this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2026
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Autism
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I don't think it's quite as simple. It's not like we need to be told to have empathy. I think I'm overly sensitive to empathy naturally. From a lot of my earliest memories I can remember only naturally caring for the conditions and feelings of others. Thinking and feeling are different. But feelings seem to be harder for me to express, but not for lack of having them.
I think the issue is more about needing to be told what is socially important. The idea of "caring about what others think" is a contradiction to how the society we live in works. The idea of "caring about what others think" is instead about "caring about not being disruptive".
The OP phrase is a good simple way of saying it. But, the "being told not to care what people think" is closer to "don't worry why that person sleeps on the street" for me. I'm more exhausted with how much I have to pretend that's normal.