I work at a Pokémon message board, and there's a poll about how open people are about their interest in it. Most people who've replied have said that they keep it to themselves because they're afraid they'll get made fun of.
WHY? I mean, why censor yourself just because some jerks who aren't worth knowing would make snide comments? Aren't those people worth ignoring anyway? So who *** CARES what those people think?
(also, is this post in the right place?)
But why be afraid of that? It's not like you're going to get rocks thrown at you or something for liking a kids show--and if you do, you call the police.
If everyone stood up for themselves and didn't allow anyone to bully them, this world would be a lot better place.
Besides, liking childrens shows and being the target of religious fanatics do not equate. So let's start by standing up for the little things and work our ways up.
Amy--I think people *do* allow themselves to be bullied. You know the saying 'silence equals compliance', right?
Anyway, why *do* they linger so much on approval? If someone's going to be an ****, who cares what they think anyway? Doesn't it reflect badly on person A if person B is a jerk yet approves of them?
Italics are tricky to get, especially on a board like this. Even the seemingly simple open-and-close tags don't work like they should.
It's like I said, Satoshi Tajiri shows a lot of AS traits. There's an interview with him in Time Magazine some years ago, when Pokemon was the *huge* thing.
I could go on about that, but that's not really the subject at hand.
Out of curiosity, when you found out they played 'a very long time ago', why did you stop talking?
I think also some of this is because often people in authority (parents, teachers) DO say "that's imature, you can't", or some other "fit in already!" frase. I know I have felt my whole life like a spy, that had to conceal my true identity, or I would be told I couldn't be like that and every atempt made to force me to change. Are you saying that in Middle school/high school, there are no kids that would physically or otherwise pick on you because of your "differentness". Simply keeping my mouth shut on certain subjects was easily done to avoid "situations", other more drastic measures to hide my "differentness" I refused to do (like shave my legs - I'm female), and was duley ridiculed and physically persecuted for it. Why would I open my mouth and ask for more? Not only that, but those in authority who want to try to prevent such things from happening, and feel bad that you don't have any friends, tell you to not "scare" people by saying the "wrong" thing. I agree that being cautious about talking about one's pokie mon playing could easily be seen to fall under this. I know I go out of my way to hide test scores, and not let others know how smart I am, especially when they know my "bad" study habits. I don't want anybody mad at me because I don't "deserve" a grade that I didn't "work hard" for.
Is there an aspie out there who hasn't been ridiculed by peers, and "helped" by those in authority - which basically boild down to being taught to hide who one really is, so as not to be persecuted.
I agree that we should not hide, and LOVE the cause of this board, but being SO different, and not knowing that anybody else like that even exists, hiding is a survival technique - and completely understandable!
I guess I just don't know why anyone would let teasing get to them. If you get beat up, you tell the authorities. It's simple as that. You shouldn't censor yourself out of fear--we *do* live in a society of laws.
yes, we do, but:
an example: i always lagged with my fysical development.
i'm 24 and still don't have a full beard, i estimate my body is comparable
with an 15/16 year old person with typical development.
one time in school during class someone threw a ball of paper (?)
at me, i wanted to throw it back, but accidentally hit one of the largest guys in class (a real dominator, bully), he got out of his seat, walks up to me, and smashed my head on my desk. teacher did nothing, i remained in the class when the lesson was over, crying, teacher still did nothing.
later a few other big guys made the one who smashed my head on the desk apologize to me.
I mean to say; if the lawkeepers don't act, then laws have no use.
edit; Ok, (i hope) this may not happen often to someone, but
this is one of the experiences that made me very carefull of what i say
or do in public, for me it is best to keep a low profile.
But law-people are still individuals. If one doesn't respond, go to another.
trying to get the police to act when you have been the victim of a crime, but have trouble communicating, is not easy
There must happen something very bad to me, if getting help is to outweigh the harm done to me.
I even quit a job once, because 1 "collegue" kept harassing me.
It seemed to me i would cause even more grief if i told someone
what he did.
I guess I just don't know why anyone would let teasing get to them.
I gave you my personal reason, what more can i say?
If you don't have any trouble in getting help yourself, i'm very happy for
you. 
In school it was dreadful to be bullied, and then have a teacher say "well shake hands and forget about it", how on earth was that going to help and stop them doing it?
Thats when you learn to avoid, rather than ask for help, as the so called intervention or help is useless anyway. This was when I was young and I would like to think that it has improved in some schools at least.
What I love (sarcastic tone) is 'mediation' in school. They get you into a room, 'talk' about what happened, and then give each other a fake apology. WHEEEE!!!!!! Everything's better!!
When I was in year seven, at the end of one day, I just screamed in front of everyone, "I hate this @%$#ing school, I'm never coming back!!!!" slammed my locker, and never went back. It's taken me four years to get back into (another) school again, but I still keep dropping out. I don't tolerate bullying and teasing very well. 'Ignore it' everyone says, but you you ignore people they get worse and worse. So what if someone stuffs trash into your mouth and suffocates you with a beanbag?
I also hold grudges against people (although in principle I strongly disagree with it). Once in an important end of year maths test, this guy who had been bullying me for the past year kept on talking in the middle of the test, and he was driving me nuts, so I got up, walked over to his desk, and sat right on his desk, swung my legs around to him, and just smiled at him. I'm gay, so I use friendliness as a weapon, boys don't like it!
Yes, I'm crazy.
I also hold grudges against people (although in principle I strongly disagree with it). Once in an important end of year maths test, this guy who had been bullying me for the past year kept on talking in the middle of the test, and he was driving me nuts, so I got up, walked over to his desk, and sat right on his desk, swung my legs around to him, and just smiled at him. I'm gay, so I use friendliness as a weapon, boys don't like it!
:shock: Bwahahahaa *almost trashes computer* , beautiful, hilarious.
:shock: Bwahahahaa *almost trashes computer* , beautiful, hilarious.
Yes, well it brought a little relief to everyone in an otherwise uneventful maths test. What was I thinking? I honestly don't know! :lol: