Thread by @AtypicalPsych

It’s not just the general public that misinterprets #Autistic “severity” & hidden meanings from observable behaviours (see analysis in ‘A Tale of Two Ableisms’ by @TheAspergianCom RT @RussellRElliot) re. GretaThunberg & Kodi Lee.

Even professionals can get it wrong.

A so-called body language expert’s interpretation of Greta Thunberg’s #Autistic facial expressions is a case in point. For some time now Greta Thunberg has been a convenient target for unsolicited thoughts from all sorts of people in this world, good and bad.

Yet since most of us have never met Greta or her parents, nearly all of these must be projections from the inner recesses of people’s psyches, good and bad.

Initially, the most appalling “criticisms” came from narcissistic middle-aged men, but so-called admirers have put forth equally baffling interpretations, praising the teen #ClimateActivist for the “seriousness” of her facial expressions.

While Greta’s facial expressions are none of our business, as #ActuallyAustitic members of the #AutisticCommunity analyzing the public’s reaction to them is very much our business.
 
One #BodyLanguageExpert allegedly familiar with #Aspergers

when interviewed about the “science” (delicious irony here) behind Greta’s body language [during the glare for posterity she gave to Trump] delivered an absurdly #Neurotypical reading of the teen’s #Autistic facial expressions.
 
The ”expert” publicly opined

that Greta, an #AutisticWomen, had experienced ”devastation” and other “normal emotions” by being “IGNORED” and “UPSTAGED” by Trump “HIJACKING HER BIG MOMENT” and that “Anybody would feel the emotions SHE did.”

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7….
 
The “expert” then compared (again, I’m not kidding) Greta’s reaction to: “being the bride at a wedding and watching someone

… prance down the aisle ahead of you!”
 
#AskingAutistics #AutisticsForGreta: If we MUST heap conjecture on a 16-year-old #ClimateActivist’s understandable glare, shouldn’t we supplant this staggeringly #Allistic misapprehension of #Autistic emotions with an #ActuallyAutistic 1?

Surely from our standpoint, it is far more likely the #Aspergers teen was SURPRISED by the sudden commotion (“I think I was very shocked” she said later); people.com/human-interest… then CONFUSED (#Neurodiversity); then likely

FURIOUS to see Trump (#ClimateCrisis denier) & UNSETTLED by the unexpected interruption (#Autism).
 
But it seems most #Allistics really cannot grasp the reality of #Autistic altruism, honesty, passion and focus, therefore seek

explanations in the only terms THEY understand, rooted in social hierarchy, competition and jealousy.
 
#Neurotypical experts should stick to observed FACTS and steer clear of interpreting INNER motives they can never hope to understand.