@JeremyMallin@actuallyautistic Of the three countries that I have lived in long-term, parts of England (East Midlands) allowed me to be quite authentic at times in terms of my interests, and social “rules” for interaction did not take too much energy. Canada (YYJ) is more difficult, with varying subtleties and an increase in how much one is expected to engage/respond. The United States (DEN) required an exhausting amount of masking/pretending to keep up act_normal.exe
@JeremyMallin@actuallyautistic It was difficult to decide how to rank them but I chose to focus on how much energy it took to be in society overall rather than considering academic working cultures, for example. I think if someone of a different demographic (I am a white-passing cis woman) or with different sensitivities, etc. lived in the same places, it would be rather different.
I worked in Barnsley UK. That was probably the most straightforward I've ever found people. UK generally I suppose. Melbourne requires more work to mask.
@JeremyMallin I don't know. I was hoping you'd have more responses than this because I'm curious too.
I think I've heard it suggested that autistic people do better in more matter-of-fact places. I think I could have had a more authentic existence in Switzerland or Ireland.
@Cassandra@JeremyMallin As a German living in Germany I can confirm that culture wise it may be a bit easier here. We tend to be rather direct and honest. But Germany is also incredibly ableist, so any sign of "weakness" is bad.
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