why do people think were idiots?

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what makes a NT think that?


EDIT:
can i actually get actual answers?

seriously this is getting annoying.

Maybe because we often have a blank look and don't respond, which some people mistake for lack of intelligence.

Maybe it's the social mistakes that we make from time to time.

Maybe it's the false assumptions some of us may tend to make. It could also have something to do with some of the esoteric questions that some of us may tend to ask.

Not only do most people think I am an idiot, they will be downright hostile sometimes. I was trying to get a gift card in a checkout line at walmart and a woman almost rammed be with her cart! She then said "Are you in line?"

Are you told that you have a blank face? If so who told you? I am told that I have a blank face numerous times by my peers, but I cannot seem to get a professional to understand must less offer suggestions. I was told one time that I have inappropriate or incongruent affect. It was just the one time and it was my boss at Dunkin donuts. She said my words did not match my face. I did not know much about autism at the time, but I remember it like it was yesterday even though it was 8 years ago. I bring this up as well to professionals and most have never heard of it and no one seems to have an answer.

@heffe: No, I'm not told that, but it's a common aspect of having autism.

@random: I gave you an actual answer.

I try not to assume things, but I think there are some positive aspects. History does seem to repeat itself, so I think the snap judgments are just a defense mechanism. Like my overactive fight or flight reflex. I really like to see this as a positive thing and I feel that in another place or other time these useless and damaging behaviors would be assets. I will try to gather evidence first, and most of my assumptions are true in the end. I sometimes make snap judgments that end up being wrong, but I am right way more than I am wrong when it comes to people. The 1% usually refers to the top 1% wealthiest people in society that have a supposedly disproportionate share of capital, political influence, and the means of production. But to me, the 1% represents the number of decent people I encounter in life.

The average neurotypical takes social skills for granted. It is something that one "just knows". It is not something that needs to be explicitly taught. Other skills are considered to be more advanced because they require formal training and practice. So, if you cannot even learn social skills, you must be too stupid to learn anything.

This is their belief - as I understand it, I could also be wrong - not mine.

Summary: Blank looks, false assumptions, literal thinking, stupid questions, and social blunders ... yep, that just about covers it!

In my case, I think it's the way I talk, especially when I'm nervous (which is more likely if the person is a stranger). My speech will get very slow as I struggle to find the words, I will mix up words or syllables, stutter, or get tongue-tied. I also sometimes have very sore teeth from grinding my teeth at night, so some consonants are harder to get out without causing a painful facial spasm (e.g., words with P, B, or W). Most people are too impatient to let me take the time to get the words out, and will interrupt me or try to finish my sentence.

I think this is the answer.

Autism is depicted in the media as being horrible and compares most of us to Carly. Which is a part of autism but it doesn't depicted it as a spectrum and thats the problem. People think of autism as people spazzing out on the floor and thats not it at all. Some people just stick out more on the spectrum depending on you symptoms, if you stutter your a ret*d, if you shake your a ret*d. Thats the way they depict it and its easy to draw a conclusion that autism equals idiot. Funny that we are actually so intelligent and gifted in many ways, educate those willing to learn, ignore those who would remain blind.

Looking at my experiences I would say
A. I tend to look to the left of person I'm talking
B. "Easy concepts" escape me. Early on my wife thought I was joking with some of my questions.
C. My spelling has much to be desired.
D. My brain changes topics in conversation ..
E. I lose interest ...

My guesses:

Naivety and too trusting
Not learning from your mistakes
Not getting hints
Not understanding simple directions that would be simple for most people
Social "ignorance"
Taking things literal
Slow processing speed and screwing up with words so you say the wrong thing you didn't mean to say
Asking too many questions
Not very good verbal language or communication

I think I'm a bloody idiot in some ways. Most people are.