Why do autistic people go off on a tangent?

[Misty Avich]

It seems more like an ADHD thing, but as usual, autism steals all traits of ADHD. Autism is greedy.

 

[Judge]

It seems more like an ADHD thing, but as usual, autism steals all traits of ADHD. Autism is greedy.

It does get frustrating and confusing trying to differentiate autism from other comorbid considerations. Where one may allegedly overlap the other, or where circumstances may dictate one is mutually exclusive of the other. Beats me.

 

[Mary Terry]

I'd rather have someone go off on a tangent than to tell me how to build a clock when I ask what the time is.

 

[Rodafina]

It does get frustrating and confusing trying to differentiate autism from other comorbid considerations. Where one may allegedly overlap the other, or where circumstances may dictate one is mutually exclusive of the other. Beats me.

I find this to be a rather hopeful and uniting thing. Humans can be quite alike despite the apparent diversity among us. We are full of habits that can lead to understanding those who are different from us. Having felt alien most of my life, it is a nice thought to think that I am really not all that unique at all. I am just cells and atoms like every other living thing out there. "Human" is enough of a diagnosis for me.

 

[Jonn]

I do like the gossiping.

Who doesn't?

 

[Jonn]

Most people don't like having the conversation "hijacked" and turned into a one-sided monologue.

So true.

However, many, if not most conversations in a forum/thread context eventually go off-topic.
I don't have a problem with this myself, assuming the person/ppl doing it aren't deliberately trying to derail the thread.

 

[Jonn]

That's what it was like with my obsessions - I had to talk about them or I'll go crazy.

What you call obsession might be equated with "special interest stimming".
My urge to make jokes is difficult to control, as an example.

 

[Jonn]

Yes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Copilot"Microsoft Copilot is a chatbot developed by Microsoft and launched on February 7, 2023. Based on a large language model, it is able to cite sources, create poems, and write songs."

And I'd still like to see Jonn's explanation.

The material in the post wasn't enclosed in quotation marks.
The reference to his thinking he'd need to research it further
is ambiguous.

I assumed, incorrectly, that everyone knew what "Copilot" is.
My bad...

 

[Jonn]

@Jonn

I was wondering about the premise: autistic people always going on tangents. Don't think that's always true since many with ASD don't talk much.

For those who talk, not noticing clues about the conversation could be an issue. For those with ADHD+autism, tangents is how the brain works -- too many connections.

There was no "always" in the question to Copilot.
But those on the spectrum in general are known to have this trait.

 

[Jonn]

@Neonatal RRT, talking of “going off on a tangent”, it is helpful to remember a tangent is a straight line that departs from a curve. I, too, find myself following an idea that I find interesting, talking about it, exploring its consequences, talking about those, until my wife tells me to stop.

It is so easy for me to go off on a tangent.

@tree, I think it is, in part, due to those on the spectrum, in general, gravitating towards detail, the nutz & bolts, rather than "The Big Picture".
I might say "micro-focused" as opposed to "macro-focused".
An eye for detail is a known characteristic for those on the spectrum, generally speaking.

 

[Jonn]

However, get me up in front of a classroom, a lecture hall, or any other situation where I can simply be allowed to talk with minimal interruption, I can be real "motor mouth" a proper Aspie and go on and on for extended periods of time.

There, I fixed it for you.

 

[tree]

I assumed, incorrectly, that everyone knew what "Copilot" is.
My bad...

Some do. Some don't.

But that doesn't explain why you used it as your source.

 

[Crossbreed]

Why do autistic people go off on a tangent?

Speaking of tangents,...

 

[Jonn]

Speaking of tangents,...

Indeed.

 

[Crossbreed]

BTW, I have seen NT conversations meander through various tangents, too.

 

[Misty Avich]

BTW, I have seen NT conversations meander through various tangents, too.

Me too.

 

[Jonn]

BTW, I have seen NT conversations meander through various tangents, too.

Of course.

 

[Misty Avich]

I can go off on tangents on forums but I think it's easier to do that online for everyone, as threads are open for anyone to join in so there's more likely to be tangents. I see it happen on non-autism-specific sites. Even on the rat owners Facebook group sometimes posters start going off on tangents.

 

[marc_101]

There was no "always" in the question to Copilot.
But those on the spectrum in general are known to have this trait.

Sure, the word always is not in the title, but the question was: "Why do autistic people go off on a tangent?," which logically implies that all autistic people go off on a tangent, so that's how I read it. My brain inserted the always.

I asked ChatGPT, and the first part of the answer was interesting (it inserted the "may"):

"Autistic individuals may go off on tangents for various reasons, but it's important to understand that this behavior isn't exclusive to autism. Tangential speech, where someone veers off the main topic of conversation, can occur in people with various communication styles and neurotypes."

 

[Jonn]

I can go off on tangents on forums but I think it's easier to do that online for everyone, as threads are open for anyone to join in so there's more likely to be tangents. I see it happen on non-autism-specific sites. Even on the rat owners Facebook group sometimes posters start going off on tangents.

RATS!!!

Spoiler

As in the expression "rats" to show annoyance.
I have no problem with them.