Odd or Socially Taboo Obsessions and/or Interests

[greenlantern]

I have two questions to ask everyone. I am new to the community and was diagnosed a couple of years ago. I have been reading a lot about PDD-NOS, Asperger's and autism as a whole. I am still trying to understand this whole new world. This diagnosis helps me understand why I am the way I am and it makes much more sense now. I have been reading a lot and have found both odd and interesting information. I do not believe something just because someone posted or published it. The issue I have is if they don't have it, they don't really understand it. No matter how hard some try to understand they just won't I am really trying to find out if information is accurate or if it is just crap. PS. I studied Sociology in college and that further fuels my interest to the two questions. I hope this makes sense to you. It does in my head but I do not communicate well.

1) I wondered does anyone have odd socially taboo obsession and or interest?

2) Are Aspi's and PDD-NOS more susceptible to fetishes or socially taboo obsessions and/or Interests than those without autism?

 

[Gomendosi]

I am not sure if this helps, but personally, I feel that individuals with Aspergers may possibly develop a heightened sense of curiosity due to a lack of understanding of the parameters of human interaction. It stands to reason for us that if you don?t understand it you study it from all angles and utilize said information to integrate yourself into the target group or avoid same at all cost.

I grew up with 3 brothers and their friends around the place and they were doing things I couldn?t possibly fathom the reasons behind, I tried in vein to come to terms with the fact that despite being only two years below the youngest of them I was light years away from being acceptable to them.
Now, I make no bones about the fact that I am easily led, I never realize it at the time because the inclusion over exclusion, dampens any feelings of disquiet I may have felt. To this end I engaged in or was exposed to, activities I would not have otherwise have entertained even the notion of. Some of these are universally considered taboo, such as drugs.

But there are others things that I don?t feel comfortable going into here; I feel this may also be largely why this thread has gone unanswered.

My thinking on your topic is that we look at the world in such a way that to us a taboo is not exactly as well defined as it is to the layman, having said that, lately I have been intrigued by National Geographic Taboo, a television series which has quite a few seasons and looks at what is considered perfectly ordinary by the standards of certain cultures whereas it is unacceptable by any other, thus, a taboo.

It begs the question, if I may be so bold as to turn this back to you, by whose standards are you defining ?Taboo? and how many people have to object before something is considered a taboo.

 

[greenlantern]

I appreciate your post. It is and has NEVER been my intent to make people uncomfortable. I want to understand my diagnosis more and could benefit from asking questions, even if they are out there. I too have also watched Taboo and it is very interesting but also wondered if Aspi's and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified are more susceptible to these things. I have been pondering the information and also your questions. The standard to which I use to define the term Taboo, generically is America/United States. I also realize that there are many subcultures within the United States and that these cultures have their own things they consider taboo that other Americans would not. Your question about “ how many people have to object before something is considered a taboo” is a very good question that I think is still being debated today. Different things offend people differently and the answer to your question many be many years out. I will try and find more info. Researching is one of my obsessions. It has served me well in college! lol

 

[2vette2camaro]

Oh, and right now I have some obsessions with The New World Order, the Illuminati, all of the conspiracy theories (I don't believe the Moon landing, etc happened). Most people know how "weird" I am but if I stated talking about the Illuminati and the Government trying to control us, etc, they would SURELY think I was crazy!

 

[kasmanaft08]

Various sexuality topics would be the big one for me.

Generally finding bizarre stuff online is another hobby I have,
I also have phases where I like to read up on things that are "disturbing" (serial killers and crime, from reading on here, seems to not be as unusual as I thought, at least with aspies).

Obviously not something I can discuss with anyone. Also, the misunderstanding that I might be into them personally, but really I just find it interesting or amusing. My interet history probably makes me look insane, though.

 

[2010Dolby]

I've had a strong interest in knives for my entire life. Knives aren't an a taboo thing to be obsessed with, but in modern society they are considered "weapons and tools of murder". Nearly ALL of my knives are strictly tools and just-in-case tools. I have knives that are decorative and expensive. But I have some knives that are literally designed for the purpose of self-defense and combat use.

