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Life On The Spectrum: 80 Autism Memes So Accurate They Should Come With A Warning Label
When you have a touch of the ‘tism, life’s just a little bit different. According to the CDC, about 2.21% of adults in the United States have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). So, about two people out of 100 that you meet might exhibit signs of neurodivergence: missing social cues, hyperfixating on hobbies, stimming, and many others.
If you’re autistic yourself, there’s a certain kind of humor that you might find relatable more than others. The Instagram page “Life in an Autism World” is dedicated to memes for the neurodivergent mind. They’re all about what it’s like experiencing and navigating the world when your brain is wired a little bit differently, and their 182k followers are a testament to how relatable their content really is.
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#3
KitchenToto 3 weeks ago
Tell me about it! I am a very logical thinker and if anyone asks for my advice or opinion I give it unfiltered which can upset them if it isn't what they want to hear
Before the days of autism awareness, many people assumed that having autism meant you didn't have a sense of humor. Today, many know that's a pretty inappropriate and inaccurate thing to say—not only because it's false, but because it's factually untrue.
A sense of humor is a funny thing; there's no one definition that would fit any given person. People find different things funny: some like toilet humor, some want their jokes dark and twisted, some enjoy observational comedy, and others may think that dad, "Yo Mama," and "Knock knock" jokes are the epitome of comedy.
Essentially, it's different strokes for different folks, so, how can we really tell if a certain person (or a group) has or doesn't have a sense of humor?
#5
Laserleader 3 weeks ago
It seems unfair that some people don't have an inner monologue at all, when I've got three orchestras, two storytellers, and at least one running commentary that can be louder than external sounds, all running on loops in my head.
#6
David Paterson 3 weeks ago
Deep thinkers tend towards depression. Because they know what's likely to happen.
Why would someone think that autistic people have no sense of humor? We need only to look at how people have speculated about Albert Einstein having autism as an example. Some people believe his genius was a mark of his neurodivergence. But because he had a sociable personality and a warm sense of humor, that apparently meant it was impossible for him to have been on the spectrum.
While autistic individuals may struggle with social awareness, the notion that they lack a sense of humor is just nonsense. Claire Jack, Ph.D., a researcher who specializes in working with women with ASD, writes for Psychology Today that autistic people may express laughter in different ways than neurotypicals or not understand "traditional" jokes, leading to such misconceptions.
#8
Michael Fernandez 3 weeks ago
As an engineer, I had to watch failures happen that I’d warned about as much as ten years in the past, in the exact way I’d described they’d happen.
We use laughter for more than just the expression of finding something funny. For neurotypical people, it's also a social interaction: when other people laugh in a movie theater, we're more inclined to at least let out a chuckle as well. Autistic people don't have that inclination: they only laugh when they find something truly funny.
#10
Verity Stewart 2 weeks ago
I'm autistic and i mask to fit in it's tiring and soon as I get home I feel relieved and I sit down eating ice cream
#11
KitchenToto 3 weeks ago
I would like to tell you about the fascinating relationships between vertical symmetry in nature and at the molecular level. What do you mean when you say you're not interested!
On the other hand, people on the spectrum may also laugh at times when there's nothing to laugh about. Some individuals simply punctuate their speech with laughter; others let out a laugh at inappropriate or inopportune times at work, school, or in public when they're too nervous, stressed, struggle to express certain emotions, or are overwhelmed by their senses. This may give other people the impression that for people with ASD, laughter is a tic and they don't really find "regular things" funny.
#13
Kira Okah 3 weeks ago
I, erm, am. Probably something that should have been fostered more actually; I didn't like my classes because I often didn't understand how it was explained, but otherwise as soon as the process clicks I actually love it. I still enjoy trigonometry now that I understand it.
#14
Andrew Keir 2 weeks ago
Oh gods yes, those 2 a.m. replays of interactions with neurotypicals ...
The claim that autistic people don't find "traditional" jokes funny has some truth to it. Some people on the spectrum may struggle to understand humor that uses figurative language and abstract concepts. Instead, they prefer jokes that are more straightforward, include repetition and sameness, and are more literal.
