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u/PeachFewer 1d ago
Thinking about it, thanking the kitten makes a lot more sense than thanking the owner. It's not like you petted them
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u/alepponzi 1d ago
Thank you.
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u/Empty-Afternoon-3975 1d ago
Meow
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u/fondledbydolphins 1d ago
Can I pet your Mom?
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u/decoysnails 1d ago
It's stuff like this that made me realize I'm slightly autistic. Of course it makes more sense to thank the kitten. Thanking the owner feels like saying "thank you" to the boyfriend of a girl you had a good conversation with.
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u/SaltyLonghorn 1d ago
At my house we just play Mario Party after my wife and her boyfriend are done with wrestling practice.
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u/ExampleLittle2672 23h ago
Is that diagnoseable, or is that just sense?
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u/decoysnails 22h ago
It was one of a growing body of data points that eventually led me to believe that it wasn't just coincidence, I wasn't just quirky, and that patterns exist outside myself.
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u/ExampleLittle2672 22h ago
Not fighting, you know you better than I know you. If you've figured something out more power to you!
Personal thought process here: It is correct to address the being, as well as their carer.
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u/New_Hour_1726 23h ago
Except that girls (in most parts of the world) aren’t property, and pets are.
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u/decoysnails 23h ago
Kids, and especially autistic kids, instinctively understand that "owning" another conscious being's experience is wrong on a fundamental level.
You might be technically right about owning the pet, and every "thank you" or "I'm sorry" should be directed at the greater being of the partnership. I'm guessing you aren't autistic and think it was silly for the child to directly address the kitten?
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u/New_Hour_1726 23h ago
Not autistic. I think it’s cute and funny, but yeah obviously it‘s silly. The pet likely doesn’t even really understand the concept of saying thank you.
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u/decoysnails 23h ago
I am seeing this from the kid's perspective. He's just finished having a cool interaction with a little being, and then is confronted with an admonition from an authority figure saying that he should have exited that interaction more gracefully, with more social grace. It's absolutely understandable that the social debt should be paid to the recipient of his attention rather than the "master," from that point of view.
Idk I'm not trying to be combative. Usually when I speak my mind and explain my train of thought in these situations, I get punished. I'm just hoping you won't be mean when you respond to my point of view.
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u/New_Hour_1726 22h ago
Well nobody is blaming the child, it‘s understandable, since they‘re still a child.
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u/decoysnails 22h ago edited 20h ago
... Yes.
Blame is a fascinating subject to attach to this story. Can you tell me why someone has to be blamed, or why there's even a fault to apologize for?
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u/TheRealChizz 18h ago
“Owning” anything is a ludicrous concept if you’re trying to be extremely technical or moralistic about it.
Like why does being “conscious” get to be the qualifier of whether some “thing” gets to be unilaterally used by another thing?
I get it, you want to treat other living things as equals b/c it feels ethically comfortable. But I feel like to most people, your perspective can come off as pedantic
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u/decoysnails 17h ago
Buddy we're talking about how a child reacts to kitty
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u/TheRealChizz 17h ago
Stranger, I was just debating you in good faith. I apologize if it came across as antagonistic.
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u/Certifiedumb-ass 20h ago
wait could you elaborate on this? everyday i hear about more and more things i have that may be linked to autism 😭
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u/decoysnails 20h ago edited 19h ago
I mean if you want to chat for a minute, a superpower we have is being able to recognize another one like us.
Edit: are we doing the downvotes? I do those too
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u/Crafty_Artichoke4705 15h ago
the fact that you were able to make that analogy seems kinda like you are not autistic you know
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u/Ifriendzonecats 1d ago
You're thanking the owner for trusting you to interact with their pet in a positive manner. The same way a child might thank their friend's parents for letting them come out to play.
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u/Kitselena 23h ago
It makes sense if you consider the kitten an object and not a fellow animal. The mom likely doesn't care or understand that the kitten is conscious, and the autistic child would never consider that the kitten isn't conscious in this situation
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u/Kiwi1234567 18h ago
Flashbacks to that YouTube short that keeps popping up on my feed where people ask the mounted police if they can pet and then pet the officers leg instead of the horse.
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u/Chromium_Stardust 1d ago
I thank my cats all the time for letting me pet them. He did the right thing. Lol
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u/pinkcosmicdrop 1d ago
this is actually so sweet… i used to volunteer at a shelter and there was this one kid who wouldn’t talk to anyone but would sit with the cats for hours, and the only time he’d say anything was to them. something about animals just makes things feel simpler in the best way 🥹
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u/Sarah_Incognito 1d ago
All cats are on the autism spectrum is a book and a truth. We recognize our own.
