Paranoia

Something happened today that piqued my paranoia sensors (I've got lots of them). While I won't go into what it was because it really isn't that interesting, it made me start thinking of how I hate jumping to conclusions.

I tend to underreact to situations when they are happening. I don't want to make a big deal out of something while it is ongoing, in case it isn't anything and I am just being "paranoid" about it. I often regret this after the fact. I could save myself lots of worrying and anxiety if I just spoke up with my suspicions.

However, my personality type is such that I prefer to spare others in case I'm wrong. Maybe it's because I don't want to look like a dumbass. Maybe it's because I hate when people have jumped to wild conclusions about me. (which reminds me: In college I went back to my apartment after being at my parents' house for the weekend. There were four of us sharing an apartment, and we'd just gotten a new roommate. She was on the couch when I walked in the front door, carrying my laundry, a bag of stuff I need for overnight trips, and my keys in my mouth; she later told me that because I didn't say "hi" right away that she thought I was a "bitch". Nevermind that I couldn't talk with keys in my mouth- I know unsanitary! I also later found out that my other roommates and some of my classmates thought I was stuck up because I was quiet. ??? Have these people never heard of someone being shy? I also was suffering from post-partum depression, which didn't exactly make me talkative.)

Anyway, that is my random thought for today...

Never mind that...

You need to be on a topic to digress onto a tangent. I really like the word. I actually have a children's story where a creature's name is Random Tangent. He put words into the protagonist's mouth that created trouble. I never got it into publishable shape, but it could be at a later date. Who knows?

Anyway, I have a blog about autism, which I try to keep somewhat on topic with posts about autism in general or about the craziness that my daughters, who both have autism, and I are up to. That's why I created this blog to cover all of the other random thoughts that I have. (hence the title!)

Which reminds me: I really dislike when people say that someone is autistic. Things are autistic, people have autism. I used to say it a bunch when my daughters were first diagnosed, but it really began to get on my nerves after a while. You may think I'm being too politically correct, but that's okay, I feel you are entitled to your opinion. I'm nice like that.

I am near-sighted, have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, take anti-depressants, and have the occasional migraine. However, no one introduces me by listing my medical conditions. No one says, "Hey, this is depressed Laura," or, "Here's my near-sighted friend, Laura."

Another pet peeve (where does that saying come from anyway?) is calling things "retarded". Again, back in the day, I was guilty of using this word incorrectly. I've since changed my ignorant ways.

Let's say your overweight. Would you like it, if when you were around me, I called everything I didn't like "fat"? Then when you protest, I'd say, "Oh, I didn't mean it in a bad way. You know, I just meant lazy, disgusting, worthless, vile, etc.".

Because that's exactly how I interpret it when people say something like, "That's so retarded!"; I then inform them that I don't like the way they incorrectly used the word and that I find it offensive. They generally proceed to cram their foot right past their lips and down into their esophagus by replying, "Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I meant stupid (or dumb or some other synonym with a negative connotation)."

Oh, well, that makes it okay! You think people that are mentally retarded are stupid and dumb. My apologies for wrongly taking offense! (yes, for those of you who are wondering, I am being facetious)

If you don't get it now, you probably never will unless someone close to you is affected with a learning disability.

A closing disclaimer: I love to use parenthetical expressions and ellipses. (even when they aren't grammatically correct...)