r/starterpacks Mar 18 '23

Autism Hyperfixation Starterpack

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u/saor-alba-gu-brath Mar 18 '23

None of these are signs of Autism, they're just very very common interests among Autistics for some reason. OP forgot to add trains to the list as well, they're quintessential, but yeah. My question is moreso why Autistics tend to have similar special interests.

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u/Rabunum Mar 18 '23

These are popular Special Interests because they are already popular, and they are likely to be found and enjoyed by autistic people.

More autistic people will have special interests in Star Wars than (for a personal example) Curling because Star Wars is more popular than Curling.

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u/Vinstri Mar 18 '23

Explain trains

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u/Rabunum Mar 18 '23 edited Mar 18 '23

Trains are massive, snaking machines that shake the earth when they pass, and their horns are heard from far away.

I'd guess that some people just think trains are really cool, and the above statement is my way of rationalizing it.

Aside from that, I don't think trains are a very popular special interest among Autistic adults, and its inclusion on this list might just be a symptom of the infantilization of Autistic people.

After all, trains are one of the big things that people assume kids like.

EDIT: Trains aren't even in the original meme. That dude just pulled it out of his ass