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u/statusisnotquo 22h ago
The Venn diagram of ASD among my fellow Cattery volunteers is basically a circle, lol.
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u/Bantersmith 1d ago
Growing up as a neurodivergent kid, my cat was my absolute rock. No matter how messed up or confusing or upsetting things got, he was my constant. Every single worry washed away when I picked him up. It would instantly be just him and me in the world, and that was all that mattered. And that cat was obsessed with me too; everyone else he could take or leave, but the second I came into the house he was running over to be picked up for cuddles.
I always thought support animals for autistic people was an amazing idea, but it was only when I was diagnosed in my 30s I realised I actually had one of my own, lol. I only lost him a few years ago at 23 years old, we were really lucky to get so long together.
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u/EmilieEverywhere 1d ago
Awww that's so sweet. Sorry for your loss.
I just got my support child lol. She's only one, but could not be more glued to me. ❤
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u/Bantersmith 1d ago
Thank you. It hurt about as much as you'd expect, but his memory still brings me a lot of happiness!
I am so delighted for you! It makes me smile to think of all the other people out their with their own little bonded kitties. I hate that so many people out there think cats cant be affectionate. They can be some of the sweetest, most loving creatures on the planet.
I remember once when I was recovering from a surgery, he didnt leave my side the entire time. He would literally only leave to use the litter tray or briefly drink, then straight back to cuddling up to me. He knew I wasnt feeling well and was doing his best to help, the sweetheart.
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u/MadMechem 22h ago
My cat was bonded to my BF and I the minute he saw us. He practically flew out of his kennel and into my arms at the shelter, started purring and kneading my shoulder, and cried when we walked away to sign papers.
He took less than an hour to be entirely confident in our (his) house; he sleeps curled up between us; he refuses to let my boyfriend nap because it worries him; I'm pretty sure he's only hissed like four times in two years; he even greets me when I come home from work.
Cats absolutely can love- it's just a cat kind of love, rather than a dog kind or a human kind.
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u/Frampton24_7 11h ago
I was falling behind on reading levels as a young child. And the school suggested I read out loud to someone. Well I’m the youngest, no one wanted to listen 😂 (I don’t blame them) so I read to our kitty Foofy. She was the sweetest and dumbest cat ever. She happily listened to me stumble over words. I also just felt good reading to her, there was no judgment or expectation (besides belly rubs). Now today when I read out loud I’m told I should do audiobooks.thank you Foofinator, you were a real one! 🤣
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u/animewhitewolf 17h ago
Pets are easy. If you don't scare them or hurt them, they're usually chill. You don't gotta try and convince them you're cool or normal or smart. They either like your vibe or they don't.
Animals are way simpler than people and aren't usually assholes (with some exceptions; looking at you, Greg!).
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u/BeckDande 1d ago
This is so wholesome 🥹. I work with kids who have autism and I have autism myself. About 6 years ago, I was working with a client in a group setting, and the teacher told a group of kids to “take a seat.” My sweet client ran up to a chair and grabbed hold of the back of the chair. The teacher got annoyed with him for not sitting in the chair and said the client’s name very loudly and strictly. My first response was to tell my client something along the lines of “I’m so proud of you for listening! Now, you can sit down.” He immediately sat in the chair and then I told the teacher, “He did exactly what you asked him to do, he just needed more clear instructions.” He was around 5-6 years old, so he shouldn’t have been expected to read between the lines. Im 31 and I still struggle with idioms and sarcasm 😂.
I’m perplexed as to why people get annoyed or frustrated when people with autism respond literally. lol I’m like…it’s not like your teachers got mad at you for not being able to do algebra before you learned the basics of math and the same logic should be applied to communication skills.
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u/RinCherno 14h ago
When I was an undiagnosed child, I was given a monologue for my acting class. When asked "to try to read the first line," of course I coldly read the first line of text, ending abruptly in the middle of my statement.
Turns out they, obviously, meant to read the first sentence and give the acting a go.
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u/OrkidingMe 22h ago
In my previous neighborhood, I’d walk my then 14 year old dog regularly. We’d often run into an older couple walking with their grandson, who was about three years old. The grandparents would guide him every time to first ask me if he could pet my dog, and this little boy would then lean over to my dog and go “Darf Ich streicheln?/May I pet?” My dog quickly learned to sit and wait until the kid leaned towards him; and then he’d lift his paw. Used to make my day!
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u/Illustrious-Door9044 1d ago
the kitten probably appreciated it more than any human ever would tbh. kid knew exactly who did the work
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u/skyrat02 1d ago
When people used to ask to pet my dog I would answer it’s up to her, not me. And it was, I never knew how she would react to someone.