Neurodivergent and neurotypical people often fail to understand each other because of their differing communication styles. That's why neurotypicals probably wouldn't find many of the memes on this list funny, and, in turn, many autistic people don't really relate to "regular" funny memes. In 2012, researcher Dr. Damian Milton proposed that it's not that autistic people are in any way deficient — they simply communicate in different ways.
#19
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Don't read the list too closely. It'll break your brain that they are hoping to find a fresh new graduate with five years of experience in something that was invented two years ago.
#20
Laserleader 3 weeks ago (edited)
They said "use common sense", so I researched what was commonly used in the culture, found pictures they said to copy and replicated it exactly, and still got it wrong because their "common" sense was based on their particular personal experience and not "common".
#21
Andrew Keir 2 weeks ago
We're all born into a game where we don't know the rules, and have to learn them as the game progresses. It's just that some of us find that the rules are written in a foreign language that is kept from us..
Research by Dr. Catherine Crompton has demonstrated that when autistic people are put in groups with other autistic people, they communicate and pass information just as well as neurotypical people. When the groups get mixed, communication breakdowns become way more common. This proved that autistic people don't struggle with social interactions per se: they just struggle with social interactions with neurotypical people. Navigating non-autistic communication styles was the struggle all along.
#22
Laserleader 3 weeks ago (edited)
When I hear that... I have a great response. my allistic husband and I have exactly the same views and habits, but our reasons are totally different. Knowing those differences is why we can put up with each other on the things that make no sense to the other.
#23
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 2 weeks ago
Supposedly, ND children are criticised 200,000 times more than their 'normal' peers throughout childhood and d**n, did I feel that
Gerald Ogden 2 weeks ago
My ND son whose journey revealed what was hidden to me talked about if you're 0-95% normal or 100% normal nothing happens. if you're in the 96-99 range it causes brains to freak out. Why we draw lightning. Hope it helps. It helped me to understand WHY.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Please define what you mean by "weird". (followed by sounds of crickets)
Verity Stewart 2 weeks ago
I'm autistic and i learnt the only one I should be worried about is myself I know i don't fit into society, and if people don't like me for myself it's their problem not mine
Katherine Richardson Âû 2 weeks ago
Thankfully something clicked as an adult and I literally don't care. I used to be so stressed out and upset all the time because of things like that were I just couldn't change anyway and now I just don't care maybe a little bit too much but I don't care
#24
Littlemiss 2 weeks ago (edited)
Then add trauma, you get depression, anxiety, agrophobia, panic attacks, and AuDHD its heaps of fun. If you add narsacistic parents and its all on.
Which of these memes did you find the most relatable, Pandas? Do you think they're a good reflection of navigating the world when you're on the spectrum? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! And after, don't forget to check out our previous publications featuring relatable memes for neurodivergent people and these surprising stories of people accurately self-diagnosing themselves.
#26
MonsterMum 2 weeks ago (edited)
A girl cut my hair for me once and it was awful. I had to wear a hat until it grew out. I thought she wasn't very good at hairdressing. Later, it was explained that she was jealous of me because a guy liked me (who I had no interest in). I didn't get the pretending to be nice, why?
#31
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
I'm a counter. I suck at maths and my memory is about as reliable as a Sinclair RAM upgrade, but I count s**t. When I'm unloading the trays at work onto the trolley thing, I can hand it over with a fake smile and say "there are 147 trays". Why? Because I counted. And sometimes I forget so I have to do my job *and* recount from the beginning. Because, like, the world will end or something if I haven't counted them correctly. It's so annoying. How many lights are in the room? Eleven. How fast is the machine going? One tray every six and a half seconds. There are, in case anybody cares, nine wall panels along that wall there. And you have come in looking for trays seven times since I began my shift. [sigh]
#33
Andrew Keir 2 weeks ago
A family member is a medic and mentions that any presentation beginning with "I didn't want to bother you, but ..." is likely to need immediate treatment. The other clue is if it's a farmer - they only call for help if a limb is missing. All of it.
#35
WhyamIhere? 2 weeks ago
As a neurotypical, this is sometimes how it feels. With all due respect, just my own cognitive dissonance.
#36
#38
Andrew Keir 2 weeks ago
Not just autism. This statement works for justabout any thinking pattern / ability set / mental style that differs from the majority one.
