What’s one misconception people have about you?

[-Blue-]

Honestly, most people I know in real life think I'm a very positive person when in fact I'm quite the opposite. My boss even listed my positivity as one of my strengths in my annual review a few months ago. But that's just a front I put on in public because negativity doesn't go over well in society.

It's not so much that I'm a constant downer. I can find joy in things. But I've found that I protect myself emotionally by always preparing for the worst possible outcome. If I expect something good, and it doesn't turn out as good as I hoped I'll always be disappointed. But by expecting the worst, assuming things go better than that, then I can actually be happy with the result. Most people don't realize that's what going on in my head, though, because I try to assure everyone that things will work out even if I don't really believe it.

Batman does that to. He has a contingency plan for everything. It's not a bad thing to have. I know I sometimes overplan some things and or projects I do just because you never know what might happen.

I guess mine would be that people think I'm just boring. Because a lot of my hobbies are physical so they associate that with 'working' and will always comment with things like do you ever stop working? Gardening = working, antique restoration = working, exercising = working, ect. It does get annoying, but whatever, I guess I can be like them and just scroll on Instagram forever.

 

[nightglow]

I'm not really into socializing in person so alot of people think I'm shy or I don't like them when really I don't have anything to say or i do and know they aren't interested in x at all. Alot of social stuff people do feels forced honestly so alot of the time it feels awkward to me or ritualistic. Id just rather be alone than be in those situations.
Prople often think I'm younger than I actually am. It has often put my spouse in some awkward moments socially. We are the same age btw.
I've also been mistaken for being part Hispanic many times, with it, sometimes things that isn't nice. I just have European Native American ancestry as far as I know and I only know English...
Being fat, people are often surprised I don't eat much or that I like fruit and veggies. Or that I hate blobs of icing on cake so I scrape it off (birthday cakes are the worst for that). Like they are flabbergasted. Unfortunately people don't seem to grasp the many variables that can cause weight and that fat people can like and eat healthy foods and not eat gobs and have dislikes for things that aren't good for them anyway.

 

[PacV]

That i'm weak and kind of a coward. That i think i know everything (when i don't even like to give my opinion about anything), that i'm kind of useless…

 

[LuchaSloth]

People think I'm angry or unsociable all the time. I think a lot of people find me kind of scary, tbh. I just have this kind of face. - It's really not true. I mean...I'm not the most sociable person ever...but I am certainly not angry or upset on most occasions. I feel like I get judged just for having a full beard and a stern face.

 

[VanitasFan26]

Whenever I visit a doctor they ALWAYS keep reminding me to lose weight. Like come on I'm tired of hearing that all the time. Yes I know I have to eat healthy, Yes I know I have to do exercise, but I have to also watch my blood sugar. I sometimes wonder if they understand about the dangers of eating very less or exercising too much can actually lower blood sugar which can be dangerous.

Even my parents always seem to point out if I gain weight. I mean seriously these past few months have already been hard for me since the hospital incident and the last thing I need is for people to constantly remind me about how much I weigh as if that is more important than my blood results.

 

[arikins]

i think my looks and overall mannerisms really deceive people. i've been told i "look innocent" dozens of times. i've always been short and everything about me seems to be a little smaller than others. i hide behind my hair and have sweet-looking eyes.

im not by any means a mean person, i'm just not as timid and shy as people think i am.

 

[KazooSquirrel]

That I am always mad.

I just have RBF (Resting B-word face)

To everyone else, I apparently look like I am thinking deeply about punching someone in the face.

To me, I am thinking about how ridiculously cute my dog's toe beans are, and a list of things I might need to get next time I grocery shop.

A person gets tired of constantly asked what is wrong and why they are mad...especially when they have told you they aren't.

Admittedly after being asked about 13 times, I DO begin to get annoyed...

X.x

 

[angiepie]

People think I’m way younger than I really am. That I’m stuck up because I’m very introverted and don’t like to talk much and because of how I look. People have gotten to know me and have said how chill out I am and how nice I am. I never really understood the stuck up part.

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

That I am nice to EVERYONE no matter what. For the most part I am but if you are ever mean to me I can hold a huge grudge so please be nice. I dont like it when my friends lie or steal stuff or when new people say rude things so be nice or BE QUIET

 

[Autumn247]

I think some people think I'm weird or not friendly because I don't talk much, it's just that I'm very shy and socially anxious, I have a hard time talking to new people. I'm afraid to start conversations with people but I will talk if someone talks to me first. I'm just bad at initiating conversation. I also feel like some people assume I'm a total introvert, while that's partially true, I also really enjoy quality time spent with people, and do enjoy socializing sometimes especially when I am comfortable around people. I'm more of an ambivert (I think that's the right word for partially introvert and partially extrovert?) anyway, I tend to do bad mentally if I'm inside by myself ALL the time, though I do enjoy my alone time very much too, I have to have a balance of both.

