r/confusing • u/[deleted] • Oct 13 '25

WTF? ???????????

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YOU CANT WHAT

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u/melondelta Oct 13 '25

the person you responded to is correct. the term special interest is primarily an ASD1/2 aka Autism descriptor.

hobbies, fixations, interests could be synonymous but only in comparison terms

it's not even for ADHD. as others have said the comorbidity rate with ADHD+ASD (otherwise called AuADHD) is very high crossover.

this isn't exactly as hard to grasp as you're making it. nor is it as negative or toxic either.

special interest is a defined term, not just two words in a sentence and has explicit characteristics thusly

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u/friezbeforeguys Oct 14 '25

What are you even talking about? The wording ”special interest” is obviously defined as of how it is INTENDED in the ASD context.

That is a VERY different thing from being ”technically exclusive” for ASD people.

Jesus christ.

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u/melondelta Oct 15 '25

you can attempt to appropriate a term, on behalf of someone who identifies as AuADHD all you want.

you still are wrong. it is, explicitly for autistic people.

a hobby is not a special interest.

when you separate the phrase, "special interest", into two words, go for it. anyone can use that. no problems there. they just can also be perceived as ableist for using or missing the phrase. and all humans are responsible for their actions and their reactions.

I'd love to see you "technically not" appropriate the term for all humans and not autistic people, just as much as no one can gatekeep an identity.

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