#39
#41
Andrew Keir 2 weeks ago
As I get older, I am less concerned about other people's opinions - unless the people are my friends
#42
Tinkershark 3 weeks ago (edited)
I dislike this one. Painting any experience or pattern you don't understand as inauthentic or bad is a problem in some toxic autism spaces. It is a mindset which can hold autistic people back, or even lead to them treating others unfairly. We aren't just too cool for "inauthentic" social cues, struggling to read legitimate social cues/patterns is a common part of autism. I have seen this mindset cause fellow autistic people to treat those around them dismissively and rudely while expecting to receive care or respect they don't give back, then be hurt & blame ablism when they end up alone. It doesn't make us bad or inferior to admit we struggle in this area. Imagine a dyslexic saying "we only struggle to read the stupid words" instead of just working on accepting that dyslexia causes among other things reading difficulties, but that does not make dyslexics inferior or stupid.
#45
Andrew Keir 2 weeks ago
I find the official, written down "Protocol" is a help here. You do what it says, and if it doesn't cover the situation you're in, then that's the fault of the guy who wrote it. But then some ánal sphincter comes along and says "That's not what it means" and invents a new meaning for the words used. Some days I feel really sorry for the Founding Fathers ...
#46
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Whether you like the job or not, there is - these days - a lot of insecurity lurking in the background. Your job might be bought out and shut down, the management might make some really poor decisions, and so on. Also, I think everybody has moments of "is this REALLY what I want to be doing with my life?". All the things I thought I could do when I was young, and here I am, stuck here, doing this. And I don't even have the option of saying "s***w this" and simply quitting, as all the bills will keep on coming...
#48
Andrew Keir 2 weeks ago
In some people's minds, that *is* a crime. Or, at least, they act as if it is
#49
Kiki Likes Sweets 3 weeks ago
Yep, same album on the way to work every day for the last 7 years!!
#54
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 weeks ago
I was always terrified that someone would notice any imperfection in the cutlery I placed at their place at the table (because of course *I* noticed every nick and blemish) and that they'd hate me for giving them such a horrible spoon, so I always gave other people the best-looking cutlery and used the messed-up stuff myself, even if I disliked that person XD
#56
Space Invader 2 weeks ago
In everyday conversation, people often mistake me for a snobby intellectual because of my vocabulary - when in truth I'm just trying to get my point across as precisely as possible in the futile hope of finally being understood. You could say my manner of speech is not vain, but in vain...
#57
Lukas (alt) 2 weeks ago
I'm so glad I don't hear electricity. I think it would push me over the edge ngl.
#58
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Noise cancelling headphones, something calming like Lacromisa playing, and sunglasses to deal with the harsh lighting. Then shopping is tolerable. Just so long as they have left everything where it is supposed to be and haven't shuffled the aisles like a deck of cards. Right now, at my local, baby food is opposite pasta from their last shuffle. Baby food.... pasta... WHAT!? WHY!?
#60
Andrew Keir 2 weeks ago
"A man convinced against his will / Remains of that opinion still". It's not just neurotypicals who don't want to be convinced.
#61
Lukas (alt) 2 weeks ago
I agree with some other autistic people being harder to get along with, I often say "our autism doesn't click". It's frustrating.
#64
Lukas (alt) 2 weeks ago
I think I'm like this, over my bio mom dying. It wasn't something cruel, but she overdosed, and my mind constantly asks, "why? Was I not enough?" I know that's not how addiction works, but I was four, the only child she kept, and I might have even been planned. Even though I know it's not logical, all I can ask is, "why?" And I have nobody to ask, because she's d**d. And my stepdad died the February after she did, when I was in foster care. And I have no contact with anyone who knew her. Who was she? Did she love me? Did she think about me at all when she was using, did she try and quit? I know these questions aren't fair, but they've stuck with me my whole childhood.
#65
TroubleMarkOne 2 weeks ago
David, social anxiety is a common trait as part of the SPECTRUM of conditions experienced by people with autism. That doesn't preclude neurotypicals from having social anxiety, but it isn't the same as having a multitude of comorbid traits that comprise an autism diagnosis. You really are talking out of your a**e.
#67
#71
TroubleMarkOne 2 weeks ago
JFC - David, you have the emotional intelligence of a Windows 95 error message.