 

[Kamex]

People tell me that I'm a nice person simply because I'm usually quiet and I don't talk a lot. I don't really consider myself a nice person because I normally don't do generous things for other people, I just mind my own business and try to avoid bothering others. At times, I can be very blunt towards others and tell them something that can come off as offensive, though I've learned to become more considerate about what I say. People appreciate that I don't tease others or make fun of them for making mistakes, but otherwise I don't really consider myself a kind person, especially since I usually don't carry out acts of kindness. If someone ever makes me mad, I won't be afraid to give them a piece of my mind, haha.

 

[Chrysopal]

I do not like speaking very much. I don't have much to say, and one day I'd love to be mute by choice. Experiences are the best part to life, and I don't want to just talk about them..

 

[AWESOMEGAMER]

OHHH
My Face
That Im mean or condescending *so silly*
I just have an expressional face.
Just imagine that you did not tell a joke, and that everyone laughed, and then some one thoughed you talked about them behind there back, only we were in front of there face, and you try to explain.. that there is no joke, and you have no idea whet every one is laughing about........... and then every one just laughs more BUT HARDER......

YEA my life story
PSA no I dont have and face twitches, muscle spasms or turets......

 

[tumut]

that im str8

 

[WhiteLily210]

Some people think I cannot express emotions. That makes sense kind of since I don't know how to properly express them so I end up not expressing at all.

 

[themysterybidder]

Sorry, I'm going into a full scale rant here but this one for me is having arthritis because I'm only 32. I get all the time 'Oh, but you're so young? I thought it was only older people who suffered with that?" I am a nice person but inside I'm thinking 'Go and speak to my doctor, Rheumatologist, Rheumatology Nurse and physiotherapist and they'll tell you that I have arthritis and a other physical issues.' Also, the fact that I don't groan with pain all the time, or have many visual problems except for hand/finger swelling, and I am lop sided due to scoliosis. They probably think I'm just lazy not standing up straight. The main one is though that really bugs me is "But you're so happy, surely you would be depressed with your pain?" Yes, sometimes it does get me down when I think of all the things I should be doing at my age and I'm likely never to do them, but my answer to that is "Well, it's not your fault the way I am, so why should I take it out on you?" I try to keep a positive outlook despite everything, as I'm still going through different treatments. It's mentally difficult at times, but I try to get on with life the best way I can as, I know my limitations. People don't see the bad times when I'm at home in tears and can't even open a can or hold a pen, they would think I was faking. I always wish they could experience what I suffer for a day and then they would maybe realise young people do suffer with physical disabilities! Rant over!

 

[Drawdler]

I think people greatly overestimate my abilities, and sometimes people think I like being around them more than I do. Like, I don’t mean that in a rude way, but I feel like people just interpret me the way they want to. Maybe it’s a pretty common/normal thing, but people seem to always think I like listening to them or that I always speak the way I want to. No, sometimes I have to act and I also sometimes just say I‘m tired of listening but people ignore or deny it anyway.

As far as overestimating my abilities? Definitely with art. And these days with critical thinking. I’ve been through so much I’m burned out on most critical thinking and analysing. In general I also have trouble putting things together. I’m an idea person and people never really seem to get that. When I can finish creative pursuits it takes me a long time to thread things together in what I actually think is a meaningful way.

On a lighter note… People on the internet used to just assume I was male a lot. Years of being called “he” and generally being anonymous on here are why I’m cool with any pronoun people want to call me; I just say I identify as female for simplicity’s sake yet I still enjoy being called by male pronouns. I still don’t understand if that counts as bigender or agender, I suppose it’s more bigender, but it’s not a huge part of me anyway. Just something fun.

Oh and lastly, even though I’m in my 20s, people mistake me for a teenager sometimes? Maybe because I’m short.

 

[Croconaw]

Oh and lastly, even though I’m in my 20s, people mistake me for a teenager sometimes? Maybe because I’m short.

I hate this. Everyone automatically assumes I’m a minor because I’m short. Some people say I could dress older, but I’m not changing my style just to look older in the eyes of other people.

 

[Drawdler]

I just find it funny when people do it to me. If someone judges you poorly for it, it says more about them, but either way when I encounter it it’s an honest mistake. I could understand you being frustrated if people are more rude about it though. Like… honestly you should in that case.

On the positive side people always used to ask what I do with my skin because they said it was super clean. Haven’t been going out much since 2020 to bump into those compliments but I don’t even wear makeup and I don’t really do anything special to my skin? I just clean it with water.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

one of my favorite misconceptions that so many people have about me is that they assume bc I'm "high functioning" autistic that I don't actually have any kind of disabilities and that I don't struggle like "low functioning" autistic people do. that's why I hate using functioning labels. just because I appear to be somewhat normal doesn't mean that I don't struggle day in and day out.

a while back I was talking to someone who has literally known me for over a decade, and when I brought up that I can't work full time they said "oh im sure you could". that's like if a person in crutches says they can't walk up 35 stairs and someone says "yeah you can", like I guess technically yeah they could but it would be extremely difficult and the cost of pain greatly outweighs the benefit of having made it up the stairs.

I'm sorry this turned into a rant, but it really does make me angry and I wish people wouldn't assume things about how my autism affects me.