The taboo part of my obsession is that when I'm in large groups of people I fidget my hands. How I fidget my hands is slowly opening and closing whichever knife I have with me (especially if I'm drinking). I've heard people say things like "That's so creepy, you need to stop playing with that knife" and I've been told "Are you mad at someone?!?!" Everybody is so paranoid about blades in modern society that my harmless obsession is now considered threatening and creepy.

Morale of the story: Knives are tools first, and self-defense weapons second.

 

[King_Oni]

Without going on top of a roof and screaming "Look at me, all things I do are taboo"... I think I'll have my fair share of stuff people consider taboo's or weird in general. And I've had those all my life. As a kid I had interests in killers in general... I even recall that as a kid I was listening music that back then was considered "taboo" because it wasn't age appropriate.

To be honest, I don't feel they're taboo subjects, the reason I don't talk to people about some things is because;
- no interest for information to share nor acquire (which is different than not talking about something because it's sensitive I guess)
- other people dont want to talk about it
- other people don't know anything about it (which kinda falls under "can't acquire new info")
- it doesn't matter if it's an actual taboo, even some things generally accepted will give you weird looks and judgmental people. So even for me to pinpoint talking about subject X makes the question "does someone consider this a taboo" all the harder.

But to me, things I like, things I do, they're just me. I don't like them for being taboo, I like them for being what they are. Them being taboo is just... well, whatever they are, taboo subjects because society cannot deal with that. Quite often I just like something whenever I read about it, just to find out after a while "you know... people consider this a taboo" or even "this is prohibited in country X". That sometimes makes me feel weird... cause that way in general I'm a taboo-magnet, lol.

I must say however, that the most problematic thing in terms of "weird" usually is when people have to be around me... like, for a job. There hasn't been a single day at a job where people didn't go like "for F's sake... don't you have any normal things going on?". Which I kinda feel isn't my problem... it just proves how limited their world actually is.

However, in a way, talking "taboo"... i do like philosophy in general, that both deals with taboo's in de sense of ideas as well as "why is something a taboo?", so with that I tend to get on to some touchy subjects sometimes, if people actually want to engage in social conversation with me.

 

[WildCat]

"Taboo" depends on the perspective of the person you're asking. Personally speaking, I do try to keep an open mind concerning the interests and curiosity of other people given my own history, which by the standards of about 97% of society I'm sure would be considered "odd" or "inappropriate". I'm not going to discuss any of it here, at least until Google quits probing the Internets for every search query fed to it. tl;dr - I don't want it to bite me back in the ass, hopefully you understand.

If you're asking whether or not those with autism are more prone to the bizarre, I say yes. Most definitely. Unless cataloging the call sign of every television station in your viewing area is a common hobby - in which case, color me wrong...

 

[Jen]

-Faces, feeling attraction and beauty in other females. Being attracted to very feminine, soft qualities and disliking coarseness of any kind. More sensual obsessions, such as smooth skin, eyes etc.
-Being obsessed and admiring Lucifer while not being any kind of Satanist or diabolist.
-Any kind of obsession in the occult. You're either mocked if you openly proclaim to be some kind of witch or people view you like you're treading on dark waters.
-Obsessively hating the spread of computer technology and having a great disdain for it.
-Obsession with military aviation and military power. I just love reading the armaments and aircraft of countries like Syria and Russia.
-Obsessed and interest in any kind of WW2 Germany (I'm not a nazi and even have Jewish relatives). Especially having any interest in Adolf Hitler or his war tactics. I love watching Hitler in Color, the documentary. Its very powerful.
-Interest or obsession in communism beyond "THIS IS WHY ITS BAD."
-Obsession/fascination with Charles Manson. I confess, I actually love the music he made. I think he's a talented singer.

 

[Soup]

As for taboo interests, I too think it's a matter of perspective. Also, I think that mainstream NT society is very hypocritical about the things it labels taboo. I hae a fascination with deviant behaviour, psychopathy & serial killers worldwide. While I know NTs don't seem to like discussing these things & feign moral outrage & shock, they are more obsessed with them than most Aspies are. Bundy got turned into a cultural icon & has gained mythical status. Violent tv shows & movies featuring hour after hour of grisly entertainment abounds. I think that the difference with us Aspies is that we don't have that social filter that causes us to feel like we have to hide or berate ourselves for having such interests. I'm also fascinated with different incidents of genocide: why they occurred, the rationale behind them etc. Strange rare diseases, birth defects & deformities also fascinate me.

