We all contain ancient DNA, we all come from a set of people that evolved, saying people with ASD socialize like Neanderthals is problematic because phrasing it like that implies they haven’t evolved past their ancient roots.

Just because we’re detecting Neanderthal DNA at higher rates in people diagnosed with ASD, doesn’t mean they’re unevolved, autism is a different brain structure, a different way of viewing and experiencing the world.

The double empathy problem is just that both very different neurotypes, don’t understand each other’s unique way of feeling, seeing and experiencing the world, it’s essentially a communication issue.

That communication issue is relative to the fact that autism, while it has existed since the dawn of people, as this study is seeking to delve deeper into, is only relatively newly discovered, as a diagnosable existing neurotype. And if you add onto that the fact our current rates of diagnosis only serve Caucasian boys, that becomes even further problematic for recognition, and communication. Women, and people of colour are just starting to become included and aren’t adequately included. They are currently not in the dsm5.

For the double empathy problem to not exist, we would have to understand and respect both neurotypes and provide the space and needs both require. Currently we only do that for one neurotype. And as a society we aren’t even, yet, capable of adequately, expansively or comprehensively, diagnosing all individuals who have the asd neurotype. Essentially we as a society are only set up to provide for one neurotype.

Let me explain it like this, two types of imaginary people have to exist together, all of one type walk and breathe air, all of the other type, swim and breathe water, currently our society, in this thought experiment, is set up for the walkers, and the swimmers struggle to breathe or even get around in this environment. There shouldn’t be a world where those swimmers are told to suck it up, as is reflective of our current society. The swimmers shouldn’t be expected to evolve to breathe air and walk on land, equal space and provisions should be made for both. In an evolved society, that’s the direction we would go.

So implying their Neanderthal DNA is why they can’t socialise, is also problematic because saying they need to catch up to “us” and learn “our” ways. That’s the opposite direction for resolving the double empathy problem.

People with ASD can’t and shouldn’t be expected to exist in an environment that doesn’t provide for their basic needs. It’s hard to see how cruel and uninclusive that is, without including the lived experiences of people with ASD. I would argue, in all due respect, that if anything is unevolved, it’s that current societal expectation. Because that is what is currently being done to people with ASD. Specialists are engaged to, essentially, help them cope with conforming. But it’s not a changeable thing, it doesn’t stop their brain perceiving the world in the way it does, it just forces them to shove the pain down till they burn out and can’t function. But that could, arguably be blamed on capitalism.

So to end my point I say, the answer is eat the rich.

May I just also add the underdiagnosis of women, too.

And everyone believed the propaganda about tiktok “needing” the hostile take over.

I think they just don’t know. People are oversaturated and oversaturated and overloaded, and suffering for scraps, nobody has time, mental space or money to be choosy. Researching companies, suspiciously doesn’t show results. Finding that information isn’t easy, by design. It might be released, on the same day something else happens. But mostly people aren’t watching the news to the depth required to soak that stuff in, and don’t have the extra energy to soak anything in. Everything sent into our hands and eyes as news is controlled by a few with vested inrests. It would be lovely if there was a place that collected atrocities and kept them fresh. Who stopped buying nestle after all the horrible things they’ve done. I can bet you have supported a company with your dollar, that’s responsible for huge atrocities, it’s almost impossible to avoid. Look at the stuff happening in the Congo atm, all the top brands, committing atrocities for new phones to be built. How much have we heard about all of that? There’s so much. Where do you start. Funny story, I watched resident evil with my kid, just recently, and it was terrifying for whole new reasons. A top company who owns everything, goes into weapon manufacturing and creating advanced bio weapons, accidentally releases it, then doubles down continuously, shutting thousands in to die, and firing into crouds to cover up what it did. And that doesn’t seem far fetched, any more. All for the ever expansion of money, something that has a finite amount set. Literally the only way to achieve ever expansion is to commit atrocities, there’s a point where you take too much and the only option is atrocities to make more. And that’s capitalism, baby!!

Yeah! She didn’t get very far with it. They kept running her around in circles. If we’re talking about the same one… I mean that’s probably gotta happen a lot, really.

Idea is good, in principal. Can I just offer some thoughts to get things happening smoothly.

Bullying, what type? I can only offer general overall advice without specifics. So I’ll offer some food for thought, What if that person is neurodivergent and doesn’t understand they’re bullying, or coming across too blunt. I would suggest, address the behaviour directly, succinctly and without judgement.

Talk as if they’re an alien and don’t understand our culture, and you have belief once they understand they will step up. But say it as plainly, in the least amount of words possible. Don’t leave room to debate, just straight plain facts. This causes this. Please don’t.

Ask how you can help them be more effective in positive engagement.

On a personal note it’s always a good idea to listen to the messages your body is giving you, those emotions are a need your body has, it isn’t about anyone else, it’s about your lived experience and how comfortable you are in your environment. Times you haven’t felt safe can be a trigger for you in the future, and then bullies words hurt more. If you feel you have unhealed trauma or a low sense of self and self worth because the world in general has chewed you up, (which it does so often it’s almost a universal experience) find and build on yourself in those areas. It doesn’t minimise that the bullies are harmful, just utilise their efforts to find places you can up skill and heal, if they are being highlighted for you. They still suck. You just take what they give you and turn it into a tool to build on yourself and build yourself up. Be genuine, curious and open and deep dive on your feelings. Eventually, after studying what’s freely available out there and uplevelling your sense of self, you start to see all of the bullies behaviours are entirely about their own broken insides and damage. It’s really hard to be upset by words from someone you pity.

Avoiding toxic environments is a better way to live. Finding ways to make that environment non toxic is a good life philosophy. Do your labour laws already have protections built in to protect you from psychological abusive type behaviours in the workplace?

Side note: it never fails to miff me, that bible bashers burned women and children alive at the stake, and instead of seeing that as a travesty, media backs up the bible bashers and demonises witches. People who were mainly midwives and healers. It hurts my brain.

Piracy / stealing content is ok for big corps Piracy / stealing content punishable by life in prison for us proletarians

They make no losses, really. The people who pirate, either can’t afford it or can’t access it, or are done with the bullshit and taking a political stance to disengage. They were never among their customer base, anyway.

I like you, son!

Your true enemy is capitalism, tho. Don’t shoot the messenger.

I know Christopher Nolan is the worst for it, for a few reasons, apparently the IMAX cameras cause it, too. So, however long they’ve been around

I’m not sure if in Maths teachers imaginations, there’s a James bond of maths, out there, and to save the world he has to divide by pi. (in which case they’d pick someone who actually likes maths, anyway) Or, they imagined, either we all collectively or just one of us, has a save the world moment, and it involves solving some maths thing. I don’t think they were quite the heroes they imagined themselves. Or maybe they are and this is all out there, and we just don’t even hear of it.

Aww, man! I just got comfortable, now I need to pee, fml

Famously, the blue guys in Australia, defund our public infrastructure, go ‘oh no, broken now, have to sell, only private peeps can run this / it will run better / for everyone’s best interests’ (simultaneously pats themselves on the back for bringing money in, even though that thing they broke, brought money in, until they broke it) also, spoiler, they sell the things to thier mates.

Hallo, my name is Inigo Montoya…

But if you came across someone wearing a hat like that, would you really consider them a threat? Maybe that’s it’s defense level being higher.

Heath? Really? How so?

Degreaser works quite well, too.

They would change the system overnight, if everyone left. Because without everyone, there is no system. There wouldn’t need to be tents.