#72
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 weeks ago
I've heard all of these exact quotes from my mother and sister. It's wonderfully horrible to know that I'm not alone and that other people have experienced this too (at least enough to make a meme out of it!) I also went through a really bad period of depression after having a pinpoint stroke 15ish years ago that left me with vision impairment and hearing loss. I drew some art with some of my mom and sister's direct quotes from that time period - image in comment below. This meme reminds me of that art I drew.
#76
#79
Gerald Ogden 2 weeks ago
Had a coworker say that to me. I had to tell him that he'd be the only one who could've said that to me and have me see it and know it was meant as a compliment.
#80
Verity Stewart 2 weeks ago
Trump said tylenol causes autism. Totally incorrect your born autistic like me, my brother and myself daughter.
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TroubleMarkOne 2 weeks ago
I wish one commenter had read more and written less. As a late diagnosed AuDHDer, I admit we all experience life differently but its the degree of debilitation and the density of traits, all fighting for cognitive supremacy that differentiates fron neurotypicals and even from other NDers. That's why it's called a spectrum. Negative responses to a thread specifically about neurodivergence may be one man's opinion but it detracts from other's lived experiences. There was a total lack of kindness in some comments, let alone understanding.
TroubleMarkOne 2 weeks ago
Working down the list, I progressed from explanation, through indignation and ultimately landed on quiet insult before realising that I was quite enjoying the sport, although it's unfair when only one side has the rulebook.
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LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 weeks ago
Things I learned from this post: David thinks he's the world's leading expert on what autism is or isn't. David also thinks that every single stereotypical autistic trait or behavior is actually neurotypical. David must be a top-tier clinical psychologist in real life!
Auntriarch 2 weeks ago
David thinks he's an expert on everything. Occasionally he is. Not today though.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Expecting the end comments to all be about one particular person. Sees the end comments are about one particular person. Is satisfied that the pattern recognition is functioning correctly.🥰
OneWithRatsAndKefir 2 weeks ago
David is the reason why I mask for one hour and burnout for two months.
Lukas (alt) 2 weeks ago
God I love that BP changed the layout of the website on the post about autism, therefore making it hard to read because the layout change is throwing me off so badly. Thanks for that lol
Ace 2 weeks ago
Eh? Have you got the mobile version loading or something? No change visible from here.
Load More Replies...
Seán Baron 2 weeks ago
I was once asked if I could tone my autism down. Took me ages to stop laughing.
James016 2 weeks ago
Another funny thing my son did was at his SEN transition day at his new secondary school. We were waiting with the other families in the reception area when without any fear he walk over to a student who will be one or two years older than him and he introduces himself and asks her name. She told him. They spoke for a moment but not sure what they said. He has speech and language delays so usually he asks their name and favourite train. But he has no hesitation going up to people and saying hello. He does struggle beyond that to make conversation but he starts off well.
YHZ 2 weeks ago
David said: A lot of what is stigmatized above as "autistic" is instead just "logical". Relatively unaffected by crooked thinking. Relatively unaffected by fakery in advertising. I wish more people were like this. The fact that he believes this is all "stigma" and not diagnosis is just "sad", as is the fact that he's stuck on one very particular aspect of autism. Dude, it's not all about your definition of "logical thinking".
James016 2 weeks ago
My son has just finished primary school and he was the most visibly sen child in the class. The other kids found ways to communicate with him very quickly. At his graduation ceremony when they were going up and getting their gift bags, he was the only one who got a cheer from his friends. He got a lot of support during their rehearsals for their play. It was treasure island and he was the parrot and the only one to put on a voice. He is going to secondary school with one other from his class. The others told that boy he was lucky as my son could help him with maths. He hit the jackpot with the class as they were very understanding and never forced him to be anything other than who he is.
Ace 2 weeks ago
I've never had any desire to be labelled, but like so many people a lot of these apply to me too, so I'm somewhere on the neurodivergent scale, but honestly I think we all are - is there really anyone who can say that they've never had any of these feelings?
