I'm much more outspoken here, generally because I can't come up with most of this shit in real-time, verbally. My conversational skills suck pretty bad.
Also here, I try to actually be a part of group dynamics, where IRL I sit perpetually on the fringe, never influencing anyone or keeping up with any of the gossip.
I should think that Pyraxis is typical (Nooo, I certainlly don't mean
neurotypical, just typical of us lot, in this respect)
Online interaction (especially on a message board) is liberating because it removes a lot of the communication barriers. No body language. No pressure to respond immediately. Indeed, you can totally zone out in the midst of a discussion, and nobody will notice, and you won't even miss anything
What's more , in a spazz group, the usal social conventions don't apply. eg, nobody expects you to do small talk; and - contrary to the neurotypical norm- people will get mad at you if they think you're being dishonest, and
not for being too frank .
So of course we shine on these forums. And I think that what comes through is generally closer to our real personalities than anything that our neurotypical workmates and neighbours see, I've heard of people inventing an "online persona" for themselves but I'd be highly surprised to find spazzes on spazz boards doing that. I'm sure most of us just relish the chance to really be ourselves, for a change.
On a related note: why are we so resistant to Zoom meetings? Could the unstated main reason be that Zoom puts some of those barriers back? Most admit, i'm nervous for that very reason. But by the same token, it could be therapeutic couldn't it?