 

[IContainMultitudes]

One somewhat odd interest that I've developed lately is some of the scarier effects of drug abuse (I saw a picture on Reddit a couple of days ago of a cocaine-induced palatal perforation that I couldn't look away from). Maybe just because it makes me very glad I've never done drugs.

 

[kasmanaft08]

One somewhat odd interest that I've developed lately is some of the scarier effects of drug abuse (I saw a picture on Reddit a couple of days ago of a cocaine-induced palatal perforation that I couldn't look away from). Maybe just because it makes me very glad I've never done drugs.

I was also a bit interested in this, for the same reason probably. A couple in particular was watching a lot of Intervention (found on Netflix) and looking at how meth ages you (faces of meth? I can't remember the site now, but I found it pretty shocking.)

 

[King_Oni]

I got into said subject a bit as well... while I was doing drugs, lol.

I should add in that when I was with a good friend of mine, doing said substances, he got paranoid over said side effects, which was the reason I got into reading up on it in the first place. But then we also got pretty serious over how drugs affect your brain and the entire neurology. Since he was studying psychology at university he had the books around, so there we were... sitting around studying neurology with a big pile of speed, tripping really hard. Can't say best time ever... but it was fun though.

 

[Soup]

Funny that we all got into this interest at the same time! There's a new drug going around in Russia & Ukraine called Krokodil. It's an injected drug that people cook up with all kinds of chemical gunk. If a shooter misses a vein & gets other tissue, the limb rots off in a matter of a couple of days!!! The drug got its name because users begin to look like crocodiles: their skin gets weird, lumpy & reptilian. Go to You Tube & search krokodil (use this spelling) & you won't believe it: makes Faces of Meth look like a placebo!!

@King Oni: I've never done a real drug in my life. What was it like? I've seen some stoned people but I've never been one. Was quitting as difficult as they say it is?

 

[King_Oni]

Funny that we all got into this interest at the same time! There's a new drug going around in Russia & Ukraine called Krokodil. It's an injected drug that people cook up with all kinds of chemical gunk. If a shooter misses a vein & gets other tissue, the limb rots off in a matter of a couple of days!!! The drug got its name because users begin to look like crocodiles: their skin gets weird, lumpy & reptilian. Go to You Tube & search krokodil (use this spelling) & you won't believe it: makes Faces of Meth look like a placebo!!

@King Oni: I've never done a real drug in my life. What was it like? I've seen some stoned people but I've never been one. Was quitting as difficult as they say it is?

Hah.. yeah I heard about Krok. The big issue is, that it's over 30 times as addictive as heroin and can be made for a few bucks. That's where the big danger in drugs lies I think. I don't really see cocaine, at least "good" cocaine, as a threat in regards to drugs. Crystal meth is because everyone can afford it (and probably make it themselves) and I'm quite sure some people just should not use it.

As for my own drug experiences. I did pot and hashish a few times in the past, it made me slow, which stressed me out... since... well ADHD, lol. Doing speed or coke was a different deal, that actually made my body keep up with my overactive mind a lot. I don't have a really addictive personality, so for me quitting wasn't hard. With that said friend I did it kinda "heavy" for a few months, actually managed to get a lot of stuff done. I read books in a few hours and all, and I retained far better. That's maybe what worries me, is that I'm also diagnosed with ADHD and they say amphetamines (the working part in speed for a big part) are somewhat similar in function to methylphenidate for people who get ritalin (and the like) as ADHD meds. Amphetamines are just way more potent. So actually I should make me more calm. Back when I tried a ritalin pill, I got even more bouncy, whilst on speed I didn't have a problem in sitting still for 16 hours straight (mind you, I didn't even have appetite cause of it, lol... yet I didn't lose a pound in weight).

Actually, the best idea for what me on speed was like, is probably like that movie Limitless which came out not that long ago (last year or so)... the movie is greatly exaggerated though, but in a sense I could identify with the main character and his pills quite well if I look at my own drugexperiences.