TroubleMarkOne 2 weeks ago
I appreciate your point, but it's not about feelings or having some things in common - it's when all, or nearly all traits apply to you, every day with varying intensity and damage your day-to-day life, executive functioning, relationships and employment. We're not all a 'little bit autistic'. People are either autistic or they're not. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with specific diagnostic criteria. For example, social anxiety can affect anyone but that alone doesn't make someone autistic. Autism, or ADHD for that matter, are diagnosed when multiple elements coalesce and present significant clinical impairment. Lots of people relate to ND traits (some may even prove to be autistic) but it's not the same as living with the full cluster every day.
Load More Replies... TroubleMarkOne 2 weeks ago
I wish one commenter had read more and written less. As a late diagnosed AuDHDer, I admit we all experience life differently but its the degree of debilitation and the density of traits, all fighting for cognitive supremacy that differentiates fron neurotypicals and even from other NDers. That's why it's called a spectrum. Negative responses to a thread specifically about neurodivergence may be one man's opinion but it detracts from other's lived experiences. There was a total lack of kindness in some comments, let alone understanding.
TroubleMarkOne 2 weeks ago
Working down the list, I progressed from explanation, through indignation and ultimately landed on quiet insult before realising that I was quite enjoying the sport, although it's unfair when only one side has the rulebook.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 weeks ago
Things I learned from this post: David thinks he's the world's leading expert on what autism is or isn't. David also thinks that every single stereotypical autistic trait or behavior is actually neurotypical. David must be a top-tier clinical psychologist in real life!
Auntriarch 2 weeks ago
David thinks he's an expert on everything. Occasionally he is. Not today though.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Expecting the end comments to all be about one particular person. Sees the end comments are about one particular person. Is satisfied that the pattern recognition is functioning correctly.🥰
OneWithRatsAndKefir 2 weeks ago
David is the reason why I mask for one hour and burnout for two months.
Lukas (alt) 2 weeks ago
God I love that BP changed the layout of the website on the post about autism, therefore making it hard to read because the layout change is throwing me off so badly. Thanks for that lol
Ace 2 weeks ago
Eh? Have you got the mobile version loading or something? No change visible from here.
Load More Replies... Seán Baron 2 weeks ago
I was once asked if I could tone my autism down. Took me ages to stop laughing.
James016 2 weeks ago
Another funny thing my son did was at his SEN transition day at his new secondary school. We were waiting with the other families in the reception area when without any fear he walk over to a student who will be one or two years older than him and he introduces himself and asks her name. She told him. They spoke for a moment but not sure what they said. He has speech and language delays so usually he asks their name and favourite train. But he has no hesitation going up to people and saying hello. He does struggle beyond that to make conversation but he starts off well.
YHZ 2 weeks ago
David said: A lot of what is stigmatized above as "autistic" is instead just "logical". Relatively unaffected by crooked thinking. Relatively unaffected by fakery in advertising. I wish more people were like this. The fact that he believes this is all "stigma" and not diagnosis is just "sad", as is the fact that he's stuck on one very particular aspect of autism. Dude, it's not all about your definition of "logical thinking".
James016 2 weeks ago
My son has just finished primary school and he was the most visibly sen child in the class. The other kids found ways to communicate with him very quickly. At his graduation ceremony when they were going up and getting their gift bags, he was the only one who got a cheer from his friends. He got a lot of support during their rehearsals for their play. It was treasure island and he was the parrot and the only one to put on a voice. He is going to secondary school with one other from his class. The others told that boy he was lucky as my son could help him with maths. He hit the jackpot with the class as they were very understanding and never forced him to be anything other than who he is.
Ace 2 weeks ago
I've never had any desire to be labelled, but like so many people a lot of these apply to me too, so I'm somewhere on the neurodivergent scale, but honestly I think we all are - is there really anyone who can say that they've never had any of these feelings?
TroubleMarkOne 2 weeks ago
I appreciate your point, but it's not about feelings or having some things in common - it's when all, or nearly all traits apply to you, every day with varying intensity and damage your day-to-day life, executive functioning, relationships and employment. We're not all a 'little bit autistic'. People are either autistic or they're not. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with specific diagnostic criteria. For example, social anxiety can affect anyone but that alone doesn't make someone autistic. Autism, or ADHD for that matter, are diagnosed when multiple elements coalesce and present significant clinical impairment. Lots of people relate to ND traits (some may even prove to be autistic) but it's not the same as living with the full cluster every day.
Load More Replies... 
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