodies and all kinds of human clothing because they are representations of us, the people belonging to the subculture of furries. So the characters we dream up for ourselves often share our taste in clothing. Not always though, we are rather diverse and generalisations would surely do more harm than good.
Thank you! The cat ears are rather fab, aren’t they? So that’s why the hoodie! Makes sense although I hope they have the A/C on! 🧡
That was the best stranger danger video. A talking cat friend who doesn't use words!!!! I also very much relate to the sleep thing!
I feel somewhat called out right now, espexially because I'm commenting on the video. I've had a ~30 min tedious task to do for over a week now, which - if I do it before Wednesday - will probably save me 4-6 hours of worse tedium. I can do the cost-benefit analysis fine, but my brain is still saying "nope". That was #1 on my Side Quests list this morning - again - and you can tell how well that worked...
You and me BOTH, John! I'm calling myself out just as much! I wish you well on your side quests! ⚔️
11:22 "Ass-burgers" wouldn't work here as the joke is that the restaurant spelled "asparagus" wrong.
Brain fog in the middle of a sentence is real. I can pinpoint the millisecond it happens 😂
Thx I need this video, to much light, sound and people. I have my AirPods in watching this
Welcome, 🦦 🧡 🎧
I have always ignored all those apps and whatnot on Jessica's channel (How to ADHD) or presented by therapist(s)/work because either they are busy-work to create & maintain or, once made, are overwhelming to even look at. I rather just do things as and when my brain says to... and if I forget them, then they were clearly not that important anyway. Though... working memory being what it is, well... xD
At least with work, other people (product managers/owners, etc.) make and maintain those lists for everyone. At home, bills are automated and appointments go into the diary, the rest as mentioned. Usually works okay.
I'm def the same when two people talking to me at the same time! 😖😖😖🙅🏻♀️🙅🏻♀️🙅🏻♀️
Trust me, the car thing, I do it all the time. I just accept that that’s part of how I function now.
Yassssssssssssssss I put off going to bed too!!! I thought something was wrong with me!!!
I’ve never felt so seen😭💕I love your videos!
Awww, thank YOU, Izze. 🧡
0:34 - It's a lifestyle choice. Like you humans and Naturism. Not that we're particularly judgemental about Furries wearing clothes (although some get weird if we're wearing a top but no bottoms - no idea why though, you don't see that many complaining because Winnie the Pooh only wears a t-shirt).
What we need to do for Autism Awareness Day/Month is to get a large number of Autists to do an "I'm Spartacus" Flashmob - "I'm Autistic!" "I'M Autistic!" "I'M AUTISTIC!!!" etc
Mike, I just want to say in the most Autistic way possible, that I love you and all you do, and I hope you are bearing up under the pressure of the hard time you are going through at the moment.
My friend Wills channel recently received a strike from YT for discussing Autism & vax's. It's bollacks.
I didn’t have a bad experience getting diegnosed. Might just be the country I live in but you get diegnosed by a person who’s specialty is autism and they didn’t diegnosed me at any level just what I need help with and what I’m good at. I feel so many talk about how shit it is getting diegnosed without even trying to get one. I was scared before I saw her cus of the internet
6:05 yes. Yes, you are
Thank youuuuuu
Let's be fair most psychiatrists have a limited number of hours of reading/training/patient experience in autism. Whatever that number is it will be far less than a lifetime of experience that an autistic person has. So yeah, we are pretty good at spotting our own people compared to the trained "professionals".
I already commented, sorry, but I had to jump in about phone calls. I work at a national science information center (won’t say which one, it’s a secret), and we have a hotline. I will say, we can actually give people the best and most relevant information when they call in as opposed to emailing, HOWEVER, when I first started working there, I was so awkward on phones! I wrote a bunch of scripts for social scenarios and have them memorized to this day bc I can’t just talk to people. Turns out I’m autistic, who knew.
BROO I JUST LOOKED IT UP AND AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH IS MY BIRTHDAY MONTH AINT NO WAYYY 😭😭
Its 42 degrees here today wish i was somewhere cool lol
15:43 I'm going to disagree with your criticism of focusing on early identification here: I know of very few late diagnosed autistics (myself included) that don't wish they were diagnosed earlier, preferably in childhood. We may not be inclined to prioritize toddler diagnosis quite as much as AS is, but diagnosis earlier than has heretofore been the norm is important (before 18 in general, and before puberty in girls as that seems to be when a lot of the mental health consequences of masking start to become apparent), and even from our perspective, toddler diagnosis is important as diagnosis is easiest before peer pressure has started to build a mask.
I'm in my mid-40s. I had a horrible time with my mental health growing up and I don't wish I'd known earlier. At the point I worked it out (twenty years ago) it still wasn't acceptable to discuss it with my friends because women just weren't allowed to be autistic then. I had to pretend I thought I was a highly sensitive person, instead, to make it more palatable to people around me... it was a completely different world back then. A teacher had a go at me for not making eye-contact with anyone but couldn't join the dots...
good lord calling me out like CRAZY lmaooooo
🤣
Thank you for your memes video, it puts a smile and a giggle on my face. Cheers Suzanne
I read somewhere that RUclipsrs benefit from having extra engagement in January. Something about how monetization works? I don't know. Hope you don't mind getting lots of little comments.