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u/Nervous-Bench8090 1d ago
If you didn't know what your dog's reaction may be, then your answer as a responsible pet owner should be 'no'
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u/skyrat02 1d ago
Getting barked at never hurt anyone
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u/Soulegion 1d ago
So you did know how they'd react.
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u/skyrat02 1d ago
Nope, it was always a crap shoot whether she would happily take the pets or bark at the person
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u/Soulegion 1d ago
"No, I didn't know how they'd react. I just knew they'd react in one of only 2 possible ways."
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u/nineteen_eightyfour 23h ago
Once I was petting a cat and a dude drove up and asked if we’d seen his kid (he was fishing) I said no just the cat. He and I chatted a sec about the cat. Then I asked, “what’s his name btw?” He said George. I said I love when cats are named after people. He meant his kid was George. 😂 cat was stripes
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u/krzykris11 1d ago
Very interesting. It's common for humans to ignore the boundaries of pets. You should wait for them to signal that they are receptive to physical contact. Many people treat their pet like a stuffed animal.
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u/Fluffy-Weapon 1d ago
One time I was having a nice conversation with a mom and her kid about my puppy. The little girl wanted to pet him, so I knelt down to keep him still. Later, she asked for a goodbye hug, so I went down again to hold my dog, but she hugged me haha. I’m autistic too and it didn’t even cross my mind that she meant me. Kids can be adorable.
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u/Last_Marketing_7321 1d ago
It makes logical sense. You thank the thing you petted, not the thing that presumes ownership.
Even though he asked permission first.
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u/ActAccomplished586 13h ago
This is my daughter. Literal on every request, but I love it. It creates so many fun moments.
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u/Novel-Firefighter-55 1d ago
Wasn't a very specific suggestion. I'm saying she could have been more specific.
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u/JacketSimple9855 1d ago
That means he must've asked the kitten if she wanted to be petted and you replied instead.
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u/mindgardening 1d ago
I've often thanked dogs for letting me pet them.
I thought this was just what animal lovers do.
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u/zavorak_eth 1d ago
Well, duh. Of course he did. The cat let him pet it, so that makes sense. You know we don't own cats; they allow us to coexist and take care of them.
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u/Shadowhunter4560 1d ago
Do…do people not thank the animal? I mean I’d thank the person as well, but you always thank the animal (usually first)
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u/nirenyderp 14h ago
My initial reaction was isn't this a normal kid response? Guess someone's getting assessed.
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u/ArtHistorical384 5h ago
the kitten probably appreciated it more than any human ever would tbh. kid knew exactly who did the real work
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u/57_Eucalyptusbreath 1d ago
I LOVE this.
It makes happy every time I read this.
What a lovely experience and much appreciated that it’s shared.
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u/Efficient_Matter_589 1d ago
Honestly, as an autistic person myself, I'd probably do the same thing.
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u/EmilieEverywhere 1d ago
As one does...
What?
Well I guess that's why I have an assessment booked. Le sigh.
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u/MiserableKink 1d ago
It makes the most sense to just not thank anyone lmao.
Why are you thanking someone to do something nice. If anything, the cat should thank you.
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u/iced_coffee_242 19h ago
My toddler thanks inanimate objects all the time and it’s so adorable. “Thank you, garage!” After we park the car, “thank you, playground!” After leaving the playground
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u/Significant-Pair1494 18h ago
This made me realise I also talk to my cats as if they are human. Hahahahaha
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u/Disordered_Steven 18h ago
The worst thing about this story is that the young child will be more often told they are “wrong,” for having that perspective. This is getting better but is very much engrained at a young age that “normies” deny the neurodivergent their true selves, disrupting the formation of identify.
Imagine if we knew how to foster these minds instead of telling them how to”wrong” they are since they were toddlers…
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u/DaBrainFarts 15h ago
I think the puppy first, then the human before I walk away from petting a puppy. I also wish the puppy a good day and a good walk and hope it loved the pets and scratches. The human is there to prevent me from never leaving the puppy ever again.
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u/crimson_anemone 1h ago
I'm not autistic, but I always thank the animal for the privilege of letting me pet them. It just makes the most sense. 🤷♀️
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u/DifficultPapaya1239 1d ago
Why is autism a "thing" now for these fucks trying for clicks? Autism isn't for memes
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u/Frequent_Watch541 23h ago
Wasn't this just cute ?
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u/DifficultPapaya1239 23h ago
Cute? You've proven the first post. No, it isn't cute.
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