28 Comments
Sep 25Liked by Autistic Ang

Yep, this is why I was so into forums. Asynchronous communication. I'd get up and read people's posts, and gradually through the day my brain would come up with responses. I'd scribble them down on scrap paper and then type them up at night. I could say far more that way than I ever could in a so-called "conversation".

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Not to mention the additional processing time! thanks for sharing this; often we see text as “less than” but I agree with you.

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This is why I write on Substack. It's the best way to express myself. I have less trust for my abilities in person 😕

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“Why I’d Rather Text You: Or On Why I Will Never Answer Your Calls.” Why waste our time?! Ha ha! 🤣

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"Or why I will never see your reels" 😆

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😆

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Yeeeeeeeessssss!!!! I really cannot stand long phone conversations. As eloquently as I write and can even speak in person sometimes, I am inevitably awkward on the phone. I never know how long to pause or how to make meaningless small talk and if I'm going to have a long conversation I absolutely require the visible human feedback that goes with it or I'm just out of my element. I know that I have irritated some people with my reticence to have long phone chats, but I don't let people make that my problem anymore. If I can text that's usually what imma do.

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author

Couldn’t agree more. Thank you for saying that! I have nooooo idea how I did it for decades at jobs, having to talk on the phone on a regular basis!

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Sep 27Liked by Autistic Ang

Yes I do not know how I was so friendly in my Foodtruck 😹😹😹😹

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It's interesting that you say that, because as much as I deplore normal person to person phone conversations, I have also worked on the phones, and not only was I good at it, but I even mostly enjoyed it. I think that might have something to do with the fact that if I'm on the phone for work, I'm usually operating under a fairly structured framework with very little ambiguity or variance in the conversation. If I'm working on the phone I know what I have to say and usually how my employer wants me to say it and I can stop worrying about the quickly shifting sands of trying to carry a normal convo.

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author

Ohhh that’s interesting as well. You saying that reminds me that I did actually enjoy the phone as well, becuase it was tied into my job, which was my special interest at the time. Most phone calls followed the same pattern so that probably helped too.

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Sep 27Liked by Autistic Ang

Exactly!! You are

Correct. People

Think I’m an extrovert because I was a chatty hairdresser a deli worker I owned a Foodtruck and chat I can. But on my terms and turf. If I said to people I was an introvert no one believes me because iv always had very social Jobs. Not a fan of people Otherwise. Phones give me anxiety. You hit the nail on the head. We can be whoever when we are working.

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Exactly! I know that I was quite capable of putting on the most socially forward persona when I was working the customer service/customer relations types of jobs. I worked at Oregon State run poker rooms for years and years and that required a very social personality. But it's not who I was when I went home at night.

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author

Thanks DeeDee 😊Same here. I used to be a counselor and was pretty chatty and in my element. People thought I was extroverted. At the time I wondered why I was so good at talking at work but not in my personal life. Now I know lol

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Sep 27Liked by Autistic Ang

Me too. Phoning feels

Weird even when I talk to my daughter. It’s awkward and I know she feels it. She said call Whenever you like. I don’t. It scares me. Mom I could talk to for an hour and often did. But that’s it. She’s gone. I’d rather text.

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There's only one person who I conversate with on a daily basis and that's my 90 year old grandmother and that call I wouldn't miss for all the money on the planet. She gets a lot more effort than most people when it comes to the phone calling. 😊

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Sep 25Liked by Autistic Ang

My son is on the spectrum, and I prefer texting to calling, which now tells me a lot.🤔🙂 I'm grateful to read your thoughts.

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author

Thank you for reading and saying that 😊

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Sep 27Liked by Autistic Ang

I feel the same! Always thought I was introvert or maybe anti social or just don’t like people. I need to have things on my space and time and I come home to wind down and rejuvenate. I could stay home for weeks and weeks 😹👩🏻‍🎨

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Sep 26Liked by Autistic Ang

Yes!! I struggle with this constantly. Texting is so peaceful and it’s far easier to express myself fully. Thank you for articulating this so beautifully, Ang!

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author

Thank you for reading 😊

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Well "said!"

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😊👍🙏

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I prefer texting too. It really gets on my nerves when I receive those voice messages

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Sep 27Liked by Autistic Ang

Yeah I don’t call

Anyone and I don’t pickup unless I have to. I want to call my kids. They don’t seem interested. The halting awkward words you mention are so it. I dislike the phone. Gives me anxiety. If my daughter called me it would feel different because it means she wants to. I don’t call people because I don’t know if they want to talk to me. Texting is safer. Your words and revelations are profound. 💕

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author

Oh, you are making me blush. Thank you. Here’s what I think is profound about your words: “I don’t call people because I don’t know if they want to talk to me.” I’ve felt this way my entire life and only heard someone else echo this just now. Thank you thank you 😊

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Sep 27Liked by Autistic Ang

Awe💕 your words were profound. It’s been only lately that I find there are others.

Oh boy really!!! Scary when someone understands me. 😹😹😹😹

We Speak the same language I guess. We are all in this together. 💕

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author

We most certainly are 😊Thank you for finding me. I'm still getting used to how nice it feels to have other people understand me.

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