It's absolutely true! Views go down in December and January! I think people are tired from the holidays. And lots of creators stop working over this time (... not me!). Thanks for being here. --M
I have no idea where the music is coming from... Highly relatable!
If you have fur or why would you also wear a hoodie? For the comfy cuddly feeling. And pocket. And hood.
Valid!
I like your clarification here: ‘…who persuaded Qatar - the NATION - ….’ So *not* the phlegmy build-up? 7:14
You definitely Soylent worry about doing so lighter, easier-to-male content on occasion. The science stuff is best, but it’s a lot of work to get right. In a similar vein, you shouldn’t feel like you have to post every week. Twenty to 30 hours is a lot for a video. Don’t burn yourself out, even if it’s what the almighty algorithm wants.
We all need a Charlie
i get the sentiment AND to each their own etc etc BUT in my world the term "spicy" should _Only_ refer to food and nothing else lest it make my brain feel weird af☝️🌝 no _not even sex_ and _don't_ get me started on terms people use for that, damn i'm too literal to have a casual conversation, i might be like a Karen of terminology or sumn 😩🫴
Oh, now I know why I married on April 2th🎉
Thanks Mike for a good 😂laugh
This was fun, Mike. Thank you! 😊
This is again a great video with a lot things I recognized.
I wonder why I seem to attract bad persons. My ex has been stalking me years and years after the divorce.
Last week a man who I only know from the weekly meetings started to act weird.
He tries to hug me all the f#&#*€ng time when I sit there in the group!
The same time that I am irritated I am scared because he remains me of my ex. So I'll have to tell him to stop with that touching in such manner that he will not feel too bad. Because he might start also stalking me just like my ex.
O.M.G. why everything is so complicated? If I was interested in that man then I would say that without beating around the bush.
I am totally not into a relationship so why some men do all that stuff? I just want to live my life without being stalked and harassed.
Do I have to start to carry a baseball -bat with me when I go outside?
Could editing Mike, please try to remember dyslexia is a member of the neurodivergent community and it just need text on screen longer. It is so short I can't even react quick enough to pause them to spend the extra time I need to read stuff.
1000% and I'm not even dyslexic I just can't read/process text fast enough and it really makes me feel slow. Usually I can just about catch the first 3 or 4 words and then it's gone.
@@minkwells8434 Also not dyslexic, but had to slow down this vid to avoid getting out of breath while reading 😅
i like the joke about fax machines
person A: They don't have fax machines where I live
person B: Where do you live that doesn't have fax machines?
person A: the present
(c. 2003)
i also hate phone calls so much
❤
💚
its 02:49 am xD
3:02 😂
Vacillates is pronounced like vassal-ates.
Got it! 🧡
Like.......
Vaseline
Monduary
Hello from youtube land 👋
👋 Hello! 👋
McDonalds isn't cheap anymore. ; /
"I'm not famous..."
Well, actually, to an extent you are. You're obviously not a household name like one of the Hollywood stars or a world-renown musician. However, you have about 22,500 subscribers on your RUclips channel, so there are literally tens of thousands of people who have listened to some of your views/opinions on various autism-related subjects. That's a lot more than most people achieve. So, while you're obviously not an "A-list celebrity," you're certainly a "minor celebrity," whether you realise it or not (or whether you want to admit it or not). However, your humility in thinking yourself not to be a celebrity is endearing. You're a real alien from mars... errrr... I mean autistic human being, 😉 trying to make this ball of rock and water a better place for the rest of us aliens from mars... errrr... I mean autistic human beings. 😁
No you’re definitely INFP
How I feel about 2nd April, and the content NT world creates for that purpose?
Well, here is a message I wanted to leave to my former workmates, on my last day at work:
Thank you all (except two I will not name to avoid giving them trouble) for not accepting me. I needed your acceptance, so we could communicate. I do not need your tolerance, because it is meaningless to me. You cam tolerate your neighbour's stinky dog, so as not upset your neighbour, while dog is unaware of it. Would you like to be treated like a neighbour's stinky dog for a change? Except, one fully aware of it?
I agree with almost everything. Great video!
Happy 2025 🌠🍀🍀🍀🦭
Bit late but I mean it!!! ☃️
Happy New Year, Rita! :)
Despite what the vote was for the type of videos, do the ones you have the time and energy for. Not every video has to be a debunking one. 🫂
😅 Sorry I can't afford the Discord... I won't drop Meg's for yours...that seems unfair. I do try to make the livestreams when I can (even though it's in the afternoon here and I'm at work).
Hey Ashley! Definitely don’t feel any pressure, you support me enough! Keep in company with the 🐌s! 🧡🧡
@@Autistic_AF I will try to make as many livestreams as I can.
I hope your mother is doing better.