I've seen way too many people who ended up wrong cause of drugs, either smoking pot, or doing the more hardcore stuff like speed or meth. I always felt I had decent control over it. There's a lot I could've ended up addicted to; smoking, drinking, drugs, and neither of those stuck around that big. I should say however, that I can see the appeal for people to use drugs, because it makes you feel pretty ok (at least it did for me), the big issue might be that it's not easily available. That'll be a social experiment; readymade drugs in the supermarket and just see how and if society actually derails because of bad use or if people keep their hands of because they know the hazards.

 

[Gomendosi]

There's a new drug going around in Russia & Ukraine called Krokodil. It's an injected drug that people cook up with all kinds of chemical gunk. If a shooter misses a vein & gets other tissue, the limb rots off in a matter of a couple of days!!! The drug got its name because users begin to look like crocodiles: their skin gets weird, lumpy & reptilian.

I simply love horror films, I don’t usually stomach any sort of horror in real life, I love it in films because I know it is fake... I admit I thought it was a joke when you said this, like 'Schnappi' would be there saying "don't do drugs kids", so for the sake of mere curiosity, I looked this up in google pictures and wow, it looks like something out of a high budget horror film, like Russian actors portraying zombies that haven’t put the fake blood on yet before going on set.
I simply cannot believe that people can be walking around with their bones exposed to the air and still want to do this ****, we don’t ever need another world war because we’re killing each country off slowly with things like this, life expectancy of a year for an addict...

 

[King_Oni]

I simply love horror films, I don’t usually stomach any sort of horror in real life, I love it in films because I know it is fake... I admit I thought it was a joke when you said this, like 'Schnappi' would be there saying "don't do drugs kids", so for the sake of mere curiosity, I looked this up in google pictures and wow, it looks like something out of a high budget horror film, like Russian actors portraying zombies that haven’t put the fake blood on yet before going on set.
I simply cannot believe that people can be walking around with their bones exposed to the air and still want to do this ****, we don’t ever need another world war because we’re killing each country off slowly with things like this, life expectancy of a year for an addict...

I jokingly once posted on facebook, we could rather just get a few of these kids who use krok and use them instead of zombies for a horrorflick... saves on prosthetics.

But let's not forget, if you look at meth users... quite a few know they are wrong... but apparently "meth is just too good to not do". Krok might be the same. Also keep in mind what the socio-economic background of a lot of users is in Russia. It's mostly kids growing up in the slums of Moscow wtih no real future perspective.

I do however wonder in what kind of "pain" you must be and still be like "yay, more drugs". I never had major injuries/lacerations, but I can imagine that exposed bone might stick a bit to say the least.

 

[Soup]

Thank you for that informative post, King Oni! You write really well. My younger brother has ADD & it has caused him to face many challenges since he was a child. He can't seem to focus, is woefully disorganized & distractable & when he tried self-medicating with drugs (marijuana, some kind of pill he never revealed the identity of)it either made him drowsy & depressed or hyper & delusional (one of those I have the key to all happiness...world peace...the meaning of life etc. types.) He would proselytize loudly-a wall of blabbering- that would drive the Dalai Lama to hysteria. It was wrecking his already less than stellar life.

You're so right about the extent of the despair & hopelessness that is modern-day Russia. Between grinding poverty, economic disaster, politically repressive governments one after the other & alcoholism, many people feel utterly hopeless. Also, much of the drug education we can readily access is unavailable to many Russians.

 

[Loomis]

When I was young I read a lot of books on the holocaust. The incredible suffering and cruelty in those awful camps created powerful images. I often wondered why I was so interested in those books. It is clear now. I had trouble, like all aspies, empathizing with normal people but the horror and terror of Auschwitz was so extreme even an aspie could empathize with the victims.

For the same reason I also became interested in horrible diseases and read books on the black death and smallpox epidemics. I am sure NTs would consider these to be morbid fascinations, but what the hell do they know?

 

[buckyboy14]

I am interested in addresses. I memorized the addresses of everybody in my grade, and I was considered a "stalker," and some of the teachers told me to "stop being creepy" and things like that. However, the kids in my grade now accept that I am interested in this, and they now know that I won't go to their house and stalk them. They like to quiz me on people's addresses, and can't believe that I was able to memorize them all.